Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of violence and animal cruelty.

Alaric’s gloves, which he wears almost constantly, are a symbol of his guarded emotions. Alaric wears gloves whether he’s dressed in his full regalia or his training gear, but there are several notable moments throughout the text when he removes his gloves. He is not wearing gloves at the feast before Surakwel’s arrival, but he puts the gloves back on prior to his duel with Surakwel. At the feast, he touches Talasyn’s sleeve in a strange display of near affection. Without his gloves, his feelings are more apparent, and his attraction to Talasyn is obvious. With his gloves, he returns to the facade of the brutal leader of the Shadowforged Legion and Night Emperor, hiding his emotions again.

At the royal wedding, Alaric also forgoes his gloves, leaving his hands bare as he holds hands with Talasyn while they exchange vows. The feeling of Talasyn’s skin, while she repeats the vows to love and cherish him forever, affects him emotionally, and he cannot stifle his feelings even as he believes that Talasyn does not mean what she says. He regrets leaving his gloves behind as he thinks, “He should never have eschewed formal gloves.