Malta Vestrit

Malta Vestrit, or Malta Haven, is the daughter of Keffria Vestrit and Kyle Haven. She is the middle sister to older brother Wintrow Vestrit and younger brother, Selden Vestrit. Betrothed to Reyn Khuprus.

Appearance

Malta is petite and pretty, womanly at an early age. She is 12 years old and is taller than Wintrow, older by a year. She is vain and very practiced in manipulation.

Childhood

Malta grows up in Bingtown, the spoiled only daughter of Kyle and Keffria. She is raised by her Chalcedean father to be ladylike and retiring, a marked contrast to her aunt Althea Vestrit and her grandmother Ronica Vestrit, who are strong, outspoken and independent. For most of the time after Ephron Vestrit's death, Malta runs counter to what her grandmother and mother want her to do.

She loves beautiful and elaborate clothing, to the extent that before a Trader's Ball, she sneaks off and commissions a dress she imagines to be the height of fashion, but which, on her arrival, proves to be tawdry and inappropriate. Davad Restart discovers her before she can enter the Ball proper, and brings her home before other Old Trader families see her and embarrass the Vestrits. Malta resents how overbearing her family seems to her and still chases after young men, particularly Cerwin Trell, her best friend Delo's brother.

After some time learning how to run a household, balance the books, and other adult tasks, Malta is treated a bit more like she is growing up. During a Trader meeting at the Bingtown Traders' Concourse, she goes outside with her wineglass to get some air. She accidentally catches the eye of Reyn Khuprus, a veiled Rain Wilder. Not knowing who he is or the importance of what they're doing, she speaks with him. It is cold outside and she accepts his offering of a scarf to keep her warm and later offers Reyn her wineglass. This seems to indicate a mutual interest to Reyn, and he pursues a courtship.

Early Adulthood

Malta is flirtatious and likes the idea of stringing her beaux along, enjoying a sense of achievement that they would fight to be with her. She all but commits herself to Cerwin Trell, while accepting courting gifts from Reyn which have more significance than she realizes; she shares a dream-box with Reyn and the Khuprus family offers to forgive the debt on the Vestrit liveship Vivacia in return for betrothal to Reyn.

She still strings Cerwin along, promising that her family's desperate situation is forcing her to entertain Reyn as a suitor. Malta herself is convinced she could never like Reyn, but she is determined to use anything she can to save her family and her missing father. She and Reyn share another dream in the dream-box, but draw the attention of the dragon Tintaglia who wants to make a deal with Malta. She is not currently in a position to help the dragon to freedom, but Tintaglia haunts her dreams.

Eventually, Satrap Cosgo, the ruler of Jamaillia, comes to Bingtown and is the guest of honor at a ball. During this, she is introduced to him and dances with Cosgo, Reyn, and Cerwin during the night. There are rumblings of danger coming and Reyn leaves the ball, leaving Malta broken hearted. The Vestrit family soon follows, with Davad Restart offering them a ride alongside the Satrap and one of his two Companions, Kekki. During the ride back, the carriage is attacked to kidnap the Satrap and prevent a New Trader plot to take over Bingtown. During the attack, Malta is severely injured.

Keffria, Malta and Selden flee to the Rain Wilds to take shelter with the Khuprus family. Malta heals, and she and Reyn settle their differences and deepen their courtship. Drawn to the Elderling city, Frengong, Malta bonds with and helps to free Tintaglia. She is in the sunken city while large earthquake collapses her way out. She survives and escapes by the skin of her teeth with Satrap Cosgo and Kekki in tow. They are picked up by a Chalcedean ship, that sails away, meets up with a larger ship, and then sails towards Jamaillia. During the journey, Kekki dies and Malta uses the power vacuum to take up the reins and negotiate on behalf of the Satrap. They remain with this Chalcedean raiding ship until they are boarded and captured by the pirate ship Motley. She convinces Cosgo to put her in charge and work with her to save their lives. Malta convinces the captain, Red, to take her and the Satrap seriously and present their deal for freedom to Kennit. They meet up with Vivacia and Kennit, and Malta and the Satrap are brought onboard.

On board the Vivacia, Malta is reunited with her brother Wintrow and her aunt Althea Vestrit. Reyn is reunited with her after a search with help from Tintaglia. After a complicated series of negotiations, Malta establishes the return of the Satrap to power and securing her future. Soon after, Tintaglia confirms Malta is an Elderling through their mutual association.

When Satrap Cosgo is returned to Jamaillia, Malta and Reyn join him to hold him to his promises. Malta had made a deal to establish herself and her family as representatives of Jamaillia. They draw attention in court and inspire a new trend of makeup imitating their scales.