William of Danu

Switch -- born William, though he took the name Switch during his years as an indentured catamite on a Mandari brothel ship -- is a myrmidon forged by the Borosevo Colosso on Emesh who served as Hadrian's lictor and closest friend for decades before betraying him at Vorgossos.

Switch's origins on Danu illuminate the trajectory that brought him to Emesh: on Danu, red hair marks descent from the Blood Imperial and carries the stigma of bastardy. His resemblance to the Blood Imperial was precisely why he was sold to the pleasure barge in the first place. He never spoke of this shame to Hadrian.

Fearing Hadrian would die on Vorgossos, Switch summoned Bassander Lin to extract himself -- a decision Hadrian holds responsible for the deaths of Smythe, Crossflane, and Greenlaw. When Switch sought forgiveness and asked to rejoin Hadrian after the battle, Hadrian refused and shut the airlock door between them. Switch is counted among the war dead in the Imperial Triumph. On Danu, Hadrian encounters the red-haired population and sees Switch's shadow in every face, including a boy among the refugees named William who bears a striking resemblance to him. Hadrian, who cannot locate Switch and presumes him dead, questions what it says about himself that he cannot forgive his closest friend.