Rafyn means Raven and she is black and sinister like the carrion bird. She is a sharp contrast to her half sister, Aldith, who represents the upholder of the warrior code and the indomitable spirit of the Var. Rafyn is devious and ruthless, and the spy mistress for the Dux. She is ambitious and in part, desires the throne for herself. However, there is more to Rafyn’s backstory. As a child, she was a boon companion for Aldith. Until the voice whispered to her at night, and turned her path away from her own kind. 

Rafyn is the catalyst for allowing Justin to leave the citadel and enter the world of Gastown, where he truly comes into his own. This act saves his life. 

I did not realize this while writing, but Rafyn bears an uncanny likeness to Severus Snape, as portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter movies.