Commander Jackal
Commander Jackal is one of the most influential Swordmaster Commanders in the City, and the man who despises Gideon most. Yet in Gideon's recurring dream of the future, Jackal stands beside him as his right-hand man.
The Commander
Jackal makes no secret of his contempt for Gideon's newly formed squad. He calls them “under-achieving losers,” labels three of them “misfits,” and quietly tells his field leader Maleek to use them as “sacrificial pawns” if needed, and to make sure they earn no credit. When Sharon's insult reaches his ears, he invents a rule on the spot to humiliate her.
It was not always this way. Gideon and Jackal were good friends as teenagers, until something tore them apart.
In the Prologue
Two decades into the war, Jackal is the Paladin leader Gideon's right-hand man, standing at the door of Hezekiah's throne room. When Gideon hesitates to risk his wife's life, Jackal pushes him to finish the war: “Sacrifices are necessary to win wars, Gideon.”
Spoilers up to Chapter 14Tap to reveal
Jackal is the older brother of Xing, Gideon's best friend, who was killed twelve years ago while the three of them rescued students from the schools of their former city. Jackal has never forgiven Gideon. He resents Gideon's charisma and his “desire to play hero,” and tells him: “Those who follow your leadership usually don't have a happy ending.” He was the one who exposed Itoshi's work with New Haven, and he suspects Gideon of the same.
Spoilers: EpilogueTap to reveal
The Epilogue is told by Jackal himself. Lord Wrazen orders his division to suppress New Haven, and Jackal resolves to find a way through its portals and kill its leader, Shadowman, hoping his apprentice Maleek is still alive for an exchange. Then an anonymous note arrives, signed “Your spy”: the way into New Haven will open soon, and there is a traitor on his own side helping New Haven.
