Countess ir’Hilyark Flees Wedding; Whereabouts Unknown

FAIRHAVEN—The Hilyark family is searching for Countess Kehrlique ir’Hilyark, who disappeared from the family compound in Fairhaven on Zol, the eve of her wedding.

The bride’s father, Jarran ir’Hilyark, pleaded for information about his daughter’s whereabouts.

“I know everyone thinks this is a case of ‘cold feet,’ but my daughter has been looking forward to this day for years,” he said. “Tongues are wagging about this, but I ask you to remember that this girl has a mother worried sick about her. She has a six-year-old brother who wants to search every house in Fairhaven, tears in his eyes.”

“Please, if you know where my daughter is, tell us. We only want to know that she’s safe,” he said.

Because Kehrlique attended Morgrave University in Sharn and has many friends in the city, she may have traveled to Breland, Jarran ir’Hilyark said.

Vandrich d’Orien, ir’Hilyark’s fiancé, has promised House Orien’s assistance in making sure his bride is found safe.

House Orien agents are interviewing everyone involved with the wedding but keeping a low profile, guests said.

“It’s a bit awkward to have the groom’s family hunting for the bride,” one prominent wedding guest said on condition of anonymity. “On the one hand, of course they should help. On the other hand, maybe the bride doesn’t want to be found by the groom.”

The postponed wedding marks another blow to the fortunes of the Hilyark family. Last month, the Hilyarks lost a land dispute covering thousands of acres of prime vineyards between Passage and Bluevine. Kehrlique ir’Hilyark’s maternal uncle, Corso ir’Hilyark, was among the passengers on the Blue Malia, sunk this summer in Scions Sound. And a Hilyark-financed bridge over the Aundair river northeast of Fairhaven, intended as a gift to the crown, has had work halted several times due to cost overruns.

Also missing from the Hilyark compound are Nendra Bachain, a Hilyark family servant, and Macham Turrisaud, Kerlique ir’Hilyark’s bodyguard.