Cast of Characters
MAJOR CHARACTERS:
- Eilidh MacAoidh: Protagonist. Youngest of five children and the only daughter. She’s learned to be a healer and midwife from her grandmother, Marsaili, who was raised by Druids. Ambitious and competitive with her four older brothers, she wishes to dedicate her life to learning. She’s sabotaged her parents’ many attempts to marry her off to a Scottish peer – until a stalker comes along.
- Torleik Sorensson: A young widower with a rambunctious four-year-old son, Torleik is scouring the north of Scotland to find a wife for himself, a partner to help get his farm and horse business going, and a mother for Atli. When fate brings him to a horse auction held by Eilidh’s father, arrangements are quickly made to take Eilidh to the largest of the Orkney Islands where Torleik purchased land to start his business. Isolated, Eilidh still feels the threat of danger from the deranged Geirolf.
SUPPORTING CHARACTERS:
- Geirolf Nilsson: Antagonist/Villain. He and Torleik grew up in Nidaros (modern-day Trondheim), Norway, but were never friends. He thinks Torleik had something to do with his banishment from Norway, and vows to get back at him by ruining his reputation.
- Hallkel Gunnarsson: Ally. Torleik’s best friend and business partner from Norway. He was a rune carver for the King of Norway, so has a reputation as a mystic. He married and had a daughter, but both wife and child died from a passing fever.
- Bennett Sutherland: Antagonist. A painful reminder for Eilidh comes to light for the true reason she won’t marry. She was attacked by three boys when she was thirteen. Bennett, who comes from the wealthy Sutherland clan, wants to make sure she doesn’t forget.
- Lifa Iversdottir: Antagonist. A servant on Torleik’s Farm who has been harboring a secret fantasy of marrying the master, takes one look at Torleik’s new bride, and knows her days are numbered. But she won’t go without a fight.
MINOR CHARACTERS:
- Gregor: The youngest of four sons, he is also the brother closest in age to Eilidh.
- Leith: Eilidh’s second oldest brother. The warrior for hire.
- Padruig: Eilidh’s third oldest brother, studying for the priesthood.
- Marsaili: Eilidh’s grandmother dies early in the story, but her unmatchable spirit is there to guide Eilidh from the Otherworld.
- Muire: Eilidh’s servant/companion growing up in Scotland. She travels to Orkney with Marsaili’s witchy white cat, Fenella, and stays with Eilidh.
- Astrid: A widow whose husband was killed working on St. Magnus Cathedral. With two daughters to support, Torleik brought her to the longhouse to help Kelda keep house.
- Kelda: A former housekeeper and midwife, she becomes a wise advisor to Eilidh.
- Siv: Torleik’s female assistant head cook and baker. She takes a while to warm up to Eilidh.
Supporting Characters:
- Stigr: Blacksmith at Torleik’s Farm. His wife goes into labor and finally has a girl, after three red-haired, freckled boys (Brusi, Einar, and Hodur).
- Isolf: Horse trainer and occasional horse healer. His wife is Aase.
- Torrad: Foreman of the crops, head guard.
- Aevar: One of Geirolf’s minions hired to cause trouble on Torleik’s Farm.
- Ashilde: Middle daughter of Egil & Ellsif Hromundsson, she also is an ace with a crossbow. She and Eilidh become fast friends, and she marries Gregor.
- Ulla: Torleik’s deceased wife. She was stung by a bee in a garden setting, and died quickly.
- Hilda: A shopkeeper’s daughter, she’s married to an innkeeper and tavern owner, and moved from Norway to Thurso to run a ladies shop that sells clothes and sewing notions.