Joron Twiner
The disgraced shipwife of Tide Child. He begins as an alcoholic, ineffective commander and develops into a responsible deckkeeper.
“Lucky” Meas Gilbryn
A legendary shipwife and the condemned daughter of the Hundred Isles’ ruler. She takes command of Tide Child and pursues a secret peace mission.
Dinyl Kiveth
An operative placed aboard by Indyl Karrad. His relationship with Joron becomes genuine even though his loyalty to the mission remains divided.
Kept Indyl Karrad
A politically connected member of the peace faction. He supplies the mission, the poisoned bolts, and Dinyl’s hidden assignment.
The gullaime
A birdlike windtalker whose magic drives the ship. The crew’s treatment of the gullaime exposes how the islands convert living beings into tools.
Farys
One of the youngest of Tide Child’s crew, whom Joron mentors as he learns the responsibilities of command.
Cwell
A dangerous crew member who loathes Joron in particular, testing the authority Meas is building aboard the ship.
Kyrie Gilbryn
Meas’s sister and captain of Hag’s Hunter. Her pursuit turns family rivalry into a major naval threat.
The arakeesian
A living sea dragon whose return could provide bones for new warships. Its intelligence changes the moral meaning of the mission.