Jackson

Jackson Riodors is a crafty leader in Aalto's Aaron gang who turns information about Lucien into an opportunity for theft and intimidation. His attack becomes the pressure that pushes Lucien toward physical training and demonstrates the protection offered by John's status as a knight squire. (Chapters 12–20 and 31–35)

Biography

Exploiting weakness and losing control of the threat

Jackson presents a kind face while extracting information from Andre, then uses the gang's men to raid Lucien's shack, rob his money, and beat both Lucien and Alisa. He expects poverty and the gang's control of witnesses to make retaliation impossible. Instead, Lucien and John confront his men in a crowded market, pursue Jackson when he tries to flee, and force him to compensate the damage after a beating. Jackson attempts to weaponize John's code and family obligations, but the knight squire's social standing leaves the gangster unable to turn the law against them cheaply. (Chapters 12–18)

Jackson survives the encounter, but his dagger remains with Lucien and his failure prompts concern higher in the gang. Lucien later uses Jackson's meeting with a heretical figure as part of a report designed to draw Church and noble attention toward Aaron's organization. Thus Jackson's effort to exploit one vulnerable youth costs him money, authority, equipment, and the anonymity on which the gang relies. (Chapters 20 and 31–35)

Appearance and skills

Jackson is ordinary-looking and overweight from his work as an overseer, with a deliberately kind expression that masks craftiness and treachery. He commands gang members, gathers information, intimidates witnesses, and carries a dagger, but he is physically outmatched by a trained knight squire and lacks the backing needed to sustain a costly legal fight. (Chapters 12–17 and 20)