Kiera
Kiera is the counsellor of New Haven's rescue team, and one of the narrators of The Marked Ones. Her work is helping Marked refugees through the trauma of war. She believes that “behind every number is a life that matters,” which is why she keeps going back for the people others are ready to leave behind.
The counsellor
Kiera calls herself “not the fighting sort.” She carries a wooden staff and a short sword, but her real strength is her heart. When Captain Ganeson leaves a small group of refugees behind, Kiera disobeys him and goes back for them: “I won't allow her hope to die.”
Before joining New Haven, she worked as a counsellor at the City's refugee centre. She joined the rescue division on Ganeson's recommendation, at the same time as her partner Ryo, the one person who knows her heart best. She is also the only one who knows Ryo's secret.
As a child, her town was attacked by Hezekiah's Undead. She was left behind, until a stranger came back for her group and saved them. She never learned his name.
Spoilers up to Chapter 7Tap to reveal
Kiera is a Pixie, one of a people who tap into the raw power of emotions. (No, she doesn't have wings. That's a myth.) Her gift is that of an Empath: she senses what others feel and helps them steer those emotions for good. Her power needs a positive environment, and she must never give in to hatred, or it may turn destructive. Years ago, she helped Ryo through the darkest period of his life.
Spoilers up to Chapter 9Tap to reveal
Kiera and Ryo are the Masked Assassin. Behind black masks, they use fear as their greatest weapon: Kiera does the bluffing, and Ryo does the fighting. Captain Ganeson entrusts her with the Portal Stone, the key to New Haven, a role normally reserved for the Captain. With her pendant and the Parallel Technique (“What is true in the realm of the mind can be manifested into the realm of the physical”), she pulls Nisa out of the Wraith's fear-trap.
Spoilers up to Chapter 12Tap to reveal
Captured by a young Swordmaster, Kiera learns his name is Gideon. Through her empathy link, she helps him face the fear he had buried for twelve years and defeat the Wraith, then escapes him with an emotional blast. With her Captain gone, she becomes New Haven's acting Captain: “That is how we fight every day, winning one small battle at a time.”
Spoilers up to Chapter 15Tap to reveal
When the portal to New Haven malfunctions and will not close, Kiera goes back alone to pull out the Portal Stone, knowing she will be captured. She is taken to a high-security prison to await public execution. She is also the little girl Gideon rescued from a locked school basement twelve years ago, and she had promised to repay that kindness by bringing second chances to others.
