Hero is a character who is a lot of fun to write.  She remains pretty much normal– a dull brown next to Senta’s gold.  She doesn’t really have a story arc of her own, at least until book 5 (and beyond).  She’s there strictly in a supporting role.  Here she is doing just that in The Young Sorceress.

Hero had been Senta’s best friend for more than five years now.  While they had once been nearly the same height, Hero was now noticeably shorter than the young sorceress.  She was in fact, quite a bit shorter now than her own twin.  Other than height though, Hertzal and Hero looked very much alike.  They both had large expressive eyes.  They both had thick dark hair, Hero’s long and naturally curly, Hertzal’s short and razor cut above the ears.

“Senta!” squealed Hero, hopping two steps across the tiny room to give her friend a great hug.  “What are you doing here?”

Hertzal smiled happily.  He had never spoken as long as the sorceress had known him, but he had his own ways of making himself understood.

“I’m taking you all to dinner at Finkler’s.”

“We haven’t decided for sure…” started Honor.

“That’s ace,” said Hero.  “We could smell Mrs. Finkler’s stew all over the square.  Oh, here’s your thread, Honor.”

She handed her sister a small cloth bag.

“Well, I suppose I should get my shawl,” said Honor.  “You two bundle up.  It’s still warm out, but it will be quite cool when we come home.”

She cast an eye in Senta’s direction.

“This is surprisingly warm,” said the sorceress, gesturing to her own unusual clothing.

The four of them walked west down First Avenue toward the square.  The three teens carried on an animated conversation, oblivious to almost anything else.  The eldest of the group carried a kerosene lantern in one hand and a lizzie sword in one hand.  The flat weapon looked a lot like a cricket bat, but was encrusted around the edges with small, very sharp pieces of obsidian.

There was a short line at the bakery, as the eating establishment featured only seven tables, three on the inside, and four on the outside.  When Senta and her friends joined the queue though, it became much shorter.  They could hear several people whispering “the Drache Girl” as they suddenly decided to eat at either the new beanery or Café Ada.

“It seems like a lot of people are afraid of you,” said Hero to Senta, as they took one of the outdoor tables.

“Well, that’s just good sense,” Senta replied.

One person that was apparently not afraid was the waitress.

“Well, if it isn’t three of the four biggest trouble makers in town,” she said, setting down a pot of tea and four cups.  “Hello Honor.”

“Shouldn’t you be at home with your kids?” asked Senta.

Gaylene Finkler made a face.  She was the wife of restaurateur Aalwijn Finkler, not to mention sister of Senta’s boyfriend, Graham.  Though she was only seventeen, she was already the mother of two.  Her eyes looked tired as she ran a hand through her sandy hair. 

“I had to get out.  Ma is taking care of the kids.  Another five minutes in the house and I would have taken an axe to everyone in it, and that includes your boyfriend.”

“Maybe you should have a rest instead of working,” offered Honor.

“We’re short of help.  Besides, when I’m here I get a chance to waffle with my friends.”  She waved a hand to Dutty Speel at another table, and who waved back.  “So what do you want?”

“How about some lovely stew?” said Senta.

“Right.  Stew.  Fresh bread.  Relish platter.  Anything else?”

“How about four Billingbow’s?”

“Just water for me,” said Honor.

“Got it,” said Gaylene; then she was off.

“Say, is that Zurfina over there?” asked Hero.