The Knight and the Moth

Rachel Gillig

62 pages 2-hour read

Rachel Gillig

The Knight and the Moth

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2025

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Six is a prophetess who has lived at Aisling Cathedral for nearly a decade. Taken in as a sick foundling child, she undergoes a painful drowning ritual in a magic spring to interpret signs from the Omens. She wears a gossamer shroud over her eyes and strictly follows the cathedral's rules to survive. Privately, she retains the memory of her birth name, Sybil Delling, and plans to reclaim it once her ten-year tenure concludes.

Key Relationships

Developing connection with Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious

Close companion of The Gargoyle/Bartholomew

Subordinate to The Abbess/The Moth/Aisling

Protected by Maude Bauer

Chosen sister of One

Chosen sister of Four

Rory is a 26-year-old knight riding in King Benedict's retinue. He possesses a distinctive appearance, sporting gold hoop earrings and smudged charcoal around his eyes. Unlike the deeply faithful residents of Traum, he holds open contempt for the Omens and the practice of divination. He openly questions the religious authority of Aisling Cathedral, leading to frequent ideological clashes with the cathedral's residents.

Key Relationships

Protective escort of Six/Sybil Delling

Former squire of Maude Bauer

Fellow knight alongside Hamelin Fischer

Traveling companion of The Gargoyle/Bartholomew

Adversary of The Harried Scribe

Benji is the 17-year-old newly crowned sovereign of the Stonewater Kingdom. Despite commanding a large retinue of knights, his youth and inexperience cause him visible anxiety regarding his position. He challenges the traditional, subservient role that kings hold under the religious authority of the Omens. He seeks to secure a favorable divination at Aisling Cathedral to legitimize his new reign.

Key Relationships

Employer and commander of Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious

Ward and sovereign of Maude Bauer

Supplicant to Six/Sybil Delling

Grandson of King Benedict Castor the First

Commander of Hamelin Fischer

Challenger of The Harried Scribe

The abbess is the powerful, fully veiled religious leader of Aisling Cathedral. She controls the sacred spring and manages the lives of the six Diviners under her care. She maintains absolute authority over the Stonewater Kingdom's religious practices by enforcing rigorous adherence to the Omens. She demands total obedience from the foundling girls, offering praise only when they prove useful to her religious mission.

Key Relationships

Strict guardian of Six/Sybil Delling

Strict guardian of One

Strict guardian of Four

Supporting Characters

Maude is a 41-year-old female knight serving King Benedict. She hails from a noble family in the Chiming Wood known for hunting dangerous sprites. She acts as a grounded, steady presence among the younger knights in the retinue. She provides a rare maternal influence, looking out for both the young king and her former squire, Rory.

Key Relationships

He is a sentient, bat-like stone creature residing at Aisling Cathedral. Unlike the other twenty-two gargoyles on the grounds, he speaks frequently and uniquely calls everyone he meets "Bartholomew" for reasons unknown. He refuses to use his wings to fly and prefers to assist Six with her daily stonemasonry chores around the tor.

Key Relationships

Fiercely loyal companion to Six/Sybil Delling

Servant of The Abbess/The Moth/Aisling

Traveling companion of Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious

One is a Diviner at Aisling Cathedral who shares a cottage with Six. She values the sisterhood she shares with the other foundlings and participates in their secret excursions for entertainment. She hopes to stay with her fellow Diviners once their tenure concludes.

Key Relationships

Chosen sister of Six/Sybil Delling

Subordinate to The Abbess/The Moth/Aisling

Four is a Diviner who frequently pushes the boundaries of the cathedral's strict rules. She encourages the group to sneak out to the neighboring hamlet of Coulson Faire for an evening of freedom and distraction from their arduous duties.

Key Relationships

Chosen sister of Six/Sybil Delling

Subordinate to The Abbess/The Moth/Aisling

Two is a Diviner serving at Aisling Cathedral. She daydreams with her sisters about a future where they can relax and enjoy life without the heavy physical toll of prognostication.

Key Relationships

Chosen sister of Six/Sybil Delling

Three serves as a Diviner and often observes the political realities of visitors to the cathedral. She accurately assesses King Benedict's anxiety during his arrival at the tor.

Key Relationships

Chosen sister of Six/Sybil Delling

Five is a Diviner who shares the communal life of the foundling girls. She participates in their shared duties and eagerly awaits the end of their ten-year commitment to Aisling Cathedral.

Key Relationships

Chosen sister of Six/Sybil Delling

Hamelin is a young knight from the Fervent Peaks who travels with King Benedict. He acts as an escort for Six during an illicit trip to Coulson Faire. Their brief romantic encounter is cut short by his concern for his reputation among his peers.

Key Relationships

Brief romantic interest of Six/Sybil Delling

He is the deceased grandfather of the current king. Known for attempting to uncover the true nature of the Omens and taking up the mantle of power himself, his actions resulted in his execution but left a lasting ideological impact on his grandson.

Key Relationships

The Harried Scribe is a revered figure in the Stonewater Kingdom, worshipped as one of the Omens. Associated with the Seacht, the hamlet of scribes, he is said to wield a magical stone inkwell and test visitors on their knowledge.

The Ardent Oarsman is a legendary Omen holding a magical stone oar. He presides over the fishermen of the Fervent Peaks, serving as a terrifying divine figure who demands respect and tribute from the hamlet's residents.

Key Relationships

Prophesied by Six/Sybil Delling