Saygar

Saygar is the son of Torus and an undisclosed female gyrfalcon, and is the adoptive son of the White King Laat and the White Queen Nerea. Saygar has nearly pure-black feathers, a contrast to his adoptive brother, mother and father's speckled snow-white feathers. Reserved and introverted but intelligent and incredibly perceptive, Saygar spent much of his time alone, contemplating his existence and the circumstances of his birth. Like his adoptive father, Laat, Saygar was born on the night of the half moon, and three years after his birth, on that same night, he was called through the Stream by the exiled son of the Goddess, Ieilae, to travel to the Other and restore the white gyrkin god's honor by uncovering the "truth" of his exile. Knowing he would be forbidden to travel to the Other by his adoptive family (because of the events in The White King), Saygar claimed that he had received a message from the Goddess through the Stream, telling him to travel to Aisith to speak with the king Shadyk and his son, Shayrak. To keep him safe, Laat entrusted a chubby, short-statured but strong young gyrfalcon named Gorm with his adoptive son's safety.

Saygar and Gorm travelled due north for several days, but Saygar attempted to lose his escort when they reached Liue. When Gorm's life was thrust into danger after some scattered supporters of Deucan attacked and wounded him while he was alone, Saygar was forced to return and interfere, killing one of the hawks in the process. After the instigators had fled, Saygar confessed the true reason for his journey, and received the unexpected support of Gorm, who agreed that it seemed like much more of an interesting journey to travel to the Other than to Aisith. The two gyrkin fly several hours until they reach the palace of King Talhart, a strange white-chested, grey-feathered eagle who took the previous king of Liue's place as ruler after the war with Deucan. Talheart recognizes the two as gyrfalcons and welcomes them, taking care of Gorm's wounds and feeding the exhausted raptors. Saygar and Gorm were then informed that many straggling supporters of Deucan were coming out of the woodwork, making their presence known and giving hints about a new coalition of raptors intent on fulfilling the dead king's desire for domination over the six kingdoms. Disturbed by this news, Saygar nearly tells Gorm and Talhart they should return to Gyr to tell the king of this, but Talhart suggests that two of his subjects follow Saygar and Gorm as added protection, reigniting the young gyrkin's desire to travel to the Other. Two Liuen hawks named Tass and Kalr are assigned to follow Saygar and Gorm to the Other, and the four raptors leave the eagle's kingdom the next morning.

Liel is the half-brother of Saygar due to having the same father. While Liel is half-gyr and half-pergrín, Saygar is pure gyr, being the son of Torus and another unnamed female Gyrfalcon. Although this kinship is mentioned several times throughout the second novel, Liel and Saygar never kindle a friendship and hardly talk to one another.