A thoughtful, reflective young man with a deep memory and a desire to understand the world. The Exilarch’s nephew.

A shy and sweet girl, daughter of Exilarch Judah, sensitive and kind-hearted. Josiah’s younger cousin.

Josiah’s cousin, sharp-tongued and judgmental, driven by ambition and grievance.

The Exilarch, leader of the House of David, a larger-than-life figure who commands great respect and affection. Josiah’s paternal uncle and Zakkai’s older brother.

The Dayan al-Bab of Kafri, a devout Torah scholar with hidden depths. Josiah’s father.

Exilarch Judah’s son, self-assured and scholarly, yet still adolescent. Josiah’s older cousin.

A young child with the hopes and dream of a whole people resting on him and his prophetic name. Josiah’s little brother.

The Khagan’s daughter by his Magyar wife. Singer, diplomat, and warrior. Ethereal and enigmatic.

The elusive ruler of the Khazar Khaganate.

Charismatic new Magyar leader, Deborah’s visionary maternal uncle. A mythic founder figure.

A shieldmaiden captain with piercing violet eyes and a commanding presence. Fierce, seductive, calculating. Commands her own ship, the purple Hringborn. Roderick’s sister.

The Sea Tsar in person. Massive, terrifying Viking warlord with mythic presence. Charismatic, cruel, and soaked in Old Norse myth and ambition.

Norse river captain and judge in the Khazar Merchant’s Court. Jovial, blond-bearded, worshipper of Thor.

A yellow-haired slave girl of Slavic origin with a crooked smile. Loyal household servant, but full of an inner fire that hints at her mysterious past.

Legendary Slavic bogatyr and Lada’s long-lost brother. A towering folk hero with mythic stature, strong, noble, and brave. Seeks to form a druzhina to defend Kiev.

Dashing and roguish robber prince noble from Chernigov. Also known as Solovei the Nightingale. Charismatic, honey-voiced, but morally ambiguous.

A gusli player and former skomorokh from Novgorod. Claims to have been captured by the Sea Tsar and tells a fantastical tale of escape.

A brilliant and bold female scholar at the Sura Academy, sister of Rav Nahshon. Named after the famous Talmudic sage Bruriah. A rare woman among the Seventy Scholars.

Gaon of Sura, a thunderous voice and spirited soul. Creator of the siddur, the Jewish prayerbook. Josiah’s maternal uncle.

Av Beit Din (head of the Rabbinical Court) and second in rank at the Sura Academy. Astronomer, scholar, and brother of Bruriah.

– A charismatic and theatrical Ethiopian Jew claiming descent from the lost Tribe of Dan. Speaks only the Holy Tongue and recounts incredible tales of Jewish kingdoms in Ethiopia, Arabia, and beyond.

A well-traveled Radhanite Jewish merchant from Southern Gaul with a twinkle in his eye. Fluent in multiple languages and familiar with the routes across Europe, Khazaria, and Central Asia.