# Varta — Short Fiction character guide

> Varta in Short Fiction by Andre Norton.

**Role:** major

**First appearance:** 0001-i-through-the-blue-haze

## Snapshot

A priestess of Asti who lifts a miniature sun from a stone idol and walks into the mountain wearing the scaled skin of something older than humankind.

## Who they are

Varta serves in Asti's temple, reading old records closely enough to know which wall-stone hides a door and which chest holds a lizard-skin suit. She strips off His Livery without regret and takes up the sun as a diadem, choosing the deep road over the safe one. Her knowledge of chronicles and her willingness to shed her order's softness make her the guide Garin's quest cannot proceed without.

## Relationships

### [Lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/lur)

_friendship_

Loyal companions who share a deep, unspoken understanding and protect each other.

### [Asti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/asti)

_professional_

Colleagues bound by duty, often working together on critical tasks with mutual respect.

### [Asti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/asti)

_professional_

Colleagues bound by duty, often working together on critical tasks with mutual respect.

### [Lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/lur)

_friendship_

Loyal companions who share a deep, unspoken understanding and protect each other.

### [Lur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/lur)

_friendship_

Loyal companions who share a deep, unspoken understanding and protect each other.

## In the story

### [The People of the Crater](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters/the-people-of-the-crater)

Accompanies Garin and learns of the ancient history from the lizard-folk.

### [X: Battle and Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters/x-battle-and-victory)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter.

### [The Gifts of Asti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters/the-gifts-of-asti)

Last Maiden of Asti; takes the miniature solar system from the temple and escapes through the underworld.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/varta
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters