The Sword in the Tree

Lady Marian is Shan’s mother and Lord Weldon’s wife. She is a very intelligent and intuitive woman whose clear judgment helps her and Shan survive their ordeal. When Uncle Lionel begins inviting more and more friends to stay with them, it is Marian who sounds the alarm and asks her husband to stop it. She tells Lord Weldon, “I do not like these rough, strange men […] I wish you would send them away” (23). When the situation worsens, Marian takes action to protect her son, keeping him in her room and later escaping with him in the night. She persuades Shan, “You cannot fight him and all his friends and their servants. Shan, there is only one way for us to save ourselves […] We must leave here” (42).

Marian’s actions show that she is a caring mother who is protective of her son. She continues to try to shield him from danger while in exile but ultimately allows him to pursue his mission of visiting King Arthur in Camelot. By allowing Shan to travel with Magnus, Marian shows that she understands his perspective and supports him: “I can see you will never be happy until you go […] Yes, you can go” (65).

Lord Weldon is Shan’s father and Lady Marian’s husband. As the head of the castle, Lord Weldon is the most powerful man in his region, which he governs as one of King Arthur’s lords. Lord Weldon is depicted as a fair and responsible leader who cares about the welfare of the people in his area. He takes an active role in managing his parcel of the kingdom. He tells Shan, “It’s time for me to ride through my lands […] I want to talk with the farmers and see how the crops are growing” (15). As father to Shan, Lord Weldon teaches him the skills he will need to succeed as a knight and as the next lord of Weldon Castle, such as swordsmanship and horse riding.

Lord Weldon’s kind and generous nature is evident in his treatment of his long-lost brother, Lionel. When Lionel appears at the castle gate, wounded and alone, Lord Weldon does not recognize him at first but takes pity on this strange man and invites him into the castle. Later, he allows Lionel to stay on at the castle for as long as he wants, even though he has squandered his own fortune and invites his friends to exploit Lord Weldon’s hospitality. These kind acts show Lord Weldon’s decency, though they also suggest a certain naivety that later gets him into trouble, as his brother easily commits a coup against him and imprisons him.

Nappus is one of Lord Weldon’s most faithful servants. Nappus is deaf and mute but can communicate with people through writing. He can also read lips, making him a valuable source of information. A skilled healer, Nappus frequents the castle gardens to collect herbs for his medicines. Shan respects Nappus’s skill as a doctor so much that he considers him a “man of magic” (4). When Lionel arrives at the castle wounded, Nappus treats him, helping him recover. 

Nappus repeatedly demonstrates his loyalty to Shan, Lord Weldon, and Lady Marian. For instance, Shan mentions that Nappus has repeatedly healed different members of the family from their ailments and broken bones. Nappus also proves his loyalty when he tells Marian that he has spied on Lionel and his friends and knows that they are taking over the castle. Later in the story, Nappus discovers Lord Weldon in the dungeon and helps to rescue him. Though Nappus’s character has a brief supporting role in the story, his actions are very consequential in helping Shan on his mission.

Uncle Lionel is Lord Weldon’s brother and Shan’s uncle. The antagonist of the novel, Lionel’s selfishness and cruelty threaten the lives of Lord Weldon and his family. This villainous character is portrayed as hot-tempered and egotistical; he often yells at Shan and insults him for little reason, such as when he calls him a “bold brat” when he questions his riding advice (22).

Lady Marian compares Lionel unfavorably to Lord Weldon, explaining that Lionel “was never a kind and gentle knight” and “never as brave” as Lord Weldon (4). Lionel lives up to this negative assessment, as he fakes his brother’s death and ignores his nephew’s entitlement to the lordship of Weldon Castle. Desperate to be Lord Weldon himself, Lionel ignores Shan’s complaints and the age-old tradition of the eldest son inheriting his father’s title. Lionel’s deceit, bad temper, and selfishness solidify his position as the villain of the story, providing a foil to kind and chivalrous Shan.

Magnus is a young shepherd boy who meets Shan in the woods. While Magnus is at first suspicious of Shan, he soon warms up to him and realizes that he and his mother, Lady Marian, are in need of help. Magnus’s generosity shines through as he invites Shan and Marian into his home to stay with his family and includes Shan in every aspect of his life. He is also depicted as a humble and hardworking boy, as he expects to carry on the family tradition of herding when he grows up. He tells Shan, “You and I are not alike […] You were born to be a knight or a lord. I was born to work with the herds” (60). 

Magnus’s interest in Shan’s life and goals for the future show his friendly and supportive nature. He agrees to go with Shan to Camelot to see King Arthur to make sure that Shan is safe. With his kind and dutiful personality, Magnus is much like Shan, despite his very different upbringing.