Tom Skinner-Salington (from Dark is Noon)

Herbs icon By BomSymbols, TH in the Noun Project

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Honorary Duke Tom Skinner-Salington (31)

Project: Fantasy novel (Soluna trilogy Book 1: Dark is Noon)

Known as: Tom

Real name: Thomas Skinner-Salington

Group affiliation: Salington ruling family, Skinner family, Greentop

Physical description: Tom is short and thin. This causes people to mistake him for physically weak, but in truth he is sinewy-strong and very fit (spending more than a little time traipsing through the woods). He has dark hair and would look rather plain except for his piercing blue eyes.

Personality: Tom is thoughtful, calm, and empathic. He is a human encyclopedia on plants, animals, magical creatures and ailments. He serves as the healer-herbalist for Greentop and is highly effective not just due to his knowledge but because of his ability to connect with and understand his patients. Great one on one or in small groups, he doesn’t care for crowds and appreciates his moments of solitude. He loves and nearly worships Beth, as she is so good at many things he finds challenging (addressing crowds, driving decisions, etc.). He is non-competitive and gentle. He only kills animals when needed and doubts that he could take another human’s life (this will be tested).

History: Tom was born in a small village at the edge of the woods to a healer-herbalist (his mother) and a hunter-trapper (his father). His father was a bit rough-and-tumble and could be gruff. It was evident from an early age that Tom would favor his mother and this was developed further by the fact his father was gone for long periods. Tom, for his part, admired his mother more anyway. Near as he could tell, everything that his father was good at his mother could equal and was a trove of knowledge and skill beyond that.

By the time Tom was in his mid-teens, he very nearly equaled his mother in herbalism and healing. He would go on hunting trips with his father, but these trips were a bit strained. His father would get annoyed at Tom’s collection of rare herbs during these times and still more annoyed that Tom was skilled at hunting and trapping but relatively uninterested in these endeavors. More often he would stay at home with his mother, where they divided their time between serving the village, gardening, and exploring the woods for herbs and more.

Tom also began exploring some on his own, which is how he found Nipper. Nipper was a cub fermet (a type of ferret, but with six legs where the front pair had racoon-like hands) whose mother had been killed. Fermets have a venomous, paralyzing bite and were known for being ill-tempered. Even his mother thought it was unwise for him to keep and raise the tiny creature, but Tom could not abandon it. Nipper got his name for his tendency to put his teeth on Tom’s fingers (much to his mother’s alarm) but the fermet never bit and broke the skin. Nipper and he became fast friends and are rarely apart. Nipper usually rides on Tom’s shoulder and hides in a pack when around other people (Nipper is aggressive with other people; except for Beth, ultimately).

Ultimately Tom became a journeyman healer, moving from community to community in Greentop providing aid. He soon became well-known throughout the area as most families had either benefited from his help or knew someone who had. He was even successful in resolving an issue with the Duke’s prized stallion (who had developed a taste for a toxic weed). This was when he met Beth.

They bonded instantly. Each found the other fascinating as both were experts in unique areas. Tom was smitten by Beth’s presence and charisma, while Beth loved Tom’s unassuming and straightforward nature. Tom knew he was in love the first time he and Beth took a walk in the woods. Beth knew it when she saw Tom heal a sick child.

Both thought it was a transitory romance, as they came from such different worlds. But Beth is a formidable force, and once she secured the duchy for herself, Tom gratefully accepted her proposal. Their marriage did not make Tom a ruler, as he had no royal blood. Instead, he is an honorary duke without authority (no one in Greentop really recognizes him as a duke – it is always “Tom” not “your grace”). Tom even had to assume Beth’s name, a source of irritation to Tom’s father.

Tom became the premiere healer-herbalist when his mother was killed in a riding accident. This further strained his relationship with his father and they rarely speak.

Though not a duke in the real sense, Tom is beloved by the people of Greentop. He has begun guiding apprentice healers in the various communities, and spends time traveling to see them or having them come to him. His avoidance of conflict and apparent subservience to his wife has caused him to be the butt of some jokes among the men of Greentop and the garrisoned soldiers. Tom is almost completely unperturbed by this.

Other than meeting Beth, the best day of Tom’s life was when an infant was left at the castle by a stranger. Beth and Tom adopted the boy and Tom was frequently the primary caregiver as Beth had a duchy to run. Little did they know how extraordinary their son was.

Role in the narrative: Tom will be something of a secondary protagonist (behind Beth and their son). It seems like I’m playing with traditional gender roles here (and I am) but Tom will be a bit more about someone who is remarkable in their sphere but is taken outside their element. For reasons I won’t reveal yet, Tom may end up saving the day with his ability to connect with others.

Abilities: Tom is a very skilled healer, herbalist, and woodsman. There is not much about Greentop’s forests, plants and creatures that Tom doesn’t know. He is very resourceful and could survive on his own relatively easily in the woods. Were he to be hunted in the woods he would be extremely difficult to even find and if one did, he would have many ways to use his knowledge to his advantage.

He is very good at diagnosing and treating ailments. He is very empathic and good at reading people (also helping his healing skills – he can often tell when a patient isn’t being completely forthcoming).

He doesn’t advertise it (e.g., participates in competitions) but he is very likely the finest bowman in the kingdom.

Inspirations: A bit of How to Train your Dragon in Nipper I suppose, but there are many fantasy characters with interesting pets or familiars out there. To Kill a Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch is likely also an influence. A great character – I loved how he was a kind and principled man of intellect, but could still put down a rabid dog because he was the best shot in the county (though most people didn’t even know that).