# Cathay — Wet Magic character guide

> Cathay in Wet Magic by E. Nesbit.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** thumping Cathay, Fido, Dear little Fido, Fido - which - was - Cathay

**First appearance:** 0002-i-sabrina-fair

## Snapshot

The youngest of the four siblings, known as Cathay, whose eagerness for magic makes her the tender heart of the underwater adventure.

## Who they are

Cathay is the little sister whose longing to believe in magic pushes the others past their caution, and whose nickname 'Fido' marks her as the family's cherished tag-along. When the mermaid's cup of forgetfulness is passed around, it is Cathay it truly takes, and her cold, stranger's gaze at Mavis cuts deeper than any sea-monster could. Her transformation raises the stakes of the children's bargain with the Mer-people and gives the middle of the book its sharpest ache.

## Relationships

### [Queen Boadicea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/queen_boadicea)

_professional_

Cathay and Queen Boadicea likely have a ruler-subject or servant-queen professional relationship.

### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis)

_friendship_

Cathay and Mavis are friends or allies, with a positive and supportive dynamic.

### [Mavis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/mavis)

_friendship_

Cathay and Mavis are friends or allies, with a positive and supportive dynamic.

### [Queen Boadicea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/queen_boadicea)

_professional_

Cathay and Queen Boadicea likely have a ruler-subject or servant-queen professional relationship.

### [Queen Boadicea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/queen_boadicea)

_professional_

Cathay and Queen Boadicea likely have a ruler-subject or servant-queen professional relationship.

## In the story

### [VII: The Skies Are Falling](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/vii-the-skies-are-falling)

Asks about punishments and the meaning of 'intangible', and is given a tail and coat.

### [VIII: The Water-War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/viii-the-water-war)

Expresses fear of serpents and despair at the enemy's charge, highlighting her emotional response to the battle.

### [The Book People](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/ix-the-book-people)

Asks Torfrida about Hereward; feels like a Roman soldier; calls out to the Queen of the Amazons; laments they didn't follow orders when captured.

### [XI: The Peacemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xi-the-peacemaker)

Her coat contains the memory charm; mentioned as not present.

### [The End](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/chapters/xii-the-end)

Sits on the Queen's lap and is fed delicacies; after the charm, she snuggles closer to the Queen and calls out to Mavis.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters/cathay
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/wet_magic_se/characters