by Helen Lowe
Awl Lane: Grayharbor wynd, off Sailcloth Street
Bajan: House of Blood warrior from Bronze Hold
Banath: Honor Captain to the Earl of Blood
Bane Hold: satellite fortress of the House of Blood
Baris: House of Blood groom
Barren Hills: uninhabited hills to the north of Grayharbor and south of the Border Mark
Battlemaster: primary war leader of the House of Blood
Betrayal War: Derai civil war, five hundred years earlier; also Great Betrayal
black blades: weapons of power, commonly associated with the hero, Kerem
black spear: weapon of power; see also Great Spear; black blades
Blood:shortening of House of Blood; may also refer to Blood, the
Blood Gate: main entrance into the Red Keep and a fortress in its own right
Blood, the: includes the Earls of the Derai and any of their blood kin. Traditionally, the Blood have been closely linked to the power of the Golden Fire
Blood Oath, the: an oath that has bound the Derai since their civil war and institutionalizes the schism between the warrior and priestly castes; also the Oath
Border Mark: stone pillar that marks the boundary between the Gray Lands and the Barren Hills, and by implication, the Wall of Night and the rest of Haarth
Brave Hold: satellite fortress of the House of Blood
Bronze Hold: satellite fortress of the House of Blood
Brother Selmor: scholar priest in the Temple of Night
cadre: unit of Derai or Darksworn power users
Caer Argent: capital of Emer
Carick: graduate of the University in Ar, a city of the River lands, who journeyed to Emer as cartographer to its Duke
Cataclysm: period of extreme natural disaster, followed by war, that brought down Haarth’s Old Empire; believed to have occurred as a result of the Derai’s arrival on Haarth
Cave of Sleepers: cavern of sleeping warriors, deep within the Gate of Dreams
Cendreward: province of Emer
Chaos Worm: according to legend, the deadliest foe ever sent by the Swarm against the Derai; also Worm; Worm of Chaos
Che’Ryl-g-Raham: Sea House navigator for the ship of the same name
Che’Ryl-g-Raham, the: Sea House ship
Child of Light: see Yorindesarinen
Child of Night: see Malian
Citadel of Stars: principal stronghold of the House of Stars
Chosen of Mhaelanar: prophesied hero who will lead the Derai for the final victory over the Swarm, to be born of the Houses of both Stars and Night; also the one
civil war: waged between the Derai Houses five hundred years ago; see also Night of Death and Great Betrayal
Cloud Hold: satellite fort of the Keep of Winds
Code, the: see Honor Code
Commander of Night: overall military Commander of the House of Night; see also Asantir
Corlin: warrior-priest from the House of Adamant
Court of the Rose: main stronghold of the House of the Rose
Crow: Southern Realms sword-for-hire, traveling with Raven
Crow, the: companion bird to the Huntmaster
Dab: Red Keep guard, assigned to Lady Myrathis; watch partner to Taly; also Dabnor
Daile: Patrol officer from the Hedeld fort
Dain: House of Blood honor guard, second in Jad’s eight-unit
Dalay: senior Morning priest, deputy to Sirit
damosel: a young Emerian woman of knightly or noble birth
Dancer of Kan: follower of the god Kan, usually a member of the Ijiri Assassins’ Guild or Ar’s Shadow Band
darkspawn: term for low-level servants of the Swarm of Dark, also ’spawn
Darksworn: vanguard of the Swarm of Dark
Darrar: House of Blood farrier
Daughter of Blood: title given to daughter of a ruler of Blood
Defenders of Blood: term for wyr hounds
Derai: warlike race, alien to Haarth, comprising an alliance of Nine Houses. They arrived on Haarth fifteen hundred years before, together with their traditional enemy, the Swarm of Dark. The Derai are fighting an aeons old war to prevent the Swarm obliterating the universe. They are divided into three societies or castes: warrior, priest, and a caste comprising both warrior and priestly talents but focused on specialist skills.
Derai-dan: Derai combat code, includes armed and unarmed techniques
Dread Pass: mountain pass in the Wall of Night
Duar: warrior in the Prince of Fire’s personal guard
Eanar: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
Eanaran: Earl of Night over four hundred years before
Earl: title for a hereditary ruler of a Derai House
eight-guard: Derai military unit; also eight-unit
elemental: magical entities associated with fire, air, water, or earth, servants to the Great Djinn; see also fire elemental
Elite Cairon: commander in Ar’s Shadow Band
Elodin: Star knight, escort captain to Tirael; also Elodinel
Elv’Ar-i-Anor: Sea House ship
Emer: realm of Haarth, located south of the River
Emeriath: figure from Derai legend, associated with the hero Kerem
empathy bond: psychic link between two Derai that can be either one- or two-way, usually between blood kin, lovers, or very close friends
Emuun: agent of the Swarm, kinsman to Nirn
Eria: initiate Night priestess, serving in the Old Keep watch
facestealer: class of Swarm adept
Falath: Rowan Birchmoon’s hound; keeps vigil by her grave
Farelle: city of the River
Faro: Grayharbor street urchin
fell lizard: class of Swarm minion
Fire: one of the three nations of the Sworn
fire elemental: specific magical entity derived from fire, a familiar to Emuun
First: captain of a Jhainarain Seven
First Kin: first degree of kinship within Derai society
First Line: refers to the Earl, his or her immediate family, and their First Kin among a House’s ruling kindred
Forward Hold: satellite fortress of the House of Blood
Fray: lord of the House of Blood’s Bane Hold
frost-fire sword: one of the three magical arms of the hero Yorindesarinen
Garan: eight-guard leader in the Earl of Night’s Honor Guard
Gate of Dreams: supernatural realm between planes of existence; also the Gate
Gate of Winds: main entrance into the Keep of Winds and fortress in its own right
geas: magical binding the frost-fire sword placed on the House of Fire
Gervon: former facestealer in guise of priest of Serrut, and teacher at Normarch
Ghiselaine: Countess of Ormond, a region of Emer
Girvase: Emerian knight, trained at Normarch
Golden Fire: former allied power and bulwark of the Derai, that once burned throughout the Wall of Night’s nine keeps
Granian: Star knight and herald; also Granianned
Grayharbor: port and northernmost town between the River and Wall of Night
Gray Lands: desolate plains that adjoin the Wall of Night
Gray Taan: weapons’ trader in Terebanth
Great Betrayal: refers to both the Derai civil war and the peace feast that ended in slaughter, extinguishing the Golden Fire
Great Djinn: powers, native to Haarth, that inhabit the southern deserts
Great Gate: portal that Derai power wielders opened between worlds to allow the Alliance to come through to the world of Haarth
Great Spear: weapon of power; see also black blades
Guild House: place where heralds reside, found in every River city
Guild of Heralds: River-based society of messengers; see also heralds
Haarth: world in which this story is set
Haimyr the Golden: minstrel of Ij, friend and retainer to the Earl of Night
Halcyon: merchant ship, registe
red out of Port Farewell
Half-Blood: derogatory term for Myrathis
Hamar Sondsangre: of Aldermere, Kalan’s Emerian identity
Hani: Aralorn Hill horse, belonging to Raven
Hatha: a Daughter of Blood, second child to the Earl of Blood; twin to Kharalthor and full sister to Huern, Liankhara, Sardonya, and Anvin; half sister to Parannis and Sarein; also half sister to Myrathis
Hedeld: trading post on the Telimbras, north of Ar, with a Patrol fort nearby
Heir: designated successor to the hereditary ruler of a Derai House
Heir of the Derai: alternate title for the Heir of Night, since Night leads the Nine Houses of the Derai; see also Malian
heralds: messengers sworn to the River-based Guild of Heralds
Heris: itinerant scribe, an identity adopted by Malian
High Hall: main hall of a Derai fortress
Hills of the Hawk: see Jaransor
hold: satellite forts of the main Derai keeps on the Wall
Honor Captain: commands a Derai Honor Guard
Honor Code: code governing honorable conduct in all aspects of Derai life, particularly combat and war; also Derai Code; the Code
Honor Contest: contest of arms to select a Derai Honor Guard
Honor Guard: elite guard units sworn to protect the lives of Derai leaders
House: Derai name encompassing each of the nine separate peoples who comprise the Derai Alliance; see also Nine Houses
House of Adamant: priestly House of the Derai Alliance
House of Blood: warrior House of the Derai Alliance
House of Morning: priestly House of the Derai Alliance
House of Night: warrior House of the Derai Alliance; the “first and oldest” House
House of Peace: priestly House of the Derai Alliance
House of Sea: House of the Derai Alliance, primarily mariners
House of Stars: House of the Derai Alliance, renowned as enchanters
House of Swords: warrior House of the Derai Alliance
House of the Rose: House of the Derai Alliance, primarily diplomats but also artists
Huern: a Son of Blood and third child to the Earl of Blood; full brother to Kharalthor, Hatha, Liankhara, Sardonya, and Anvin; half brother to Parannis and Sarein; also half brother to Myrathis
Huntmaster: master of the Hunt of Mayanne
Hunt of Mayanne: wild power that dwells beyond the Gate of Dreams; also “the Hunt”
Hur: House of Adamant watchtower commander
Hurulth: god of death, one of the Derai’s Nine Gods, also the Silent God
Hurulth’s Hall: a temple of Hurulth; also where Derai believe souls go after death
Hylcarian: formerly Golden Fire of the House of Night
Ij: the Golden, greatest city of the River
Ijir: main river of the lands known as the River
Ijiri: a person or thing native to Ij
Ilai: Liankhara of Blood’s retainer, assigned to Myrathis
Ilkerineth: a leader of the Darksworn, Prince of Lightning
Iluthys: formerly Golden Fire of the House of Peace
immune: those immune to the effects of magic
Impassable Range: part of the Wall of Night, separates the Sea Keep from Morning
Imuln:Mother Goddess of the Southern Realms; also Imulun on the River
Innor: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
Iriellirin: formerly Golden Fire of the House of Stars
Iriseult: last leader of the Second Line of Fire
Ise: duenna and former governess to Myrathis; also Mistress Ise
Ishnapur: fabled empire in the south of Haarth, borders the great deserts
Jad: eight-leader in the Earl of Blood’s Honor Guard
Jaransor: hill range west of Gray Lands; also J’ara Ensor
Jaras: House of Blood honor guard in Jad’s eight-unit
Jarna: Emerian knight, trained at Normarch
Jehane Mor: herald of the Guild, from the River’s Terebanth Guild House
Jhainarian: people hailing from Jhaine
Jhaine: land in the Southern Realms of Haarth
Jharin: Darkswarm adept, sworn to the sorcerer Nirn
Kair: House of Fire cavalry commander
Kalan: friend of Malian, born to the House of Blood
Kamioriol: formerly the Golden Fire of the House of the Rose
Kan: one of the three gods of Haarth’s Southern Realms; also Karn
Kara: Faro’s mother, now deceased; also Kara Armorer
Keep of Bells: principal stronghold of the House of Peace
Keep of Stone: principal stronghold of the House of Adamant
Keep of Winds: principal stronghold of the House of Night
Kelmé: child prince from the early history of Ar
Kelyr: House of Swords warrior, companion to Orth
Kerem the Dark Handed: ancient hero of the Derai
Keron: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
Khar: nom-de-guerre adopted by Kalan
Kharalth: Battle Goddess, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai.
Kharalthor: Battlemaster and Heir of Blood; twin to Hatha, and full brother to Huern, Liankhara, Sardonya, and Anvin; half brother to Parannis and Sarein; also half brother to Myrathis
Khelor: last leader of the First Line of Fire; also Prince of Fire
Kion: physician to the Sea envoy, Nimor
Kiyan: First to Queen Zharaan of Jhaine in the years after the Cataclysm
Kolthis: Red Keep guard, serves Huern
Koris: Sea House marine in Nimor’s escort
Kylin: attendant to Myrathis
Kyr: Night honor guard, died in Jaransor six years before
Laer: weatherworker on the Che’Ryl-g-Raham
Lady Mouse: nickname for Myrathis of Blood; see also Myr
Lady of Grace: archaic Derai title
Lady of Ways: see Nuithe
language of blood: a magic of Jhaine, also known as the Language of Imuln
Lathayra: land in the Southern Realms of Haarth
Lawr: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
Ler: Sea House marine, in Nimor’s escort
Leti: innkeeper’s daughter at Grayharbor’s Anchor inn
Liad: Star knight and farspeaker; also Liadinath
Liankhara: a Daughter of Blood and spymaster; fourth child of the Earl of Blood; full sister to Kharalthor, Hatha, Huern, Sardonya, and Anvin; half sister to Parannis and Sarein; also half sister to Myrathis
Liannar: second-in-command of the Patrol
Lightning: one of the three nations of the Sworn
Lira: Night honor guard, died in Jaransor six years before
Little Pass: secondary pass into Emer, crosses to/from Aeris
Liy: page to Bajan of Bronze Hold
Long Pass: main pass between Emer and the River
Lord Captain: commander of the Patrol
Lord Falk: Castellan of Emer’s Northern March
Lost, the: Derai with old powers who have fled the Wall of Night
Machys: House of Blood honor guard in Jad’s eight-unit
Madder: Kalan’s red roan warhorse, a gift from Jarna
Madness: condition associated with Jaransor, which affects Derai
maelstrom: Sworn name for the Swarm of Dark
Malar:House of Swords warrior, companion to Orth
Malian: only child of the Earl of the House of Night; also Heir of Night, the Child of Night, and Chosen of Mhaelanar
Malisande: friend to Ghiselaine of Ormond, killed by a shapechanger
march: a border territory of Emer
Marlinspike: Grayharbor inn
Matter of Kin and Blood: matter of great importance, usually life or House-threatening, that concerns the Blood of a Derai House; alternately Matter of Blood
Maurid: collective name the Red Keep wyr hounds give themselves
Mayanne: one of the Nine Gods of the Derai
Mayaraní: Lady Mayaraní of t
he Rose, deceased mother to Myrathis
Meraun: the Healer, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai
messenger horses: horses, usually black, belonging to the Derai messenger corps; famed for their endurance and speed
Meya: attendant to Ise
Mhaelanar: the Defender (or Defender of Heaven), one of the Nine Gods of the Derai, also called the Shield of the Derai
Midsummer: Emerian summer solstice festival
mindspeech: communicating directly from mind to mind, an old Derai power
moon-bright helm: see Nhenir
Morin: Night honor guard in Asantir’s escort
Morning: see House of Morning
Murn: secretary to the Sea envoy
Myr: see Myrathis
Myrathis: a Daughter of Blood, ninth and youngest child of the Earl of Blood; also Myr; Lady Mouse
Myron: candlemaker’s apprentice in Grayharbor
Nagoy: Count of the Rose over four hundred years before
Nai: House of Blood wagoner
Nalin: sergeant in the Earl of Blood’s Honor Guard
Namath: Sea House marine
Narn: leads the House of Blood’s Bronze Hold
nation: the three nations of the Darksworn: Fire, Lightning, and Sun
navigator: commander of a Sea House ship
Nerion: Malian’s mother, the Earl of Night’s former wife
Nerith: of the Sea Keep: Nerion’s mother; Malian’s grandmother
Nerys: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
New Keep: the newer, inhabited stronghold of the Keep of Winds
Nhairin: former High Steward of the Keep of Winds
Nhal: House of Blood honor guard in Jad’s eight-unit
Nhenir: magical helm of the hero Yorindesarinen; also moon-bright helm
Nherenor: Darksworn envoy, killed in Emer; son of Ilkerineth and Nuithe
Night: see House of Night
Night Mare: Swarm demon
Night of Death: peace feast at the end of the Derai civil war, which turned into another slaughter and culminated in the loss of the Golden Fire
Nimor: Sea House envoy to Myrathis’s Honor Contest and wedding
Nindorith: Darksworn Ascendant, most closely associated with Lightning
Nine Gods: the nine gods of the Derai: Hurulth, Kharalth, Mayanne, Meraun, Mhaelanar, Ornorith, Tawr, Terennin, and Thiandriath
Nine Houses: nine Houses of the Derai Alliance
Nirn: Darksworn sorcerer, kinsman to Aranraith and Emuun
Normarch: stronghold of the Castellan of Emer’s Northern March
northerner: Haarth term for a Derai
Northern March: border region of Emer
