Tarquine Iquar

Tarquine Iquar, is the Minister of Finance and a key player in the politics of the Eubian Concord in Catherine Asaro's novels regarding the Saga of the Skolian Empire.
Tarquine is a Highton Aristo, a member of the ruling class in Eubian Concord. She is head of the Iquar line and aunt to Viquara Iquar, who was married to the late Eubian Emperor Ur Qox. Tarquine was briefly married in her youth but divorced soon, having thus no legitimate offspring. She values her independence and prefers enjoying charms of her provider slaves to an arranged Highton marriage.
She is beautiful, very intelligent but ambitious, intrigant, unscrupulous and calculating. When we are first introduced to her, she is already over 100 years old (but looks young due to advanced anti-aging treatments) and a wealthy, powerful and dangerous woman.
Tarquine is also one of the very few Aristos who had the removed from her brain because she began to hate how her transcending inflicted pain on others but could not resist the temptation of transcendence. She however has to keep this secret, as she would lose her title and property, maybe even life, if this ever became known.
She was for a short time the owner of Skolian Imperator Kelric, after he was caught by Eubian pirates and sold on a slave auction. Determined to possess him, Tarquine didn't hesisate to pay incredible 14 million credits for him, the highest price ever paid for a provider. Kelric's escape after only a couple of days was a big disappointment for her.
After Jaibriol III ascends the Eubian throne, Tarquine becomes his wife and Empress of Eube. During his early reign Tarquine is highly involved in major Eubian political plots, including the platinum scandals and the assassination of ESComm Joint Commanders General Kryx Taratus and Admiral Xirad Kaliga. She also attends peace talks that end with the Paris peace treaty between Eubian Concord and Skolian Imperialate. To her shock, she developed genuine feelings for her much younger husband, seeking to promote his idealistic goals not because she believed in them, but for his sake.

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