| “ | I am guilty of all I am accused of, and more besides. I deserve the death you so justly deal. But I am sorry, for the evil I have done, and allowed to be done, in my name. | ” |
— Winslow to Emma, Ember Rising, p. 439
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Winslow Joveson is the eldest son of King Jupiter. He resides in First Warren, and for a time served as governor of the city under the rule of Morbin Blackhawk.
Biography[]
After his father's murder Winslow accepted the office of governor over the occupied city of First Warren.[1] He thus paid homage to Morbin and aided in the scheming of Garten Longtreader, while all the time being subject to Lord Falcowit. He also chose the disgraced soldier Daggler as his lieutenant governor, though it is unknown if he knew the full extent of Daggler's atrocities.[2] Years after Jupiter's death, he "as good as banished" Wilfred and Smalls from First Warren.
In conversation with Heather Longtreader, Kyle noted Winslow's place in Morbin's regime, dismissing him as a greedy noble willing to side with his own father's murderer in order to have some level of power. He further noted that some of the secret citadels believed Winslow might be the leader they needed in the fight against Morbin, while others condemned him for his alliance with the Preylords. Kyle also mentioned that Winslow and his brothers in the Great Wood were all competing to be named as Jupiter's heir, as well as with the citadel lords for power among those rabbits still loyal to the fallen king.[1]
Some months later, during an address at Halfwind Citadel, Winslow was mentioned by Bleston, who noted him as an obstacle to the Cause while pretending to declare his support for Smalls as rightful ruler of Natalia.[3] After Helmer and Picket Longtreader infiltrated First Warren with assistance from Harbone Citadel, Winslow appeared to address the citizens of First Warren. Blaming the explosions caused by blastarrows fired from bowstrikers on the city's resistance forces, he ordered the younglings of the city to be assembled. Several were taken or killed as punishment for the acts of defiance, a prelude to what would take place on Victory Day. During their time in the city, Helmer and Picket learned of various acts of depravity committed in Winslow's name.
Whitbie Joveson, Winslow's younger brother and a member of the local resistance, later came before Winslow on Victory Day accompanied by the two infiltrators. Helmer, whom Winslow recognized as his father's old Lord Captain, delivered a message from Emma, his youngest sister and then leader of the Cause. Despite this unsettling encounter, Winslow carried on with proceedings, not believing the resistance could pose a threat to his masters or his own position. This delusion was shattered when the city's insurgents disrupted his Victory Day address, and further when Emma's army invaded the city.
Overcome by these surprises, Winslow was held under guard by Whit on the balcony where he had often addressed the city, unable to offer any resistance. After the rabbits had taken the city, he was brought to the same balcony and before Emma, and Helmer recited his list of crimes. Winslow confessed his errors and displayed contrition and was then the first to receive a pardon from Emma among the rabbits of First Warren. Though warned that his influence would be limited, Winslow was spared death or even imprisonment, which moved him to tears.[2]
Winslow helped Emma make sense of the intelligence that the prisoner from the attack on Harbone Citadel was revealing. According to Cole, Winslow told Emma about the ceremonial customs of the Six. Picket expressed doubt in Winslow, but was informed that Emma and Mrs. Weaver believed his account to be true. Winslow, Whitbie, Emma, and Helmer all listened from behind a partition as Mrs. Weaver interrogated a prisoner from the Longtreader Command, and Winslow took notes.
After learning of the past Lord Captains' interest in True Blue, Emma set out to learn all she could about the mysterious plant. She asked Mrs. Weaver and Jo Shanks to find the odlest apothecary in the city, and suggested that one of Winslow's old staff might be helpful in their search. Winslow worked as an assistant at the hospital in First Warren during the Siege of First Warren. Following the Mending, Winslow joined Whit and Smalls, the latter having become king, in finding a site for the Votive Sanctuary.[4]
Physical appearance[]
Winslow is a thin rabbit, noted as bearing some resemblance to his youngest brother Smalls except for being much taller. Winslow's appearance is also much older and frailer than his actual age would suggest. During his rule of First Warren, he wore a silver crown encrusted with gems and a shimmering red scarf, the latter serving as his preymark.
Personality and traits[]
Despite the fact that his own father was not the first son of his grandfather Walter Good, Winslow emulated his uncle Bleston in believing himself the rightful heir to the throne. So great was this conviction that he was willing to act in subservience to Morbin in exchange for a position of power over First Warren.
Winslow seems to have had a genuine belief in the system of rabbit "alliance" with the Lords of Prey, as conceived by Garten Longtreader. To that end, he granted Daggler and his Black Band authority to suppress any resistance, leading to the murder of numerous innocents. He also mocked his younger brother Whitbie for breaking ties with him and siding with the resistance, which he considered weak. Despite this, he honored the rules of safe conduct when Whit came before him accompanied by Helmer and Picket. For all his arrogance, Winslow was also a nervous rabbit, with surprise leaving him speechless and incapable of action.
In addressing the citizens of First Warren, Winslow could be imperious, while also displaying conflicting tendencies. Though he fawned over Morbin Blackhawk in word, he was also quick to warn the people of the wrath of their supposed protectors. In a moment of shameless deceit, Winslow ordered that the city's younglings be assembled under the pretense of reciting their vows to Morbin on Victory Day, when in reality he was fully aware that they were all to be killed. However, the surprise invasion by the Cause and their victory in the Battle for First Warren shocked Winslow and humbled him. He later acknowledged his guilt before Emma and submitted himself to her justice, and was both astonished and grateful when she showed him mercy.
Family tree[]
| Flint Firstking | Fay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unnamed descendants | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whit | Unknown wife | Grant | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whitson Mariner | Lillie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unknown wife | Lander Whitson | Lemual Whitson | Davis Whitson | Grant Whitson | Lucianne Blackstar | Lord Blackstar II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unnamed descendants | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Walter Good | Unknown wife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unknown wife | Bleston | Unnamed son | Jupiter Goodson | Lady Glen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kylen | Winslow Joveson | Whitbie Joveson | Emma Joveson | Unnamed children | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Naylen | Unknown wife | Smalden Joveson | Heather Longtreader | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maggie Joveson | Hanna Joveson | Unnamed children | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Relationships[]
Jupiter Goodson[]
King Jupiter was Winslow's father, but little is known of their relationship. It is clear that Winslow resented being passed over by his father as heir to the throne. He was also willing to pledge his allegiance to Morbin Blackhawk in spite of the raptor killing his father.
Whitbie, Smalden, and Emma Joveson[]
Whit, Smalls, and Emma are three of Winslow's numerous younger siblings.
| “ | So you come here, a disgraced failure... What does it mean, Whitbie? Do you turn yourself in and beg for my mercy? You're right to. The resistance is so pathetically small now, and its reach grows shorter every day. What can you mean by coming here? | ” |
— Winslow to Whit, Ember Rising, p.
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Whit is the closest of the three to Winslow in age, and for a time sided with him in submitting to Morbin. However, Whit would later repent of this attitude and leave Winslow's side. Winslow came to see his brother as a disgrace, pitying what he saw as delusion on Whit's part. In spite of this, he continued to respect his brother's role as a fellow prince, though he treated him with mockery and contempt upon their reunion prior to the Battle for First Warren. Following his removal as governor of the city under the Preylords, the two seem to have reconciled. They worked together under Emma's leadership to prepare for the final battle of the war, and Whit seems to have regarded Winslow as a trustworthy source despite his previous actions and their former estrangement.
| “ | And so the rebellion outside is dashed to pieces and that little upstart is silenced forever. I call that good. I am the oldest! | ” |
— Winslow about Smalls, Ember Rising, p.
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Winslow's willingness to turn on his own family extended to the expulsion of Smalls, his youngest brother, from First Warren. He later expressed gladness at hearing of Smalls' apparent death after his brother was revealed as bearer of the Green Ember. Moreover, he believed that Smalls' death actually legitimized his own claims on the crown. As had his uncle Bleston with Jupiter, Winslow regarded Smalls as an upstart. Following his humiliation and pardon at the hands of Emma, his change of heart included submitting to Smalls as rightful king and even accompanying him in his duties.
| “ | By my right as heir and rightful bearer of the Green Ember, I pardon you, Winslow, son of Jupiter, for all your crimes. You will be watched, brother Winslow, and your influence will be limited during this war, but you will be spared the grim ending you deserve. | ” |
— Emma to Winslow, Ember Rising, p.
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Emma is Winslow's youngest sister, and he seems to have been ignorant of her very existence for many years. The first communication between them was Emma's letter of warning to Winslow of her intent to recapture First Warren and remove him from his place of power. Upon being brought before her for judgement, Winslow meekly submitted to her authority and acknowledged that she had every right to condemn him. However, in an act of mercy, Emma issued a royal pardon for Winslow and any other penitent members of his regime. This gesture deeply moved Winslow, and he became Emma's devoted supporter, accepting every assignment and offering whatever information he could in gratitude for his second chance.
Trivia[]
- The name Winslow is English in origin, and is derived from an Old English place name meaning "hill belonging to Wine."[5]
- Additionally, the surname "Joveson" is a reference to Winslow being the son of Jupiter Goodson, as "Jove" is derived from the Roman name "Jupiter."[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 As revealed in The Green Ember
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 As revealed in Ember Rising
- ↑ As revealed in Ember Falls
- ↑ As revealed in Ember's End
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
