Sage is an orphan boy chosen to train and compete to take the place of Prince Jaron, the younger son of King Eckbert of Carthya, who was presumed dead after pirates attacked his ship years ago. Sage is a scheming, cunning, witty, and resourceful young man, known for his wily nature. His orphanage master, Mrs. Turbeldy, puts it this way: “‘You’d be better off with a rabid badger than this one’” (4).

Because he has been abandoned by his family, Sage looks out for his own best interests—he is independent. He is not without morals, but he lives on the fringes of the law. Sage sees little freedom in his life and feels that “if I had to do it all over again, I would not have chosen this life. Then again, I’m not sure I ever had a choice” (1). He is always scheming, as is made clear in a number of situations, like when he quickly calculates the value of expensive place settings: “I [can’t] help but do the math on how much a clever thief might earn from stealing a polished silver fork or a gold-rimmed goblet, or a single crystal hanging in beads from the sconces on the wall” (48).