Ignis Swyft is the Hand of the King, he's a responsible man and one that is good at his job. He's Aeyron's right hand man, and the two of them discuss the most secret secrets. Ignis is not talented with a sword like many others in the story, he is capable with a sword but that isn't where his talent lies. Ignis can tell when threats develop, before anyone else can. 'As Hand of the King he had to take initiative in events such as this, he had to find out what clues were left about the traitor Ulthor.' Whatever he does, it is in the sole purpose of improving the King's position, 'Leave [their bodies] let them show what happened when you go against the king.'
Even when the King isn't present, Ignis works his utmost to protect him - working with Taena to discover rebels, with the help of Amand Arbray, Oscar Tully and Steffon Bracken. He works tirelessly to fortify King's Landing against the threat of Nestor and the Bronze fleet; Ignis's wits are displayed by his idea to have Red Fìros be used as a weapon against the Bronze fleet.
Unlike Aeyron, Ignis doesn't have many worldly possesions with him - he is solely dedicated to his job. The only things that belong to Ignis is his two guards - Ser Gerris Garglen and Ser Williams Cole, the associates Ignis has are to better him at his job. He has confidants within King's Landing like the shopkeeper Frynne and Sherrit, but he has nothing that can be tied down to him. Ignis doesn't seem affected by this though, it allows him to work without regrets - work without having the fear of someone close to him being attacked.
Ignis does seem to have a brutal side to him though, his Red Fìros sends thousands of people into agonizing deaths, he displays the bodies and heads of traitors around for all to see, and he gets common thiefs to be '[Tied] to the stables in with the horses. We’ll show traitors what will happen if they try to betray us” Ignis commanded, killing them would be too far and could cause dissent.'
This begins to change when he meets Jade Arryn. 'It’s going to be very lonely around here, we should meet often', her continual mock of Ignis entices Ignis, who completely shocks him. Her lack of filter suprises Ignis and he can''t help but feel he can battle with Jade and her words. He feels a sense of danger coming from Jade, she again speaks with no filter which Ignis feels might be the death of him. I guess to Ignis she's something completely different to his mundane routine. She provides a platform for Ignis to enjoy something other than work as Hand of the King. The people around Ignis bring the colour to his life that he lacks, Ser Williams and Ser Gerris with the contiual quips and Jade with her statements. He remarks that, 'If it we’re anyone else he may not have let them see [his torn ear] but it made sense to him that Jade would see him first.'
At points, Ignis feels some anger for not being recognised - 'Is that why you’re here? To say how lucky I am that I’m missing one ear! I held off the city for help to arrive, if it weren’t for me the war would be over!'. Despite the heroics Ignis did at the Battle of King's Landing, the work continues on for him. Aeyron throws a feast after the Battle while Ignis doesn't think that was a right decision, and just after awakening after the Battle, Ignis and Taena discuss the costs the Battle had on the city. For Ignis, he will always be stuck as the person who is always doing the work for the Kingdoms, people won't see him differently.
Ignis at the start of the novel, had no apparent interest in marriage and the sort like that, but by Ignis 10, he already has someone in mind for marriage - '“I…I have someone in mind” Ignis admitted surprising Edmund whose eyebrows lifted up'.
What bests describe Ignis is that he will always be the unsung hero. The accolade of the Battle of King's Landing goes to Aeyron rather than Ignis - 'The bard was performing a song called The Royal Rescue about the Battle of King's Landing but Ignis paid it no mind'. Ignis will always be the unsung hero.