Francis Xonck

Francis Xonck is the younger brother of Henry Xonck who made his fortune manufacturing weapons. Francis has long been in his brother's shadow, but indigo clay and the cabal have given him a chance to outshine Henry. He is a wit and a rake of the first class, but also an excellent swordsman.

Appearance
Francis Xonck has red curls worn long. He dresses like a dandy and his appearance successfully hides the fact that he is an excellent swordsman and a dangerous man.

Personality
Scandal and intrigue follow Francis Xonck wherever he goes. There are rumors of his unusual tastes and behaviors abroad. These rumors and his own rakish personality have given him an infamous reputation in society. He has been absent from the Xonck household for many years--much to the dismay of his sister, Charlotte Xonck. His travels abroad first introduced him to the Comte and indigo clay. Francis is a witty man and caculating, but is somewhat out of his league when trying to outmaneuver the likes of the Contessa and the Comte.

He has a bit of a swordsman's rivalry with Cardinal Chang. The instances when the men confront each other, neither man is truly at his best and so the question of who would win in a fair fight is never exactly settled. Even when they are forced to team-up, they do not trust each other.

Xonck has long been in the shadow of his older, more influential and powerful brother, Henry Xonck. As the books progress, we learn more about his troubled homelife. By "The Dark Volume," Xonck is an altered, desperate man. His health is fading and time is running out for him to find a way to alter the effects of the indigo clay he has used to spare his own life.