Petra Arkanian

The cadet who trained Ender Wiggin in private, to Commander Bonzo's chagrin.

Petra Arkanian is a key cadet at Battle School who plays a pivotal role in Andrew 'Ender' Wiggin's development. She takes Ender under her wing after Graff's treatment of him has left him ostracized. A cadet in Salamander Army under Commander Bonzo Madrid, Petra trains Ender privately when the commander forbids him from training with the rest of the squad. Her courage in standing up for a new recruit establishes her character early on, marking her as one of the few students willing to challenge authority for the sake of the team.

Quick Facts

Affiliation: Battle School, Salamander Army
Key relationship: Ender Wiggin

Lore & Background

When Ender joins Salamander Army, Commander Bonzo Madrid, disgusted by the assignment of an untrained student, forbids him from training with the squad. Petra takes it upon herself to train Ender privately, much to Bonzo's chagrin. This act of rebellion sets the stage for a critical turning point: during a battle against another team where Salamander Army was losing and Petra was in trouble, Ender disobeyed orders to aid her. Ender came to her aid and helped Salamander Army win, despite breaking the rules. Later, Graff promotes Ender to lead his own squad of misfit students, and Petra is among the former squad members who help him train at the forward base.

Reader's Guide

Petra Arkanian serves as Ender Wiggin's primary mentor and protector during his early days at Battle School. Her most defining action occurs when she trains Ender privately despite Commander Bonzo Madrid's explicit ban on his participation in squad drills. In the zero-gravity 'Battle Room' games, Ender devises strategies older students had not contemplated. In the final simulations of large fleet combat at the forward base near the Formic homeworld, Ender is assisted by his former squad members, including Petra. They help him train for the ultimate test where he must command a vastly outnumbered fleet against the Formics.