Ciro del Olmo

****C******iro del Olmo** is a member of the Thief Knot. He has exceptional knowledge of camouflage and ciphers, as his ancestors were experts in that field.

## Biography

### Early life

Ciro's grandfather died when he was seven years old. His father died as well, and Ciro lives with his mother, Katia del Olmo. Ciro has apparently been educated on the art of camouflage.

### *The Thief Knot*

Marzana, Nialla, and Emilia went to Surroyal Books to meet J.J. Mowbry, a magician who Nialla hoped could help them solve the kidnapping of Peony Hyde. J.J. introduced them to his friend Ciro, who he thought they would want in their group too. After J.J. explained why he was valuable, Marzana turned to Ciro (calling him Zero by accident) and asked him what he did. Ciro told them that he was skilled in hidden information, then explained about his ancestors; his family had been camoufleurs for a very long time, all the way back to Songhan del Olmo, and from his mother's side he was descended from the Spinster. Marzana then realized that his mother was responsible for the cell phones distributed in the Liberty, contrary to Deacon and Morvengarde's control.

Marzana, Nialla, and Emilia decided to let the boys join. Ciro wanted to know more about what they were doing before he confirmed that he wanted to, and after Marzana explained about the kidnapping, Ciro agreed. Marzana explained what they were already trying to do, such as investigating the curious absence of Marzana's math teacher and the substitute in her place. Nialla wanted to see the ransom note, and Ciro suggested that he go to Marzana's house and photograph her parents' notes. Marzana then remembered about the Belowground Transit System stations in the Liberty, and Ciro commented that his grandfather had been hired to camouflage them, and he could find his grandfather's notes on the stations in the Liberty.

Ciro arrived. Marzana suggested that they pretend to be working on a project together, but Ciro, who specialized in 'plain old lying', thought that they should not lie when it was not necessary, acknowledging that while it would be awkward (Marzana's parents would think she liked him), it would be worth it. When Marzana and Ciro arrived to Marzana's house, Mr. Larven and Rob were there, and Marzana's mother was distracted enough to identify Ciro as Katia del Olmo's son before she withdrew to the living room. Honora announced that she was going to prepare cookies for them.

Marzana apologized for being bad at small talk, but Ciro reassured her that it did not bother him. Ciro then turned on the TV, watching *Duck Soup* from the Marx Brothers. Honora came up and provided drinks, then Marzana and Ciro photographed Marzana's parents' notes, first taking pictures of the placement of the papers sot hat they could be replicated. Ciro then joined Marzana in listening in on the conversation between Mrs. Hakelbarend, Mr. Hakelbarend, and Rob. They wrote down what they remembered. Marzana then changed, because she had gotten fireplace ash all over her pants, and they watched the end of the movie. Marzana's parents emerged from their meeting, and Ciro left, planning to print out the notes for Nialla and raid his attic. Ciro successfully got the prints to Nialla.

The group met up again in Surroyal Books, this time with a new member, the ghost Meddy. Marzana explained the name she'd chosen for the group: the Thief Knot, named after a knot that was a trap, because it pretended to be a reef knot but wasn't. They discussed the information they had gotten from Mr. Otterwill, the substitute, and Emilia told about how she'd found out that Victor Cormorant was the Snakebird. Ciro bought a book of maps (gazetteer) to help them, then took out his grandfather's notes on the Belowground stations. The Thief Knot went through the drawings, finding that the Ottomy Stalls and Horneblende Park stations were in the Liberty. Emilia broke down at the mention of Horneblende Park, the cemetery where, it turned out, her father was buried, and Ciro felt he should have realized where the station was. They returned to the discussion of the stations, Ciro mentioning the old iron, and Nialla discovering that there was a station inside Marymead, Marzana, Nialla, and Emilia's school. Nialla explained her theory about a message in the ransom note, and she and Ciro went to work on the note. Before he left, Ciro gave Marzana his phone in case of emergency (she, J.J., and Meddy were going to check on the missing math teacher), and wished her good luck.

Inside Mrs. Agravin's apartment, Marzana, J.J., and Meddy found Peony Hyde. The Thief Knot met again the next morning as planned, anyway. Ciro seemed happy and triumphant, to Marzana's surprise (Marzana was quite upset), and Ciro insisted that they had done something wonderful. Marzana insisted that her parents were very angry with her, then realized that she'd thought it a game the whole time, a thought that Ciro seemed to perceive. Ciro told Marzana about how they'd found a few possibilities in the ransom note, but he thought it was much too complicated for Peony to expect anyone to figure it out, if Nialla was right about how it was hidden. Ciro thought that Nialla had thought of *Quester's Crossroads* when she'd seen the note, and that Nialla hoped this would be her 'thing', because she was the only one who did not have one. Ciro noticed Marzana's expression, and she mentioned that something was bugging her, and it was not that she'd disappointed her parents. Ciro went to call Emilia, who had not yet showed up, declaring it an emergency and using his own phone. Ciro got Emilia, checked in on her, and filled her in.

Marzana realized what had been bothering her. Ciro kept watch while Marzana explained all the things that had seemed off when she had rescued Peony, and Ciro was one of the first to realize what was going on, which did not surprise Marzana because he was a camoufleur. Marzana explained that the girl they had rescued had not been Peony Hyde. Ciro wondered what the kidnappers' real demands had been. Emilia suggested that the group come to Marymead and see the Belowground station, and so Marzana and Nialla led them to the school, through Boneash and Sodalime's, which amazed them. Ciro suggested they explore more when this was all over, and Marzana agreed. They entered Marymead, where the Commorancy Kids thanked Ciro for finding the station. Marzana and Emilia realized that Tasha Cormorant, the Snakebird's granddaughter, was an accomplice, and Meddy thought that Tasha had been Fake Peony. Ciro showed how they could find out even if she was disguised, using clues such as the shape of her face.

The Thief Knot entered Cotgrave Wall station. Emilia revealed the true purpose of the kidnapping; Ciro guessed that the Hydes were supposed to be stuck with Tasha, but Emilia revealed that the Hydes were supposed to leave their house, which was built over the old hub of the Belowground, according to the map in the station. They'd had to enter from above because of the iron, Ciro and Nialla said, which cut off the station from the tunnels. Nialla demanded that they figure out the note right then, but Ciro said that it was not a game, then apologized. Ciro then realized something, and Nialla put the words in order as he asked, taping them to the tracing paper. Ciro taped the paper to the wall, then Nialla turned on the flashlight, revealing that Ciro had taped the tracing paper up backwards, and the back of the words shone through. The message read: *IN THE DARK WITH THE TEACUPS ANIMALL NOISE IS LOUD BARKS HOWLS SCREAMS SMELL IS WATER LIKE POOLS.* Ciro explained that it was the back of the message, and both he and Nialla apologized to the other. Meddy then heard something, and Marzana realized that it was the train, called accidentally by Emilia.

Brandon Levi arrived, and Meddy and Marzana introduced the Knot. Marzana told him that Ciro was the grandson of Padraig del Olmo, which impressed Brandon. Brandon did not want to take them to the station, but Nialla suggested that she and Ciro go and find Marzana's parents while the others went. Ciro looked regretful for a moment, then agreed, and Ciro gave Marzana his phone, smiling encouragingly, then he and Marzana ascended the stairs. Marzana chased after Nialla, who she did not want to miss anything, but Nialla insisted that it had to happen, and went. Ciro and Marzana were left alone on the steps, and Ciro kissed Marzana, explaining that it was for luck, then rushed away up the stairs.

Marzana's mother, Violet Cross (who Nialla and Ciro had, after six phone calls, managed to track down), agreed to let Marzana tell Nialla and Ciro the story behind the kite maps (the Windrose and the Portolan), which she knew they would like. When the group returned, having gotten the kidnappers (Moth and Kit Fletchwood) into custody, Nialla and Ciro were waiting, and Ciro waved, calling to Nialla that they were back. Ciro squeezed Marzana's hand. The whole Thief Knot then went to Marzana's house for a celebratory dinner, as Peony had been found (thanks to Nialla and Ciro finding the message) and the kidnappers stopped.

## Physical appearance

Ciro has olive skin and sandy, sun-bleached hair.

## Personality and traits

Ciro is very confident, going so far as to kiss Marzana without seeming to have qualms about it. Ciro is calm and easygoing, and does not seem bothered by much. Ciro has many skills as a camoufleur and intense knowledge about hidden things, such as the differences between codes, ciphers, and steganography.

## Trivia

* The name 'Ciro' means 'Sun', and is the Italian and Spanish version of the name Cyrus.
* Ciro's last name, Del Olmo, means 'of the elm' and comes from how his ancestor Songhan procured an elm tree pump.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Ciro del Olmo****.