Michael Wren

Michael Wren is a voyant living at the Residence of Magdalen when Paige Mahoney arrives in Oxford. He was once a polyglot, but a traumatic event made him an unreadable. Treated as an amaurotic by most of the Rephaim, he becomes a friend and ally of Arcturus Mesarthim.

Biography[]

History[]

Michael was born a polyglot, with the ability to speak and understand Glossolalia. Since he was the lone voyant in his family, he was not taught to control his gift, resulting in random outbursts of the spirit language. His amaurotic parents were so appalled and fearful that they forced their son to drink bleach, hoping to burn the unnaturalness away. As a result, his dreamscape collapsed, he lost his gift, and he could no longer speak.

Michael was living rough on the streets of Southwark, having been rejected by the syndicate. He was found by the Overseer and sent to Oxford as part of the nineteenth Bone Season. Nashira Sargas gave him as a "gift" to her consort, Arcturus Mesarthim. Since Michael had lost his ability to speak, Arcturus taught him Scion Sign Language (SSL).

The Bone Season[]

Michael manages the Residence of Magdalen, attending closely to domestic matters like laundry and cooking. Paige first meets him shortly after she finds Arcturus injured in his bedchamber and treats his wounds. Pleione Sualocin brings Michael for him to feed on. Paige is disgusted by this and tells Arcturus she hopes he dies in Gallows Wood. The next time Paige sees Michael, he is bringing her a meal, which he cooked, and Arcturus formally introduces them to each other. Michael is seen bringing firewood to the Founders Tower, and later gives Arcturus a lantern to take to the Fields of Mercy. Paige observes that he never speaks.

Before Paige takes her second test, Michael drugs her using a cup of tea, which contains a sedative. Paige does not blame him and later trusts him to make her a coffee. He cooks a pie, mashed potato and buttered peas for her mandatory supper with Arcturus. After the Rookery burns down, he makes her baked chestnuts—her favourite snack—and a cup of sugary tea. He also cleans the wound Kathy Lorimer gives her.

Arcturus and Paige discusses Michael before their assignment to London, with Arcturus using his story to illustrate the cruelty of the syndicate. He tells her that Michael prefers Magdalen to London, and that Michael encouraged him to share this with Paige.

Michael helps Arcturus administer scimorphine to Paige after she is stabbed by Nick Nygård. After Arcturus reveals his oneiromancy to Paige, which leaves her feeling betrayed and exposed, he sleeps elsewhere and gives her command of the Founders Tower, telling her that Michael will take care of her. Michael brings her breakfast the next morning, as well as a letter from Arcturus and a vial containing pollen of the poppy anemone. Michael tells Paige to trust Arcturus, showing that he is able to speak a few words. He continues to bring Paige food and medicine while she heals.

After Paige agrees to lead a rebellion for Arcturus, it is revealed that Michael has been aware of these plans for a while. In the Old Kitchen, Michael makes Paige a cup of saloop, and the three discuss ways to disrupt the Bicentenary. Michael proves to be an excellent spy, capable of eavesdropping on both Rephs and humans, which suggests he may still be able to understand Glossolalia. When a mysterious sickness appears in Oxford, Michael steals medicine from the House to end it.

On the day of the Bicentenary, one of his responsibilities is to get Fazal and Gail from Magdalen and escort them to the train. He also drugs several pots of chestnut soup that are being served to the red-jackets, using purple aster cut with valerian. While serving drinks in the Guildhall, giving Paige a glass of hot mecks, and tells her that he retrieved her backpack from the Residence of Trinity. He leaves it in Bear Lane for her, along with her boots. When Nashira is about to kill Paige, Michael bravely leaps on to her back to distract her, causing her to throw him off the stage. He ends up leading the amaurotics to Port Meadow, making it there in time to escape on the train.

The Mime Order[]

On the train, Michael gives Paige his gray tunic to burn so she can set off the fire alarm. After reaching the Tower of London, Michael and Nell support Ivy before she climbs the wall. He just barely escapes the ensuing bloodbath, but is separated from Paige. She sends some of her contacts to look for him to no avail, but he is named as a fugitive by Scion, suggesting he is still alive.

The Mask Falling[]

Paige discovers that the Rag and Bone Man captured Michael in October and sent him to Sheol II on the gray market. Benoît Ménard pays to take credit for his capture. Paige and Arcturus hope they will find him in the Château de Versailles, where Sheol II is located, but Michael is not among the prisoners they find there. Paul Caron informs them that Michael had been there, but was taken away just a day earlier. Nadine Arnett calls Michael a "sweet guy" and says that he told the new prisoners what to expect from a Bone Season.

Physical Description[]

Michael is a clean-shaven man with chiseled features. In Oxford, he wears the gray tunic of an amaurotic. His hair is dark gold. Paige thinks he could be a living muse, or a model, and that he looks as if an old master brushed him into being. He dresses in a neat and fastidious way, keeping every button on his tunic polished.

Personality[]

Michael is gentle, brave and kind, checking on Paige when she is shaken. He is very loyal to Arcturus and encourages Paige to trust him.