Marie is a tall, awkward young noblewoman and the illegitimate child of a Plantagenet. Accustomed to managing a household since her mother's death, she finds herself cast out of the vibrant royal court due to her unconventional appearance and demeanor. As she assumes the role of prioress at an impoverished English abbey, she wrestles with her physical confinement and her lingering devotion to the queen.

Eleanor is the powerful, worldly Queen of France and England, possessing immense political influence and beauty. She maneuvers through the dangerous medieval political system with cunning and a network of spies. Finding Marie unsuitable for court life, Eleanor banishes the young woman to an isolated abbey, though she maintains a watchful eye over her distant relative.

Cecily is Marie's servant, friend, and early romantic partner from the royal court. Having spent her childhood alongside Marie, she understands the young noblewoman without the expectations and demands of courtly love. Their bond grounds Marie, standing in contrast to the distant, political adoration she directs toward the queen.

Tilde serves as a prioress at the convent, representing a traditional, obedient approach to religious life. She is deeply pious and values conventional church doctrine. Her orthodox views frequently position her as a questioning voice when ambitious or unusual plans are proposed for the abbey's future.

Wulfhild is an unusually bright and gifted young woman who enters the religious community. She becomes a trusted member of Marie's inner circle, offering intelligent insight into the practical management of their enclosed world. Her sharp mind makes her a valuable asset to the community's survival.

Sister Emme is the elderly, blind abbess of the impoverished convent. Despite the harsh conditions of the poorly managed abbey, she maintains a welcoming and gentle demeanor. She understands the political realities of religious life and guides Marie through the initial shock of her new cloistered existence.

Sister Goda serves as the subprioress of the isolated abbey. She expected to ascend to the role of prioress herself and views Marie's sudden installation with intense suspicion. Her strict adherence to hierarchy and personal ambition color her interactions with the new arrival.

Swan Neck is a novice at the convent who befriends Marie during her early days of adjustment. She shares in the grueling daily labor and prayer routines, providing Marie with a sense of camaraderie in the otherwise bleak environment.

Ruth is a young novice who quickly becomes part of Marie's trusted circle of friends. She assists with the daily chores and shares the harsh conditions of the poorly provisioned convent, finding solidarity in their shared work.

Sister Asta is a member of the convent with a distinct genius for mechanical construction. Her practical skills prove essential as the nuns labor to improve their living conditions and fortify their isolated lands.

Avice is a young woman brought into the religious order due to her wild reputation. She bears a striking physical resemblance to a young Queen Eleanor, which draws immediate attention from her superiors. She frequently struggles with the strict rules of cloistered life.

Sprota is a beautiful young noblewoman who joins the convent carrying a saintly but self-regarding demeanor. Her privileged background and pristine attitude cause friction, leading the leadership to assign her challenging duties to test her humility.

Sister Gytha is an illiterate and highly eccentric nun who creates wild, vivid religious murals. Her artwork fuses the divine with the physical world in ways that brush against orthodox doctrine, reflecting her unconventional spiritual connection.

Sister Nest serves as a nurse within the abbey, responsible for treating the many illnesses that plague the enclosed women. She develops a discreet, physically intimate, and friendly dynamic with Marie that remains detached from deeper romantic entanglements.

Sister Elgiva is a member of the religious community who shares a quietly intimate, joyous physical connection with the new prioress. Their bond provides a brief respite from the harsh asceticism expected by the larger church.

Ursula is Marie's aunt, a fierce noblewoman who eventually becomes a cellatrix at a retired abbey. She represents the matriarchal, warrior-like lineage that shapes Marie's understanding of womanhood and independence.

Sister Wevuva serves as the magistra, or mistress of novices, at the impoverished convent. She is responsible for initiating new women into the rigid rules, prayers, and labor expected of their order.

Empress Matilde is a distant relative who briefly took Marie in before forwarding her to Eleanor's court. She represents the highest echelons of the political and royal spheres, combining immense personal will with superficial concerns.

Euphémie is one of Marie's beloved aunts who marched with the women's army during the crusades. Her tragic death from an accidental infection teaches a young Marie about the sudden, unglamorous nature of mortality.

Honorine is another of Marie's formidable aunts who traveled to the crusades. Like Euphémie, her life is cut short by illness rather than battle, reinforcing the constant threat of disease in the medieval world.

King Henry II of England is Eleanor of Aquitaine's contentious royal husband. Their highly volatile marriage impacts the balance of power across Europe and dictates much of Eleanor's political maneuvering.

King Louis IV of France is the former husband of Eleanor of Aquitaine. Their annulled marriage marks one of the significant early shifts in Eleanor's vast accumulation of power and territory.