Rayseline "Raysel" Acantha Torquill is the only daughter of Sylvester and Luna Torquill. She first appears in Rosemary and Rue.
About[]
Rayseline is Sylvester Torquill's daughter and heir presumptive, though she has not been officially named as such. As a child, she was happy and bright with a tomboyish streak, enjoying climbing trees and crawling into holes.[3] She adored Toby and once visited Toby's home with Sylvester to meet the infant Gillian.[4] Because of Luna being a Blodynbryd wearing the skin of a Kitsune - essentially a plant pretending to be a mammal - Rayseline was susceptible to the mixed blood madness seen in mixed descendants despite having a large amount of Titania's blood running through her veins.
Her kidnapping at the hands of her uncle Simon Torquill and Oleander for twelve years led to her already unstable blood driving her crazy. Because Simon didn't properly slow down time in the dark knowe he had anchored the same way he ensured Luna and Raysel wouldn't starve, both she and Luna spent the time in pitch dark nothingness, though they were able to talk to one another. As a result, she grew up into an adult resenting Toby for her failure in saving her and Luna.[4] Once she was freed, her parents encouraged a political marriage with Connor O'Dell to try to ground her in reality, but it failed to do so.[5]
Due to her captive upbringing, Raysel did not learn much about using her magic. She can weave basic illusions to disguise herself but little else.
Appearance[]
Rayseline has the fire red hair that is characteristic of the Torquill family,[6] and the same golden eyes as her father[7]. She's tall, almost six foot.[8] While she had been half Blodynbryd/Kitsune, Rayseline's facial features were much softer as opposed to the Daoine Sidhe sharpness, her hair had pink roots and she even had fox-like teeth.
History[]
She was kidnapped with her mother in June 1995 and held captive for 12 years by her uncle Simon. Simon revealed that Rayseline had never been intended to be a target of the kidnapping attempt, but because Oleander would've killed the child as she was there with Luna at the time, Simon had no choice but to kidnap her as well.[9]
Biography[]
Rosemary and Rue[]
Raysel treats Toby with vicious disdain when Toby returns to court. She is jealous of Toby's friendship with Connor, suspicious that there is something more between them.
An Artificial Night[]
Rayseline appears to mock Toby after she is recovered from Blind Michael's Hunt, and is delighted to hear that Toby was almost broken by her grandfather. Toby however responds by threatening to punch her, which triggers a veiled threat from Raysel.
Late Eclipses[]
Rayseline conspires with Dugan Harrow and Oleander de Merelands to kill both her parents and take over the duchy, and to frame Toby for the crime. Rayseline repeatedly accuses Toby of harming Luna and attempts to get her arrested on charges of murder, ignoring and resenting Sylvester's attempts to protect Toby. When Sylvester learns that Rayseline salted Luna's gardens, Sylvester declares that he can never forgive Raysel for causing Luna intentional harm. Rayseline and Oleander eventually turn on each other, with Rayseline fatally wounding Oleander with one of her own poisoned blades, and Raysel escapes with while Toby faces off against Oleander.
One Salt Sea[]
Due to Raysel's previous actions, her marriage with Connor has been annulled. Using her insider knowledge of how Selkie skins work from Connor, Dugan manipulates Rayseline into killing a Selkie, stealing its skin, and sneaking into Saltmist to kidnap Duchess Lorden's sons in order to start a war with Undersea. In her personal vendetta, she also kidnaps Toby's daughter Gillian. She holds the captives in Muir Woods. When Toby and her allies arrive to rescue the kids, Rayseline prevents the Luidaeg from joining the fight by declaring herself a daughter of Titania. She tries to kill all of Toby's allies in order to hide her crimes, but gets frantic when Toby lists all the other people they've told of her guilt. Toby distracts and enrages her by saying that Connor cheated on Raysel with Toby even before the marriage is annulled, and Raysel shoots both Connor and Gillian with elf-shot before Tybalt hits her with elf-shot herself. Connor dies as a result, which means Rayseline has broken Oberon's Law. Because she had been manipulated, Rayseline is cleared of killing Margie, however not for Connor's death. Toby is aware that in order to help clear her name and give her a second chance at life, she needs to change the balance of her blood.
The Winter Long[]
Luna has watched over and mourned the sleeping Rayseline for nearly two years. In exchange for information, Luna asks Toby to shift the balance in Rayseline's blood to help her mind stabilise from the mixed-blood madness. During her time asleep, Raysel had accepted that she might try to kill her mother again, but Toby helps her choose her bloodline and opens up a new future for her at the possibility of learning magic and living a life without insanity. Rayseline initially has doubts about choosing Daoine Sidhe out of fear of leaving her mother alone, but Toby convinces her otherwise and she chooses Daoine Sidhe.
The Brightest Fell[]
Although the cure for elf-shot now exists, Raysel remains sleeping as punishment for breaking Oberon's Law and killing Connor. She will stand trial when she awakens. As part of a bargain with Sylvester, Toby assures him that she'll testify to Arden that Raysel was unstable from her mixed blood and didn't understand the crimes she was committing, and that Raysel's now-balanced blood means she should be given a second chance.
A Killing Frost[]
Raysel's awakening was suspended with Simon waking up. Toby was confident he wouldn't recognise Raysel as she was his niece, but Sylvester didn't want to take any chances. He also remarks that Rayseline looks like her late aunt September. However, Sylvester (and Luna via her roses) request Toby to ask Raysel if she held her parents accountable for her suffering. When Toby talks with Raysel again, the mixed blood madness has subsided, and Rayseline feels remorseful about what she had done, apologising for what she did. However, Toby assures her that her actions weren't her fault and understood that her mixed blood madness made the wrong decisions sound like the right ones at the time, and reinforces that she will defend Raysel once she awakens and stands trial for what she's done. When Toby jokes about making Rayseline her servant as punishment for Gillian, Raysel however takes it seriously, hoping that October can ensure that she's never alone and that her parents won't force expectations on her. Toby agrees, however keeps it a secret from Luna due to her still blaming Toby for Raysel's fate.
When Sorrows Come[]
Toby mentions that she, Sylvester, and Luna petitioned to have Raysel awaken from her slumber. However, the Luidaeg intervened and denied the request for unknown reasons.
Be the Serpent[]
Once Arden accepts the petition to awaken Raysel, Luna presents her glass coffin to her Court, where Toby administers the cure. The minute she awakens, she's embraced by Luna, but Raysel firmly reminds Toby about her promise to take offence for her actions against Gillian and claim her as her servant for a year. When October does, Luna fiercely dismisses her and Tybalt even though Raysel was willing, and it takes Dianda claiming offence for the harm brought upon Dean and Peter to make it stick. It is here Raysel expresses her fears of having expectations put upon her and mentions to Luna that she's aware that she looks at her differently after Toby removed her Blodynbryd heritage.
When Toby returns to Arden's knowe, Dean is seen requesting Raysel to pass him condiments as a small form of payback for her cutting off his finger. When Toby checks in on Raysel, she panics thinking that Toby will go back on her promise, but Toby reassures her otherwise, and mentions that Quentin is withholding the Wi-Fi password for three days to ensure Raysel doesn't try to stab someone.
When Toby and Tybalt return home after rebinding Titania, May remarks that Raysel is in her room sleeping.
Relationships[]
October Daye[]
Rayseline adored Toby as a child, delighted when Toby came to visit Shadowed Hills.[10] As an adult, Rayseline resents Toby for failing to rescue her and Luna from their prison, ignoring that Toby was imprisoned the entire time herself. She conspires against Toby, trying to get her killed or, failing that, to experience profound loss.[11][4] When Toby visits her dreams to rebalance her blood, Raysel doesn't understand why Toby would be merciful to her.[12] After Toby takes away her Blodynbryd away, Raysel is able to think clearly and experiences great remorse at what she had did to Toby. In the end, Raysel manages to reconcile the love she had lost for Toby and pleads with her to "take offence" and have her as a servant. Toby acknowledges Raysel as her cousin, and is fearful that Toby will send her back to Shadowed Hills earlier than intended.
Sylvester and Luna Torquill[]
As a child, Rayseline loved her parents and they doted on her. After she is freed from her imprisonment, they arrange a marriage with Connor O'Dell that is officially a political marriage, but also their attempt to give Raysel something worth living for. However, she attempts to kill them both and take Shadowed Hills for herself. Sylvester cannot forgive her for trying to harm Luna but still wishes to see her well, bargaining with Toby to try to get Raysel pardoned for her crimes. Luna goes deeply into mourning when Rayseline is elf-shot and slowly begins to resents Toby for her involvement in Raysel's punishment. Raysel states that Sylvester and Luna are forcing expectations on her, and it distresses her so much that she takes Toby seriously on her joking about petitioning to have Raysel as a servant if it means getting away from them.
Connor O'Dell[]
Although Rayseline's parents hope that her marriage to Connor will help stabilize her after her imprisonment, it does not work. Rayseline is jealous of Connor's friendship with Toby and repeatedly warns Toby away from her husband. And yet, the two never become close, they don't even share the same sleeping quarters. Connor shares information about Selkie culture in order to try to bond with Rayseline, but she only uses the information to break into Saltmist and kidnap the Lorden boys. The two live in completely separate quarters and Toby suspects that they never consummated their marriage. When Rayseline tries to shoot Gillian with elf-shot, Connor intercepts the blow and dies of his wounds. Rayseline will stand trial for his murder when she awakens from her own elf-shot slumber, but because of her mixed blood madness, the Luidaeg and Toby will help pardon her.[4]
Oleander de Merelands[]
Even though Oleander was involved in Raysel's long imprisonment, they team up in order to frame Toby for Luna and Lily's murders. They turn on each other, however, and Raysel abandons Oleander to face off against Toby alone.[11]
Quotes[]
- "I don't want to be here with my parents, not when they have all these expectations of me and who I'm supposed to be, and I don't know how to fulfill them. But I don't want to be alone, either. I don't ever want to be alone again."[13]
Book References[]
- ↑ A Killing Frost Ch. 7
- ↑ One Salt Sea Ch. 16
- ↑ Rosemary and Rue, Ch. 1
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 One Salt Sea
- ↑ Rosemary and Rue
- ↑ Rosemary and Rue, Prologue
- ↑ Rosemary and Rue, Chapter 11
- ↑ Late Eclipses, Chapter 11
- ↑ Be the Serpent, Chapter 2
- ↑ Strangers in Court
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Late Eclipses
- ↑ The Winter Long
- ↑ A Killing Frost Ch. 7
Gallery[]
Raysel sleeping from elf-shot in The Winter Long.