| “ | Any idea that starts with the words ‘one last time’ is a bad idea. | ” |
–Dazen, quoting his father | ||
Andross Guile is the father of Gavin, Dazen, and Sevastian Guile, and husband of Felia Guile. Very old for a drafter, Andross is in his mid-60s at the start of the series and has served as the Red on the Spectrum for many years, though he rarely shows up to any official meetings, choosing to instead utilize his servant, Grinwoody, to deliver his messages, statements, and votes. A headache to the Prism, White, and the rest of the Spectrum, Andross has been pulling strings behind the scenes to establish his will in the Chromeria for years, thus leading to his nickname, the Red Spider.
Though Andross is not an atheist, his theological views are considered near enough to heresy that he keeps them hidden. He is a deist, believing that while Orholam exists and crated the world, he does not watch over it, nor interact with it.
A tall man, in his younger years Andross was muscular and powerfully built, similarly to his sons when they became men. Once he drew dangerously closer to breaking the Halo, however, he became a recluse, shutting himself in his chambers in the Chromeria with all sources of light blocked, and sent in his Spectrum votes via messenger. So much time spent sedentary has caused his muscles to atrophy, his skin becoming loose and spotted beyond his years at the age of 65.
The Blinding Knife[]
Andross is first seen as an antagonist to both Gavin and Kip, actively working to undermine Gavin's power in the Chromeria, and attempting to assassinate Kip soon after he arrives at the Jaspers. Andross later invites Kip to meet with him in his study, which is kept entirely dark to prevent Andross from inadvertently drafting as he claims he is very close to breaking his halos. Andross challenges Kip's status as a Guile and works to sabotage Kip in his studies and his training as a Blackguard trainee by bribing, coercing, and threatening others into making Kip's time at the Chromeria into a living hell. At the same time, Andross finds Kip is an intelligent and strategic thinker, and forces him to engage in games of Nine Kings with increasingly higher stakes.
As the conflict with the Color Prince escalates, Andross gets himself elected as the commander of the Chromeria's forces, eventually leading their navy into conflict with the Color Prince's forces at Ru. In the aftermath of the battle Andross is revealed to be a Red Wight, having hidden his broken Halos for months from his peers through seclusion and shaded glasses. Kip fights Andross for the Blinding Knife and stabs the elderly man with it before the knife is plunged into the chest of Gavin Guile.
The Broken Eye[]
Andross awakens the day after he is stabbed with the Blinding Knife to find he is not only no longer a Wight, but his halos have receded drastically, looking like the halos of a man with 10 years of drafting left. Andross uses this miracle as a leverage point to get himself elected as Promachos by the Spectrum, claiming Orholam has given him the strength in these trying times to fight the forces of the Color Prince.
Andross meets with Kip to play a game of Nine Kings, trading information with the boy to learn the whereabouts of his grandson, Zymun, whom he has summoned to the Chomeria. In return Andross gives Kip access to the restricted libraries in the Chromeria. From this point on Andross treats Kip with less disdain and more as a (slightly) respected rival. During the next several months Andross and Kip play Nine Kings regularly, swapping information and subtly teaching the young man about charisma, power, and political sway.
The Blood Mirror[]
Andross works with (and sometimes against) the new White Karris to combat the Color Prince as his pagan armies continue to gain ground in the Seven Satrapies. Ultimately they agree to a temporary ceasefire with the Color Prince for the rest of the season to gather crops and consolidate forces.
Andross pays the Order of the Broken Eye to kill the Nuqaba, knowing the woman may be tempted to sign a treaty between the Color Prince and her Satrapy, Paria.
The Burning White[]
Some of Andross' past is revealed through chapters related to his True Nine Kings cards: Andross the Red and The Master. In his 20s Andross sought out Felia Dariush as a potential spouse, valuing her strong drafting abilities, her family's wealth and influence, and her intelligence. He and Felia then spent many years seeking out and translating the ancient prophesies about the Lightbringer.
When Kip and the Mighty return to the Chromeria Andross invites Kip to play Nine Kings on the eve of the battle with the Color Prince. Over a series of three games Kip and Andross play for various stakes, trading knowledge primarily, until they play the final game to determine who the Lightbringer is.
Quest for the Lightbringer (spoilers)[]
Andross believes himself to be the Lightbringer. He has fought, schemed, murdered, and crafted his life around this belief, doing everything in his power to do the right things at the right time to fulfill many prophesies about the Lightbringer.
Andross and Felia spent much of their time and resources gathering information about the Lightbringer, the Immortals, and many other topics censored by the Chromeria. Their quest to make Andross the Lightbringer was driven by a prophesy that the world would be destroyed should the Lightbringer be absent on the day of their greatest need.
Trivia[]
- Andross has three separate True Nine Kings cards: The Guile, Andross the Red, and The Master, each of them depicting Andross at different points in his life.
- Andross' Halos are described as swirling together across his irises like multi-colored serpents