Cook

**Cook** is a slave in Commandant Keris Veturia's household.

## Personality

Cook grieves for her husband and daughter who are dead. Before becoming a slave, she was fearless, stubborn, and charismatic. Cook describes her old self, before her enslavement, as someone who "never listened to anything but her own selfishness." She completely and utterly detests herself, believing herself to be a monster.

## Physical Description

Cook is small and walks with a limp. She has white hair and her eyes are a dark, agate blue. Her voice is raspy, as if she's ill. "Ropy, vivid red scars run from her forehead down across her cheeks, lips, and chin, all the way into the high neck of her dress." Her scars were from torture done by the Commandant. She has a tattoo of the Resistance's symbol above her heart. Her husband Jahan gave it to her.

## Biography

 This page may contain spoilers! Do not proceed unless you wish to be spoiled.

### *An Ember In The Ashes*

Cook is a former member of the Scholar Resistance. She was captured and enslaved. The Commandant disfigured her face. Cook frequently tells Laia that she knew her parents and strongly disliked her mother. Cook tells Laia her story about joining the Resistance. She learned to mix powders and potions so "the very air would turn to fire and stones to sand." But she got in over head and did things for the rebels that she never dreamed that she'd do. The Commandant caught her and "carved up her face" and made her swallow hot coals which ruined her voice. Then the Commandant made her a slave in her house.

Cook helps Laia save Elias Veturius from being executed, but refuses to escape herself.

### *A Torch Against The Night*

Cook eventually escapes from the Commandant and goes after Helene Aquilla. Cook captures her and subdues Helene, giving her a hint as to where Elias is. She threatens Helene with consequences if Laia is harmed.

### *A Reaper At The Gates*

It is revealed that Cook is actually Mirra of Serra, Laia's mother. During her torture sessions with Keris, Mirra breaks the necks of her husband, Jahan, and older daughter, Lis, to put them out of their misery and to prevent them from spilling any information. She resents herself for this. Mirra sacrifices herself to give Laia and Helene time to escape. She tells Laia that she loves her before telling to her to go.

### *A Sky Beyond The Storm*

Mirra becomes Soul Catcher, freeing Elias. She secretly comes to Nur for the Moon Festival to watch Laia tell her first story. Laia sees her after she finishes. Mirra no longer stutters and she exudes a gravitas that reminds Laia of her father. Mirra has finally begun to forgive herself. Elias tells Laia that Mirra is "about a thousand times better at soul catching" than he was.

### Early Life

Mirra left home when she was sixteen, cutting off all contact with her parents. From age twelve until she ran away at sixteen, Mirra trained with her father to be a healer. Twenty-five years ago, Mirra led the northern Resistance in Adisa. She worked with King Irmand to protect Scholars and give them work, homes, and a permanent place in Mariner society.

She came to her parents to ask them to take in Darin and Laia. Mirra, Jahan, and Lis were going back to the Resistance to help because it was crumbling under the force of the Empire. Mirra and Jahan left the Resistance when Lis was four and Mirra was pregnant with Darin. They wanted to raise their children with a normal life. So, they disappeared, leaving no trial or trace. Two years after Darin was born, Laia was born. Mirra came to her parents to ask them to take in Darin, who was six, and Laia, who was four. Mirra, Jahan, and Lis were going back to the Resistance to help because it was crumbling under the force of the Empire. Jahan, Lis, and supposedly Mirra, died a year later in Kauf Prison after being betrayed by Keenan.

## Powers

Once she becomes Soul Catcher, Mirra is given the power to windwalk and to pass on the spirits.

## Relationships

### Izzi

Izzi and Cook have a special relationship. When Izzi arrived at Blackcliff, Cook took care of her. The Commandant learned about their friendship and manipulated it to her means, punishing Izzi instead when Cook offended her. Izzi died before she could tell Cook how the latter meant to her.

## Trivia

* Laia recalls that Missa smells like cinnamon.
* Cook is "the Ghost" in the prophecies.
* Rehmat reveals that Mirra was a possible warrior and carries Rehmat inside her.

## References

1. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: page 199
2. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: page 118
3. ↑ *An Ember In The Ashes*: page 197
4. ↑ *A Sky Beyond The Storm*: page 514