Murad: Deceased Ottoman sultan, father of Mehmed
Halima: One of Murad’s wives, mother of murdered infant heir Ahmet
Mara Brankovic: One of Murad’s wives, returned to Serbia
Huma: Deceased mother of Mehmed and concubine of Murad
Mehmed: The Ottoman sultan
Halil Vizier: Formerly Halil Pasha, an important advisor in the Ottoman courts whose loyalties are to Constantinople
Salih: The second son of Halil Vizier, formerly a friend of Radu
Kumal: Devout bey in Mehmed’s inner circles, brother of Nazira, brother-in-law and friend to Radu
Nazira: Radu’s wife in name only, Kumal’s sister
Fatima: Nazira’s maid in name only
Amal: A young servant who has aided Radu and Mehmed in the past
Suleiman: The admiral of the Ottoman navy
Timur: An Ottoman citizen working for Mehmed
Tohin: An Ottoman citizen expert in gunpowder, mother of Timur
Urbana of Transylvania: An expert in cannons and artillery
Lada Dracul’s Inner Military Circle
Matei: An experienced former Janissary, one of Lada’s oldest men
Nicolae: Lada’s closest friend
Petru: Lada’s youngest soldier from the Janissary troop
Stefan: Lada’s best spy
The Hungarian Court
John Hunyadi: Hungary’s most brilliant military commander, responsible for Vlad Dracul’s and Mircea’s deaths
Matthias: John Hunyadi’s son, high up in court politics
Elizabeth: The mother of the young king, Ladislas Posthumous
Ladislas Posthumous: The ill young king
Ulrich: The king’s regent, advisor, and protector
Constantinople Court Figures
Constantine: The emperor of Constantinople
John: The heir of Constantinople, nephew of Constantine
Manuel: John’s brother, nephew of Constantine