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Lexicon

Addy

Shade's gilded swamp adder

Adiraina

blind Matriarch of the Ardeth, beloved of Kinzi; a Shanir who can determine bloodlines by touch

Adric

Lord Ardeth of Omiroth, Torisen's former mentor

Aerulan

female cousin to Torisen, beloved of Brenwyr, slain in the Massacre of the Knorth women

Anar

a scrollsman who taught Torisen and Jame in the Haunted Lands keep when they were children

Anarchies

a forest on the western slopes of the Ebonbane mountain range, where the Builders disturbed Rathillien's native powers and were destroyed by them

Anise

one of Jame's ten-command

arax

a gold coin from Kothifir

Ardet

a Merikit

Argentiel

That-Which-Preserves, second face of the Three-Faced God

Aron

an Ardeth sargent at Tentir

Arrin-ken

huge, immortal, catlike creatures; third of the three people who make up the Kencyrath along with the Highborn and the Kendar; judges

Arrin-thar

a rare form of armed combat using clawed gantlets

Ashe

a haunt singer

Awl

a senior Randir officer

Bane

guards the Book Bound in Pale Leather and the Ivory Knife; half-brother to Jame; may be alive or dead

Bark

Gorbel's servant

Barrier, the

a wall of mist between Rathillien and Perimal Darkling

Bashti

an ancient kingdom paired with Hathir on either side of the River Silver

Bear

a randon who was brain-damaged by an axe during the battle of the White Hills; Commandant Sheth's older brother

Beauty

a darkling crawler (see wyrm)

Bel-tairi

Kinzi's Whinno-hir mare, sister to Brithany, also called the White Lady and the Shame of Tentir

Bender

brother of Tirandys

blood-binder

a Shanir able to control anyone who tastes his or her blood

bone-kin

distant kin, as opposed to blood-kin

Book Bound in Pale Leather, the

a compendium of runes; one of the three objects of power lost during the Fall

bool

a copper coin from Hurlen

Bran

a Brandan randon

Brant

Lord Brandan of Falkirr

Breakneck Rock

a rock jutting out over Tentir's favorite swimming hole

Brenwyr

sister of Brant; the Brandan Matriarch, also known as the Iron Matriarch; a maledight

Brier Iron-thorn

a Kendar cadet, formerly Caineron, now Knorth; second in command (or Five) of Jame's ten

Brithany

a Whinno-hir and matriarch of the herd; Adric's mount, granddam of Torisen's war-horse Storm

Builders, the

a mysterious, now extinct race of architects who built temples for the Three-Faced God on threshold worlds

Burnt Man, the

one of the Four who present Rathillien; an avenger linked to fire

Burr

Kendar friend and servant of Torisen

Caldane

Lord Caineron of Restormir

Cataracts, the

site of a great battle between the Kencyr Host and the Waster Horde

Chain of Creation

a series of overlapping worlds, each the threshold to a different dimension

Chaos Serpents

vast serpents under the earth whose writhing creates earthquakes

changers

Kencyr who fell with the Master and, through mating with the shadows of Perimal Darkling, have gained the ability to shape-shift

Cherry

an Edirr cadet

Chun of the Soft Furs

a Merikit trapper

Chingetai

the Merikit chief

Cleppetty

a friend of Jame's in Tai-tastigon; housekeeper at an inn called the Res aB'tyrr

Cloud

Commandant Sheth's war-horse

Corrudin

Lord Caldane's uncle and chief advisor

Corvine

a Randir sargent, formerly a Knorth Oath-breaker

Cron

a Knorth Kendar

crown jewel-jaws

a kind of carrion-eating butterfly that can camouflage itself

Da

Ma's female mate

Dally

a young male friend of Jame in Tai-tastigon

Damson

a new cadet in Jame's ten-command

Dar

a Knorth cadet, one of Jame's ten-command

Dari

an Ardeth cadet

Dark Judge

an Arrin-ken allied to the Third Face of God, That-Which-Destroys, also to the Burnt Man

darkling crawler

a wyrm, or very large creepy-crawly with a poisonous bite

Darkwyr sign

a gesture made to avert evil

death banners

tapestry portraits of the dead woven of threads taken from the clothes in which they died

Death's-head

a rogue rathorn, also the name adopted by the rathorn colt whose mother Jame killed

d'hen

a knife-fighter's jacket, with one tight sleeve and one full, reinforced with steel mesh, to turn attacker's blade

direhounds

savage hunting dogs with black legs and head, white body

Drie

an Ardeth cadet in Timmon's ten-command, also a Falconeer

dreamscape

as with the soulscape, Kencyr dreams can touch, even overlap. However, on this superficial level one can only observe and sometimes communicate, not act.

Dure

a Caineron cadet in Gorbel's ten-command, also a Falconeer

dwar

a forced sleep that promotes healing

Earth Wife, the

also known as Mother Ragga; fertility goddess representing the earth

Earth Wife's Favorite

a role in a Merikit rite, usually undertaken by a young man who acts as the Earth Wife's lover while pretending to be her son

East Kenshold

a Kencyr border keep on the Eastern Sea

Eaten One, the

one of the Four; represents water

Ebonbane, the

the mountain range that separates the Eastern Lands from the Central Lands

Erim

a Knorth cadet; one of Jame's ten-command

Escarpment, the

three-hundred-foot-tall cliffs on the northern edge of the Southern Wastes

Falconer, the

the blind master of hawks at Tentir, who also teaches all Shanir with the ability to bond to other creatures

Falconeer

one of the Falconer's class

Fall, the

some 3000 years ago, the current Highlord, Gerridon, betrayed his people when promised immortality by Perimal Darkling. This caused the Kencyrath's flight to Rathillien.

Falling Man, the

one of the Four; represents air

Fash

one of Gorbel's ten-command

Four, the

Rathillien's elemental powers, represented by the Eaten One (water), the Falling Man (air), the Earth Wife (earth), and the Burnt Man (fire)—real people who suddenly at the point of death found themselves gods due to the activation of the Kencyr temples

fungit

a silver coin from the Central Lands, often struck with curses

Ganth Gray Lord

the former Highlord; Jame and Torisen's father

Gari

a Coman cadet, bonded to insects

Gen

a board game of strategy

Geof

Lord Brandan's one-armed servant

Gerraint

father of Ganth

Gerridon

twin of Jamethiel Dream-weaver, also known as the Master, who as Highlord betrayed the Kencyrath to Perimal Darkling in return for immortality; see the Fall

Ghill

a Knorth Kendar, son of Merry and Cron

Gorbel

present Caineron Lordan

Gran Cyd

the queen of the Merikit

Gray Land

where the unburnt Kencyr dead walk

Graykin

Jame's servant; Caldane's Southron, bastard half-caste son

Greshan Greed-heart

Knorth Lordan before Jame, uncle to Jame, brother to Ganth

Grimly Holt, the

wood on the edge of the Great Weald where Grimly's pack lives

Hallik Hard-hand

Knorth commander during time of Greshan; father of Harn

Harn Grip-hard

Torisen's randon friend and war-leader, a former commandant of Tentir, also a berserker who fears that he is losing control

Hatch

a Merikit boy

Hathir

an ancient kingdom paired with Bashti on either side of River Silver

Haunted Lands, the

land north of Tai-tastigon, under the influence of Perimal Darkling, where Jame and Torisen were born during their father's exile

haunts

anything that has been tainted by the Haunted Lands and is therefore neither quite dead nor quite alive; usually mindless

Hawthorn

a Brandan captain at Tentir

Heart of the Woods

a place of ancient power, near where the battle of the Cataracts took place

Higbert

one of Gorbel's ten-command

High Keep

the Min-drear border keep far to the north, home of Rue

High Kens

a highly formal and archaic version of the Kencyr language

Highlord

leader of the Kencryath, always (at least until now) a Knorth

Hollens

Lord Danior of Shadow Rock, also known as Holly

Honor's Paradox

where does honor lie, in obedience to one's lord or to oneself?

Hurlen

a town of wooden towers on islets at the convergence of the Silver and Tardy Rivers

Immalai

an Arrin-ken of the Ebonbane

imu

a little clay face, dedicated to Mother Ragga

Index

a scrollsman herbalist who studied the Merikit

Iron-jaw

Ganth's war-horse, now a haunt

Ishtier

a renegade priest of the Priests' College

Ivory Knife, the

one of the three lost objects of power whose least scratch is fatal, now guarded by Bane

Jame

also called Jamethiel Priest's-bane and (incorrectly) Jameth; Torisen's twin sister, but ten years his junior

Jamethiel Dream-weaver

caused the Fall, twin sister of Gerridon and mother of the twins Jame and Tori

jewel-jaws

a type of carnivorous insect

Kirien

a scrollswoman and the Jaran Lordan

Jorin

a blind, Royal Gold hunting ounce, bound to Jame

Jurien

Jaran Highborn and Randon Council member

Kallystine

Caineron's daughter, Torisen's consort for a time, who slashed Jame's face

Karidia

the Coman Matriarch

Karnid

religious fanatics who live in the Southern Wastes. Their torture permanently scarred Torisen's hands.

Kenan

Lord Randir of Wilden, father of Shade, son of Rawneth

Kencyr Houses

[see chart]

Kencyrath

The Three People, chosen by the Three-Faced God to fight Perimal Darkling

Kendar

one of the Three People, usually servant class

Keral

a darkling changer

Kest

a Knorth cadet; one of Jame's ten-command

Kibben

the Caineron cadet whom Gorbel ordered to stand on his head

Kibbet

his brother; one of Gorbel's ten-command

Killy

a Knorth cadet; one of Jame's ten-command

Kindrie Soul-walker

a Shanir healer, first cousin to Jame and Torisen

Kin-Slayer

sword belonging to Torisen

Kinzi

great-grandmother to Torisen

Kithorn

northernmost of the Riverland keeps, now on Merikit land; Marc's former home

Korey

Lord Coman of Kraggen

Kothifir

a city on the edge of the Southern Wastes, called the Cruel

lawful lie

Kencyr singers (and some diplomats) are allowed a certain poetic license with the truth

lordan

a lord's designed heir, male or female

Lower Huddles

a field near Hurlen where battle of Cataracts took place

lymers

hounds, scent trackers

Lyra Lack-wit

Lord Caineron's young daughter, sister to Kallystine

Ma

a Merikit house-wyf

maledight

a Shanir who can kill with a curse

Marc (Marcarn)

Kendar friend of Jame, seven foot tall, ninety-five years old, a former warrior

Marrow

cadet guard, Knorth

Massacre, the

nearly thirty years ago, shadow assassins killed all the Knorth ladies except for Tieri; no one knows why, but Jame has her suspicions

Master, the

Gerridon

Master's House, the

where Jame went when her father drove her out; the House extends back down the Chain of Creation from fallen world to world, stopping just short of Rathillien

Merikit

a native hill tribe, living north of Kithorn

Mer-kanti

the Merkits' name for Randiroc

Merry

a Knorth Kendar

Min-drear

a minor Kencyr house

Mint

a Knorth cadet, one of Jame's ten-command

Mirah

a gray mare painted green and ridden by Mer-kanti

Molocar

an enormous war hound

Moon Garden, the

Kinzi's secret courtyard at Gothregor, where Kindrie was born and which still serves as his soul-image

Mother Ragga

also known as the Earth Wife; one of the Merikit's four elemental gods

Mount Alban

home of the Scrollsmen's College

Mouse

an Edirr cadet bound to mice; a Falconeer

Mullen

a Knorth Kendar who killed himself rather than be forgotten

Narsa

a female Ardeth cadet, in love with Timmon

Negalent Nerves-on-edge

a Knorth Highborn who died of a nose bleed on his wedding night

New Road

flanks the Silver River on the western side

New Tentir

the hollow square lined with barracks behind Old Tentir where the cadets live

Nessa Silken-hair

a Merikit

Niall

a Knorth cadet, replacement for Kest; survivor/veteran of the Cataracts

Nidling of the Noyat

a hillman

Noyat

a hill tribe living farther north than the Merikit

Oath-breakers, the

Knorth Kendar who refused to follow Ganth into exile and subsequently found places in other houses

Obidin

Gorbel's five-commander

Old Blood, the

see Shanir

Old Tentir

the original stone keep

ollin

a gold coin from Karkinaroth

Peacock Gloves

stolen by Jame in Tai-tastigon

Pereden

son of Ardeth, who supposedly died fighting the Waster Horde in the Southern Wastes; Timmon's father

Perimal Darkling

a kind of shadow that is eating its way up the Chain of Creation from threshold world to world. Under it, the living and the dead, the past and the present become confused.

pook

a hairy, small dog good at tracking across the folds in the land

Priest's College, the

located at Wilden

Prid

a Merikit girl

Quill

a Knorth cadet, one of Jame's ten-command

Quirl

a Randir cadet who died trying to assassinate Randiroc; Corvine's son

Randiroc

the so-called lost Randir Heir or Lordan, a randon and Shanir, hiding in the wilds from the Witch of Wilden who has set shadow assassins to kill him

randon

a military officer and graduate of Tentir

randon college

where randon cadets are trained; Tentir

Ran

a term of address to a randon, male or female

Rathillien

the planet's name

rathorn

an ivory-armored, carnivorous equine, usually with a bad temper

Rawneth

the Randir Matriarch, also called the Witch of Wilden

Regonereth

the Third Face of God, That-Which-Destroys

Res aB'tyrr

an inn in Tai-tastigon

Restormir

the Caineron keep

River Road

an ancient road on the east side of Silver River

River Silver

runs down the Riverland, then between Hathir and Bashti to the Cataracts

River Snake

the huge chaos serpent that stretches underground from one end of the Silver to the other, causing earthquakes if not fed

Riverland, the

a long, narrow strip of land ceded to the Kencyrath at the northern end of the Silver

Roane

Randir, cousin of the Witch of Wilden, killed by Ganth

Rori

one of Gorbel's ten-command

Rowan

female friend of Torisen, randon and steward of Gothregor

Rue

randon cadet from Min-drear, one of Jame's ten-command

sargent

a sort of non-commissioned randon officer, almost always Kendar, addressed as "Sar"

Scrollsmen's College

at Mount Alban across from Valantir; also home to the singers

scythe-arm

a weapon comprised of two blades with one edge and two points, worn on the arm

Sene

an alternating form of Senethar and Senetha

Senetha

dance form of the Senethar

Senethar

unarmed combat divided into four disciplines: water-flowing, earth-moving, fire-leaping, and wind-blowing

Senethari

a master and teacher of the Senethar

Seven Kings of the Central Lands

Bashti and Hathir have devolved into seven minor kingdoms who are always at war with each other, often using Kencyr mercenaries

Shade

also known as Nightshade; a Randir cadet, bound to a golden swamp adder; half-Kendar bastard daughter of Lord Kenan of Randir, granddaughter of the Randir Matriarch Rawneth

shadow assassins

a mysterious cult of assassins who make themselves invisible (and ultimately insane) with tattoos that cover every inch of their bodies

Shadow Rock

the Danior keep

Shanir

sometimes referred to as the Old Blood; some Kencyr have odd powers such as the ability to blood-bind or to bond with animals, aligned to one of the Three Faces of God; to be Shanir, one must have at least some Highborn blood

Sheth Sharp-tongue

Commandant of Tentir, Caineron, Caldane's war-leader

Simmel

Rawneth's servant

sister-kinship

sometimes Highborn women of different houses form lasting bonds with each other, about which their lords know nothing

Snowthorns

the mountain range through which the Riverland runs

Sonny Boy

one of Chingetai's sons

soul-images

each Kencyr sees his or her soul in terms of an image such as a house or a puzzle or a garden. A healer works with this image to promote physical and mental health.

soulscape

all soul images overlap at some point, forming an interwoven psychic landscape; the Kencyrath's collective subconscious

Stav

harvest-master at Gothregor

Storm

Torisen's black war-horse

Tai-tastigon

a city in the Eastern Lands where Jame and Marc met

Tardy

a river that converges with the Silver

Tarn

a Danior cadet, bound to an old Molocar named Torvo

Telarien

mother of Tieri, grandmother of Jame and Tori

ten-command

the basic squad unit of cadets; its leader is referred to as Ten and the second-in-command as Five

Those Who Returned

Knorth Kendar who were driven back by Ganth when they attempted to go into exile with him; most became yondri-gon

Three People, the

Highborn, Kendar, and Arrin-ken, who together are the Kencyrath

Tieri

a highborn Knorth, Ganth's sister, mother of Kindrie and first cousin of Torisen, whose life was saved during the Massacre by Aerulan

Tigon

a randon from Jame's youth

Timmon

a cadet, also, the Ardeth Lordan; son of Peredon (Peri), grandson of Adric

Tieri

Kindrie's mother

Tigger

one of Gorbel's ten-command

Tirandys

male darkling changer, Jame's former Senethari or teacher, deceased

Tishooo

the southern wind, also called the Falling Man

Torisen Black Lord

High Lord of the Kencyrath, son of Ganth Gray Lord, who stopped the Waster Horde at the Cataracts

Torrigion

That-Which-Creates, the first face of the Three-faced God

Trishien

the Jaran Matriarch, a scrollswoman

trocks

rocks with teeth, given to infesting wells, dungeons, and latrines

Tubain

owner of the Res aB'yrr

Tungit

a Merikit shaman and old friend of Index

Twizzle

Gorbel's pook

Tyr-ridan

human vessels for the Three-Faced God to manifest itself through in the final battle with Perimal Darkling

Upper Meadows

a field near Hurlen where the battle of Cataracts took place

Urakarn of the Southern Wastes

citadel of the Karnids

Valantir

Jaran fortress north of Tentir

Vant

an officious Knorth cadet

Waster Horde, the

a vast, nomadic, cannibalistic collection of tribes who endlessly circle the Southern Wastes, preying on each other

Weald, the Great

a large forest in the Central Lands, home to the wolvers

weirdingstrom

a magical storm capable of transporting people and things instantaneously anywhere

weird-walking

using the weirding mist to travel deliberately

White Hills, the

south of the Riverland, where Ganth Gray Lord fought a great battle following the Massacre, lost, and was driven into exile

White Knife

suicide knife, an honorable death

White Lady, the

the Whinno-hir Bel-tairi

Wilden

the Randir fortress

Willow

little sister of Marcarn, killed when Kithorn fell

Winter

a Kendar randon, first nurse to Jame, killed by Ganth

Wolver Grimly

shapeshifter, friend of Torison

wolvers

creatures who shift easily between human and lupine forms, expert singers, usually peaceful unless they come from the Deep Weald

Women's World

the Council of Matriarchs in Gothregor trains young highborn women and initiates them into sister-kinship

wyrm

also called a darkling crawler

yackcarn

a huge, bad tempered beast on whom the Merikit depend for their winter food supply

Yce

an orphan wolver cub from the Deep Weald, rescued by Torisen

Yolindra

Matriarch of the Edirr

yondri, yondri-gon

a Kendar who has lost his or her house and has been offered temporary shelter by another; sometimes called "threshold dwellers"

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Framed