Hildi—the king’s valet and errand-girl, previously a brothel laundress.

Tunny—once Corporal Tunny, pimp and carousing partner to Orso, then his standard-bearer.

Yolk—Corporal Tunny’s idiot sidekick.

Bremer dan Gorst—a squeaky-voiced master swordsman, First Guard to King Orso.

Lord Chamberlain Hoff—self-important chief courtier, son of the previous Lord Hoff.

Lord Chancellor Gorodets—long-suffering holder of the Union’s purse-strings.

High Consul Matstringer—overwrought supervisor of the Union’s foreign policy.

Lord Marshal Forest—a hard-working officer with common origins and impressive scars, promoted to the Closed Council by Orso.

Lord Marshal Rucksted—senior soldier with a penchant for beards and tall tales.

Lord Marshal Brint—senior soldier and one-armed old friend of Orso’s father, betrayed Orso and joined the rebels.

Lord Admiral Krepskin—commanding officer of the Union’s fleet.

Lord Isher—a smooth and successful magnate of the Open Council, rebelled against Orso but fled from the battle at Stoffenbeck.

Lady Isold dan Isher—an insipid young heiress, married to Lord Isher.

Lord Heugen—a pedantic magnate of the Open Council, rebelled against Orso and was captured.

From Angland

Leo dan Brock—“The Young Lion,” a famous hero and disgraced Lord Governor of Angland, rebelled against King Orso and lost an arm and a leg in battle.

Finree dan Brock—Leo dan Brock’s mother and a superb tactician and organiser.

Jurand—Leo dan Brock’s estranged best friend, sensitive and calculating.

Glaward—Leo dan Brock’s estranged and exceptionally large friend.

Lord Clensher—an old worthy of Angland, with a beard but no moustache.

In the Circle of Savine dan Brock

Savine dan Brock—wife of Leo dan Brock and disgraced Lady Governor of Angland, once an investor, socialite and celebrated beauty, now imprisoned for high treason.

Zuri—Savine’s peerless lady’s companion, a Southern refugee.

Freid—one of Savine’s many wardrobe maids.

Metello—Savine’s hatchet-faced, Styrian wig expert.

Haroon—Zuri’s heavily built brother.

Rabik—Zuri’s slight and handsome brother.

Sand dan Glokta—“Old Sticks,” Savine’s father, once the most feared man in the Union, Head of the Closed Council and His Majesty’s Inquisition. Now retired.

Ardee dan Glokta—Savine’s famously sharp-tongued mother.

Gunnar “Bull” Broad—an ex-Ladderman wrestling with violent tendencies, once a Breaker, then handling “labour relations” for Savine.

Liddy Broad—Gunnar Broad’s long-suffering wife, mother to May Broad.

May Broad—Gunnar and Liddy Broad’s hard-headed daughter.

Honrig Curnsbick—“The Great Machinist,” celebrated inventor and industrialist, and founder of the Solar Society with Savine dan Brock.

Dietam dan Kort—a noted engineer and bridge-builder, partner with Savine in a canal.

Selest dan Heugen—a bitter rival of Savine’s.

Colonel Vallimir—ex-partner of Savine in a mill and child-labour scheme.

Lady Vallimir—the colonel’s wife, fallen on hard times.

Carmee Groom—a talented artist.

Majir—an associate of Savine’s from Adua’s criminal fraternity.

With the Breakers and Burners

Victarine (Vick) dan Teufel—an ex-convict, then an Inquisitor working as a spy for Arch Lector Glokta, changing sides again to stand with the Breakers.

Tallow—a skinny young Breaker, blackmailed into assisting Vick.

Pike—Ex-Arch Lector of the Inquisition, with a hideously burned visage, revealed to be the mastermind behind the Breakers known as the Weaver.

Risinau—once Superior of Valbeck, behind the violent uprising in that city. A self-proclaimed intellectual.

Judge—an unhinged mass-murderer or fearless champion of the common folk, depending on who you ask, the firebrand leader of the Burners.