Myles of Olau

From the Tamora Pierce Wiki

Sir Myles of Olau is a knight, scholar and the Baron of Olau. He features in the Song of the Lioness quartet, the Immortals Quartet, the Protector of the Small and the Trickster duet. Myles is Spymaster and adviser to King Jonathan IV, and teacher of History and Laws of the Realm to the pages. He is married to Eleni Cooper, George Cooper's mother, and adopted Alanna the Lioness as his daughter in The Woman Who Rides Like a Man. He is generally referred to as a desk-knight, and has well-established philosophical issues with the concept of Chivalry.

[edit] Personal history

In Song of the Lioness, Myles is referred to as the "court drunk" and does not appear to have an important role in the running of Tortall. He is introduced as young Alanna of Trebond's teacher who has engaging debates with his students which sometimes lead to the pages falling behind in the history they are meant to learn. Myles is a knight, although the first time Alanna sees him don armour and weapons is during the Tusaine War.

Myles is influential in Alanna's life during her years as a page and squire. Over Alanna's years as a page and squire, Myles befriends her and becomes her mentor, a father-figure. He takes Alanna to Barony Olau when she is a page. They travel to the ruins there where Alanna finds Lightning, a magical sword. She often spends nights playing chess with him instead of with her friends Jon, Gary, Raoul and Alex. Alanna is drawn to his wisdom and understanding, and turns to him when Coram writes of a particularly difficult problem with Trebond (she acted as Lord of Trebond when she was a squire). Myles often comments that Prince Jonathan reminds him of the "old king", Jasson I of Conté, and claims that he drinks to ignore the state of the court and Tortall.

Interestingly, Myles offers Keladry of Mindelan a hand of friendship when she begins her years as a page, although Kel never appears to take this offer up.

In Lioness Rampant, Alanna uses Myles' trading connections when she travels to the Roof of the World. While she is gone, Myles helps George Cooper by taking Eleni Cooper into his house to protect her from thieves who follow "Claw" (Ralon of Malven). He later falls in love with Eleni, and they are married after the coronation.

When Myles inherited Olau, it was financially struggling. Myles entered trade in order to recover Olau's debts, and it is through these connections that he builds on a spy network when Jonathan becomes king.

Myles continues his role as teacher of History and Law of the Realm. He is grandfather to Thom, Alan and Alianne of Pirate's Swoop, Alanna's three children.

During the Scanran War, Myles and Eleni spend most of their time in Corus with King Jonathan and Queen Thayet.

[edit] Appearances

• The Song of the Lioness
  • Alanna: The First Adventure
  • In the Hand of the Goddess
  • The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
  • Lioness Rampant
• Protector of the Small
  • First Test (minor character)
• Daughter of the Lioness
  • Trickster's Choice (vision sent by Kyprioth)
  • Trickster's Queen (epilogue)

[edit] See also