Esclarmonde de Servian
(1149 – ? 1213)
The name Esclarmonde has two possible interpretations. Firstly, éclair du monde could mean 'light of the world'.
However, éclair doesn't just mean 'light' – it also means 'lightning'.
Esclarmonde de Servian is a Cathar believer, from the small town of Servian, about 12 km from Béziers. With Simeon the Bookmaker, she is also a member of a small secret society, the Noublesso de los Seres, dedicated to protecting three Egyptian parchments which contain the secret of the true Grail.
Esclarmonde is known for her skill as a healer and for her knowledge of herbs. She has been a good friend – almost a second mother – to Bertrand Pelletier's second daughter Alaïs, with whom she shares her vast medicinal knowledge. She also has some ability as a clairvoyant.
At the beginning of Labyrinth, Esclarmonde is living in Carcassonne with her 11-year-old great-grandson, Sajhë, who she has brought up since the death of her son and daughter-in-law. Esclarmonde is brave, a good judge of others. She knows – before they know it – that both Alaïs and Sajhë are destined to play a key role in the story of the Grail.
