Tavore Paran

Tavore Paran, a year younger than her brother, has grown nearly as tall as he is since he last saw her, and the awkward child is gone. She is plain, with pale eyes, bloodless features and reddish hair cut shorter than the fashion. When her brother turns up at the family house in Unta without warning, she finds him in the feast hall. She stands near the head of the long table with a hand on their father's chair, and her face gives nothing away.

Tavore asks whether he has been promoted, and tells him that managing the family's position is no longer his responsibility. Their father is withdrawing from the household's affairs as his health fails. Of Felisin, who is at her studies, Tavore says she is too soft for this world, or for any world.