Who is Thomas in "Gathering Blue"

Thomas has also been brought to Edifice to live.  He has no parents, and he was told that they were killed in a storm.  Thomas is really good with carving wood. His fingers seem to work on their own and create magic, which is similar to Kira's fingers. He always carries his first creative carving with him at all times.  This piece of wood stands for his creativity and it inspires him.  Thomas must help restore the Singer's Staff, which is a wooden piece that has the history of the world carved in it.  However, the more he works on the Staff, the less inspiring his carving in his pocket is to him.  It seems to be losing it's inspriration for him. With this Staff, he must help Kira and Jo create the future.  That is what is asked of them.