Characters This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me Ilona Andrews

Solentine Dagarra: The Shears Crime Lord Who Became Maggie's Cousin

Overview

Solentine Dagarra is the head of the Shears guild—Kair Toren's premier information brokers and fixers. As a crime lord operating in the shadows, he trades secrets, eliminates threats, and protects his family at any cost. Initially distrustful of Maggie, he later becomes her most powerful ally when he adopts her into House Demarr, granting her a legal identity and the protection of a noble family. Solentine is a man driven by fierce loyalty, pragmatic ruthlessness, and an unyielding commitment to the survival of the Demarrs.

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Plot Role

Solentine enters the story in chapter 5 when Maggie, desperate for resources, approaches him with information about his captured operative Miro. He takes the bait, and this first exchange establishes their wary relationship. Throughout the middle of the novel, Solentine serves as a skeptical counterweight to Everard, frequently questioning Maggie's motives and demanding proof. His network of informants provides critical intelligence about Hreban's plots, Silveren's past, and political machinations.

In chapter 29, Solentine offers Maggie adoption into House Demarr, turning her from a stateless outsider into Lady Marigold Demarr. This act transforms their relationship from transactional to familial. During the final battle in chapter 43, Solentine fights alongside his father and brothers against the dursans, his joy “lit up” as he dives into the slaughter. He later helps Maggie present evidence to the Sun Margrave and participates in the arrest of Hreban.

Motivations and Traits

Overriding Loyalty to Family

Solentine's deepest motivation is the protection of his family. This is explicitly stated in chapter 29: “He cares only about one thing: the survival of the Demarrs.” His past as an abused child left him with deep scars, but his adoption by Izarn and Griele gave him a love and security he fiercely guards. He chose not to inherit the margrave title, instead becoming the Shears to serve his family “in a different way.”

Pragmatic Ruthlessness

Solentine is not sentimental. When he decides Maggie is a threat, he proposes confining her. He refers to loose ends as something to be “severed.” Yet his ruthlessness is tempered by purpose—he only kills when necessary to protect his own. In chapter 23, Everard claims Maggie as “mine,” and Solentine backs down, recognizing a line he won't cross.

Strategic Intelligence

Solentine is a master strategist. He sees the long game—his offer of adoption is designed to bind Maggie to his family, turning a potential danger into an asset. He uses his network to gather information and manipulate events, as when he advises against killing Hreban directly: “Better the dursan we know than the one we don't.”

Chronological Arc

  • First Meeting (Chapter 5): Maggie trades information about Miro. Solentine is suspicious but intrigued.
  • Growing Wariness (Chapter 23): Solentine argues with Everard about Maggie's trustworthiness, calling her a “threat.” Everard's claim over her defuses the immediate tension.
  • The Adoption Offer (Chapter 29): Solentine presents Maggie with legal documents making her a Demarr. He explains his reasoning and swears on his father's love that the offer is genuine. Maggie accepts.
  • The Joedurar (Chapter 40): Solentine dances with Maggie to rescue her from Arvel, calling her “my sweet cousin” and reinforcing their new bond.
  • The Final Battle (Chapter 43): Solentine fights dursans alongside his father. His “joy” in battle reflects his dedication.
  • Epilogue: Solentine is still present, helping Maggie navigate the aftermath.

Relationships

With Maggie

The relationship evolves from transactional to familial. Initially, Solentine sees Maggie as a possible agent or threat. He tests her, tries to discredit her, and even proposes confinement. But after the adoption, he treats her as true family. He defends her at the joedurar and supports her schemes. The moment he offers adoption, he makes it clear there are “no reservations, conditions, or expectations” except loyalty.

With Everard (Ramond)

Solentine and Everard share a long history. Solentine is one of the few people who can speak to the Sleepless Duke without fear. Their relationship is marked by mutual respect and occasional tension, as when they argue over Maggie's fate. Everard's claim that Maggie is “his” ends the argument, but Solentine continues to push his own agenda. Despite their differences, Solentine trusts Everard with his life.

With His Biological Family

Solentine is deeply connected to his father Izarn, aunt Griele, uncle Brune, and cousins Rumian and others. He honors them by protecting the family from outside threats. His adoption offer to Maggie is a natural extension of his philosophy: family is everything, and he will expand it if it ensures survival.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  1. Choosing not to inherit the margrave title: This allows him to lead the Shears without the constraints of high nobility. It gives him freedom to operate in the gray areas of crime and information.
  2. Adopting Maggie: This act provides Maggie with legal identity and protection, but also binds her to the Demarrs. The consequence is a powerful ally who can foresee threats against his family. Solentine himself acknowledges that Maggie is either a “catastrophic threat or the guardian of their future.”
  3. Supporting the plan to expose Hreban: He helps gather evidence and later presents it to the Sun Margrave. This leads to Hreban's arrest, though the assassin Cai remains at large.
  4. Fighting in the final battle: He joins the melee with joy, demonstrating that he is willing to die for the cause.

Theme and Symbol Connections

Knowledge as Power

Solentine's Shears guild is built on trading secrets. He symbolizes the power of information in a feudal world. This aligns with the theme of knowledge as power. His ability to uncover Hreban's plots and Silveren's past is crucial to the victory.

Found Family

Solentine's own story—rescued from an abusive childhood and adopted into a loving family—mirrors Maggie's later adoption. His offer to Maggie is an extension of this theme of found family. He explicitly says, “You know how I treat my family,” implying that family is chosen and fiercely defended.

Trust and Betrayal

Solentine's initial distrust of Maggie reflects the theme of trust and betrayal. He requires proof and is slow to accept her powers. His willingness to trust her after the adoption marks a turning point.

Violence and Morality

As a crime lord, Solentine operates in moral gray areas. He kills when necessary, but only to protect his family. This ties to the theme of violence and morality, questioning whether ends can justify ruthless means.

Character Significance in the Ending

In the ending explained, Solentine's adoption of Maggie is a pivotal moment. It gives her the freedom to act independently from Everard and the tools to outmaneuver Hreban. His continued presence in the epilogue suggests he will be a key ally in future conflicts.

Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Solentine offer to adopt Maggie?

He recognizes her as a potential threat to his family but also as a powerful asset. By adopting her, he transforms her from a danger into a protected cousin. As he says, “I'm either a catastrophic threat or the guardian of their future.”

2. What is Solentine's relationship with Everard?

They have a long friendship built on mutual respect. Solentine is one of the few people who can argue with Everard and survive. He trusts Everard with his life but is not afraid to challenge him.

3. How does Solentine's childhood shape his character?

Born from an affair, he was neglected and abused until his father Izarn rescued him at age eight. This experience left him with a fierce need to protect his adoptive family and an anger that drives his ruthless methods.

4. Does Solentine ever fully trust Maggie?

His adoption offer is a strategic gamble, but he later treats her as true family. During the joedurar, he calls her “my sweet cousin” and defends her from Arvel. His actions suggest genuine acceptance.

5. What role does Solentine play in Hreban's downfall?

He provides intelligence and resources. He helps Maggie gather evidence and presents it to the Sun Margrave. He also fights in the final battle. However, he does not personally kill Hreban; the legal arrest is carried out by royal forces.

For more discussion, see the questions and answers page.