Marchat Wilsin

Marchat Wilsin is the owner of the Saraykeht branch of House Wilsin. He plots with Seedless and the Galts to bring down the poet of Saraykeht, Heshai.

Marchat Wilsin is a member of the Galtish House Wilsin. He was sent to manage the Saraykeht branch many decades ago and has done well. He has become more comfortable now, with the help of Amat Kyaan who teaches him the hand signals all the Khaiem use as part of their language, but is still distinctly aware of being seperate.

He likes to conduct business in a bathhouse which is remarked as unusual but he is so rich that he can do what he wants. He is ordered by the main House Wilsin in Galt to engage in a plot with Seedless to destroy Heshai mentally using the sad trade. Marchat is very reluctant but does not see what else he can do but obey. When Amat, whom he has loved for many years, becomes suspicious he tells her to hide until the trade is done or Oshai, the assassin sent from Galt, will kill her.

He assigns Liat to take care of the sad trade in Amat's place because she is naive. Throughout the plot it is shown that he feels terrible for what he is doing but feels trapped at the same time. Through his conversations with Seedless, who visits occasionally, we see that he is unnerved by the andat.

When the trade is done Amat returns and he tries to make things go back to how they were before but Amat refuses. Marchat tries to make amends to Maj, the tricked village girl, by loading her with gold and jewels and sending her back to her village but Amat makes her disappear. When Amat files a petition to the Khai for an audience Marchat makes preparations to kill himself and take all the blame rather than have it go back to Galt and have thousands of innocent women suffer. He talks to Amat one more time but is once again unable to confess his love. The conversation ends with him feeling bittersweet at the history he and Amat had and the missed opportunity.

When Heshai dies Marchat returns to Galt.