Princess Marra of the Harbor Kingdom is the protagonist of the novel. She lives in a convent for 15 years, passing her 30th birthday there, though she never takes vows, never fully becoming a nun. Marra also acts as the narrator, telling stories from her childhood and youth before the quest. She struggles to maintain focus growing up, having little care for court politics or gossip. She leaves her family shortly after Kania’s wedding.

Damia’s death acts as a catalyst for Marra’s change and growth. Marra describes herself as a sullen child constantly underfoot. However, she begins to see the cracks in the veneer her mother, the queen, paints over the world. As Marra watches Kania leave for the Northern Kingdom, she feels a deep disquiet about her sister’s safety, though she dares not voice it to anyone.

Marra finds herself and her voice in the convent. There, she gains a measure of freedom, falls in love, experiences a broken heart, learns many skills, and becomes a competent embroiderer. After Marra’s vigil with Kania following her niece’s death, Marra must live with the knowledge of Kania’s terrible fate.