Richard Laverty

Richard Laverty is the son of Daniel Laverty and brother of Alexander Laverty. His family, unlike many other families in Glenscar, has no fear of the sea, for they are tied closely to it. In A Widow in Waiting, he is said to be a bachelor, but in The Sea-Bride, he and Maeve tell the readers the truth of the matter.

Early Years
Richard grew up in the Laverty home in Glenscar, loving both land and sea equally. He was about ten years old when he and his brother understood their family's tie to the sea - their great-grandmother, Muirenn Laverty, was a selkie, and in accordance with the old bargain between the selkies and the Laverty family, either he or his brother must wed a selkie lass.

As Alexander already had his eye on their neighbour's daughter, Richard took himself down to the sea one night and cast his powers out to the sea. In answer to his call, a sleek little seal appeared from the waves, and removed her sealskin once she reached land, letting the cloak hang about her shoulders. The girl thus revealed was Maeve, and though their first meeting got off to a rough start, Richard quickly impressed her. They met regularly over the next five years, growing closer.

When they were fifteen, Richard asked Maeve if he might have a sealskin of his own. She promised to ask her mother, and after she left again, she did not return for a long time. Richard feared his question had been a thing forbidden. But when she returned at last, it was with a second sealskin for her love, and a summons from the Council of the Land Beyond the Waves. Richard followed Maeve back to the sea, met her cousins, and pleaded with the Council, who approved his requests.

Marriage and children
Richard, with the permission of the Council, marries Maeve, though he does not bring her to live in Glenscar with him. Instead, he continues to visit her in the land beyond the waves, and they have four children together, the eldest being a daughter.

Powers
Richard is a water sculptor. This power, along with his strain of selkie blood, helped him in his case to win Maeve.

Other Abilities
Richard has selkie gifts, unknown to most of the people of Glenscar. He was not born with them; they were bestowed because of his successful petition to win Maeve for his bride.