Cathet Reese Kero (KATH-et REES KER-o)

Race: Human

Role: Cathet of Inaias, Mentor, Surrogate Father to Sabrael

Don’t let the balding head and bushy blond mustache fool you — Reese Kero is exactly the kind of man you want in your corner. Shorter than most, with warm brown eyes and the unhurried manner of someone who has seen enough of the world to know what actually matters, he carries the quiet authority of a man who has earned every bit of respect shown to him. He is no longer the imposing figure in the way warriors often are, but there is something about him that commands a room nonetheless.

As a Cathet — a senior calling within the service of Inaias, god of protection — Reese serves as teacher, guide, and spiritual father to those placed in his charge. He is gifted at both. His library, second only to the temple’s Tsunarin in size and variety, speaks to a mind that never stopped being curious, and the people he has mentored speak to a heart that never stopped caring. He has a rare talent for knowing exactly when to push someone and when to simply put a hand on their shoulder and wait.

He is also gently, persistently funny — the kind of man who will tease you in the same breath he tells you he loves you, and mean both completely.

Interesting Facts:

• Reese has been quietly saving money for years toward a single purpose. The result is one of the most thoughtful gifts in the entire series.
• He has a formal “Cathet voice” — a deliberate shift in tone he uses for spiritual moments — and the people who know him well can always tell when he’s about to switch into it.