Sorcha

****S******orcha** is the maid at the Blue Vein Tavern. She is a conflagrationeer like many of her ancestors, including her great-grandfather John Ustion, who very nearly created a *fierekenia* mechanism.

## Biography

### *The Raconteur's Commonplace Book*

Sorcha, the maid, was in love with Negret Colophon, because of his mystery and how he'd sing to himself. Sorcha would sometimes sing to the fires with Negret's tunes. Sorcha noticed Masseter and Sullivan up at night, as she got up often to check on the fires, and didn't like all the rain. Sorcha helped Sangwin make Maisie carved animals, and Sangwin eventually made one for Sorcha to thank her. After seeing Reever express his affection to Jessamy, Sorcha wondered about Negret.

When Mrs. Haypotten told a story about Queen Maisie, Sorcha suggested that the queen meet Bean-Knee, who washes the clothes of the dead. Mrs. Haypotten was upset, but Maisie declared that she wanted that, so Mrs. Haypotten told of how Queen Maisie met Bean-Knee and saved herself from being murdered. Sorcha later saw, to her surprise, than Negret had two sets of teeth.

Sorcha helped teach Maisie about the seiche. The implication in the room seemed to be that Sullivan was one, and Maisie, not knowing what to do, looked to Sorcha. Sorcha, she realized, knew this was true, but was confident and unafraid, so Maisie didn't have to be either. Sorcha compared the seiche to predators, and Sullivan knew that she'd met some before.

Sorcha helped Jessamy get some lap blankets, and gave Jessamy gloves to replace her old ones, which Jessamy appreciated. Sorcha went downstairs, where Negret, Maisie, Reever, and Madame Grisaille were dancing, and rewound the music box. Reever and Madame Grisaille maneuvered her into dancing with Negret. Sorcha later convinced the tired Maisie to go to bed, and Negret thanked Sorcha for the dance.

Sorcha made spills to put in the fire with Maisie, and gave Negret paper to make covers for the book he was binding. Sorcha and Maisie made paper parades and animals in the fire, which danced in the flames. Sorcha brought in logs for the fire, and Jessamy thanked her for the gloves.

Sorcha volunteered to tell a story, and Negret and Petra presumed that Sorcha knew a lot about fires. Petra asked about fire-reckoning, and Sorcha tried to explain, speaking boldly and more than she had before. Sorcha then realized that she'd unconsciously put her hand in the fire, and tried to pretend it had hurt, though Negret saw through the ruse. Sorcha proceeded to tell a tale of how a fire-savvy inventor called John Ustion had, after being asked by a customer, tried to create a *fierekenia* mechanism that could bend time, but he hadn't finished before he died. His granddaughter had gone to destroy it on his request, but found it gone.

Masseter revealed that he had John Ustion's mechanism, and Sorcha, shocked and angry, rebuked him for stealing it. He had finished it with the help of someone who was fire-savvy. When Jessamy told the story of how Petra would beat the Devil, she asked what fire would be around the edges, and Sorcha created a border fire before ending it spectacularly like a firework, to Maisie's delight. Negret gave his book to Sorcha and kissed her. Sorcha encouraged Maisie that Petra would come back with stories.

## Physical appearance

Sorcha is plump and has black eyes. She is sixteen years old. Sorcha has old burns on her hands from putting her hands in the fire unconsciously, which, because she is a conflagrationeer, doesn't hurt her.

## Trivia

* The name "Sorcha" means "bright" or "shining", which could refer to her power and knowledge of fire.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.thebump.com/b/sorcha-baby-name