Lazarus in A Promise of Peridot: Character Analysis of the Tyrannical Fae King

Overview of Lazarus

Lazarus is the primary antagonist of A Promise of Peridot, the second book in the Sacred Stones series by Kate Golden. He is an ancient, dragon-shifting Fae King who rules Lumera with absolute cruelty. His central goal throughout the novel is to obtain the Blade of the Sun, a sentient weapon that can kill him. The epigraph prophecy (Chapter 1) foretells that a king can only die at the hands of a girl—Arwen, the final full-blooded Fae. Lazarus manipulates events from the shadows, using allies like Halden and the traitor Amelia to capture Arwen and force her into a betrothal, ultimately intending to use her to produce pure Fae heirs now that the blade is destroyed.

Plot Role and Significance

From the opening chapters, Lazarus looms as the unseen threat. Kane’s rebellion fifty years prior failed because his father, Lazarus, crushed it, executing Kane’s brother Yale and mother. In the present timeline, Lazarus orchestrates the attack at Siren’s Bay through Halden’s betrayal (Chapter 23). He later appears in person as a wyvern, impaling Arwen during the climax (Chapter 46). In the epilogue (Chapter 49), he reveals he saved Arwen from death and has imprisoned her in Lumera, announcing their betrothal. His actions drive the entire conflict of the novel, forcing both Kane and Arwen to confront their fears and the prophecy that binds them.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Lazarus’s primary motivation is power—specifically the creation of a dynasty of full-blooded Fae heirs. He states explicitly that he has desired this for over two thousand years (Chapter 49). His cruelty is evident in his past: he killed his own wife and firstborn son to devastate Kane. He manipulates others, using Halden as a pawn and leveraging the prophecy to capture Arwen. He demonstrates strategic patience, allowing Kane to locate the Blade of the Sun before seizing both the weapon and the girl. His ability to read minds (noted in the epilogue) adds a layer of psychological torment to his tyranny. He is cold, calculating, and devoid of empathy, viewing others as tools for his ambitions.

Chronological Arc

Lazarus’s arc in A Promise of Peridot is one of gradual revelation. In early chapters, he is a distant threat—Kane’s hatred of him is established in Chapter 2, and the prophecy references a king doomed by his second son. Mid-novel, his influence is felt through Halden’s betrayal (Chapter 23) and the revelation that he allied with Kings Gareth and Thales (Chapter 6). In the climax (Chapters 44-46), he appears directly, impaling Arwen. The epilogue shows him triumphant: he has the blade destroyed, Arwen captive, and his plan for heirs set in motion. His arc ends with him in complete control, having outmaneuvered both Kane and Arwen.

Relationships

Kane (son): Lazarus views Kane as a failed tool, obsessed with revenge (Chapter 36). He calls Kane “the dragon child” and mocks his rebellion. Despite killing Kane’s mother and brother, Lazarus keeps Kane alive, possibly for further manipulation.
Arwen: He sees her as a vessel for his dynasty. In the epilogue, he pats her thigh and announces their betrothal, dismissing her defiance. He respects only her ability to kill him (now gone with the blade) and her capacity to bear his children.
Halden: A former friend of Arwen who betrays her to serve Lazarus (Chapter 23). Lazarus uses Halden as a lieutenant; after Halden is killed, Lazarus discards his remains.
Amelia: Kane’s ally who betrays him to Lazarus (Chapter 47). Lazarus likely promised her something to secure her loyalty.
Yale and mother: Killed by Lazarus to punish Kane. This backstory underlines his absolute ruthlessness.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Destroying the Blade of the Sun: In his wyvern form, Lazarus causes the blade to be lost (implied destroyed) after impaling Arwen (Chapter 47). This ensures he cannot be killed by it, forcing Arwen and Kane to seek alternative ways to defeat him.
Saving Arwen: Instead of letting her die, he heals her and imprisons her (Chapter 49). This decision enables his plan for heirs but also keeps his prophesied killer alive—a potential vulnerability.
Using Halden and Amelia: He orchestrates attacks to capture Arwen and the blade, but his reliance on subordinates leads to Halden’s death and eventual betrayal by Amelia when she is exposed. Still, his long-term plan succeeds.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Prophecy and Fate: Lazarus is both a product and a challenger of prophecy. The foretelling (Chapter 1) that he can only die at Arwen’s hands drives his actions. He attempts to subvert it by destroying the blade and forcing a new reality.
Grief and Emotional Numbness: Lazarus’s cruelty stems from his own lack of emotion—he kills without remorse. His actions contrast with Arwen’s journey to heal grief.
Love vs. Revenge: Lazarus embodies the choice of revenge over love. Kane’s hatred of him nearly consumes him, but Lazarus himself feels no love, only a need for legacy.
Trust and Betrayal: Lazarus thrives on betrayal—he suborns Halden and Amelia, ensuring Kane’s trust is broken repeatedly.
Vulnerability and Healing: Lazarus’s only vulnerability is the blade and Arwen. By neutralizing both, he appears invulnerable, but his reliance on Arwen’s womb also shows a twisted dependency. The epilogue shatters Arwen’s hope, a key theme of healing deferred.

Key Questions and Answers

Why does Lazarus save Arwen after impaling her?
Explicit fact: In the epilogue (Chapter 49), Lazarus explains: “I would never kill you, dear Arwen. In fact, I need you. For you shall give me . . . full-blooded Fae heirs.” He heals her to use her as a breeder now that the blade is destroyed.
How does Lazarus know Arwen is the prophesied one?
Explicit fact: Beth the seer (Chapter 35) reveals Arwen is the final full-blooded Fae, daughter of a Fae God. Lazarus likely learned through spies and the seer network—Halden captured Arwen for him (Chapter 23). Additionally, the prophecy foretold a king who can only die at a girl’s hands, and Arwen’s identity is known to Lazarus by the time of the climax.
What is Lazarus’s relationship with Kane?
Explicit fact: Kane is his son from a rebellion fifty years ago (Chapter 36). Lazarus executed Kane’s brother Yale and his wife (Kane’s mother) to punish him. Lazarus calls Kane “the dragon child” and treats him as a failed adversary. In the epilogue, he expects Kane to come for Arwen and plans to torment him further.
What does Lazarus plan to do with Arwen after the Blade of the Sun is destroyed?
Explicit fact: He declares, “Now that the blade has been destroyed, neither you nor any of our true Fae children can harm me . . . Together, we will repopulate this once-flourishing land with true, pure Fae.” He forces her into a betrothal (Chapter 49).
How does Lazarus manipulate events in the first half of the novel?
Explicit fact: He uses Halden to capture Arwen in Reaper’s Cavern (Chapters 22-23), and he has a second seer who helps him track the blade. He also allied with Kings Gareth and Thales (Chapter 6) to pressure Broderick. Later, Amelia betrays Kane’s location because she is working for Lazarus (Chapter 47). His indirect control tightens throughout until his direct appearance.

Note: Interpretations above are clearly distinguished from explicit facts. For instance, that Lazarus is “cold and calculating” is an inference based on his dialogue and actions; his exact words about heirs are direct evidence.