Maeryn Blair Rocha

Maeryn Blair Rocha (meaning Bitter, Plain, Rock) was born in the city of Wolcott in Kerra. She was born out of wedlock, and her mom died in childbirth with her. A friendly neighbor who had just lost her own baby took her in and raised her until she was ten. She grew up an angry, difficult child, feeling like life was unfair because she didn't have a mother. When she was eight and it was time for her to get her name, the spiritual leader in the community named her Maeryn, or Bitter, and Blair, or Plain. By plain he meant to express hope for an easy, level future, like a plain or prairie. Instead, Maeryn took it as an insult and hated the leader forevermore.

When she was ten, long-lost relatives came looking for their cousin, Asha, and found only her bitter daughter. They took her in out of duty, and fear that she would be left homeless again, as the neighbor was ill. So, Maeryn found herself in (the country where Kate lives... I can't remember the name and I'm too lazy to look it up), the only Kerran in school, and so the only child with a dark complexion and dark hair. She grew up being teased, until she finally learned to defend herself, and then she was feared and hated. She never had a friend because she would never let anyone near her. Even her "Aunt and Uncle", as she called her mother's cousins, made her leave the house as soon as she was old enough because she was cruel to their children, who were young and tender.

Maeryn felt that the injustices she endured gave her power, and over the years a plan formulated to take over the government because she had more experience because of the hardships in her early years, and therefore would be a better ruler. Her idea was intriguing, but the fact that she was a woman caused many to doubt her abilities. She gathered followers by, at first, dressing as a man before "recruiting", but eventually she was recognized as a very capable leader, regardless of gender. And if someone still had qualms, a flogging and a day in the pit usually showed them otherwise.

Maeryn had a soul at one point, and for those who believed that a soul was essential to life believed she still had one, but others said she sold it to the devil for his support. Indeed, that seemed to be true, because if someone was heartless or evil or enjoyed cruelty they found her. She didn't shrink from inflicting pain, and reveled in emotional torment. A lifetime without love robbed her of any conscience she may have possessed. When Kate meets her, she is so consumed with her goal of domination that any sense about the foolishness of it all has been forgotten.