Odessa Cross

Rites of the Starling

A petite 23-year-old woman with short stature and a slender frame featuring scrawny arms that show growing definition from combat training stands with refined posture. Her fair skin is dusted with freckles across the bridge of her nose and cheeks, complementing a tapered nose and pointed chin. Vibrant red curls interwoven with orange, copper and caramel tones tumble in unruly spirals, most often captured in a thick braid draped down her spine or pinned at her nape with loose tendrils escaping to frame her face. Her solid gold eyes lack any starburst pattern, creating an intense and distinctive gaze. She wears practical Turan-style clothing of caramel or dark brown leather pants cinched with a matching belt, loose ecru or colored tunics embroidered with flowers, leaves or stars that allow full movement, sturdy black boots of scale-like texture that add an inch to her height, and a shoulder harness crisscrossing her spine to hold sheathed knives. A warm metal pendant necklace rests against her skin. She presents as a warrior princess who has shed her former disguise to embrace her natural coloring and combat-ready appearance.

• Sheds disguise to reveal natural red hair and gold eyes, adopting Turan warrior attire and combat training under Tillia.
• Sent by her father King Cross as a spy to Turah, pretending marriage to Zavier Wolfe while secretly married to Ransom.
• Experiences betrayal by lady's maid Jocelyn, who spies for fiancé Banner.
• Deepens romantic bond with Ransom from antagonism to passionate love and mutual protection.
• Maintains affectionate yet protective relationship with half-brother Arthalayus amid family jealousies with half-sister Mae.