Head of the House of Killex, Emryis is Adon's sister and recent mother of three. Shrewd and good-hearted, Emrys may not have approved of her brother's choices, but she shares his desire to change the empire.

Loreto is the heir of House Astirix and Emrys's husband. A heir of the House of Spies it is unsurprising that Loreto always knows what's going on and is an impossible man to read. Nevertheless, those who are close to him believe him to be kind and just.

Known as the 'Eyes of Astrix', the Head of House Astirix is not someone to trifle with. Fiercely loyal to the Empress, nothing happens in Astrix that Lady Astirix does not know about. And woe to any who underestimate her.