Marcus is a member of the Maroons, a mysterious and wandering nation made up of ex-slaves who have integrated themselves into the Caribbean by hiring out their skills and labor, from tracking and hunting to trading and fighting. A grizzled tracker, Marcus is tougher than boiled leather and loyal to no one but fellow Maroons … until the day he finds Christopher Raven, a young boy orphaned and left for dead in a pool of his own blood.​ Marcus has acted as Christopher’s surrogate father ever since, teaching him how to live honorably, while also teaching him how to sail, how to use a sword, and how to distill rum. Now, years later, Marcus is Christopher’s friend and occasional business partner. He’s still involved with the Maroons, but has also put down roots in Saint Lucia, where he produces his potent rum.