"I was the Ascendant King, meant to rise. And so I would." - The Shadow Throne
Jaron Artolius Eckbert III is the main protagonist of the Ascendance Series. Jaron is described to have a mischievous smile and a hint of trouble in his bright green eyes. While he was known as Sage, he had long, dirty blond hair that fell over his eyes. He is said to be about the same age as Imogen, and is confirmed to be 17 years old at the end of The Shadow Throne.[2] He and Imogen later get married a year after The Shadow Throne takes place.
Personality[]
Jaron is described by those who know him and work with him as "fool" "trouble-maker" and "unpredictable". He has many things he can't stand, such as overcooked meat. He's rather reckless, as shown by his childhood, climbing the castle walls and getting into all sorts of trouble. However, he's also kind, loving, sassy and quick-witted, with a sharp tongue that seems to have a remark ready at any insult and a joke in any situation. Some describe him as a "compulsive liar" but he thinks of himself as a "compulsive truth-teller", only everyone misunderstands his truths. This is also true to a point as Jaron usually doesn't lie, but only knows how to twist the truth in a way that suits his needs. His unpredictable nature comes in handy when it comes to improvising plans, shown multiple times in the books. He seems not to care for others, but this isn't true as he's shown multiple times to help strangers he doesn't even know, often at the risk of his own life. He prefers to spare his enemies and has a knack for turning them into allies; although he also has a habit making many enemies in the first place.
Jaron's charismatic nature often commands loyalty from those who admire him, despite his callous comments he often makes. Many allies, including Mott and Roden, swear that they would follow him to the Devils' Lair and back. His ability to bolster the masses makes him a powerful leader.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
As a child, Jaron was notorious for much mischief. He would climb around the castle at night, in all manner of weather. Once, in an attempt to prove to a castle page that tapestries could burn, he burned a small portion of the tapestries, but the fire quickly got out of hand and several hundred years worth of history went up in flames before the fire could be put out. Carthyan citizens loved the story of when Jaron impudently challenged the king of Mendenwal, King Humfrey, to a duel as a young boy and made a cut in his thigh. However, only a few knew that Jaron did so to defend his mother's honor, or that he almost won.
Departure from the Royal Family[]
Soon after Jaron's 10th birthday, his parents called him for a private council. Troubling rumors of war against Carthya over Jaron's behavior had surfaced, and something had to be done. Eckbert chose to send Jaron to a prestigious school in Bymar to help him learn.
Jaron angrily protested. He swore his father that he would run away and never would be found again. Eckbert retaliated saying that if he did not go, it would be the end for Carthya. Jaron's mother, Erin, pleaded for Jaron to accept his father's decision. To do it for Carthya, and to do it for her. Jaron said that he would leave for his own sake, but said that they would never see him ever again. He was angry, and later on in life revealed that he hadn't meant those words. On the day of his departure and on the boat, Jaron claimed that he was seasick, so the crew gave him medicine and sent him below decks to rest. Jaron never took the medicine, instead escaped from the ship through a small porthole in his room. The crew set sail, unaware that Prince Jaron was not on board.
The ship was then attacked later that afternoon by Avenian pirates. Though a search was made for survivors, there were none. The sailors were either killed fighting the pirates or drowned at sea. Because Jaron's body was never found, the kingdom conducted a search through Avenia and Carthya. Before long, most people believed that he had drowned and his body was at the bottom of the sea.
Jaron quickly found out he had the skills to be able to blend in with Avenians. He was able to replicate the Avenian accent. He was familiar with accents and had studied enough of foreign cultures to live amongst them. On land, he pick-pocketed for spare coins or worked off jobs when he found them. However, he still went hungry most days and spent most of his nights in the shadows, and hoped that he would go unnoticed by street thugs among the darkness. He lived like this for around a year.
One day, Jaron had dropped a coin in an offering dish at a church. The priest at the church recognized him as the younger prince of Carthya and informed Darius, Jaron's older brother, because he had been searching for Jaron in a nearby town. To stall for time, the priest had extra food to hand and that if Jaron agreed to wash the church steps, he would let him stay the night. Darius then arrived early the next morning, alone. Over a small breakfast, Darius had explained the suffering the parents endured over the loss of Jaron. Jaron gladly would come home if they allowed him to come back.
Darius told Jaron to stay at the church and wait for Darius to ask their father what they should do. Darius then proceeded to leave and thanked the priest but informed him that the young boy was not the lost prince of Carthya. However, Darius has expressed that he still had pitied the boy and paid the priest to watch over the boy for one more week. At the end of the week, a man had come to meet with Jaron. If anyone asked, the priest would have said that he didn't know who he was, only that he had the air of someone of great importance. As far as they knew, the boy living at the church was merely an orphan. They both had sat in the pews and drew little attention to themselves.
Eventually, Jaron had asked his father if he could come home. His father had declined, saying that he could not come home. Jaron got angry at his father, saying that just because he ran, he would get disowned. His father had said that it's what his country demands of him now. If Jaron came home, Carthya would have to declare war on Avenia for attacking the ship. However, if he declared war on Avenia, Gelyn would most certainly align themselves with Avenia and Carthya would be surrounded by enemies, Carthya would not survive that war. If he remained missing, he can just say that they will not declare war until there was proof of his son's death.
King Eckbert was aware that he had enemies within his castle and there were some regents that wanted the throne. If he declared war out of vengeance then they might not support him. His father understood his duty, and if the regents got to him, the crown would be passed down to Darius. Jaron understood his duty as well.
His father said that he should dye his hair lighter, and grow out his hair and Jaron suggested he could use his left hand, since he already preferred it that way. He went to Ms. Turbeldys' orphanage in Carchar, Carthya under the name of Sage.
The False Prince[]
For four years after the pirate attack, Jaron has taken to hiding in Mrs. Turbeldy's orphanage as an orphan named Sage. Upon returning to the orphanage one day with a stolen roast, he finds out that Mrs. Turbeldy has sold him to a noble named Bevin Conner. Conner takes him to his estate, Farthenwood, along with two other orphans, Roden and Tobias. Jaron is also introduced to Conner's right hand man, Mott, and Cregan, one of Conner's workers. Conner reveals to them that the royal family of Carthya is dead, and he plans to use one of the three orphans to impersonate the long-lost Prince Jaron. He does not reveal his plans for the remaining two orphans, but it is strongly implied that they will be killed to protect the secrecy of his plan.
Over the next two weeks with which they have to prepare, Jaron, Roden, and Tobias are trained in all the skills that Prince Jaron will be expected to know: the history of Carthya, horsemanship, sword fighting, and dancing. For Roden and for Jaron, who professes to be illiterate, they are taught reading and writing, while the literate and more educated Tobias studies more advanced subjects. Throughout the training, Jaron creates trouble in many different ways. During the first horseback riding lesson, Jaron provokes Cregan into giving him a wild mare to ride. When Jaron mounts her, the mare takes off into the woods, and Jaron eventually falls off, breaking some ribs and requiring Mott to look for him. Conner is very angry with Cregan for losing the mare, and Cregan, in turn, takes his anger out on Jaron, expressing his hatred for him and swearing to do everything in his power to make Jaron fail before Conner. There is also a mute kitchen maid named Imogen who has caught Jaron's eye, and, knowing that she is physically and verbally mistreated by the other servants, Jaron attempts to stand up for her and call attention to her situation, but she scorns his attempts to help, partially because they will potentially cause her even more trouble.
By using his excellent sneaking and climbing skills to sneak out of his bedroom window at night, Jaron stumbles upon secret passages that run within the walls of Farthenwood, enabling him to access almost every important room in the building. Four days into his two week stay at Farthenwood, Jaron discovers that Conner has taken a lump of gold which had belonged to him, and when Conner refuses to return it, he steals it back. When Conner corners him, Conner tells him that the gold is imitator's gold and that Jaron must render it up. When Jaron refuses, Conner sends him to the dungeon and has Mott whip him. After a day in the dungeon, Imogen arrives and ministers to him by bringing him food and water. She reveals that she can speak, but requests that he not tell anyone about this. She also encourages him to keep fighting against Conner, saying that many look up to him.
Jaron is eventually released from the dungeon and continues his training. After the two weeks have ended, Conner decided Roden as a good choice as he has learnt more in the last week than Tobias or Jaron. However, Jaron luckily does his famous move: the knuckle roll. This then makes Conner think that he is the best choice.
They make him ready for the presentation with clothes and real gold and other royal items. Imogen comes in the room and Jaron gives her part of his food. They then get in the carriage and go to the castle. However, they are denied entry. So Jaron, who knows the kingdom, goes through a secret way and Conner is happy that he chose Jaron.
However, Cregan and Roden sabotage the plan and Jaron has to fight Roden to see who is crowned. Jaron trumps Roden and Roden is forced to run away. Imogen then reveals her big secret that she can talk.
Jaron then comes to the presentation, and persuades that he is the real prince. Conner is dumbstruck, and Veldergrath is kicked out by Jaron. Jaron then tricks Conner and arrests him. Imogen then comes by and Jaron upgrades her status as a noble’s daughter. Amarinda and Jaron share a dispute and Jaron then becomes King of Carthya.
While concerned about most everything included in coming home, Jaron tells High Chamberlain Lord Kerwyn that they must see him celebrate. Kerwyn warns him that a war is coming, but Jaron insists that he must enjoy the night, for the sake of Carthya.
The Runaway King[]
It is the night of the royal family's funeral, a month since Jaron's crowning. He strays from the chapel, sick of the nobles who mourn there. Instead, he visits the garden. There, he begins to climb, but is stopped when he notices someone in the garden below. Jaron considers it odd, for it is too late for a gardener, and no one else is allowed here.
The figure is dressed in black and has a knife. They were planning to sabotage him after the funeral, but did not expect Jaron to be there. Jaron jumps from the wall onto their back, clipping their shoulders and making them both fall. They fight for a moment, but the other man forces him to the ground and takes his knife. Jaron fights his way back up, only to be attacked a second time by a new person.
This person has a rope, and uses it to strangle Jaron. Luckily, Jaron had a hand on his face, and can still manage enough air to struggle. When the attacker loosens his grip, Jaron swings around to hit him, only to stop as he realizes this is no unknown intruder. His assassin is Roden.
It had been a while since he had seen Roden, the last time being when Roden tried to kill him for the throne. Roden reveals that he is now working for Jaron's old enemies, the Avenian pirates. The pirates have sent Roden to deliver a message: surrender in ten days, or the pirates will invade. When Roden leaves, Jaron makes his way to the funeral, where he talks with King Vargan of Avenia. It becomes apparent to Jaron that the pirates and Vargan are working in sync against Carthya, and that Carthya will not be able to withstand the join assault of Avenia and the pirates. In the meantime, the Carthyan regents and captain of the guard Gregor Breslan push that Jaron is too young to take the throne and a steward should reign until Jaron is of age. Jaron is vehemently against this idea, but he pretends to agree to their wishes and go into hiding for his safety.
The safe place to which Jaron chooses to go is Farthenwood. There, he reveals his plans to Mott and Tobias: he will join the Avenian pirates and attempt to turn their loyalty to Carthya. Both protest his plan and Mott even forbids him to go, but in the night, Jaron rides off on Mystic for the Carthyan border.
On his way to the border, Jaron runs into a band of Avenian thieves, who have captured a woman and her daughter. He fights the thieves off and approaches the woman, who with her dying breath entreats Jaron to take her daughter to the home of the girl's grandfather in the town of Libeth. Although this will cost Jaron extra time, he personally takes the girl to her grandfather, Rulon Harlowe. Harlowe treats Jaron like a son and asks him to stay with them, but Jaron hastily leaves and continues to on to Avenia.
In Avenia, Jaron visits the church where he was sheltered by the priest after his escape as a boy from the Avenian pirates. Fink, a young boy there, tells him that the priest was killed by pirate king Devlin for reporting Jaron to his father instead of the Avenian pirates. Jaron expresses a desire to join the pirates, so Fink directs him to a tavern, where he is picked up by some Avenian thieves and taken to their camp. Their leader Erick questions Jaron and his motives for joining the pirates. Jaron claims that there is a secret cave in Carthya full of treasure, and he needs the pirate's help to obtain it, but there is a limited time frame in which he can do so. Erik demands proof of Jaron's character, so Jaron reluctantly takes the thieves to rob Harlowe's estate. They are caught, but Harlowe immediately hands over everything they demand from him, supposedly because of Jaron's fearsome reputation in Carthya. After this, Erik takes Jaron to the Avenian pirates.
At Tarblade Bay, Jaron is surprised to find Imogen working there as a serving girl in the kitchens. He is angered, because if the pirates find out about her identity, she could easily be used against him. However, Imogen, who has come to Tarblade on Amarinda's advice, hoping to be of use to Jaron, refuses to leave without him. A sceptical Devlin initiates Jaron as a pirate based on his theiving abilities, but he suspects that there is more to Jaron than the boy is revealing about himself. The afternoon of Jaron's arrival, the pirates capture a cargo ship and present Devlin with the ship's navigator, the only one who was left alive. Devlin wants to kill him, but Jaron persuades Devlin to spare him temporarily in order to use the navigator to sell the cargo and cheat the buyers, thus gaining maximizing the profit. Devlin agrees to the plan, so the navigator is tied up for the night. When the rest of the pirates are asleep, Jaron frees the navigator and helps him to escape.
Jaron hears that Roden is returning to camp sooner than expected, so he sends Imogen and Fink away. Before they go, Jaron gives her gold watch belonging to Harlowe, which he has stolen from Erik after Erik came to be in possession of the watch after the raid on Harlowe's estate. The next day, the two are captured by chance and brought back by none other than Gregor Breslan, Jaron's captain of the guard and the one who helped the Avenian pirates enter the castle to assassinate Jaron. Just as Imogen is about to be whipped for stealing the gold watch, Jaron reveals himself and challenges Devlin's kingship in a duel, which Devlin must accept per the rules of the pirate code. Jaron is able to win the duel by using his youth and agility to compensate for his lesser physical strength and tire Devlin out, thus becoming the new pirate king. However, Jaron, realizing that he has the hatred of the rest of the pirates and that he still cannot save Imogen according to the rules of the pirates, trades his life and kingship of the pirates to Devlin in return for the release of Imogen. Imogen weeps and protests, but Jaron insists that she should go to Mott in Dichell and sends her off.
Just as Jaron is about to be whipped, Roden arrives and is enraged by the fact that Devlin will not release Jaron to him to do with as he pleases. He challenges Devlin's kingship and kills Devlin almost immediately. He then orders Jaron, Erick, and Fink to be locked in a secure prison on the face of a cliff and breaks Jaron's leg for good measure so that Jaron cannot escape. In the evening, while Roden and the rest of the pirates feast in honor of Roden's new kingship and his upcoming invasion of Carthya, Jaron, with the reluctant help of Erick and Fink, picks the lock on his chains, contrives a brace for his broken leg, and climbs out the window of the prison and up the face of the cliff armed with only a knife. In Jaron's weakened state, the normally easy climb turns spartan and when Jaron reaches the top, he barely has enough energy to pull himself to hide under the cover of a bush. After resting for a while, he eats some kitchen scraps and limps into the midst of the evening celebrations to challenge Roden with two wooden training swords. Roden accepts but refuses Jaron a proper weapon, so Jaron breaks the wooden swords to give them jagged edges and proceeds to fight as best he can. Through the fight, Jaron insists that there is no glory in being a king of pirates, but that if Roden consents, he can return to Carthya with Jaron as the captain of Jaron's royal guard. Roden scoffs at the idea, but demands that someone lend Jaron a traditional sword so he can fight properly. Despite Jaron's poor physical condition and his broken leg, he is able to edge Roden into a tight spot. Seeing that Jaron is about to win, a pirate kicks Jaron in his broken leg and Jaron falls to the ground in physical agony so great that he is unable to stand up. Instead of killing Jaron, Roden is furious that someone would interfere in his fight and surrenders, transferring kingship of the pirates to Jaron and accepting Jaron's offer to work as captain of the guard. After this, Jaron passes out.
Gregor Breslan comes to see Jaron, but Jaron refuses him mercy and gives him over to the pirates, who have their own bone to grind with Gregor. After having all the pirates swear never to come against Carthya again, he appoints Erick to lead the pirates in his absence and departs, his mission finally complete. He is taken to Rulon Harlowe's estate, where Jaron's injuries are treated. Harlowe, having understood why Jaron needed to raid him, treats Jaron with hospitality and bears him no ill will. He even accepts Jaron's invitation to return to the capital of Drylliad as Jaron's new prime regent. Imogen comes to see Jaron as well. Jaron professes love to her, but Imogen does not reveal her own feelings and tells him that she will not be returning to the castle, as she will interfere with his engagement to Princess Amarinda.
Next, they stop at the estate of Farthenwood, where Amarinda and Tobias meet him. Jaron still lacks one regent, so he extends an offer to Tobias, who accepts. Jaron also informs his friend that Tobias's wish to be a teacher has been fulfilled, as Fink, who is going to Drylliad with Jaron, will be Tobias's first student. Over dinner that night, Jaron and Amarinda agree that although they have been forced into an engagement which neither of them wanted, they will try to make the best of the situation and spend more time in each others' company getting to know the other person. After this, the group returns to the castle at Drylliad, wherea crowd has gathered to cheer for Jaron and welcome him home. The next few weeks are relatively quiet, with Jaron healing from his injuries, managing affairs of the kingdom and spending time with Amarinda. Shortly after Jaron is finally given clearance by the doctor to run again, he is informed that Avenia has begun the war by attacking Libeth, where Imogen was living, and burning it to the ground.
The Shadow Throne[]
Avenia, Mendenwal, and Gelyn, the three countries bordering Carthya, are all waging war against Carthya. Roden is dispatched to the northern border to hold off Gelyian invaders and Jaron will join him soon afterwards; Joth Kerwyn is traveling to Mendenwal to negotiate with King Humfrey of Mendenwal, with whom he was once friendly, to try to turn them to Carthya's side. Mott will lead a rescue mission for Imogen, Rulon Harlowe will oversee the ruling of the country and the defense preparations, and Amarinda, accompanied by Tobias and Fink as guards, will trek through Avenia and catch a ship to her home country of Bymar, where she will be safe as the heir to the Carthyan throne and request for Bymarian aid on Carthya's behalf.
Jaron meets Roden's army at Half-Moon Pass, where the army wins a battle. Roden is frustrated with his apparent incompetence as a commander, as his men refuse to obey him immediately, but Jaron reprimands him for doubting himself and gives him some pointers for how to be a more effective leader. One of the Gelyian commanders reveals that the capture of Imogen was never intended as bait for Jaron, but for Mott, Jaron's most trusted man, in order to leech information about Carthya. Realizing they have miscalculated, Jaron rides for the Avenian camp at first light.
Some time into his journey, Jaron comes across Mendenwalian soldiers who are testing a newfangled weapon: a cannon. This is potentially deadly to Carthyans in warfare, as they are inexperienced with gunpowder and the cannon will render the Carthyan walls useless against invaders. While the cannon is left unattended, Jaron stuffs it full of gunpowder, so that unsuspecting the soldiers later test a fully loaded cannon and destroy it from the vehemence of the resulting explosion.
Jaron reaches the camp and meets two Carthyan archers whom Mott had brought to help him in the rescue mission. They inform him that Mott entered the camp that day, and niether he nor Imogen have been seen since. At that moment, they see Mott and Imogen being brought out for interrogation. Jaron runs into the camp, igniting explosions of gunpowder in his wake as a diversion, and free Mott and Imogen. As they run, Avenian soldiers chase them. Imogen, seeing one of the soldiers about to shoot Jaron, pushes him away so that he misshoots. The archer then directs his next arrow at Imogen. The arrow goes through her chest, and she falls off the hill and disappears. Avenian soldiers catch up to Jaron and capture him, holding him in an underground cell and taking every opportunity to make his life miserable for the next few weeks.
With the help of Mott, Tobias, and Harlowe, Jaron is able to escape the Avenian camp. He then reveals that he fed the Avenians false information. Mott wants him to return to Carthya, but Jaron insists on staying inside Avenia, even choosing a route that takes them further into enemy territory. Mott is furious, but agrees.
Harlowe leaves the group and returns to the castle in Drylliad. Jaron later comes across the thieves he had stayed with and pays one of them to deliver a message to Drylliad, saying he revealed key strategies and everything must change. Then the thief rides off with the message, and Jaron continues to Tarblade Bay.
Jaron is welcomed by Erick, but the other pirates are slow to listen when he asks them for help. Erick promises he will be there, but he might not be able to convince the others.
That night, they run into Amarinda, who is clearly happy to see them. She, like everyone else, was surprised that Jaron was, in fact, alive.
Abilities[]
Jaron's abilities include being able to scale almost any type of surface, roll a coin over his knuckles, and as some put it, "steal the white off of snow". He's great at making whim-of-the-moment plans and lying. He's skilled with a sword, and also skilled at horse riding, as he was able to control a wild mare for long enough to go and steal the copy of Prince Jaron's sword. He's also good at untying knots, a skill that's saved him multiple times in the series. Furthermore, he can perform a flawless Avenian accent and is ambidextrous.
Trivia[]
- After Darius (eldest son of the king) presumably died, Jaron (second son of the king) inherits his engagement to Princess Amarinda from Bymar, who is the betrothed to the Carthyan throne, rather than a member of King Eckbert's line.
- The mark of the Avenian Pirates is on Jaron’s right forearm.
- Jennifer A. Nielsen has confirmed that after the Shadow Throne, he and Imogen do have a child. In a story exclusive to the audio recording of The Shattered Castle, one of Jaron and Imogen's daughters is revealed to be named Caitlin, whose preferred name is Storm.
- He is ambidextrous, though naturally left-handed