and pale skin. He is fourteen at the start of the novel, which spans a period of over ten years. The story also reveals that Liir may be bisexual, having romantic relationships with both Trism and Candle. Candle: A Quadling girl who rarely speaks, and only in her native tongue, Qua'ati (though she understands other speech). She is a skilled player on the domingon, a Quadling musical instrument and has a "talent for reading the present." Princess Nastoya: The leader of the Scrow, a Vinkus tribe. An Elephant who disguised herself in human form. She asks Liir to find a way to return her to human form before she dies. Trism bon Cavalish: an old military friend of Liir's and later, his lover. Trism has great skill at training dragons, although he is distressed at the tasks for which he trains them. Commander Cherrystone: Liir's commanding officer in the Home Guard. He becomes Liir's mentor, which leads to Liir being put in charge of the operation to burn the Quadling village of Bengda. Oatsie Manglehand: A woman who runs a horse-and-coach caravan that transports passengers along the Grassland Trail through the Vinkus. She finds the injured Liir and brings him to the Cloister of Saint Glinda. The Superior Maunt of the Cloister of Saint Glinda: The Superior Maunt during Elphaba's seven-year stay at the Cloister. During the siege of the Cloister, she abdicates as sole authority of the mauntery and establishes a triumvirate consisting of herself, Sister Doctor, and the absent Candle. Yackle: An old maunt who admits Candle into the Cloister and warns Liir of impending danger. Chistery: The snow monkey Elphaba taught to speak and gave wings (making him a Winged monkey). He remains at Kiamo Ko, looking after Nanny. Shell Thropp/The Emperor Apostle: Elphaba's half brother, Shell is a fop and gigolo (and perhaps a sex addict). He becomes Emperor of Oz after the assassination of the Scarecrow. Lady Glinda Chuffrey, née Arduenna of the Uplands: Glinda is appointed interim ruler of Oz after the overthrow of the Wizard, but abdicates in favor of the Scarecrow. When her husband Lord Chuffrey dies, Glinda goes on retreat at the Cloister of Saint Glinda. The Scarecrow: This character has a more substantial role in Son of a Witch than the Tin Man or the Cowardly Lion. He searches out Liir after having seen the Wizard to warn him that