- The kingdom of Rasland holds many secrets, and those of the imperial family are chief among them. Little is known about the Tsarina's children outside of the forested swamp lands. Yet those inside the borders know well of one of the younger children by the name of Malachi. They call him the songbird as his melodic voice pleases all who hear it, and with his lute he tells great tales of old. The people adore him for his artistic tendencies that he shares openly with them all; a boy of music, craft, and painting. He perhaps spends more time with the commoners than he does with the imperial family, helping out wherever he can. Yet despite the softer exterior he is a fiery spirit full of life. He takes risks, acts freely, and often times this leads to danger.
His elder sister Shay keeps a watchful eye on her willful brother. When things go wrong she is the one there to scold him. She sees him as a reckless child unfit for the position in which he was born, and often times her anger from outside sources is directed his way. Yet despite the treatment he continues to seek companionship with her, admiring and adoring his sister. He knows the stress she is put under and believes any undue treatment he receives is not her fault but rather a misplaced agony he so desperately wants to heal.