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Gleaner
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Gleaner at Lady Aspen's grave

Birthplace: Mistmantle Island
Species: Squirrel
Gender: Female
Family: Yarrow (uncle)
Thrippia (cousin)
Allegiance: Lady Aspen (formerly)†
Appears in: Books:
It's all Padra's fault, isn't it?
―Gleaner about Padra


Gleaner is a female squirrel from Anemone Wood, the loyal servant of Lady Aspen, and former best friend of Crackle. She and her family belongs to a group opposed to Queen Cedar.

History[]

Urchin of the Riding Stars[]

Gleaner, along with her best friend Crackle, often bully the young Urchin. When Urchin is asked to become Captain Crispin's page, she and Crackle are incredibly envious of him. Later, Aspen invites Gleaner to be her servant, and Gleaner feels that she is finally equal to Urchin and becomes devoted to her mistress, scorning her old friends, including Crackle. Later, she tells Crackle about Husk and Aspen's plans to get rid of Urchin, which prompts Padra to organize his escape from the island.

When Lady Aspen falls from the Tower, Gleaner fetches her the medicine the squirrel Lady had previously given to Queen Spindle. Gleaner, unaware that the medicine is poisoned, forces her Lady to take it, unknowingly killing Aspen. Crispin and Padra were aware of this, though have never told Gleaner the truth. Gleaner subsequently blames Lady Aspen's death on Captain Padra, who she usually relied on as a scapegoat. Even though Lady Aspen had been very involved in Husk's plot, Gleaner had felt that her mistress could do no wrong, and took great care of her grave.

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Gleaner looking after queen Spindle

Urchin and the Heartstone[]

After the Heartstone is revealed to be fake, Needle and Sepia follow Gleaner, believing she may know something. When questioned, Gleaner claims Lady Aspen to be the true Queen of Mistmantle because she saw her holding the Heartstone, not realizing that Lady Aspen was holding the fake she had just made.

Gleaner becomes furious when Sepia and Needle tell her that Lord Treeth was imprisoned in Aspen's old room, as she knew he was breaking everything inside. Gleaner later helps to fight him when he attempts to kill Crispin, and claims that she was defending her lady.

The Heir of Mistmantle[]

Gleaner often visits Aspen's grave with flowers. One night she sees what she believes to be Captain Husk and tells her family, inciting rumours of Husk's return.

At the ceremony, when Fingal, Crackle and Scatter get flowers, Gleaner announces to Crispin that she doesn't like Cedar and that Cedar doesn't belong on Mistmantle. Crispin takes this in stride, however, and explains why Queen Cedar is a good Queen of Mistmantle, dispelling the rumours that Queen Cedar had something to do with the Fouldrought epidemic and even Princess Catkin's disappearance.

Urchin and the Raven War[]

Gleaner continues to tend Lady Aspen's grave. She places netting over it to defend it from the invading ravens, and later attacks the Silver Prince when he tries to take her mistress' silver bracelet. She manages to kill the raven, but gets severely injured in the process. Gleaner is saved by Queen Cedar after the raven attack, but remains very weak and unable to walk.

At the end of the Raven War, Fingal comes to her while she is recovering to give her flowers and kisses her for her achievement, since he had promised to kiss the one who killed the Silver Prince. After the otter leaves, Gleaner blushes and begins to let go of her hates and becomes a much more pleasant squirrel.

However, Gleaner still thinks that Queen Cedar is not as beautiful as Aspen, but concedes that she is a good healer. 

Personality[]

When first introduced, Gleaner was rather scornful towards Urchin and Needle during their time in Anemone Wood. When she learned that Urchin was going to be a page, she became rather bitter and envious towards him.

Crackle and Gleaner

Gleaner gossiping with Crackle

Under the service of Lady Aspen, Gleaner was incredibly devoted, believing that Aspen could do no wrong. She also thought herself incredibly important, putting the other Tower animals, along with her old friend Crackle, beneath her. She also had very high thoughts for herself, becoming incredibly upset when Captain Husk yelled at her for asking a question, pushing her to tears.

After Captain Husk and Lady Aspen's plans to overthrow the king were revealed, Gleaner refused to be believe any of it, firmly stating that Aspen was innocent and still could do no wrong. She was devastated at the death of Aspen and made her a small grave in the Tangletwigs where she kept her silver bracelet polished and also placed a roughly, hand-carved crown. She visits the grave often, though after being injured by ravens she is unable to walk to the grave in the Tangletwigs anymore.

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