Nelluru (originally Nell) is a young woman born into slavery among the Crows. She becomes Luna’s wet nurse and a loyal servant of Clevatess, whom she calls “Master”.
Appearance
Nelluru is a full-figured young woman with shaggy pinkish-red hair. Years of abuse left her with few teeth, deafness in one ear and a lisp. After Clevatess rebuilt her she gained enormous physical strength. At court she wears a maid’s outfit and bonnet.
Personality
Nelluru is gentle, humble and quick to blame herself. She endured a life of violence by devoting herself to the babies brought to the Crows, wanting to give them a little happiness while she fed them. Once she joins Clevatess she is cheerful and devoted, and she is fierce when Luna is threatened.
History
Nell was born in the Crows’ hideout near the Mineshaft of Elbe. Her mother, probably a slave, hid her until she was old enough not to be sold and then disappeared when Nell was about twelve. Nell was beaten and used for years until Carme, a woman who had come to the Crows from outside, taught her how to survive. Nell lost three babies, which she believed were stillbirths; later she learned the Crows’ women killed their newborns so they would not be sold to the black-clad buyers working for the wizards. After her first loss she kept living to nurse other people’s children.
When Clevatess (as “Klen”) offered to hire her as Luna’s wet nurse, she refused, believing she could not leave. Vroko had her fed to his troll Betty as a traitor, but Betty spat her out in fear of Clevatess. Half-digested, she still dragged herself away holding Luna. Clevatess used Alicia’s willing sacrifice of blood and the bodies of dead bandits to rebuild her, condensing a troll’s strength into her arms, and renamed her Nelluru.
Nelluru then travels with the group. She makes coffee from Vroko’s stolen beans, holds off Boelate’s wizard Naie by throwing iron beds at her, and protects Luna in the fighting at Hiderat. After the war Queen Dowager T’ala makes her the king’s personal wet nurse.
Abilities
- Troll strength: Her rebuilt arms are stronger than a troll’s. She can smash stone walls and hurl iron furniture.
- Wet nursing: She can nurse infants, which is why Clevatess wanted her in the first place.
Trivia
- Clevatess’s first words to her were a compliment on her “splendid breasts”, in the sense of finding a wet nurse.
- Alicia asks her not to call her “hero” in public and nicknames her “Nellie”.