Sibeth Kane is a main character in SEE. She is frequently opposed to the Alkenny Tribe's interests. Divine Ruler and absolute monarch of the Payan Kingdom, and member of the House of Kane, aloof and beautiful Queen Kane is the ruthless spiritual, military, and political head of the last remaining society that still has electrical power. Her Palace was the still functioning Kanzua Dam, the electricity of which was part of the religion of her rule.
As the apparent God-given ruler of every tribe in her region, Queen Kane exercises her power ruthlessly in order to assert her position. She murders anyone who spreads heresy about the sense of sight, classifying them as witches or heretics. As such, one man called Jerlamarel is her latest target. She sends Witchfinder General Tamacti Jun and his army on a twenty-year commission to hunt down Jerlamarel and his children who are born with sight.
Biography[]
Retaining power[]
Queen Sibeth Kane is the ruler of the Payan Kingdom. When the heretic Jerlamarel leaves her, she dispatches the Witchfinder General, Tamacti Jun, to find him and bring him back to Kanzua. The Queen receives word from Tamacti that he had failed to capture Jerlameral, but that he had sired children. Fearful of the possibility that Jerlameral may have passed his sight onto his offspring, the Queen orders that Tamacti's army is to find both Jerlameral and his children. Her own royal council advise a different course of action, since the power from the holy river is failing and Lord Dune believes that they need their best soldiers to return home.[1]
As Tamacti Jun continues his search for Jerlameral and his children over the years, Queen Kane begins to have to deal with discontent in Kanzua. As the engines of the holy dam begin to fail, the people believe that God's favor is leaving them. In an attempt to bring Tamacti Jun and his soldiers home, a conspiracy including Lord Sak, Lady Zee, and Lord Carne forges a message from him asking to return home. Queen Kane roots out the conspiracy, killing Lord Sak personally, and executing Lady Zee and Lord Carne through execution.[2]
Fearing that her power is weakening amongst her courtiers, Queen Kane kills the entire Parliament before shutting off the power of the dam, ultimately leading to the destruction of the Payan village. The Queen explains to Tamacti that she needed to do that in order to re-establish her hold over the kingdom. The Kanzua Dam is what kept her family in power all those years, and she doesn't want to feel important only because a dam is working. She wants to be the Queen because it is her right.
Bringing sight into the world[]
With Kanzua destroyed and having recovered Princess Maghra, Queen Kane needs a new capital city and settles on Pennsa, ruled by Lord Harlan. She consecrates the city and makes an announcement - she is pregnant with sighted child.
Queen Sibeth is keen to do battle with Trivantes who she tells people destroyed Kanzua. Discussing with the Council of State she feels the need for a Council of War which raises concern among members, who cite defences that need bolstering in Payan territories. This feeling is amplified when Maghra questions the Queen's decision, highlighting friction within the monarchy. This friction is magnified when Harlan suggests a marriage alliance with the Queen. Instead of accepting the offer for herself, she offers her sister for this marriage instead.
Sitting with her sister, Queen Kane reveals the loss of the baby she carried. Maghra comforts her and the Queen convinces Maghra to marry Harlan to protect sighted children. During the arranged wedding the Queen gets some alone time with Kofun and tries to form a bond.
While preparing for war the Queen argues with her allies about the number of soldiers they are able to provide and wants as many as can possibly be obtained. She later has another debate with Maghra about the war and ways it can be won without bloodshed. The Queen is eventually convinced by her sister to negotiate with Trivantes. This is with the caveat that Trivantes must apologise for the attack on Kanzua.
After the arrival of Baba Voss and Haniwa to Pennsa, the Queen invites the family to dinner to discuss current affairs and Maghra's pending trip to meet the Trivantian delegation. After dinner, she meets with Kofun and tells him her dark secret and what he means to her. They continue to meet: going on a horse ride. and indulging in Thornflower, which results in an intimate relationship and a future baby.
The talks with Trivantes fail and the later private ones also fail after the Trivantian delegation are killed in a night assault. It is deduced Queen Kane is responsible for these assailants.
Preparing for battle, Queen Kane is deposed from her throne by Maghra and Tamacti Jun. They wish to execute her but upon learning she is with child, she is spared. During the battle, Maghra sits with Kane. There, Sibeth reveals Kofun is the father of her son. Maghra doesn't believe her and tries to strangle her. Sparing her, Maghra exits.
Kane later discusses her child with Paris, before killing her.
Protecting her baby[]
Sibeth gives birth in the Palace and is assisted by Maghra and a midwife. The baby was born in the sac (veiled birth) but lived. Sibeth decided to call it Wolffe after her father the King. Initially refusing to give the baby to Sibeth for a feeding, Maghra eventually concedes to giving the baby to her to be fed. Sibeth promises the baby she will not let it be taken away from her.[3]
Later, Sibeth is comforting her baby and Kofun walks in to see her and the baby. Sibeth says that Kofun made the baby with her and is denying it exists. She gives Wolffe to Kofun to hold and she quickly gets the baby back, then Kofun leaves. Maghra follows soon after, where she asks Sibeth if she’s hurt Kofun enough and what it is with Sibeth’s need to strike those around her. Sibeth says it is her ability to rule that does that which Maghra lacks. Wolffe is taken away from Sibeth by Maghra, who cites Sibeth will corrupt him as she did Kofun.[4]
Appearances[]
- Season 1
- "Godflame" (First appearance)
- "Message in a Bottle"