Alexander Saburov

Alexander Saburov (Александр Сабуров) is the husband of Katerina Saburova and is in charge of the Town's legal matters and criminal prosecution.

Description
A quiet, intelligent man who prefers to listen rather than speak; he analyzes all interactions. He is an honest and stern ruler. Saburov is described as having a special kind of heroism, owing to his sense of incorruptible justice. He believes that any criminal must be punished fully and he does not let his own personal feelings affect his rulings or punishments.

While he is a rationalist, he shows a strong belief in the mystic powers of his wife. He has great respect for Katerina and consults her on all important matters. He takes her prophecies very seriously, and often forms opinion based on her visions.

Background
Saburov first gained renown and respect after a large fire in the Skinner's district: he broke into burning houses, armed with nothing but a gaff, and extinguished the flames. He did not personally tell anyone about the incident—it became known by accident, along with his notoriety.

Yulia's take on him:
«He is a husband worthy of his wife. Whatever power each one of the ruling houses possesses is predicated upon a kind of dependable amalgamation between the preternatural power wielded by the Mistress and the magisterial injunctions issued by the head of the family. However, Katerina is known to be sterile, which leaves Saburov with nothing but brute domineering. As soon as the moment is right, Saburov will attempt to seize absolute administrative power. In doing so he will compensate himself for the debilitating misery of his spouse.»

Rubin's take:
«Alexander is a hero. When fire broke out in the Skinners, he took a pike pole into his own hands to break into burning houses, save people, and put out fire. That's just how it was. Curiously enough, he kept his incognito back then and emerged from the ordeal unrecognized; neither did he flaunt his feat later. The truth came out accidentally. That is a very typical situation; Alexander is just that—an everyday hero who often demands no credit.»