Tarkax

Tarkax, known as the Ice-Spear, is a renowned warrior from the Ice-Tribes.

Appearance and Personality
Tarkax is a bald man, not overly tall, but solid. He has the flat eyes, and reddish skin common to the ice tribes. He also has traditional tribal scars, two lines slanting down across each cheek. He generally wears a leather jerkin, sealskin trousers, an iron chain, and carries the flat sword known as a Tular.

Tarkax is taciturn like all the ice-tribes, speaking slowly with a deep voice, measured and considered.

History
Tarkax has a great reputation for his skills as a warrior. He seems to have some association with Partnis Reeve, and is often seen around the Caltess Fight-Hall.

Red Sister
Nona Grey first meets Tarkax, when she was living in the attic of the Caltess and he intervenes between her and a bully. He seems to recognise in her an inner rage like the ice-tribers. Tarkax is also there when Nona visits the Caltess for the annual Forging.

In Grey Class, Nona, Zole and the other novices must participate in the annual Ranging, crossing open country from Harran Fens to the Kring. With Yisht missing, Tarkax is engaged as Zole’s new bodyguard. After the novices become split-up in an ice-storm, they realise that the region is full of men who seem to be Durnish raiders. Eventually Nole, Zole, Ara, Clera, Darla, Ruli, and Jula gather in a cave with Tarkax for protection, who explains that the men are in fact Tacsis soldiers disguised as raiders. As they are preparing to fight the twelve soldiers, Clera reveals herself to be a traitor, poisoning Tarkax, Ara, and Zole before the others can subdue her. Despite their losses, Nona insists on fighting anyway, tearing apart the soldiers and eventually Raymel Tacsis himself, with a combination of her Hunska speed, Path energy, and her Flaw-Blades.

Grey Sister
Tarkax is now in the service of the emperor's sister, Sherzal. He is sent to Sweet Mercy to escort Zole to her palace, but Abbess Glass refuses to hand her over.