Tairngrim
Sir Tairngrim is an Sidhe Grump (presumably Unseelie) of House Leanhaun.
Overview
Tom McLean trains Olympic hopefuls in fencing. Quick and agile, he also demonstrates an uncanny knack for guessing his opponent's next move and countering it almost before it is made. Though trim-waisted, his fencer's muscles proclaim his athletic prowess. Known to those not of the mortal world as Sir Tairngrim MacLeanhaun, a distant cousin to High Lord Eleanor, he is the first knight of House Leanhaun. Possessed of great knowledge of the Primal and Soothsay Arts, he is difficult to best in formal combat.
Since his return from Arcadia, Tairngrim has served as High Lord Eleanor's personal bodyguard and champion. He has won several duels on her behalf when challengers insisted on combat. His most noted contest involved a lord of House Balor, whom Tairngrim bested with cold iron despite his aversion to the metal. He now wears a prosthetic left hand (of silver and ebony) made for him by a friendly Dougal after his hand was left a smoking ruin by wielding the baneful metal. Others have since attempted to cheat in duels with him by raising cold iron against him, knowing his weakness. Such challengers invariably die in the battle.
Tairngrim has long been High Lord Eleanor's lover. He keeps himself at a moderate age (late 30s) so he can maintain his fighting trim, and the apparent age difference has occasionally elicited snide comments concerning Eleanor's taste for younger men. When such comments are brought to Tairngrim's attention, those who repeat them either apologize or face his sword. He has sworn an oath never to lose a battle he fights for Eleanor, knowing that the day he fails to keep his oath is the day he dies.
References
- CTD. Pour L'Amour et Liberte: The Book of Houses 2, pp. 94-95.