Tyene Sand
Tyene Sand is the third of the Sand Snakes, the eight bastard daughters of Prince Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne. Her mother was a septa, and Tyene was raised with a deep knowledge of the Faith of the Seven, which she combines with her father's legacy of poison and deception. She is described as having a child-woman's appearance, with blue eyes and blond hair, and she often presents herself as a modest, innocent maiden. This guise is a deliberate weapon; her soft, pale hands are as deadly as her sister Obara's callused ones, and she is a skilled poisoner. Her sweet voice and gentle giggles mask a ruthless and calculating mind, making her one of the most dangerous of Oberyn's daughters.
Imprisonment and Release
Following the death of their father, Prince Oberyn, at the hands of Ser Gregor Clegane, the Sand Snakes were confined by their uncle, Prince Doran Martell, to prevent them from starting a war with House Lannister. Tyene was held in a cell in the Spear Tower of Sunspear. She was released alongside her sisters Obara and Nymeria to attend a feast in the Old Palace, where the skull of Ser Gregor Clegane was presented as a gift from King Tommen. During the feast, Tyene and her sisters were summoned to Prince Doran's solar, where he revealed the truth of his long-term plans and the danger of the Lannister invitation. He demanded their oaths of loyalty, which Tyene swore on her father's grave.
Mission to King's Landing
Prince Doran tasked each of the three Sand Snakes with a specific role in his scheme to undermine the Iron Throne. Tyene was given a mission that played to her unique skills. Because her mother was a septa who had read to her from the Seven-Pointed Star in the cradle, Doran decided she should go to King's Landing and get close to the new High Septon. The Faith Militant, the Swords and the Stars, had been re-formed, and this High Septon was not the puppet that previous ones had been. Tyene was to use her knowledge of the Faith and her innocent appearance to infiltrate the Most Devout and gain influence over the High Septon. She remarked that white suited her coloring and that she looked "so pure," a perfect disguise for her deadly purpose. Prince Doran promised to send word to each of them if certain things should come to pass, indicating that Tyene's role was part of a larger, unfolding plan for Dorne.
Character and Significance
Tyene Sand embodies the Martell motto, "Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken," through her combination of religious piety and lethal intent. Her character is a study in contrasts: the sweet septa's daughter who is also a master poisoner, the gentle girl who is utterly without mercy toward her family's enemies. She is fiercely loyal to her father's memory and her uncle's cause, and she is willing to use any means necessary to achieve Dorne's vengeance. Her mission to the capital places her at the heart of the political and religious conflicts in King's Landing, making her a potentially pivotal figure in the coming wars. She represents the patient, insidious threat of Dorne, a viper hidden in the grass, waiting for the moment to strike.
