Benton Sevenson

Sir Benton Sevenson is one of the noble sons of Baron Seven Oaks, and professor of ancient history, teaching at Pendarian University in Slowbend.

Benton was first mentioned in The Last Knight, when Michael asks his father about him in the third chapter. Benton was doing well, away from home studying at university, the same one at which he would later teach. He had begun his final thesis, on the subject of a new way to learn about the lives of the ancients by digging up their ruins, using the depth of the earth the pieces found were buried in as a measure of how old they were. Seeing as he eventually achieved a teaching position, it must have been impressive work. Benton's whereabouts are not spoken of again until his first appearance, in Scholar's Plot, in which he and his master's work are at the center of the book's mystery.

Characteristics
Benton is of average height and plump build, and has brown hair. Michael has said that his eyes are often filled with a dreamy abstraction.

Benton is very bright and very academically inclined, so his chosen path suits him perfectly. He is fascinated by the life of "the Ancients," who are presumably pre-historical people.

Benton has a Gift for animal handling. Whether this accounts for his great fondness of animals or it's just a coincidence is uncertain. It is possible that he also has the Sensing Gift.

Relationships
As said above, Benton is one of the sons of Baron Roland Seven Oaks. Nothing negative or positive has been said about his relationships with his mother and father.

It is probable that he is the second oldest of his siblings, after Justin, and before Rupert, Michael, and Kathy. The nature of his relationships with his siblings are the two youngest, who he seems to get along well with.

Benton has several friends at the university. He also has (at least) one admirer, in his student Maddy Flynn. When she is brought up to Benton, he seems to also regard her with fondness, but is waiting until she is no longer a student to approach her with anything but professional feelings.