The marriage between Varner Hilts and Iliano Merko gave Iliana Merko, the head of the Sisters of Seelah, the opportunity to partake in Hilts' control over the Tribe. To prevent her from attempting to seize his throne, Hilts made sure that his spouse would be killed upon his death, a custom started by Yaru Korsin. Subsequently, they had a daughter named Takara Hilts, who, twenty-five years later, participated in Dreypa's rebellion.