Ximene has two close—very close—friends, Philippa De Roet—Pipa, and Alyse Perez de Padilla .
Alyse has an elder brother Juan Perez de Padilla and they are both close relatives of Lady Eleanor. Juan acts as troubadour to Lady Eleanor .
Alyse makes herself Ximene’s mentor in the areas of statesmanship and politics. Pipa becomes Ximene’s mentor in affairs of the heart.
Piers de Windsor acts as close friend and mentor to John Stanley.
William de Montacute, Earl of Salisbury, King of Mann, Former husband of Joan of Kent. Mentor to John Stanley.
Don Fernandino Is another of Eleanors relatives. He is a Cathar agent who is also known as The Shadow Without A Name.