The Solen Family

Marcus Solen — Father

Dilanni Solen — Mother

Hunter Solen — Son, age 15

JorDann Solen — Son, age 12

Ty Solen — Son, age 10

Cam Solen — Son, age 8

The Solens are the kind of family that makes everyone around them feel better simply by being there. Marcus and Dilanni are the heart of the group — an unlikely but perfectly matched pair whose love story began in a kitchen in Easton and never lost its warmth. Marcus was working as a cook when he first laid eyes on Dilanni. He claims it was love at first sight. Dilanni’s version of events is slightly more measured, though she does acknowledge his cooking played a role.

Marcus is a broad, cheerful, perpetually singing human who seems constitutionally incapable of a bad mood. During a rainstorm that would have darkened most travelers’ spirits, he walked through the entire downpour singing — and by the time it ended, half the group had joined him. His warmth and his genuine curiosity about people around him make him one of the most immediately likable figures in any room.

Dilanni is his counterpart in every way — taller, slender, and willowy where he is wide, calm where he is exuberant. Her caramel skin and blonde hair reflect her heritage: her grandmother was a Shadow Elf, giving her a slightly exotic look and the slower aging of her half-elven blood, which means she still looks younger than Marcus despite being more than twice his age. She is also quietly, devastatingly lethal with a hand crossbow — something her boys brag about with considerable pride.

Their four sons are cut from the same cloth. Hunter, the oldest at fifteen, already carries a calm wisdom in his eyes that goes well beyond his years. JorDann at twelve is steady and protective, the kind of boy who quietly holds things together. Ty and Cam round out the group — eight-year-old Cam having become fast friends with Brigg Liseand almost immediately after the journey began.

The family’s dream is simple and specific: a bed and breakfast outside Tevec, welcoming travelers and adventurers. They even had a name — two names, actually. Marcus was set on The Rest Pit, a play on the word respite that he found endlessly clever. Dilanni preferred Weapons Down — warm, inviting, and considerably less off-putting. The boys, naturally, sided with their father. The debate was never fully resolved.

Interesting Facts:

• The Solens only joined the journey because Martel Tiller overheard their plans in a tavern back in Easton and convinced them that Tevec was the perfect place for their idea. One overheard conversation changed everything.
• Dilanni’s crossbow skill is something of a running legend among her own children. JorDann and Ty had both seen her shoot before, but seeing is one thing — watching her demonstrate it for the first time in front of Sabrael left everyone slightly speechless.