Abelard Whitfield cuts an imposing figure in Alchester's merchant circles, his considerable girth and expensive attire—burgundy velvet coats with silk linings—projecting the success of a man who denies himself nothing. Born to factory workers of modest means, he developed deep respect for his father's work ethic while nurturing contempt for the man's lack of ambition, viewing him as "a fool for never wanting more for himself and his family." This contradiction became the driving force behind Abelard's relentless pursuit of wealth, transforming him from a working-class child into one of Kallendor's most feared businessmen through the systematic elimination of ethical constraints and ruthless pragmatism.
A master of manipulative charm who can make even rivals believe they're dealing with a friend, Abelard wields warm smiles and theatrical sympathy as weapons while plotting devastating financial warfare behind the scenes. His wine empire spans multiple vineyards including the prized Seacean coastal property that produces his award-winning Crusus Sabeler syrah, acquired through the systematic destruction of the Holloway family—he purchased William Holloway's debts from multiple banks, called them due simultaneously, then used his influence to block every avenue of escape until the family was forced to sell their three-generation legacy for a fraction of its worth. When William died six months later from what everyone understood as a broken spirit, Abelard viewed it as a natural consequence of inferior business practices, maintaining the emotional detachment that allows him to sleep soundly while his actions destroy lives and families.
Once I let the host know who I was meeting, he ushered me into a quiet back room where flickering candlelight illuminated a table laden with a king’s feast. Only one person sat at the table, his fork and knife putting on such a display of carving into roast mutton, slicing fresh asparagus, and spearing honeyed cakes that his demonstration made my knife work look amateurish. At my arrival, the pudgy-faced individual lifted his utensils in greeting, but that was all since his mouth was otherwise occupied.
“Good evening, Abelard,” I said, pulling out a chair.
Abelard swallowed heavily. “Good evening, my friend. Please, help yourself.” He waved his knife across the feast.
“No, thanks,” I said. “I already ate. But I will take a glass of whatever you’re drinking.”
“Of course!”
- THE ASSASSIN’S CUNNING / THE SHADOW CODE
Abelard's brush with death at the hands of an assassin hired by Steven Holloway fundamentally transformed him from a risk-averse businessman into someone with what he describes as "an assassin's cold detachment." Faced with imminent evisceration, he demonstrated remarkable composure and negotiating skill, trading five years of premium wine deliveries for his life when the killer's blade was thwarted by a money belt. This experience awakened dormant courage and strategic thinking, teaching him that he possessed reservoirs of strength he had not known existed and fundamentally altered his approach to danger and conflict.
When Steven Holloway attempted to continue his vendetta, Abelard responded with devastating efficiency, showcasing his evolution into a strategic predator. Using his extensive network through the Silver Gentlemen's Club and his import/export business, Land's Edge Trading Company, he systematically traced Steven's financial preparations, froze his assets through creative legal maneuvering, and ultimately confronted him as a broken man stripped of resources and hope. This victory—more elegant and thorough than violence could have achieved—emboldened Abelard to consider involvement in increasingly ambitious schemes. Operating under a philosophy where superior individuals naturally dominate those who are inferior, his recent experiences have reinforced this worldview while adding new dimensions of personal courage, suggesting that his most dangerous days may lie ahead.
FIRST APPEARANCE
Abelard first appears in The Assassin's Blade (Assassin Without a Name Book One).
