Axl, along with Beatrice, is one of the two central protagonists of the story. He is an old man and the husband of Beatrice, who he sets out with to find their son. He remains kind and devoted to the needs of his wife and the other characters throughout the novel. Due to the mist, little is known about Axl’s past until the end of the novel, when it is revealed that he was once a knight of King Arthur. He is more cunning than many would suspect of him and is learned in the art of battle. He believes that innocents should be protected from the atrocities of war. Much of his character celebrates his love for Beatrice, who he must let go at the end of the novel. 

The embodiment of love and kindness, Beatrice is often referred to as “princess” by Axl, and there are hints that she might have been a princess in the past. She journeys with Axl to find her son. She carries with her a pain in her side that is a symptom of a fatal illness.It is her ability to disarm others with her kindness and curiosity that allows all of the characters in the novel to move forward in a positive manner.