# Melicent — Figures of Earth character guide

> Melicent in Figures of Earth by James Branch Cabell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** little Melicent

**First appearance:** 0038-xxviii-how-melicent-was-welcomed

## Snapshot

Manuel and Niafer's daughter, delivered by a stately stork into a household where sorcery runs the servants and every joy carries a hidden price.

## Who they are

Melicent arrives in pale blue wrappings to the delight of her parents, though Queen Freydis marks the occasion with a feast from which Manuel is pointedly excluded. Her coming is bound up with the strange bargain of the stork's promissory notes and the sorcerous household that surrounds her infancy. As a child of Audela's spark and human longing alike, she becomes one of the stakes in Manuel's long negotiation between the life he wants and the powers that keep exacting payment.

## Relationships

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_family_

Manuel's daughter, whom he loves deeply but often neglects due to his quests, creating a strained paternal bond.

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_family_

Manuel's daughter, whom he loves deeply but often neglects due to his quests, creating a strained paternal bond.

### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel)

_family_

Manuel's daughter, whom he loves deeply but often neglects due to his quests, creating a strained paternal bond.

## In the story

### [XXVIII: How Melicent Was Welcomed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxviii-how-melicent-was-welcomed)

Newborn daughter of Manuel and Niafer, brought by the stork; her caps are changed from pink to blue bows.

### [XXIX: Sesphra of the Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxix-sesphra-of-the-dreams)

Melicent is Manuel's newborn child, referred to as a 'mewing lump of flesh' under Sesphra's bewitchment.

### [XXX: Farewell to Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxx-farewell-to-freydis)

Newborn daughter of Manuel and Niafer, baptized by Freydis as a Christian.

### [XXXI: Statecraft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxi-statecraft)

Mentioned as Manuel's child, for whom he must provide.

### [The Troubling Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxv-the-troubling-window)

Manuel's young daughter, nearly three years old, who plays with him and distracts him from his troubles.

### [XXXVI: Excursions from Content](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxvi-excursions-from-content)

Manuel's daughter, seen walking hand in hand with Niafer; Manuel kisses her upon his return and asks about missing him.

### [XXXVII: Opinions of Hinzelmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxvii-opinions-of-hinzelmann)

Sits with her father in the Room of Ageus; Manuel defends her as precious despite Hinzelmann's dismissive remarks.

### [XXXVIII: Farewell to Suskind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxviii-farewell-to-suskind)

Melicent appears after the event, dirty and disheveled; Manuel wipes her nose and kisses her, content that she is safe.

### [The Passing of Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxix-the-passing-of-manuel)

Manuel's young daughter, whom he kisses and sends away with a message for her mother before his departure.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/melicent
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters