May Broad is the only daughter of Liddy and Gunnar Broad, a strong-willed young woman.
History[]
A Little Hatred[]
The Broad family are forced to give up their farm, and move to Valbeck, where May gets a job as a maid in Colonel Vallimir’s house. When Savine dan Glokta visits, she quizzes May about the state of the city, and learns of the overcrowded slums, smoke pollution, and spiralling inflation. Lady Vallimir is unhappy at her loose tongue and threatens to fire her, but Savine insists she won’t see her punished.
As Valbeck erupts into insurrection, a desperate waif appears at their barricade being chased by some Burners. Her father doesn't recognise her, but May knows it's Savine, the daughter of Arch Lector Glokta. May insists on giving Savine refuge. Later, she quietly confronts her with the truth, in a negotiation similar to Savine’s with her business partners, except this time May holds all the cards. May wants Savine to take care of her family when the uprising is over. When the insurrection is suppressed by Prince Orso, Savine keeps her word, protecting her father from the Inquisition, and taking the Broad family into her service in Adua.
The Trouble With Peace[]
May and her mother are happy working for a "fine" lady; the one dealing with the business books and the other as a seamstress. Unbeknownst to them, Gunnar Broad is less than happy as "labour relations": beating and threatening union agitators. In the end, Savine is ruined by her failed rebellion against the crown.