The Consolation Prize

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Sir Armand de Bussell – Roguish knight who fights for profit and not honor.  Armand has made a career out of throwing fights on the tournament circuit and playing the odds to make the best purse.  Armand avoids his family, pleasing himself in pursuit of fortune and pleasure.  He has never cared for the opinion of his fellow knights or his family.

Sir Douglas Farleigh – Inexperienced knight.  Unpopular with the crowd due to obscurity.

King Wymer — The King of all Karadok now the war between North and South is over.  House Argent.  Likes his own way.  Used to relying on his chief adviser, the King does not like to be troubled or to have to do unpleasant tasks.  Hates having his will crossed, Wymer has his favorites among the courtiers.

Queen Armenal — King Wymer’s second wife, extremely clever and manipulative.  Loves being center of attention. House Lisle.  Her Brother King Wilhelm of the Western Isles is often at odds with her husband.  Good at out-maneuvering her spouse.

Princess Una Blechmarsh – Una is the sole legitimate heir to the House of Blechmarsh which was once the royal family of Karadok.  Then they were pushed into the North by the Argents and became the Northern power but several years ago their forces were defeated by King Wymer’s Southern forces in a civil bloody war.  Una has been under house arrest ever since under a possible death sentence.  Northern propaganda had it that Una was fierce and warlike, but in truth she is neither of those things.  Her Father was a tyrant and she bore no love for him.  She longs for an obscure and peaceful life away from royal intrigues and court gossip.

Otho Fitzwilliam – Bastard born brother to Una.  Otho’s mother was a servant and he was squired out to a knight on her death.  He was only brought to Northern court on feast days but he was the closest to Una of all her four illegitimate brothers.  Otho is gruff, stubborn and loyal with a stern and dutiful outlook in life.  He finds it hard to view his sister in her new life but is determined to support her.

Oswald, Earl Vawdrey – Very powerful presence at court.  Possibly the true power.  King’s Chief advisor and spymaster.  Still waters run deep.  Nothing happens at court without his say so.  Oswald is unfailing mild and polite in speech but has few intimates who know the true workings of his devious mind. 

Robkin – The King’s court jester.  A very impudent fellow permitted to insult nobles to their face without consequence.

Lady Jane Cecil – Queen’s current favorite lady in waiting.  Very virtuous and serious-minded.

Fenella, Countess Vawdrey – Kindly and sweet wife of Oswald Vawdrey, she does not fit the court ideal of beauty or sophistication but to everyone’s astonishment her husband is devoted to her.

Bryce – Earl Vawdrey’s right hand man.  Rather pompous and officious in his manner it takes him a while to warm up to people.  Bryce is something of a jobsworth and devoted to Lord Vawdrey.

The landlord of the Red Hind – Cheerful and jovial character.

The landlord, groom, cook and maid of the Merry Wayfarer – Villainous band of murderers and thieves operating the public house as a front for their crimes.

Rose Challocombe - beauteous and fey-like maidservant of 22 yrs at Lynwode.  She stepped into the housekeeper role on the death of her grandmother, but is frankly hopeless in the task.  Rose would spend her time daydreaming and singing and picking flowers if left to her own devices.  She has a good heart and loves animals but was raised to be a rich old woman’s companion so she lacks the knowledge or interest in running a household and has several ladylike accomplishments, such as harp playing.

Janet – Down to earth and outspoken servant at Lynwode. Daughter of a miller.

Peter – A strapping laborer and servant at Lywnode.  A shy lad, country born and raised.

Mr Beverley – The cook at Lynwode.  A reformed drunkard who used to own his own bakery.

Mrs Brickenden – Housekeeper at Lynwode.  Una finds her hard to warm to initially as she believes in preserving distinction of rank, but when she unbends she shows good common sense.

Sir Hugo de Bussell – Armand’s father.  A rather distant and cold man who never relished his role as head of a family and took small interest in his offspring.

Henry de Bussell – Armand’s older brother who is the heir to Anninghurst.  Henry is cautious and parsimonious and rather ‘old womanish’.  He never seemed young to Armand and always applied himself sincerely to his studies of books and instruments.

Roger de Bussell – Younger brother of Armand.  Intended for the religious life, Roger has recently changed his mind about his path in life.  Due to the fact he was studying to enter a seminary he is awkward around women though he is very keen to acquaint himself with them.

Muriel de Bussell – Wife of Roger.  She is a very thrifty and opinionated woman and rather older than her husband.  She was married before and brought a substantial dowry to her younger husband though she has born him no children.

Anne Buxton – Armand’s twin sister.  Mother of two and married to a gentleman farmer.  Anne is headstrong and does not hold back what she thinks.

Joan Buxton – Seven year old niece of Armand’s.

Toby Buxton – Two year old nephew to Armand.

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John Buxton – Husband to Armand’s sister Anne.  John is a wealthy farmer.

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Fulcher – Disreputable acquaintance of dubious origin and former business partner of Armand’s.  Fulcher is very enterprising and money oriented without much loyalty but for all that Armand is fond of him as they traveled together for several years and had some good times.  Fulcher is a useful man to know.

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Walker – An agent of Lord Vawdrey’s.  A very capable ex-soldier sent to watch over Una and Armand.

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Waleran Kimarne – Younger half-brother to Una.  Waleran’s mother was a noblewoman but his Father never married her which meant he was illegitimate.  Waleran was raised by his mother’s people and indulged.  At the battle of Demoyne he received a grievous head wound which altered his former personality and unbalanced him.  After he had recovered he saw his family as traitors for surrendering to the south and sought to ‘free’ Una by killing her in a murder-suicide pact.

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Roland Vawdrey –King’s champion, excels at jousting and tournaments.  Enjoys boisterous company of fellow knights and devoted to his wife Eden, despite the fact he is no scholar and does not admire intellectual pursuits.

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Lord Kentigern – Northern lord. Very ferocious in the field and freakishly strong with one blind eye and a scarred face.

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Sir Jeffree de Crecy – Strong competitor in tournament field.  Rather arrogant.

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Sir Renlowe d’Avenant – Brave to a fault, yet frequent loser at tournaments.  Described by Roland as utterly fearless, Renlowe is poor as a church mouse and a second son.

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Ada – Country servant at Matchings Farm.

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Johnny – Country servant and grandson to Hawise.  Amiable and a bit shy.

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Margery – Young servant girl at Matchings Farm.

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Magda Orde – First cousin to Garman Orde.  Magda is proud, but forced to live in straitened conditions at Twyford Castle.  She carries a secret torch for Ivo Hainfroy who kissed her in her girlhood before she became a practical prisoner of her social position and poverty.

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Jarin Orde, Earl of Twyford – Paternal Grandfather to Garman Orde.  Jarin is a proud and bitter old man of spiky disposition with regrets about casting off his eldest son Merek and refusing to acknowledge Garman as his heir.  Now the boy has grown it is he who refuses to acknowledge the connection and this pains his grandfather whose only real love is his estate.   Jarin has lived a rather dissolute life though he has been in seclusion with poor health in his old age.  He is unkind if not downright cruel toward his daughter-in-law and the granddaughters who are under his power.

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Jehanne Orde – Haughty heiress of fifty years who was married to the earl’s younger son Rulf Orde.  Originally intended for the eldest son who eloped with Anne Sutton.  Her fortune has been squandered on the upkeep of the castle and her relations with her father-in-law are hostile.  On his death she runs off to marry Sir Walter Dalton, leaving her daughters to their fate.

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Agnes Orde – Younger sister to Magda and second daughter of Rulf Orde.  Agnes is lame and uses a crutch.  She is not so loyal to their haughty mother as Magda and has a noisy little dog called Gorvenal that she is devoted to and has to keep hidden in the stable as her grandfather will not permit her to keep a pet.

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Oates – Loyal old retainer at Twyford Castle.

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Lady Dorothea Montmayne – Grandmother to Eden and Lenora.  Level-headed and rather dry older lady.  She does care for her grand-daughters although she thinks her sons are fools.  Both Eden and Lenora take after her in that they have quick minds and strong wills.