The Princess and Curdie · Character

The Colonel

A broken-bodied officer whose loyalty to the king outlasts his injuries, offering Curdie an ally when the palace offers almost none.

supporting

Also known as the colonel, The poor colonel , who was yet hardly able to stand

First appearance: The Avengers

As a supporting figure in The Princess and Curdie, The Colonel is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Found asleep in his room, Curdie recognizes him as a good and honest man by the feel of his hand.

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The poor colonel, hardly able to stand, belongs to the dwindling company of men in Gwyntystorm who remain true to their sovereign despite the court's rot. His physical frailty mirrors the kingdom's condition — wounded, neglected, yet not quite extinguished — and his allegiance gives Curdie a rare foothold of trust inside a palace of liars. He matters as proof that honor persists among the ruins, and as a quiet counterweight to the smooth treachery of men like Dr. Kelman.

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Character Web

13 connections

A slice of how The Colonel sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Loyal and Corrupt Court
Allies and Antagonists
Mystical and Corrupt Forces

+8 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the decisive reversal where the king, previously isolated and bet…

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Relationships

Curdie
professional · negative
Curdie works with the Colonel as part of the royal guard, but the Colonel is loyal to the… How this plays out →
Sir Bronzebeard
professional · negative
Sir Bronzebeard
professional · negative

Curdie
Curdie works with the Colonel as part of the royal guard, but the Colonel is loyal to the corrupt court.
Sir Bronzebeard
Sir Bronzebeard and the Colonel are fellow officers in the royal guard, but Sir Bronzebeard is honorable while the Colonel is corrupt.
Sir Bronzebeard
Sir Bronzebeard and the Colonel are fellow officers in the royal guard, but Sir Bronzebeard is honorable while the Colonel is corrupt.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The Colonel in The Avengers

In the story

The Colonel appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Avengers
Found asleep in his room, Curdie recognizes him as a good and honest man by the feel of his hand.
XXVIII: The Preacher
Mentioned as missing, contributing to the uncertainty of the king's bodyguard.
Barbara
Recovering from his wounds, he becomes friends with Curdie and worries about his regiment.
The Sacrifice
Attempts to rally his troops but is too weak and is ignored by the sentry.
The King's Army
Sir Bronzebeard, dressed in complete steel, ready to die for the king, and secures horses for the army.
The Battle
Fights alongside the king, stabbing the captain in the throat.
Judgment
Made a duke by the king as a reward.

Chapter companion notes

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See The Colonel in The Avengers