Martal was the commander of the Jourilan Army of Reform, nicknamed the Black Queen because of her all-black garb: a dark dusty hauberk, heavy iron bands over mail, leggings, boots and gloves. She claimed to be from Katakan. Her complexion was smooth, the hue of dark honey, her black hair thick and bristly, hacked short and touched with grey. She was thick-boned and her nose was flattened and canted aside, crushed long ago by some fearsome blow. Her voice was flat and rough, her lips full but grim, and her eyes were sharp and dismissive.