Aidan, the duke of Ravenwood; the Republic’s army commander
Samantha, the duchess of Ravenwood; daughter of King Martin
Sophia, their young daughter; or the gamechanger, as Phelan calls her
Craig, a veteran mercenary; seeking an honorable death
Phelan, now a captain
Sebastian, a prince who swore loyalty to a republic; wary of his father’s reaction
THE THREE FRIENDS
Dalia, a former dancer who works for Simon Lezar
Julia, a noblewoman in Paradise
Isabella D’Saron, the queen of the Kingdom of Baden
In Ravenwood
GUNNAR HITA’S SCOUT COMPANY
Gunnar, a captain; expanding the company to a hundred men
Sturla, a lieutenant; a quiet, competent man
Ari, Gunnar’s best sergeant
Einar, a corporal who bonded to a Soul Sword
Kormak, a romantic
Hamundar, the youngest member of the company
Gunnlaug, slightly older and wiser than Hamundar
Vigland, at least as reckless as Hamundar
Bjarni, a sergeant; master of his weapons, and lucky
Eirik, a corporal always watching over his men
Skarphedin, a large man of deep faith
Karlsefni, a much larger man than Skarphedin, which is impressive
Ref, a man who knows how to find a good meal
Snorri, a grouchy, negative sort
Leif, the quiet, watchful sergeant; a hard man to get to know
Gudmund, the patient corporal
Bergthor, one of the “three troublemakers”; a nose for good loot
Haflidi, something of a hypochondriac
Bjorn, the second of the troublemakers
Gisli, the third of the troublemakers
Skuli, a segeant; close friend to Ari
Kollsvein, a steady corporal
Grettir, a man who values friendship
Hallfred, a berserker in battle
Rolf, a man of many questions
Thorgil, a calm man
OTHER OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS OF THE REPUBLIC
Ian, originally a sergeant, the first to join Craig’s company
Derek Johanson, a general in Ravenwood; held Barden’s Fortress
Darrel Cooperson, captain of Paradise Watch
Arnaldo, former independent mercenary captain
Leander, former independent mercenary captain
Kadeg, a miner and Aidan’s siege engineer
Clement, a friend of Sebastian’s; attended the Academy of War
Erik, a former merchant; captain of ships
Gaius, a lawyer and philosopher; speaker of the Assembly
Rolf, a baker’s apprentice who joined at Barden’s Fortress
Simon Lezar, a merchant; arranges for Gloriana’s new bodyguard
Ahern, a former dyer’s apprentice and tough mercenary
Farrell, now a baronet and captain of a company
Anghus, a corporal; a farmer whose ideas will change the world
Quinn, formerly the Ravenwood master of arms
Gavin Lezar, a ship captain; commands Simon’s special operations
Valerian, the exile; a former general of the Tiberian Empire
Brand, a Celdon and former brother in Egil’s company
Manuel, of Northport, Raul’s son
Vaugn, a former cadet of artillery
Orlando Sorenson, captain of the Baden’s Queen’s Guard
OTHER RAVENWOOD LOYALISTS
Gloriana, the wife of Cedric
Marstens, a merchant and Simon Lezar’s chief clerk
Emily, a cook’s daughter
Bevan, a judge appointed by Duke Cedric to combat corruption
Peter, Simon’s older brother
Oscar, Farrell’s sergeant
Renana, Farrell’s wife
Alistair, Farrell’s steward
Wynne, a older baron; a risk-adverse man
THE ALLIES
Gillian Whiterose, leader of the Bladedancers
Pelion, one of Gillian’s field commanders; also, Aidan’s teacher
Randolph, first chair of the University of Khartras
Silver, a captain in Simon’s service
Martin, king of Khartras; father of troublesome children
William, crown prince of Khartras; intrigue is his catnip
Tullus, the First Legion’s commander; descended from refugees
Peter, reluctant treasurer of Khartras
Francesca, Port Liberty’s duchess; about to receive a surprise
Edgar, leader of House Norfolk; Simon’s rival
Tancred, a captain of the Port Liberty marines
Valerian, former general; now advising his blood brother
Veki, war leader of the southern nomads
Akikta, clan leader of the Swift Waters Clan
Ramesh, shaman of the Swift Waters Clan
Maurelle, so-called queen of the Three Rivers
Norwood, a colonel in the Three Rivers Army
Owen, Ravenwood’s finest swordsmith
Donald, a young weaponsmith in Aidan’s service
Alexin, a mysterious mage who remembers ancient times
THE MERRY BAND
Konrad, at the least, a powerful and ancient mage
Big William, stronger than he looks
Lady Trouble, a mischievous woman; possibly a psychopath
Madame Lovely, a woman who keeps poets awake all night
John Berry, quiet, polite, and deadly
Teacher, perhaps the most knowledgeable human in existence
THE CHURCH
Pontiff Amadei, the anointed leader of the old church
Giuseppe, a cardinal
Brother Egil, the Dedicated’s commander; supports Craig’s Band
Caedmon, a Celdon monk; a catalyst of the revolution
THE DECEASED
Cedric, former duke of Ravenwood; Aidan’s father
The Stradagh Elders
IMBODEN’S VANGUARD
Imboden, war leader of the Fire Tribe
Crassius, leader of the Earth Tribe
Abatu, leader of the Water Tribe
Basra the Archer, leader of the Wind Tribe
Scarus, leader of the Punishment Tribe
Melkar, leader of the Money Tribe
Deber, leader of the Pleasure Tribe
Uriel, leader of the Power Tribe
In the Tiberian Empire
THE RULING ESTATE
Marcus, the Tiberian emperor; determined to finish his father’s work
Felicity, the empress; devoted to her husband and dangerous to his enemies
Antimonus, the patriarch of the northern church; too cozy with emperors
Brian, the duke and warden of the northern marches; a young man
