Daughter of Blood

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