Nialla Giddis

**Nialla Giddis**: Born ready.

— *The Thief Knot*, pg. 223 |  | ”

****N******ialla Giddis** is Marzana's best friend. She lives in the Liberty of Gammerbund and loves mysteries and secret codes. Nialla is a founding member of the Thief Knot, and figured out the message that Peony Hyde had left in the ransom note.

## Biography

### Early life

She had gone to a primary school with Julian Mowbry, her previous best friend, but her parents had transfered her to Marymead in sixth grade. Julian had not kept up with her, and Nialla had found a new best friend, Marzana Hakelbarend.

### *The Thief Knot*

Marzana Hakelbarend and Nialla Giddis tailed a man acting suspicious, sitting outside a shop in the Liberty of Gammerbund and watching as he entered a jewelry shop. They thought for sure he was going to steal something, but it turned out, to the two girls' disappointment, that he was elaborately proposing to his girlfriend. Nialla commented that nothing ever happened in the Liberty. She comforted Marzana as best as she could.

Marzana suggested that they visit Surroyal Books, and Nialla happily agreed, believing that the new *Quester's Crossroads* was out. Marzana commented upon how obsessed Nialla was with the choose-your-own-adventure series. Nialla hurried over and picked out the book, and began to examine it. A boy sitting nearby commented upon the series, saying that he did not like missing the sacrifice chapters. Nialla explained distractedly their point, but the boy continued to discuss it, at which point Nialla announced that she did not want to discuss this with him. Nialla encouraged Marzana to join the game group as Lucky had suggested, but Marzana did not want to go. Nialla then began to disassemble the beginning of the book, mourning how she had not brought her kit.

After hearing about the kidnapping, Marzana called Nialla and told her that she had an adventure for them, but refused to tell Nialla then, as someone might hear, to Nialla's extreme annoyance. The next morning, they met up at their school, Marymead Intermediate, but there were too many kids around for Marzana to want to tell Nialla. There did not end up being time before homeroom to meet up, however, and they had to wait until study break. Marzana then, to Nialla's relief, explained all about the kidnapping.

Nialla asked where they would begin. In their math class, they had a substitute teacher (Mr. Otterwill) who had, it seemed, been a teacher at Peony Hyde's (the girl who had been kidnapped) school. Nialla helped Marzana ask him a few questions, and Marzana then deemed that they needed help. She suggested they ask Emilia Cabot, a Commorancy Kid, planning to go to the game group at the bookstore and talk to Emilia. Nialla wanted to come, but could not, as she had to watch her little brother Toby. Marzana thought about all the times Nialla would tell Marzana that she had done well, comforting her after a social interaction.

After meeting Emilia at Surroyal Books, Marzana called Nialla on the phone, who immediately knew it was her calling. Her brother Toby was making a mess of something in the background, but she tried her best to communicate. Marzana reported what had happened and how Emilia would meet them to talk. Nialla then told Marzana, with a disclaimer that she might hate it, that she recommended they add J.J. Mowbry to the crew. Marzana did not know who that was, but she explained that it was Julian, and Marzana recognized him as the boy friend that had abandoned Nialla. Nialla insisted that he would be a good addition, since he could do magic tricks. Nialla admitted that she had already told him about the crew, and insisted that he hadn't been mean to her, and apologized for telling him without asking Marzana first. They planned to meet J.J. at Surroyal Books the following day after school.

Nialla had somehow made cookies the previous night. She and Marzana met Emilia on the Commorancy floors, and Emilia gave them a short overview of what the Commorancy was like (admitting, disappointing Nialla, that it was not the Gryffindor common room). Marzana explained about the kidnapping and Nialla about Mr. Otterwill. Emilia agreed to help them break into Mr. Otterwill's file, and comforted the embarrassed Nialla when she talked about the magician J.J., assuring her that she would come meet him even if he didn't weaponize his playing cards. That afternoon, Emilia led Marzana and Nialla through a secret tunnel and Boneash and Sodalime's Glass Museum and Radioactive Teashop, to their amazement and wonder (Nialla expressed the desire to become a Commorancy Kid).

They then arrived at Surroyal Books. Nialla introduced J.J. to Marzana and Emilia, and he had brought his friend Ciro along. Nialla tried to calm the angry Marzana, then expressed wonder at J.J.'s various demonstrations of magic tricks, to Marzana's annoyance. Nialla seemed sure that Marzana could see what she'd meant, annoying Marzana further with her facial expressions. She listened as Ciro explained why he was valuable as well. They then voted on it, agreeing to allow the boys join the group. Nialla suggested that Marzana be in charge, and she, though afraid, agreed. Nialla wanted to look at the ransom note, wondering, since she had read *The Sidledywry Knot* (the book Peony cut the words from), if there was a message in it. She bought two books in the *Sidledywry* series, then left Surroyal Books with Marzana. She assured Marzana that Marzana had done well.

Marzana and Nialla met up at school the following morning, Nialla mentioned the work she'd done on the ransom note, and Marzana said that she'd found the group a name. They wondered what to do, since Emilia had not showed up. The next day, Nialla had the ransom note copy and was very excited. Meddy, a ghost, revealed herself to Nialla, and Nialla jumped out of her sandals. Marzana introduced them, and Nialla realized that what Marzana had told her about her adventures the previous winter had been true. Marzana and Nialla met up with Emilia, who was introduced to Meddy, and they went to crack into Mr. Otterwill's file before school began.

They got into a dumbwaiter to ferry them to Miss Palkowick's office. They then read Mr. Otterwill's file (he'd been recommended by one Victor Cormorant), and got back into a dumbwaiter to take Marzana and Nialla to their first period class. They expressed wonder at the secret of the dumbwaiters, and how the old iron seemed to have made the dumbwaiter work. Meddy then left to explore, and Nialla commented on how odd a day it was. Later, Marzana and Nialla met up and talked to Mr. Otterwill before math class, talking about *The Sidledywry Knot* and, with that, learning about his connections to the kidnapping (he seemed sad, so they guessed he knew about it), and that Victor Cormorant was his great-uncle. Marzana marveled at how confidently Nialla spoke to him.

    Meddy reported what she'd been doing, and Marzana, Nialla, and Emilia showed her to Boneash and Sodalime's, then introduced her to the rest of the group. Nialla approved of Marzana's name for the group, the Thief Knot. They reported how Nialla had found out about Mr. Otterwill, then mulled over Victor Cormorant (Emilia revealed that he was the Snakebird). Nialla helped figure out where the Belowground Transit stations were in the Liberty. When Emilia began to cry, because of the cemetery's mention (her father had died), Nialla comforted her. Nialla tried to comfort Marzana, who was upset that Emilia knew about her mother, but Marzana refused to be. Nialla seemed miserable. They returned to the Belowground discussion, and Nialla noticed a station diagram that appeared to be in Marymead. Nialla then shared what she'd found with the ransom note—the holes left by the words Peony had cut seemed to show other words on the pages below them, and perhaps could find out the message she thought Peony had left. Nialla and Ciro did not go on the trip to Mrs. Agravin's in order to figure out the message.

At Mrs. Agravin's house, Peony Hyde was found. Nialla later called Marzana, noting that she had not told her parents anything; what was there to tell? Nialla had called the other members of the Knot to catch up with them, figuring that Marzana was in trouble. Nialla mentioned that Ciro did not think there was a message in the ransom note. Ciro talked to Marzana about Nialla's theory concerning the message and why he did not think there was one. Nialla, Ciro theorized, had thought of *Quester's Crossroads*, and did not have a 'thing', being the only one in the group without one.

Nialla brought cookies to the meeting of the Thief Knot. Emilia did not arrive, and the Knot just sat around and talked, J.J. doing magic tricks for Meddy while the others looked on. Marzana then realized that the girl they had rescued in Mrs. Agravin's apartment had not been Peony Hyde, and Nialla caught on. Nialla had a few questions about why and how there was a fake Peony, and Marzana answered them. Nialla thought they should keep looking at the ransom note, then wondered if they should call the adults. Marzana and Nialla led the other members of the Thief Knot to Marymead to meet Emilia, who wanted to show them the Belowground station. Nialla turned on her flashlight and led the group into the school. Emilia met them and welcomed them, and they figured out that Tasha Cormorant had orchestrated the kidnapping. They met other Commorancy Kids, and Emilia led them into the Cotgrave Wall station.

Nialla and Marzana expressed wonder to each other that something was happening in the Liberty. Nialla helped figure out the true object of the kidnapping: it was, as Emilia theorized, about getting the Hydes to leave their house, which was built over the Belowground hub. The station could not be accessed from the tunnels, Nialla and Ciro pointed out, because of the old iron. Nialla then insisted upon trying the message out again, though Ciro, frustrated, insisted that it was too complicated and was not a game. Ciro then realized something, and told Nialla to put them in order again, which she gladly did, ignoring the attempted interruptions of the others. Ciro taped the ransom note to the tracing paper Emilia had brought, then declared that Nialla was right. Ciro and Nialla revealed what had been on the back of the ransom note, and tried to figure out what Peony meant by being in the dark with teacups, animal noises, and a chemical smell. Nialla was surprised, and both she and Ciro acknowledged the ways they had been wrong, Ciro praising Nialla.

Meddy heard a vibration, and they realized a train was coming, which Emilia had called by accident. Marzana introduced the Knot to Brandon and explained their situation. Brandon did not want to take them to confront the kidnappers, but Nialla suggested that she and Ciro go back up and try to contact Marzana's parents, and Ciro agreed. Nialla reassured Marzana that Marzana could do it, then she and Ciro ascended the stairs. The other Knot members began to board the train, but Marzana chased after Nialla. She insisted that Nialla should not miss what they had dreamed about, but Nialla insisted on doing it, comparing it to a sacrifice chapter. Nialla told Marzana that the adventure would stop for everyone if she and Ciro did not go, sayiung, through tears, that she would not miss it if Marzana told her what happened. Nialla then left, reassuring Marzana that she could do it.

While confronting the kidnappers (Moth and Kit Fletchwood), Marzana thought of Nialla reassuring her. When she followed the train of the locks to what Tumbler Fletchwood had left for his sons, Marzana wished Nialla were with her. Mrs. Hakelbarend agreed to let Marzana tell Nialla and Ciro the story about the Windrose and the Portolan, which Marzana was convinced they would love. When the whole group returned to Cotgrave Wall, they found Nialla and Ciro waiting for them. Marzana hugged Nialla and confirmed that they'd succeeded. The whole Thief Knot then went to the Hakelbarend home to celebrate.

## Physical appearance

Nialla has blond hair and pink cheeks. She wears glasses with cat-eye frames. Nialla is the shortest member of the Thief Knot.

## Personality and traits

Nialla is very outspoken and plucky, and sometimes 'gets philosophical', which bothers Marzana. Nialla is obsessed with *Quester's Crossroads* and findind hidden meaning in paper.

## Trivia

* The name "Nialla" means "supporter" and "winner". This could be because Nialla supports Marzana through and through.
* Nialla likes to bake cookies.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Nialla Giddis****.

## References

1. ↑ https://mylofamily.com/parenting/babynames/meaning-of-nialla-56386
2. ↑ *The Thief Knot*