- a young lawyer and head of an illegal school that teaches children to read. Vocado Avourlace - current Duke of Mandelion, who is obsessed with the Twin Princesses and slowly going mad. Linden Kohlrabi - an aide to Lady Tamarind who tries to befriend Mosca. Factions Guilds - The Realm is held together by the guilds, who act as power brokers. Every tradesman from watchmakers to playing card makers to millers belong to the guilds. Their present policy is to pay lip-service to the monarchy while in practice preventing it from reestablishing itself. Stationers' Guild - originally makers of stationery, after the Bird-catcher wars they were given power over all printed material. They control all printing presses and everything from handbills to news sheets to books must be approved by the Guild who affix their seal to it. Anything without the Stationers' seal is deemed illegal and destroyed. Locksmiths' Guild - once they only made locks and strongboxes, but now act as a mafia providing a wider range of security services. A Locksmith will always wears gloves as the outline of a key is branded on his right palm. The head of each cell wears chatelaine at his waist which match the brands of all the men that answer to him. The Locksmiths have taken complete control of the neighboring city of Scurrey, and are feared to be scheming to do the same in Mandelion. Company of Watermen - control all movement along the river. Bird-catchers - a militant religious movement that came to power after the fall of the monarchy. They plunged the Realm into a ten-year war against those they considered heretical, which cost the lives of tens of thousands. They were believed to have been killed, but actually they went into hiding, and eventually started a new plot against the Realm. Radicals - a republican political movement in favor of freedom of speech and freedom from imposed religion. Sometimes confused with the Bird-catchers, because they share some philosophies in common, though in fact bitter enemies. References External links Frances Hardinge's homepage Macmillan entry for Fly by Night 2006 British novels British fantasy novels Children's fantasy novels British adventure novels Macmillan Publishers books