Stenwold Maker - Beetle-kinden spymaster and statesman

Cheerwell ‘Che’ Maker - his niece

Tisamon - Mantis-kinden Weaponsmaster

Tynisa - his halfbreed daughter, Stenwold’s ward

Achaeos - Moth-kinden magician, Che’s lover

Atryssa - Tynisa’s mother and Tisamon’s former lover, deceased

Thalric - renegade Wasp-kinden, former Rekef major

Nero - Fly-kinden artist, old friend of Stenwold

Felise Mienn - Dragonfly-kinden duellist

Taki - Solarnese Fly-kinden aviatrix

Lineo Thadspar - Beetle-kinden Speaker for the Collegium Assembly

Balkus - renegade Sarnesh Ant-kinden, Stenwold’s agent

Sperra - Fly-kinden, Stenwold’s agent

Destrachis - Spider-kinden doctor, companion of Felise Mienn

Parops - Tarkesh Ant-kinden, leader of the free Tarkesh

Jons Allanbridge - Beetle-kinden aviator

Plius - foreign Ant-kinden in Sarn, Stenwold’s agent

Prince Minor Salme ‘Salma’ Dien - Dragonfly nobleman, leader of the Landsarmy

Prized of Dragons - Butterfly-kinden, Salma’s lover

Phalmes - Mynan Soldier Beetle-kinden, former brigand, Salma’s lieutenant

Teornis of the Aldanrael - Spider-kinden Aristos and

Lord-Martial Odyssa - Teornis’ chief agent in Solarno

Cesta - Assassin Bug-kinden killer in Solarno

Scobraan - Soldier Beetle-kinden aviator in Solarno