XARI OTH'ILIN
Born a daughter of two different peoples, Xari spent her orphaned childhood a victim of prejudice and isolation. When she is chosen to be the Otter Speaker, she is given a new name, a new family, and a new purpose.
Xari was born in the country of Threnphol, but has chosen the warmer, more fair-minded country of Ithrin as her rightful home after the Swordmaster Burin Oth'ilin adopts her as his daughter and pupil.
As Speaker for House Otter, Xari has the gift of empathy. She can sense the emotions and anxieties of those around her, human, fairy, and brethren alike.
Xari's guardian and closest friend is Asheford, former Grand Magi of the fairy people.
ANATHRIEL LELAINE
Clever, ambitious, and driven, Anathriel has always achieved her aims. She is the most senior handmaiden to Lady Rillandra Kavela, who, with her husband, rules the powerful mountaintop city of Montressa.
Anathriel's newest aim is to secure the affections of Immen Corper, the Captain of Montressa's famous Windriders. Not even Immen's seeming indifference is enough to sway her from her cause.
Although she is brash and often selfish, Anathriel's wit and practicality make her more of an asset in a crisis than at first might meet the eye.
FLUTTERMOUSE (Flute)
Fluttermouse is a scatterbrained daydreamer who prefers adventures to her magic lessons. She dreams of the days from the old stories, when fairies were powerful beings of respect and renown, instead of cloistering away inside Fairlight Forest.
When Flute learns that a new speaker has been chosen in Montressa, she appoints herself the best choice for that new speaker's guardian, and sets off on a hasty quest to prove herself before her elders can stop her.
Despite her gift for making unintended trouble, Flute has a big heart, full of courage and faith in others.
ASHEFORD
Once the Grand Magi of Westfern Village, Asheford broke with his fairy kindred after a disagreement about the unexpected advent of new speakers. He stole the Otter relic and abandoned his own kind, choosing to protect Xari alone. Asheford is the only living fairy who has studied and successfully performed the Rite of Awakening, which brings a newly-chosen speaker into his or her power.
IMMEN CORPER
Newly-elected Captain of the Windriders, Immen holds a prestigious position in the city of Montressa. He is a talented eagle rider, and steady and dutiful in his character. Immen unwittingly gains the attention of the fairy kind when they detect the presence of a new potential speaker and discover that Immen's family is descended from speakers of old.
ZETH RELLWYN
Zelenthrius Rellywn is a term-slave, bound to a sentence of indentured servitude from his childhood. Though term-slavery is legal in Montressa, it is meant to be voluntary, and Zeth was forced into it against his will. He is a close friend to Immen Corper's family. When the chance arises to escape his lot, Zeth does not hesitate to sieze it.
JESPER
Jesper is Flute's best friend. Much more sensible than the over-eager Flute, Jesper knows that she will need his help after she runs away, and faithfully goes after her to try and keep her out of trouble.
HERON
Heron is a member of the Shvri, a branch of fairy kindred that long ago rebelled against fairy traditions. In the intervening generations, the Shvri have lost the art of magic.
DARIUS MORTEN
A speaker who deceived the fairy kind into awakening him to the power of the House Leviathan, Mortén is the nemesis to Xari and the greatest regret of Asheford.