Agave: The prison of an ancient one deep in the heart of Elan, discovered by the dwarfs about six thousand years in the past.

Age of Lothian: The time during which Lothian ruled as the fane of the Fhrey people. Lothian’s reign began following the death of Fenelyus and after he prevailed in an Uli Vermar when he was challenged by Zephyron of the Instarya.

Aiden (Fhrey, Miralyith): One of the leaders of the Gray Cloaks, a secret Miralyith society.

Airenthenon: The domed and pillared structure where the Aquila holds meetings. Although the Forest Throne and the Door predate it, the Airenthenon is the oldest building in Estramnadon.

Alon Rhist: The chief outpost on the border between Rhulyn and Avrlyn. Staffed by the Instarya, the fortress acts as a bulwark preventing the Rhunes from crossing into the Fhrey lands. It was named after the fourth fane of the Fhrey, who died during the Dherg War.

Alward (Rhune, Nadak): The new leader of Nadak, one of the two clans destroyed by the Fhrey.

Alysin: One of the three realms of the afterlife. A paradise where brave warriors go after death.

Amphora: A delicate storage vessel with an oval body that tapers near its base. It has two handles near its top.

Ancient one: A being whom the Dherg claim predates the gods of Elan. He was found by the Dherg, locked deep underground in the Agave.

Anwir (Fhrey, Asendwayr): Quiet and reserved, he is the only non-Instarya Fhrey member of Nyphron’s Galantians. He has a penchant for knots and uses a sling for a weapon.

Aquila: Literally “the place of choosing.” Originally created as a formalization and public recognition of the group of Fhrey who had been assisting Gylindora Fane for more than a century. Leaders of each tribe act as general counsels, making suggestions and assisting in the overall administration of the empire. Senior council members are elected by their tribes or appointed by the fane. Junior members are chosen by the senior. The Aquila holds no direct power, as the fane’s authority is as absolute as Ferrol Himself. However, the Aquila does wield great influence over the succession of power. It is the Curator and Conservator who determine who has access to the Horn of Gylindora.

Arion (Fhrey, Miralyith): The former tutor to Prince Mawyndulë and onetime student of Fenelyus. Also known as Cenzlyor. Arion was sent to Rhulyn to bring the outlaw Nyphron to justice and was injured when a Rhune named Malcolm hit her in the head with a rock. She fought Gryndal, a fellow Miralyith, when he threatened to destroy Dahl Rhen and kill all its residents.

Art, the: Magic that allows the caster to tap the forces of nature. In Fhrey society, it’s practiced by members of the Miralyith tribe. Goblins who wield this power are referred to as oberdaza. The only known Rhune to possess any Artistic ability is the mystic known as Suri.

Artist: A practitioner of the Art.

Asendwayr: The Fhrey tribe whose members specialize in hunting. A few are stationed on the frontier to provide meat for the Instarya.

Asica: A long Fhrey garment similar to a robe. Its numerous wraps and ties allow it to be worn in a number of configurations.

Atlatl: A device used to extend the distance a spear can be thrown.

Aurochs: A breed of large ancient cattle.

Avempartha: The Fhrey tower created by Fenelyus atop a great waterfall on the Nidwalden River. It can tap the force of rushing water to amplify the use of the Art.

Avrlyn: “Land of Green,” the Fhrey frontier bordered on the north by Hentlyn, and by Belgreig to the south. Avrlyn is separated from Rhulyn by the east and south branches of the Bern River.

Balgargarath: A creature residing in Neith who prevents the Dherg people from returning to their home city.

Battle of Grandford: The first official battle in the war between Rhunes and Fhrey.

Battle of Mador: During the Belgric War, the battle between the Fhrey and Dherg when Fenelyus first used the Art, crushing the Tenth and Twelfth Dherg legions under a pile of rock that subsequently formed Mount Mador. The battle turned the tide of the war by stopping the Dherg advance.

Belgreig: The continent to the far south of Elan where the Dherg people reside.

Belgriclungreians: The term Dherg use to refer to themselves and their kind in the years after settling in Belgreig.

Belgric War: A war between the Fhrey and Dherg. Also referred to as the Dherg War and the War of Elven Aggression.

Bern: A river that runs north–south and delineates the border between Rhulyn and Avrlyn. Rhunes are forbidden from crossing to the west side of this river.

Black bronze: A metal alloy whose recipe—known only to the Dherg—utilizes gold, silver, and copper. It’s especially important in the making of sculptures.

Blue Sea: The body of water due south of the known lands and east of Belgreig. It’s believed by some to be endless; others think it marks the boundary where the world ends.

Book of Brin: The first known written work chronicling the history of the Rhune people. It dates back to the time of the first war between Rhunes and Fhrey.

Breckon mor: The feminine version of the leigh mor. A versatile piece of patterned cloth that can be wrapped in a number of ways.

Brin (Rhune, Rhen): The daughter of Sarah and Delwin, Keeper of Ways for Dahl Rhen, and author of the famed Book of Brin.

Brown, The: Known as Grin the Brown by Tura and Suri. A ferocious bear who terrorized residents of Dahl Rhen. She was responsible for the deaths of many residents, including Mahn, Persephone and Reglan’s eldest son; and Maeve, the dahl’s Keeper of Ways. The beast was eventually killed by Persephone.

Caratacus (Fhrey): The sage adviser who brought Ferrol’s horn to the first fane, Gylindora Fane. Creator of the Forest Throne.

Carding: The step that comes between shearing and spinning wool. Combs are used to detangle, clean, and intermix fibers, turning them into a continuous aligned web.

Carfreign Arena: A large open-air field in Estramnadon where contests and spectacles are held. It was there that Lothian defeated Zephyron in a particularly gruesome Uli Vermar challenge.

Caric: The Dherg port city across the straits of the Blue Sea from the Rhune village of Vernes. It was built just outside Neith, the Dherg home city.

Cenzlyor: In the Fhrey language, the term means “swift of mind.” A title of endearment bestowed by Fane Fenelyus onto Arion, indicating her proficiency in the Art.

Clempton: A small village of Dureya, home of Raithe (the God Killer).

Cleve: A simple and practical type of short sword, favored by the Instarya tribe of the Fhrey.

Cobb (Rhune, Rhen): A pig farmer and gatekeeper in Dahl Rhen.

Conservator of the Aquila: The keeper of the Horn of Gylindora and, along with the Curator, one of the two Fhrey most responsible for administering the process of succession. The Conservator is also responsible for picking a new Curator when needed.

Coppersword: A moniker for Herkimer (Raithe’s father). It was bestowed upon him by his enemy, the Gula-Rhunes, because of the unusual weapon he wielded.

Council of Tirre: A meeting called by Persephone to bring all the Rhulyn clan leaders together with the purpose of appointing a keenig to rule over all the Rhunes and lead the battle against the Fhrey.

Crescent Forest: A large forest that forms a half circle around Dahl Rhen.

Crimbal: A fairy creature that lives in the land of Nog. Crimbals travel to the world of Elan through doors in the trunks of trees. They are known to steal children.

Cul: A Rhunic profanity often used for a despicable person.

Curator: The vice fane who presides over the six councilors of the Aquila, elected by a vote of senior members. The Curator leads meetings of the Aquila in the absence of the fane, and chairs the Challenge Council, which decides who gets the right to blow the Horn of Gylindora. Together, the Conservator and the Curator are the Fhrey most responsible for determining the succession of power and administering the Uli Vermar challenge process.

Dahl (hill or mound): A Rhune settlement that is the capital city of a given clan and is characterized by its position on top of a man-made hill. Dahls are usually surrounded by some form of wall or fortification. Each has a central lodge where the clan’s chieftain lives, along with a series of roundhouses that provide shelter for the other villagers.

Deep Shaft: The passage in Neith that leads to the bottom of the city.

Delwin (Rhune, Rhen): A sheep farmer; husband of Sarah, father of Brin.

Dherg: One of the five humanoid races of Elan. Skilled craftsmen, they have been all but banned from most places except Belgreig. They are exceptional builders and weaponsmiths. The name is a pejorative Fhrey word meaning “vile mole.” The Dherg refer to themselves as Belgriclungreians.

Didan (Rhune, Dureya): One of Raithe’s brothers.

Door, the: A portal in the Garden of Estramnadon that legend holds is the gateway to where the First Tree grows.

Drome: The god of the Dherg.

Drumindor: A Dherg-built fortress located on an active volcano at the entrance to a large strategic bay on the Blue Sea. Two massive towers provide protection from any invasion by sea.

Dunn: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Erling and Strom.

Dureya: A barren highland in the north of Rhulyn, home to the Rhune clan of the same name. The entire region and all the clan members were destroyed by Fhrey Instarya. Before their destruction, they were the most powerful warrior clan of the Rhulyn-Rhunes.

Dwarfs: Any flora or fauna of diminutive stature (as in dwarf wheat or dwarf rabbits). Also, the name Persephone gives to Belgriclungreians, as it is easier to pronounce than Dherg and not taken as an insult.

East Puddle: The less affluent area of the Rhen settlement in Tirre.

Eilywin: Fhrey architects and craftsmen who design and create buildings.

Elan: The Grand Mother of All. God of the land.

Elf: The Fhrey word for “nightmare” and a derogatory term used by the Dherg to insult the Fhrey people.

Eraphus: The sea god of Dahl Tirre.

Eres (Fhrey, Instarya): A member of Nyphron’s Galantians. His main prowess is with spears and javelins.

Erivan: Homeland of the Fhrey.

Erling: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Dunn and Strom.

Esbol Berg: The massive towers and gate at the entrance of Neith.

Estramnadon: The capital city of the Fhrey, located in the forests of Erivan.

Estramnadon Academy: The school where Miralyith are trained in the ways of the Art. Entrance to it requires passage of the Sharhasa, an aptitude test.

Eten: The former chieftain of the Nadak clan. He and almost all his people were killed by a Fhrey Instarya attack.

Fane: The ruler of the Fhrey, whose term of office extends to death or to three thousand years after ascension, whichever comes first.

Faquins: Practitioners of the Art who can’t draw power directly from the forces of nature and must instead use physical elements as a crutch to harness that power.

Fenelyus (Fhrey, Miralyith): The fifth fane of the Fhrey and first of the Miralyith. She saved the Fhrey from annihilation during the Belgric War.

Ferrol: The god of the Fhrey.

Ferrol’s Law: The irrefutable prohibition against Fhrey killing other Fhrey. In extreme situations, a fane can make an exception for cause, or can designate a person as exempt. Breaking Ferrol’s Law will eject a Fhrey from society and bar the perpetrator from the afterlife. Since it is the Fhrey’s god that will pass judgment, no one can circumvent Ferrol’s Law by committing murder in secret or without witnesses.

Fhrey: One of the five major races of Elan. Fhrey are long-lived, technologically advanced, and organized into tribes based on profession.

Fhreyhyndia (killer of Fhrey): A Fhrey word sometimes used by Nyphron when referring to Raithe. Also, the name that Tesh of Duryea would like to adopt.

First Chair: An honorific for the chieftain of a dahl.

First Minister: The third most important person in Fhrey society (following the fane and the Curator). The primary role is the day-to-day administration of the Talwara. The present First Minister, Kabbayn, replaced Gryndal upon his death.

First Quorum: The group that developed the foundations of the Fhrey society. Notable members included Caratacus and Gylindora Fane.

Five major races of Elan: Rhunes, Fhrey, Dherg, Ghazel, and Grenmorians.

Flood (Dherg): One of three Dherg found by Persephone, Arion, and Suri in a rol of the Crescent Forest. The twin brother of Frost.

Florella Plaza: A large public square with an elaborate fountain outside the Airenthenon in Estramnadon.

Forest Throne: The seat of the fane, located in the Talwara in the capital city of Estramnadon. It was created when Caratacus intertwined six trees as symbols of the (then) six tribes of the Fhrey.

Frost (Dherg): One of three Dherg found by Persephone, Arion, and Suri in a rol of the Crescent Forest. The twin brother of Flood.

Furgenrok (Grenmorian): Leader of the Grenmorians, the giants of Elan.

Galantians: The Instarya party led by Nyphron and famed for legendary exploits of valor and bravery. Exiled from Alon Rhist for disobeying orders to destroy Rhune villages, they remain outlaws living in Dahl Rhen.

Garden, the: One of the most sacred places in Fhrey society, used for meditation and reflection. The Garden is in the center of Estramnadon and surrounds the Door, the Fhrey’s most sacred relic.

Gath (Rhune): The first keenig, who united all the human clans during the Great Flood.

Gelston (Rhune, Rhen): The shepherd who was hit by lightning during the Grenmorian attack on Dahl Rhen; uncle to Brin.

Gifford (Rhune, Rhen): The incredibly talented potter of Dahl Rhen whose mother died during his birth. Due to extensive deformities, he wasn’t expected to live more than a few years.

Goblins: A grotesque race feared and shunned by all in Elan, known to be fierce warriors. The most dangerous of their kind are oberdaza, who can harness the power of elements through magic. In the Dherg language, they are known as:

• Ba Ran Ghazel (Forgotten Ones of the Sea)
• Fen Ran Ghazel (Forgotten Ones of the Swamps)
• Fir Ran Ghazel (Forgotten Ones of the Forest)
• Durat Ran Ghazel (Forgotten Ones of the Mountains)

God Killer: A moniker given to Raithe of Dureya, who was the first known Rhune to kill a Fhrey (Shegon of the Asendwayr tribe). While staying in Dahl Rhen, he killed another Fhrey (Gryndal of the Miralyith).

Grandford: A stone bridge over the narrow gorge of the Bern River that separates Dureya from Alon Rhist. The first official battle of the Fhrey–Rhune war takes place there.

Grand Mother of All: Another name for the goddess Elan (the world).

Gray Cloaks: A secret society of Miralyith who believe they have ascended to a higher state of being than other members of the Fhrey society.

Great Famine: A year of unusually harsh conditions that destroyed most of the crops of the Rhunes, leading to mass starvation and many deaths.

Great Puddle, the: A large pond formed outside the walls of Tirre during unusually heavy rains. It divided the Rhen camp into two distinct living areas: West Puddle (the more affluent) and East Puddle (the less desirable).

Great War: The first war between the Fhrey people and the Rhunes.

Grenmorian: The race of giants who live in Elan.

Grin: The name Suri and Tura gave to The Brown, a ferocious bear of the Crescent Forest.

Gronbach Eyck Prigmoore (Dherg): The mayor of Caric and Master Crafter of that city.

Grygor (Grenmorian): A member of Nyphron’s famed Galantians, and the only giant of the group. Known for his love of cooking and the use of spices.

Gryndal (Fhrey, Miralyith): The former First Minister to Fane Lothian. Respected as one of the most skilled practitioners of the Art, Gryndal was killed in Dahl Rhen by Raithe, the God Killer.

Gula-Rhunes: A northern alliance of three Rhune clans (Dunn, Strom, and Erling) that have a long-standing feud with the seven southern Rhulyn-Rhune clans. Historically the Fhrey have pitted these two sides against each other and fostered their mutual animosity.

Gwydry: One of the seven tribes of Fhrey. This one is for the farmers who are responsible for raising crops and livestock.

Gylindora Fane (Fhrey, Nilyndd): The first leader of the Fhrey. Her name became synonymous with ruler.

Habet (Rhune, Rhen): The keeper of the flame of Dahl Rhen, responsible for ensuring that the braziers and the lodge’s fire pit remain lit.

Harkon (Rhune, Melen): Chieftain of Clan Melen.

Hawthorn Glen: Home to Suri and Tura.

Hegel (Rhune, Dureya): One of Raithe’s brothers.

Heim (Rhune, Dureya): The most ferocious and skilled fighter among Raithe’s brothers.

Hentlyn (land of mountains): An area to the north of Avrlyn, generally inhabited by Grenmorians.

Herkimer (Rhune, Dureya): The father of Raithe, killed by Shegon.

High Spear Valley: Home of the three clans of the Gula-Rhunes.

Horn of Gylindora: A ceremonial horn kept by the Conservator that was originally bestowed on Gylindora Fane by the legendary Caratacus. The horn is used to challenge for leadership of the Fhrey. It can only be blown during an Uli Vermar (upon the death of a fane or every three thousand years). When blown at the death of a fane, it’s the fane’s heir who is challenged. If the fane has no heir or if it is blown after three thousand years of reign, the horn can be blown twice, providing for two contestants.

Imaly (Fhrey, Nilyndd): A descendant of Gylindora Fane, leader of the Nilyndd tribe, and Curator of the Aquila.

Instarya: One of the seven tribes of the Fhrey. Instarya are the warriors who have been stationed on the frontier in outposts along the Avrlyn border since the Belgreig War.

Iver (Rhune, Rhen): A woodcarver and abusive slave owner; the former master of Roan and her mother.

Jerydd (Fhrey, Miralyith): The kel of Avempartha.

Kabbayn (Fhrey, Eilywin): The current First Minister, who replaced Gryndal after his death.

Keenig: A single person who rules over the united Rhune clans in times of trouble. There hasn’t been one appointed since the days of Gath. The Council of Tirre has been formed to select a new keenig to see the Rhune people through the approaching war with the Fhrey.

Keeper of Ways: The person who learns the customs, traditions, and general memories of a community and is the authority in such matters. Keepers pass down their knowledge through oral tradition. The most famous Keeper is Brin from Dahl Rhen, who created the famed Book of Brin.

Kel: The administrator of a prestigious institution.

Knots: Known to disrupt the natural flow of the Art, knots often create difficulty in communication and prevent consensus building. Once a knot is unraveled, so, too, are arguments unknotted, leading to eventual agreement.

Konniger (Rhune, Rhen): Shield to Chieftain Reglan of Dahl Rhen and husband of Tressa. Konniger ruled Rhen for a short period of time between the reigns of Reglan and Persephone after assassinating the former. He also tried to kill Persephone and was inadvertently killed by Grin the Brown.

Krugen (Rhune, Menahan): Chieftain of Clan Menahan, the richest of the seven Rhulyn clans.

Krun: The patron god of Clan Melen.

Leigh mor: Great cloak. A versatile piece of fabric used by Rhune men that can be draped in a number of ways, usually belted. A leigh mor can also be used as a sling to carry items or as a blanket. Usually, they’re woven with the pattern of a particular clan. The female version, known as a breckon mor, is longer, with an angled cut.

Linden Lott: The chief Dherg city after the fall of Neith. It holds an annual contest to determine the best in various endeavors valued by the Dherg people such as building, forging weapons, and digging.

Lion Corps: Personal bodyguards to the fane.

Lipit (Rhune, Tirre): The chieftain of Dahl Tirre.

Lothian, Fane (Fhrey, Miralyith): The supreme ruler of the Fhrey, father to Mawyndulë, son of Fenelyus. He came into power after an unusually gruesome challenge in which he defeated Zephyron of the Instarya in a humiliating and cruel display of power.

Maeve (Rhune, Rhen): The former Keeper of Ways for Dahl Rhen and mother of Suri; she was killed by Grin the Brown.

Magda: The oldest tree in the Crescent Forest; an ancient oak known to offer sage advice, including information that was instrumental in saving the village of Dahl Rhen when it was targeted by First Minister Gryndal of the Miralyith.

Mahn (Rhune, Rhen): The son of Persephone and Reglan. He was killed by a ferocious bear known as The Brown.

Makareta (Fhrey, Miralyith): A member of the Gray Cloaks and the object of Mawyndulë’s first romantic crush.

Malcolm (Rhune, honorary Dureyan): The ex-slave of Zephyron and former resident of Alon Rhist. After Malcolm attacked Shegon with a rock, he and Raithe became companions. He is also responsible for attacking Arion in a similar manner.

Mari: The patron god of Dahl Rhen.

Master of Secrets: The adviser to the fane who is responsible for Talwara security. Vasek is the current holder of that title.

Mawyndule; (Fhrey, Miralyith): Prince of the Fhrey realm; the son of Lothian, grandson of Fenelyus, and former student of Arion and Gryndal. He was present at Dahl Rhen when Raithe killed Gryndal. He’s currently representing the Miralyith in the Aquila as the junior councilor.

Mehan: The patron god of Clan Menahan.

Melen: A Rhulyn clan known for its poets and musicians.

Menahan: A Rhune dahl known for its wool, ruled by Chieftain Krugen.

Mideon, King (Dherg): A key player in the Belgric War between the Dherg and Fhrey. The last monarch of the Dherg race.

Minna: A wolf and the best friend of Suri, who dubbed the animal the wisest wolf in the world.

Miralyith: The Fhrey tribe of Artists—people who use the Art to channel natural forces to work magic.

Morton Whipple (Rhune, Rhen): A childhood friend of Persephone.

Mount Mador: A mountain conjured by Fane Fenelyus during the Belgreig War that killed tens of thousands of Dherg.

Moya (Rhune, Rhen): A beautiful young woman of Dahl Rhen known for her fiery spirit and loud mouth.

Mynogan: The three gods of war worshipped by the Dureyans and other warrior tribes. They represent Battle, Honor, and Death.

Mystic: An individual capable of tapping into the essence of the natural world and understanding the will of gods and spirits. Both Tura and Suri are mystics from the Hawthorn Glen.

Nadak: A region in the north of Rhulyn that is home to the Rhune clan of the same name. It was destroyed by the Fhrey Instarya, and most of its residents were slaughtered.

Narsirabad: A large spear from the lodge of Dahl Rhen used by Malcolm. Its name is Fhrey for “pointy.”

Neith: The original home of the Dherg in Belgreig. Neith is a huge underground city and the most revered place in the Dherg culture.

Nidwalden: A mighty river that separates Erivan (the land of the Fhrey) from Rhulyn (the land of the Rhunes).

Nifrel: Below Rel. The most dismal and unpleasant of the three regions of the afterlife.

Nilyndd: The Fhrey tribe of craftsmen.

Nyphron (Fhrey, Instarya): The son of Zephyron and leader of the famed Galantians. After attacking the new leader of Alon Rhist, he was declared an outlaw. He and his Galantians found refuge in the Rhune village of Dahl Rhen.

Orinfar: Ancient Dherg runes that can prevent the use of the Art.

Padera (Rhune, Rhen): A farmer’s wife and the oldest resident of Dahl Rhen, she is known for her excellent cooking ability and for being the best healer in the dahl.

Persephone (Rhune, Rhen): The chieftain of Dahl Rhen and widow of Reglan. She killed Grin the Brown.

Petragar (Fhrey, Instarya): The lord of the Rhist, appointed by Fane Lothian after the death of Zephyron.

Phyre: The afterlife, which is divided into three sections: Rel, Nifrel, and Alysin.

Pithos: Extremely large clay urns used to store crops for long periods of time.

Rain (Dherg): One of three Dherg found by Persephone, Arion, and Suri in a rol of the Crescent Forest. An even-tempered Dherg who wields a large pickax, Rain is perhaps the best digger of his people and the grand-prize winner at the Linden Lott competition.

Raithe (Rhune, Dureya): The son of Herkimer; also known as the God Killer. He killed Shegon (a Fhrey Asendwayr) in retribution for his father’s death, and Gryndal (a Fhrey Miralyith) when he threatened the people of Dahl Rhen.

Raow: A feared predator that eats its prey starting with the face. Raow sleep on a bed of bones and must add another set before going to sleep. A single raow can decimate an entire region.

Rapnagar (Grenmorian): The leader of a raiding party sent by the Fhrey to destroy Dahl Rhen and kill Arion, Nyphron, and Raithe.

Rasra: The patron god of Clan Nadak.

Reglan (Rhune, Rhen): The former chieftain of Dahl Rhen and husband to Persephone. Killed by Konniger in an attempt to usurp his power.

Rel: One of the three regions in the afterlife.

Rhen: A wooded region in the west of Rhulyn that is home to the Rhune clan of the same name. It was formerly ruled by Reglan; his wife, Persephone, now rules the region.

Rhist: Also sometimes referred to as the Rhist, a shortened name for Alon Rhist, the Fhrey outpost.

Rhulyn: The “Land of the Rhunes,” bordered by the Fhrey’s native Erivan to the east and the Fhrey outposts in Avrlyn to the west.

Rhulyn-Rhunes: The seven southern clans of Rhunes: Nadak, Dureya, Rhen, Warric, Tirre, Melen, and Menahan. The Rhulyn-Rhunes have been in constant conflict with the northern tribes of the Gula-Rhunes.

Rhune: One of the five major races of Elan, the race of humans. The word is Fhrey for “primitive,” and for some, it is seen as derogatory. This race is technologically challenged, superstitious, and polytheistic. They live in clusters of small villages, and each clan is governed by a chieftain. There are two major groups of Rhunes, the Gula-Rhunes from the north and the southern Rhulyn-Rhunes. The two factions have warred for centuries.

Rhunic: The language spoken by the humans who live in Rhulyn.

Roan (Rhune, Rhen): An ex-slave of Iver the Carver. An incredibly talented, emotionally scarred inventor.

Rol: A small Dherg fortification. Rols were created throughout the frontier to provide shelter during the Belgreig War. Most have a hidden door that opens and shuts via a series of pulleys and gears and are lined with Orinfar runes to protect those inside from magical attacks.

Rol Berg: A gate deep in the heart of Neith.

Rose Bridge: A bridge decorated with roses that crosses the Shinara River in Estramnadon, the Fhrey capital. The meeting place of the Gray Cloaks.

Rostwell: The mammoth dining hall in Caric where all members of the ruling party take their meals.

Roundhouse: A typical Rhune dwelling consisting of a single circular room with a cone-shaped roof, usually covered in thatch.

Ryeteen: The Fhrey term for a simplistic system of markings carried over great distances by birds for limited communication. Ryeteen is also used for the keeping of itemized lists.

Sebek (Fhrey, Instarya): The best warrior of the Galantians. He uses two cleve blades named Thunder and Lightning.

Second Chair: The honorific position held by the spouse of the chieftain.

Shahdi: The non-Instarya military group charged with maintaining order in Greater Erivan.

Sharhasa: An aptitude test given to Fhrey who wish to become Miralyith. Those who pass are granted access to the Estramnadon Academy and learn the ways of the Art.

Shegon (Fhrey, Asendwayr): A hunter stationed at Alon Rhist to provide the warrior tribe with fresh meat. He was killed by Raithe after Shegon killed Herkimer (Raithe’s father).

Shield: Also known as shield to the chieftain or chieftain’s shield. The chieftain’s personal bodyguard, and generally the finest warrior of a given clan.

Siegel (Rhune, Dunn): The chieftain of Clan Dunn.

Sikar (Fhrey, Instarya): An officer and patrol leader in the Instarya tribe stationed at Alon Rhist. A friend of Nyphron before the Galantian’s desertion.

Strom: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Dunn and Erling.

Stump, The (Rhune, Rhen): The Shield to Konniger who was promised Moya’s hand in marriage—much to Moya’s dismay. He was killed by Konniger when he reconsidered his part in the overthrow of Reglan’s reign.

Summerule: One of two Rhune holidays (the other is Wintertide). Summerule centers on a huge picnic and a number of athletic competitions.

Suri (Rhune, Rhen): The illegitimate child of Reglan, who had an affair with Maeve (Dahl Rhen’s Keeper of Ways). She was left to die in the forest, but was saved and raised by a mystic named Tura. She may be the only Rhune known to possess the ability to use the Art. She’s always accompanied by a white wolf named Minna, as the two are best friends.

Talwara: The official name of the Fhrey’s palace, where the fane resides and rules.

Tegan (Rhune, Warric): The chieftain of Clan Warric.

Tekchin (Fhrey, Instarya): One of Nyphron’s band of outlaw Galantians, Tekchin is a rough, outspoken warrior whose preferred weapon is a thin, narrow-bladed sword.

Ten Clans: The entirety of the Rhune nation, comprising seven Rhulyn clans and three Gula clans.

Tesh: The orphan boy who, along with Raithe, is all that remains of the Dureyan clan.

Tet: A curse word derived from Tetlin Witch.

Tetlin Witch: The universally hated immortal being thought to be the source of all disease, pestilence, and evil in the world.

Tirre: The southernmost Rhune dahl. Ruled by Lipit, it sits at the edge of the Blue Sea across a narrow strait from the Dherg city of Caric.

Tirreans: Residents of Tirre.

Torc: A rigid circular necklace that is open in the front. In Rhune society, it is a mark of leadership. The Dherg often bestow a torc as a reward for a great accomplishment.

Traitor, The: The moniker Mawyndulë bestowed on Arion for her part in First Minister Gryndal’s death while aiding the Rhunes of Dahl Rhen.

Tressa (Rhune, Rhen): The wife of Konniger, ex-chieftain of Dahl Rhen.

Trilos (Fhrey, unknown tribal affiliation): A mysterious person obsessed with the Door in the Garden.

Tura (Rhune, no clan affiliation): An ancient mystic who lived in the Hawthorn Glen near Dahl Rhen; mentor to Suri. She predicted the coming of the Great Famine.

Uberlin: The god of evil worshipped by the Ghazel. The source of all wickedness in Elan, believed to be the father of the Tetlin Witch.

Udgar: The chieftain of Clan Erling of the Gula.

Uli Vermar (the reign of a fane): An event that occurs three thousand years after the crowning of a fane or upon his death, when other Fhrey can challenge to rule. This is done by petitioning the Aquila and being presented with the Horn of Gylindora.

Umalyn: The Fhrey tribe of priests and priestesses who concern themselves with spiritual matters and the worship of Ferrol.

Urum River: A north–south Avrlyn river west of the Bern, and the place where Raithe would like to make a new start.

Valentryne Layartren: A room within the great tower of Avempartha that allows multiple Artists to join forces and work as one. It’s particularly useful for locating people.

Vasek (Fhrey, Asendwayr): The Master of Secrets.

Vellum: Fine parchment perfected by the Dherg for drawing maps, made from the skins of young animals.

Vernes: The Rhune port city that grew up directly below Dahl Tirre.

Vertumus (Fhrey, Instarya): The personal assistant to Petragar.

Vidar (Fhrey, Miralyith): The senior councilor of the Aquila representing the Miralyith tribe and new tutor to Prince Mawyndulë.

Volhoric (Fhrey, Umalyn): The senior councilor of the Aquila representing the Umalyn tribe. He also holds the position of Conservator of the Aquila.

Vorath (Fhrey, Instarya): A member of Nyphron’s Galantians. He has taken to the Rhune custom of wearing a beard. His weapon of choice is a pair of spiked-balled maces.

Warric: One of the seven Rhulyn-Rhune clans, ruled by Chieftain Tegan.

West Puddle: The more affluent area of the Rhen settlement in Tirre.

Wogan: The name by which the spirit of nature is known in and around the Crescent Forest.

Yarhold: The home city of the Grenmorians.

Ylfe: The Fhrey pronunciation of the derogatory Dherg term elf.

Zephyron (Fhrey, Instarya): The father of Nyphron, killed by Lothian during the challenge for fane upon Fenelyus’s death. Zephyron died in an unusually gruesome fashion to make a point about Miralyith superiority and the folly of challenging their rule.