Han Alister

Alger is Han’s many-greats-grandfather and the source of Han’s inherited wizard gift. Han struggles with being compared to the legendary Demon King and rejects the idea that he is Alger.

Han’s father is dead, having gone south as a mercenary in the Ardenine Wars; the text does not give his name.

Han supports his mother and shares a strained, loving relationship with her. Mam fears for his safety and disapproves of his street life; their arguments are sharpened by poverty and worry.

Han is protective of his seven-year-old sister and helps provide for her. Mari trusts him, worries when he is missing, and is the one person in Ragmarket who has always believed in him.

Han has been adopted by the clan at Marisa Pines and is known among them as Hunts Alone. He feels drawn to the camp and wishes he could remain with the clans.

Han reflects that in his former street life he would have had his seconds with him when facing an ambush; Amon is among the named characters associated with Han’s street-world history.

Hanson is the name Mam uses when scolding Han; the text also presents Han Alister as his current identity apart from his former street names.

Han is staying with Dancer and Willo and tries to support Dancer through his distress over his vocation and family conflict. Willo says Dancer will need Han in the coming days.

They have not met in the provided chapters, but Han’s confrontation with Micah and Raisa’s romance with Micah place them on intersecting sides of the same conflict.

Han sees Raisa’s profile on a princess coin and privately admires her, imagining the security and privilege of her life. They have not met in the excerpt.

No direct interaction is shown in these chapters; they are both connected to the unfolding conflict involving the clans, wizards, and royal court.

Han recognizes Averill from the Southbridge Temple incident, where Averill kidnapped Rebecca and escaped into Ragmarket; Averill does not appear to recognize Han at the naming ceremony.

Han, Bird, and Dancer have been close friends since childhood, sharing hunts, games, training, and camp life; Bird also teases and tends to Han, and their bond has begun to carry romantic tension.

Cat has replaced Han as streetlord of the Raggers and is said to be the only blade fighter in Ragmarket better than Shiv.

Cuffs Alister is Han’s street name and identity as a former streetlord; people mistake Han for the gang leader because of his silver cuffs and fair hair.

Elena made Han’s magic-absorbing cuffs, arranged his childhood fostering, and reveals his lineage. She offers to remove the cuffs and sponsors his magical training, while Han resents the deception and her efforts to bind him to the clan’s cause.

Han carries Lucius’s orders, money, and product between the mountain and Fellsmarch. Lucius treats him fairly, pays on time, lends him books, and becomes a candid source of knowledge and warning.

Han knows the traditional stories of Hanalea as the warrior queen who defeated the Demon King, but Lucius’s account challenges his beliefs about her and Alger.

Han is a resident of the Fells ruled by Marianna, though he has no personal relationship with her. He thinks of her as the distant queen whose guard polices the city.

Jemson educated and supported Han, welcomed him into the temple, and continues to counsel him. Han trusts Jemson’s judgment, though he intends to investigate the murders despite his warnings.

Han becomes suspicious of the Bayar family's connection to the Demon King's amulet after learning that a Bayar ancestor painted the amulet in a historical work long after it was supposedly destroyed.

Willo gives Han a place to stay at Marisa Pines and supports him; Han intends to return to her camp and pass along Mam’s thanks and apology.

Dori, a first-year dedicate at Southbridge Temple, helps receive Han when he arrives injured and becomes curious about his reputation.

Flinn is one of Han’s Raggers. He helps restrain Han at the fire and later watches over him while he is sick.

Han delivers Lucius’s bottles to Matieu’s tavern and receives payment. Matieu also gives Han a coin and trades him pork buns.

Sarie remains loyal to Han and gives him her Ragger neck-rag in sympathy after his family’s deaths. She and the Raggers hope he will return as their streetlord.

Han takes Micah’s serpent amulet after Micah tries to use it to jinx Dancer. Micah’s family is powerful, and Lucius warns Han that the Bayars may kill him if they discover he has the artifact.

Gavan hunts Han for the stolen amulet, kills Taz, threatens to torture and kill Han, and sends the Guard to Han’s home. Han wounds Gavan and holds him responsible for the deaths of Mam, Mari, Shiv, and the Southies.

Gillen is a corrupt and violent Guard sergeant who targets Han and other street children. Han sees him as dangerous and believes the Guard will blame him for the murders.

Shiv, leader of the Southies, ambushes Han over his business in Southbridge, beats and robs him, and threatens to cut off his hands for the silver cuffs. Han regards Shiv as a dangerous adversary.