Selene, princess of Phrygia

Selene, creamy-haired daughter to a queen in the faraway land of Phrygia, is given to the queen of Crete as a mentor and teacher for Iphiboë.

She initially dismisses Aridela as “too small and fragile” to be trained; besides, Aridela is destined to live out her life with the priestesses, and will have little need of military skills. Aridela’s tenacity soon changes her mind, however, and she ends up taking both girls under her wing. The three become inseparable, which is a very good thing, as Athene has a far more important role in mind for the Amazon warrior from Phrygia.

Selene is intensely loyal to Aridela. She has always struck me as a kind of “Samwise Gamgee” character. She never falters. She never thinks twice, or puts her needs above her queen’s. She will die, willingly, for the sake of those she loves.

After many years of holding herself apart from men, she does fall in love. And this is what, finally, could change her other, long-cherished relationships. Who will she end up giving her trust to? Who will receive her ultimate loyalty?

Chrysaleon

His name, pronounced “Chris-aa-leon,” (long a, like in “A day”) means “Gold Lion.”

The shallow, spoiled heir to Mycenae’s throne is determined to crush Crete, for his own

Image: Kiselev Andrey Valerevich Shutterstock

glory and to impress his father; he also desires nothing more than to see the bastard half-brother he hates humiliated and thrown out of favor–maybe even killed.

Many famed city states exist at this time on what is now called the Peloponnese. Mycenae, Pylos, Gla, Tiryns, Sparta, Troezen, Argos–all are in the height of their power at the time of the series.

Athens at this time in history hardly exists. It’s no more than a small village and carries no weight or importance.

But back to Chrysaleon. Four words perfectly describe him: angry, arrogant, entitled, selfish.

His blond hair and green eyes come from his ancestors, tribes from the Northern Steppes. This will become important in the story and influence the success and/or failure of his plots on Crete, where almost everyone is dark skinned, dark haired.

Chrysaleon’s purpose as one point of Athene’s sacred triad is to “fulfill his obligation.” What is his obligation, you might ask? You’ll have to read the books to find out. But you knew I’d say that!