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Welce
Primes
Zoe Ardelay Lalindar (coru)
The protagonist of the first book, during which she discovers that she is the new coru prime.Christara Lalindar (coru)
The former coru prime and Zoe's maternal grandmother.- Posthumous Character: She's dead before the first book begins, but it was her plotting and machinations that set things in motion- that is, the exile of Zoe's father Navarr.
Nelson Ardelay (sweela)
The current sweela prime, Zoe's uncle.Kurtis Ardelay (sweela)
Nelson's son and heir.Taro Frothen (torz)
The current torz prime.Mally Frothen (torz)
Taro's heir and great-niece.Kayle Dochenza (elay)
The current elay prime.- Cloud Cuckoolander: To say the least. He is commonly described by those meeting him for the first time to look like a madman.
Mirti Serlast (hunti)
The current hunti prime, Darien's aunt. Royalty
King Vernon (hunti)
Queen Elidon (elay)
Queen Seterre (hunti)
Queen Alys (sweela)
- Fiery Redhead: Embodying the trope both visually, in personality, and in terms of the in-universe classification.
Queen Romelle (torz)
Princess Josetta (elay)
Supposedly the eldest daughter of Vernon by his wife Seterre, she is actually fathered by Navarr Ardelay and is therefore Zoe's half-sister. She is co-protagonist of the second book together with her love interest Rafe.- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Once she isn't first in line for the throne, Josetta decides to start ministering to the poor in the Chialto slums, and eventually sets up a shelter.
Princess Corene (sweela)
Supposedly the second daughter of Vernon by his wife Alys, she is actually fathered by Darien. She is the protagonist of the third book.- Fiery Redhead: Of course.
Princess Natalie
Supposedly the third daughter of Vernon by his wife Romelle.Princess Odelia
The true daughter of Vernon and thus the heir to the throne as of Royal Airs, and removed from succession by the end of the book.Darien Serlast (hunti)
Celia Serlast
The daughter of Darien and Zoe. It's implied that she will be named as princess and heir once Darien ascends to the throne of Welce. Other Welchins
Leah Frothen (torz)
Taro's niece, Mally's mother. A spy for Darien, she is the protagonist of the fourth book.- Bastard Angst: Downplayed, but she has this coming and going, since her mother Rinda was so wild it's doubtful whether she and Leah's father actually married. When Leah herself got pregnant, Rhan's kneejerk refusal to have anything to do with her or the baby led to Leah abandoning the child when it was born to her uncle. Their reunion has Leah pondering the repercussions of her actions.
Rhan Ardelay (sweela)
Nelson's son, Mally's father.Annova and Calvin (both coru)
A couple who Zoe meets in her first days camping on the Marisi. They follow her into service when she is revealed as prime, and continue in that fashion in subsequent books.Jaker and Barlow
A couple who travel together as traders, specializing in exotic goods. Friends of Zoe.Foley (torz)
Bodyguard to Josetta, and later Corene when she runs away to Malinqua.- Bodyguard Crush: To Corene.
Rafe Adova aka Lerafi Filomar Kolavar Adova
A professional cardsharp who rescues Corene, later discovered to be a prince of two nations.Steff Adova aka Steffanolo Adova
The younger half-brother of Rafe, a prince of Malinqua.Yori (sweela)
A soldier under Darien's command, semi-secretly guarding Leah while she carries out her spying duties in Chialto.Other Nations
Malinqua
Empress Filomara
Garameno
The eldest nephew of Filomara by her youngest brother.- Obfuscating Disability: He used a horse accident as cover to pretend he could no longer walk, taking him out of the running for the next Emperor. His secret is revealed following the murder of Greggorio, who was in his chair when the murderer intended to attack him.
Jiramondi
The second nephew of Filomara.Greggorio
The youngest nephew of Filomara by the oldest of her brothers.Liramelli
The daughter of the Malinquan prefect.Teyta
A girl of Dhonshon descent, acquainted with Leah. Berringey
Prince Ghyaneth
Siacett
Cozique
Princess Melissande
Chandran
Dhonsho
Princess Alette
A princess of Dhonsho, she is in Malinqua as a prospective bride for one of the empress' nephews. However, she is really in love with someone from her home, and Corene and Leah help orchestrate a plan to get her out of the palace.- Driven to Suicide: She attempts to jump off the red tower in despair when she secretly learns that her father has had her mother and sister executed for her sister being unable to secure a marriage. Since Alette is in the same situation, she'd rather get there first. Luckily, she's stopped from doing so.
Cheelin Barlio
Alette's lover, who follows her to Malinqua hoping to rescue her. The Karkades
