'Game of Thrones' Season 6 Adds a New Red Priestess

Plenty of eyes will remain on Game of Thrones’ resident Red Priestess when Season 6 bows in 2016, but Melisandre won’t be the only scarlet sorceress making life interesting for our heroes. Season 6 as added to its ranks Melanie Liburd as a new emissary of the Lord of Light, but are her goals in line with Melisandre?

Deadline first reported the news, though mistakenly under the impression that Liburd’s new Red Priestess character would replace Carice van Houten in some capacity, as opposed to joining the number of priests we’ve already met. Set photos have placed Liburd’s character seemingly with Mereenese followers, which could confirm her factoring into Tyrion’s Mereen storyline.

Further supporting that theory, though by no means confirmation, early audition sides for a “Kinvara” seemingly fit Liburd’s new Red Priestess:

Herald: “You stand in the presence of Kinvara, High Priestess of the Red Temple of Volantis, the Flametruth, the light of wisdom, the first servant of the Lord of the Light.”
Tyrion: “Welcome to Meereen. That’s about the extent of my Valyrian. Do you mind if we continue in Common?”
*Kinvara nods*
Tyrion: “Thank you for traveling all this way. I know from personal experience how uncomfortable the journey can be. The truth is, we need your help. Our hope is that we can persuade you to, to …”
Kinvara: “You want my priests to convince the Meereenese that the city’s conqueror is the people’s savior.”
Tyrion/Varys: “We prefer liberator to conqueror.”
Kinvara: “You don’t have to persuade me of anything. I came to help. Daenerys Stormborn is the One Who Was Promised. From the fire, she was reborn … to remake the world.”
Tyrion: “Yes.”
Kinvara: “She freed the slaves from their chains and crucified the Masters for their sins.”
Tyrion/Varys: “She did indeed.”
Kinvara: “Her dragons are fire made flesh. A gift from the Lord of Light. But you’ve heard all of this before, haven’t you? On the Long Bridge of Volantis? The dragons purify nonbelievers by the thousands, burning their sins and flesh away.”
Tyrion/Varys: “Ideally, we’d avoid purifying many non-believers. The Mother of the Dragon has followers from many different faiths.”
Kinvara: “You want your queen to be worshiped and obeyed. And while she’s gone, you want her advisors to be worshiped and obeyed.”
Tyrion: “I’d settle for obeyed.”
Kinvara: “I will summon mummers and appoint priests. They will spread the word. Daenerys has been sent to lead the people against the darkness … for this war, and the Great War yet to come.”
Varys: “That sounds excellent. A man named Stannis Baratheon was appointed as the Chosen One by one of your priestesses. He too had a glorious destiny. He attacked King’s Landing, and was soundly defeated by the man standing beside me. Last I heard, he’d been defeated again. This time at Winterfell … and this time for good.”
*Kinvara turns her head as if responding to a new speaker, implying that Tyrion is the one who speaks the next line*
Tyrion: “We are grateful for any support you can provide the queen during this trying time.”
*Kinvara turns her head back – Varys speaking again?*
Varys: “I suppose it is hard for a fanatic to admit a mistake. Isn’t that the whole point of being a fanatic? You’re always right. Everything is the Lord’s will.”
Kinvara: “Everything is the Lord’s will. Men and women make mistakes … even honest servants of the Lord.”
Varys: “And you? An honest servant of the Lord? Why should I trust you any more than the priestess who counseled Stannis?”
Tyrion: “My friend has a healthy skepticism of religion, but we’re all loyal supporters of the Queen.”
Kinvara: “Everyone is what they are and where they are for a reason. Terrible things happen for a reason. Take what happened to you, Lord [Varys], when you were a child. If not for the mutilation by the second-rate sorcerer, you would not be here, helping the Lord’s Chosen bring light into this world. Knowledge has made you very powerful … but there is still so much you don’t know. Do you remember what you heard, the night the sorcerer tossed your parts into the flames? Should I tell you what the voice said? Should I tell you the name of the one who spoke or where it lives?”
*Kinvara laughs. Clearly, she has successfully unsettled Varys*
Kinvara: “We serve the same queen. If you are a true friend, you have nothing to fear from me.”
*Kinvara turns and departs*