Brint is a lieutenant in the Union Army and one of Jezal dan Luthar's drinking buddies in Adua.
Personality[]
Brint is the youngest and poorest of the group of friends. He can't really afford to lose money gambling, but he plays anyway to fit in. He's often picked on by Jezal.
History[]
The Blade Itself[]
Brint spends much of his time in Adua, drinking, gambling and womanizing with his friends Major West, Captain Luthar, and Lieutenants Kaspa and Jalenhorm. When Brint makes some crude comments about Collem West's sister, Ardee, Jezal reacts with an aggression that surprises even himself.
Before They Are Hanged[]
Brint ships out with most of the others to the war in Angland against Bethod's Northmen. He is in Lord Marshall Burr's division when news of the crushing defeat of Prince Ladisla's division reaches the camp. He is also among the three officers who greet West after weeks of tramping through the cold and barren north.
The Last Argument of Kings[]
When West was risen to Lord Marshall of the army, Brint served as a member of his staff. During the battle in the High Places, he was involved in the Union charge that routed Bethod's army. In the aftermath of the battle, he is seen cradling the body of poor dead Lieutenant Kaspa.
He remains on West's staff when the Union Army return to Adua in order to defeat the Gurkish in the Battle of Adua. During the battle, he was sent to find General Poulder, only to find he had died leading a charge. In the aftermath of the victory, he was promoted to Captain.
Bayaz reveals to Jezal dan Luthar that he also placed a lowborn bastard, whom he wished to potentially later raise to kingship, in the Brint family. As he is a similar age to Jezal, it is highly possible that Captain Brint is this child.
The Heroes[]
By this time, Brint has been promoted to Colonel, probably through King Jezal's influence. Brint is among the officers of the Union Army sent to war in the North to bring Black Dow to heel. His wife Aliz dan Brint accompanies him, despite how dangerous it might be with the army. During the decisive battle, his wife is taken captive by Stranger-Come-Knocking and his men, and is never seen again. He also lost an arm during the conflict.
Red Country[]
By this time, Brint has since been promoted to General. His wife is still missing, as well as his entire sense of humour as one character comments. He is charged with suppressing a rebellion led by someone called Conthus in Rostod in Starikland, where the peasants seek to leave the Union. After successfully crushing the rebellion's last stand in Mulkova, any surviving rebels flee into the Near Country, including the leader.
A Little Hatred[]
In the intervening years, Brint has been promoted to one of the two Lord Marshals, alongside Lord Marshal Rucksted. When Prince Orso gets the notion of leading a campaign against Stour Nightfall, he visits Brint to raise an army, but quickly learns the difficulty of getting anything done in the Union; without funding Brint can do nothing. Orso eventually does raise a Crown Prince’s regiments thanks to Savine's money, with Colonel Forest appointed as his second-in-command on Brint's recommendation.
The Trouble With Peace[]
Lord Marshal Brint remains a member of the Closed Council under King Orso, dealing with the grey world of civilian politics, rather than the black-and-white of a good soldier. Meanwhile, the king is warned by an anonymous friend of a conspiracy to overthrow the government with a spy on his Closed Council; later confirmed by King Jappo of Styria.
Orso sets in motion his scheme to expose the spy. He summons an emergency meeting of his Closed Council, where he dramatically announces Arch Lector Glokta’s resignation due to an imminent rebellion, led by his son-in-law, Lord Governor Brock of Angland. Brint rushed from the meeting to warn his fellow conspirator, Lord Heugen. However, Vick dan Teufel tracks him to the bathhouse, which is soon swamping with Practicals. When the two men plead innocence, she turns to Tallow who is disguised as an attendant and overheard everything. Brint keeps tight-lipped, but a few slaps gets Heugen to betray everything and everyone. Realizing that he's been exposed, Brint gives his reasons for betraying the crown: his bitterness at the sacrifices he's had made for the Union, including his arm and his wife; his resentment that the Closed Council abandoned Angland against Scale Ironhand; and his belief that the Union is controlled by the banking house of Valint and Balk.
Inquisitor Teufel takes his ring, the one that had once belonged to his wife, and later uses it to trick the other conspirators into believing that she is a messenger sent by Brint.
The Wisdom of Crowds[]
Brint is released from prison when The Breakers seize Adua and the Agriont. He cheers support for Leo dan Brock - “The Young Lion!” - when the war hero is lifted onto the shoulders of a passionate crowd. He notes Gunnar Broad’s usefulness in keeping order during the new chaos of the Great Change.
Brint is made a General in the People’s Army, the new military force of the Union, and is tasked with attempting to combat the Royalist forces in the East, led by Lord Marshal Forest. During a meeting in the Common Round - the new name for the Lord’s Round, as now filled with elected representatives of the people -, Brint is critical of Spillion Sworbreck’s high-minded speeches that reflect little of the common people’s true desire for bread, safety and shelter. He is unsurprised by the appearance of Yoru Sulfur during the meeting- it would take a great deal to surprise him in these times.
During a later meeting, Brint defends the failure of the People’s Army by saying he has been forbidden from bringing talented, experienced soldiers who were once part of the King’s Own. His inability to navigate or bow to the hypocrisy and impractical ideology of the Breakers is noted as a disadvantage by Leo dan Brock. When Judge enters the room with her Burners and seizes control, Brint is unable to oppose her without the support of the silent Captain Broad. He and Chairman Risinau are sentenced to death- defenestration, to be pushed from the top of the Tower of Chains. Brint is shocked but puts up no resistance, as he, Risinau and several other members of the Assembly are handcuffed and taken out of the Common Round (although having only one arm, his handler is unable to restrain him properly).
He and several other members are marched to the Tower of Chains by Sarlby and Gunnar Broad. Whilst the other members rage, or beg, or cry, or protest their innocence, Brint is silent as he goes up the countless stairs of the Tower. When it is his turn at the top, he waves away the Burners handling him, and walks towards the box from which he must fall without a word. He took a breath, stepped up himself, and stepped off himself. He made no sound on the way down.
Of all the deaths that day, Brints is the only Gunnar Broad feels immediate regret over- he feels that the General was a good man, who had tried to do the right thing when everything fell apart.
With Brint’s death, the final member of the group of Jezal’s gambling and drinking companions from before his succession to the throne is gone.