King's Wife Charm

The King's Wife Charm is a magical charm that protects the King's Wife, passed down from the time of the First Fathers. It is the most powerful piece of goblin magic. It will paralyze anyone who attempts to harm the King's Wife, including the Wife herself. After biting someone, it will report to the King, who will decide the offender's punishment in what is known as the King's Judgement. The King's Wife Charm was originally a sword, but now it takes the form of a snake and will appear to be a tattoo unless there is danger. It remembers everything about all of its Wives, but completly disregards everything else, even the King, saying, "I do not worry about the minor details of Kings' lives. I only remember what is important."

Kate Winslow nicknames it Charm so that she wouldn't have to call it snake (since this offended Charm) or King's Wife Charm. Charm reveals that it has several favorite Wives near the end of the first book. It lists them as Ada, Merneith, Dara, Hesione, Olwen, Clodia, Unna, Kala, Matilda, Eleanor, Kiba, Madge, Adele, and Kate.

Charm remembers many statistics about its Wives and tells each Wife how many Wives have gone through similar situations or have similar traits. Charm guarded 167 King's Wives with Kate being the 168th and Arianna as the 169th. Adele was the 166th.

Of the 169 King's Wives it guarded:

54 have tried to kill themselves, 28 have tried with knives, 1 with a two-headed battle-ax

64 were unintelligent, 2 were so stupid they didn't know their own names

8 have left the kingdom, 4 during the migration, 2 had the Door Spell erased by a King

64 were not very bright, the last one was a blithering idiot (she had gone insane)

12 have had trouble with their magic, 1 set her own hair on fire trying to light her tiara with a sparkle charm

10 were saved from drowning, 1 from a bucket, 1 from the flood - Kate was the first to be saved after walking into the middle of a lake

127 have been embarrased to be seen with a snake around their necks

36 have been fat, 24 have been loud, 8 have been fat and loud

2 (other than Kate) left the kingdom without the King's permission. 1 no longer had a King and was awaiting the birth of the Heir. 1 was in danger when the Kingdom Spells gave way and her King was far from home. 1 travelled in a closed wagon with a loud, fat woman - Kate was the first to travel in a closed wagon with a loud, fat woman and without the King's permission

87 had to be left alone by Charm for some reason or another

14 were Charm's favorites

32 didn't scream when Charm first coiled around their necks

47 tried to kill the King, but only 8 with elf magic

100 (counting Arianna and Kate) were elves

48 were human

21, therefore, were dwarves

3 were in more danger than Kate facing the sorceror

18 were powerful sorceresses, 5 when young. Only 1, besides Kate, was powerful, young, and pretty all at once.

6 were bitten on their wedding day, Adele being one

23 have fallen ill due to stress and lack of sleep after their wedding; 6 died

Arianna was the first to "practice agriculture in the King's bedroom for purposes of defense"