I wrote yesterday about my villain Zalksi Forzythe and one of my favorite heroes, his nephew Vane Unsten. I went a bit into the ways they are similar.

One of my favorite things about them is that they are incredible figures in and of themselves, for good or ill. They are principled. They have goals, and they reach for them.

Another similarity is that they are deeply influenced and supported by their wives.

And yet, the women in both their lives are so different. The impact that makes cannot be overstated.

Zalski and Malzin have a genuinely supportive, loving, and beautiful marriage in its way–as far as concerns each other. But they feed each other’s resentment, pride, and ambition concerning other people and society. Malzin is honestly a bit of a Lady Macbeth.

In a real way, Malzin makes Zalski worse than he otherwise would be. This is something I understood from the moment I had any image of them at all. Zalski would have been evil without her. Brooding. Would he have gone to the lengths he does, though? I think it’s doubtful.

When it comes to Vane and August, they inspire and support each other like Zalski and Malzin do. They also have a shared vision for themselves and their lives, and even for the kingdom of Herezoth–but they make each other better, not worse.

In The Magic Council, we get to see Vane and August grow together, challenge each other, and strengthen each other when one of them is feeling weak or frightened. I truly love that. It’s beautiful and inspiring to see.