Evelyn Rivera

To most in Blood Ax, Evelyn Rivera is just another stablehand at Mardek’s Livery, quiet enough to be overlooked among the bustle of the cattle herds and the constant river traffic. She keeps her hair tied back under a kerchief, wears plain work clothes patched at the knees, and smells always of hay, leather, and sweet alfalfa. Horses calm under her hands, and even the most skittish mounts seem to nuzzle trustingly toward her.

But to those who look closer, there’s something uncanny about Evelyn. Her features carry a feline cast— eyes of luminous amber, ears almost too keenly pointed, and a smile that feels both playful and dangerous. She moves with the liquid grace of a predator, even when sweeping the stables or hauling water pails. Strangers tend to turn their heads when she passes, though most can’t say why.

In Blood Ax, Evelyn plays the role of modest stablehand well—keeping her head down, earning her keep with tireless effort. Yet her natural curiosity refuses to stay contained. She lingers to overhear whispers in the Rusty Boot, questions travelers about distant trails, and is quick to poke her nose into matters the townsfolk would rather leave be. Her quick wit, playful humor, and magnetic presence make it difficult for her to truly fade into the background.

Despite her attempts to avoid attention, Evelyn has already drawn notice. Her beauty is often remarked upon, and some swear she never quite looks the same twice—shadows lengthen where she walks, and cats throughout town follow her with uncanny devotion. She dreads the hunters who might come searching, for she knows that her family’s wrath or her suitor’s vengeance will not be far behind.