by Tad Williams
Appendices
An Explanation . . .
An Explanation of the Fairy People Known as Sithi,
and their Cousins the Norns,
as well as their sometime Servants, the Ocean Children.
Excerpted from A History of the Erkynlandish People and Their Great Capital, the Hayholt by Tiamak of Erchester, Counselor to the High Throne
Despite appearing to be of two quite separate races, the golden-skinned Sithi and the Norns with their faces and limbs as pale as snow both belong to a single fairy race which was once called the Keida’ya, which in their tongue means “Children of the Witchwood Trees.”
Long before men recorded history, the ancient Keida’ya lived (or so we are told and must believe, for no mortal man was there to see it) in a faraway land called Venyha Do’sae, the Garden that was Lost. And although the reasons for the Keida’ya leaving that place and coming here are mostly unknown to us, stories told to our own High King Seoman when he lived among the Sithi, and to ancient travelers like Caias Sterna of Nabban, help us to know something of those elder days before the immortals came to Osten Ard. The Keida’ya lived in a city on the shore of a great sea, and by their own account lived there for a hundred centuries or more in peace and prosperity. But then something came to break that peace, a foe or plague known only as Unbeing. The Keida’ya fought against it, but the power of this Unbeing was too great, and at last they were forced, with the help of their magical servants the Tinukeda’ya, to build eight great ships and escape the Garden that they had lost to Unbeing.
So they came to our land of Osten Ard. The immortals claim they came here long before the first of our own ancestors arrived, but since that goes flatly against the teaching of the Aedonite Church, few scholars accept this as truth. Still, it is known from writings that survived the fall of Khand that even in the days of that impossibly remote empire the Hyan, or “Immortal Ones” as they were named by the Khandians, had already built great cities across the world, from the distant north Trollfells to the southern islands.
What also is known beyond doubt is that the Keida’ya saw the growth of the Nabbanai Imperium from the earliest confederations of tiny fiefdoms to its world-spanning heights. The co-existence of the two empires, mortal and immortal, was not without strife, but the Keida’ya, even after they divided themselves into two great clans, the Zida’ya and Hikeda’ya, their names for Sithi and Norn, respectively, largely kept their attention fixed upon their own domains and ceded all the lands and mortal men that did not interest them to the expanding Imperium.
Like the long-vanished Khandians, we of the current age call the Keida’ya and their component clans “immortals,” but believe from what we have learned that they are merely long-lived, not truly undying. They can be killed, of course, or else the great war just ended would have gone against us, and it seems that at last, after many centuries, a form of old age finally overtakes them. Eventually even these ancient creatures die, although at an age hard for men to believe.
King Seoman met the revered matriarch of the Sithi, Amerasu, called Ship-Born, and the king tells that despite her birth on one of the crafts that brought her people to Osten Ard countless centuries ago, she seemed no older than a woman of handsome and healthy middle age. She died violently, so how long she might have otherwise lived is unknown, but it is agreed by all that Queen Utuk’ku, mistress of the Norns, is older still—she might have been Amerasu’s great-grandmother—and that Utuk’ku once lived in the legendary Garden itself before her people fled. The Norn Queen at least does appear to be immortal, or as close to it as any of her kind have yet come . . .
[material excised here]
. . . At some time between the rise of the mortal empire of Khand and the later dominion of the Nabbanai Imperators, some conflict split the immortal Keida’ya into two races, the golden creatures we know as the Sithi, or Zida’ya—in their tongue the name means “Dawn Children”—and the pale, deadly Hikeda’ya, which seems to translate to “Cloud Children,” the enemies men call “Norns” because of their home in the far north.
In the years since the Rimmersmen came across the western oceans with their iron weapons and destroyed the peace of both men and fairies and captured the immortals’ palace of Asu’a (which now exists only as ruins beneath the castle called Hayholt in Erkynland) the Sithi deserted their great cities and retreated to the forests and wastelands and other remote places of Osten Ard. The Norns, still ruled by their deathless queen, Utuk’ku, also fled before the violence of the newly-arrived Rimmersmen, and the last of that fairy-clan survives in the hidden fastness of their northern mountain fortress, Nakkiga, the last of the great cities built by the immortals . . .
[material excised here]
. . . One last race must be spoken of, because the Keida’ya did not come to these lands alone, but brought with them their servants and slaves, the Tinukeda’ya, or “Ocean Children,” who because of their many forms are sometimes considered together by mortal scholars under the name “Changelings.” The Tinukeda’ya, though they share an origin in the Garden with the Sithi and Norns, are not all of one general appearance, as is true with the golden and white clans of the Keida’ya, who are almost uniformly slender and manlike, with large, upturned eyes and narrow faces. But some Tinukeda’ya are as big as mountain giants, and seem to serve only as beasts of burden. Others are small, fitted for work in narrow underground tunnels, as though Heaven itself had crafted them with that purpose in mind. In truth, many of the Tinukeda’ya grew skilled not just in delving but in crafting stone and other arts, and served the Keida’ya by building their great cities. Some even say that the Eight Great Ships that sailed away from the dying Garden and brought the immortals here were largely built by their Tinukeda’ya servitors, but that is not known for certain. However, High King Seoman was told by a noble of the highest Sithi clan that holding the Tinukeda’ya in slavery and bringing them to our lands against their will, was his people’s greatest shame. In time many of these “Ocean Children” escaped their masters, and it is said that like the Sithi and the Norns, many still survive in places remote from mankind. Others live among us, like the Niskies of Nabban, who use their songs to protect the ships they serve.
So it is that three tribes of immortals share this world with mankind, the Hikeda’ya pale as death, the Zida’ya as golden as the sun, and the Tinukeda’ya in all their manifold sizes and shapes. Perhaps someday these fairy-folk will be gone, and remain only as a memory among our kind, a dim, partial tale like The Lion-Fighter of Old Khand. Or perhaps it is too soon to write their epitaph, and they will rise again one day from the shadowed places to contend with us once more. We know little of them for certain, but we do know that none of them love men, and some despise us utterly.
Glossary of Terms
PEOPLE
RIMMERSMEN
Aerling Surefoot—leader of the Mountain Goats
Alfwer—Rimmersgard thane (baron) of Heitskeld
Brenyar—leader of the army’s carpenters
Brindur—thane (baron) of Norskog
Dragi—the oldest Mountain Goat
Elvrit—founder of Rimmersgard
Fani—one of Brindur’s Skoggeymen
Fanngrun—a Rimmersgard noble of Vattinland, cousin to former King Jormgrun
Fingil Red-Hand—king of Rimmersgard, descendant of Elvrit, conqueror of Asu’a
Finnbogi—a Rimmersgard thane (baron) killed at the Hayholt
Floki—son of Brindur
Isbeorn—thane (baron) of Hargres Dale, later Duke of Elvritshalla and Isgrimnur’s father
Geli—son of Skali Sharpnose of Kaldskryke, late enemy of Isgrimnur
Gutrun—Duchess of Elvritshalla, Isgrimnur’s wife
Haddi—one of Isgrimnur’s house-carls
Helgrimnur Stonehand—Rimmersgard thane (baron)
Helvnur—nephew of Helgrimnur Stonehand
&
nbsp; Hjortur—in charge of the Donkey (catapult)
Isgrimnur—Duke of Elvritshalla, ruler (beneath the High Throne) of all Rimmersgard
Isorn—Isgrimnur’s son, killed in the Storm King’s War
Jormgrun—King of Rimmersgard, overthrown by John of Erkynland
Kár—one of Isgrimnur’s house-carls
Kolbjorn—a Vestiman
Marri Ironbeard—one of Brindur’s Skoggeymen
Sludig (aka Sludig Two-Axes)—one of Isgrimnur’s most loyal men, a veteran of the Storm King’s War
Unnar—a Rimmersgard thane (baron)
Vigri—jarl (earl) of Enggidal
HIKEDA’YA (NORNS)
Ekimeniso of the Brooding Eye—late husband of Queen Utuk’ku, leader of Clan Iyora
Enduyo of Kementari—Viyeki’s ancestor, a palace functionary, founder of Clan Enduya
Hamakho Wormslayer—founder of the Hamakha Clan and ancestor of Queen Utuk’ku
Hayyano—League Commander of the Order of Sacrifice
Hiki—High Celebrant, Zuniyabe’s predecessor.”
Jasiyo—Khimabu’s gossipy cousin
Jikkyo, Lord, a high noble of the Order of Song
Khimabu—Viyeki’s wife, of Clan Daesa
Kuju-Vayo—an official of the Order of Echoes
Mimiti—one of the Queen’s Whisperers
Kusayu—eleventh High Celebrant
Luk’kaya—High Gatherer, Magister of the Harvesters
Miga Seyt-Jinnata, Lady—a High Scribe of the Order of Chroniclers
Muyare—Marshal of Sacrifices, Suno’ku’s relative, replaces Ekisuno as leader of armies
Nekhaneyo—a noble of Clan Shudra
Nijika—a Host Singer of the Order of Song
Pratiki—a “prince-templar” of Clan Hamakha, Queen Utuk’ku’s clan
Ruho’o—a Governor of the Order of Builders
Ruzayo Falcon’s Eye—famous Hikeda’ya hero of the Giant Wars
Sasigi—member of the Order of Builders
Sulen—the thirteenth High Celebrant
Suno’ku, General—an important leader of the Order of Sacrifice, member of Clan Iyora
Twenty-Four, The—famous heroes who fought at Ruzayo’s side
Tzayin-Kha—a Host Singer of the Order of Song
Viyeki—Host Foreman of the Order of Builders, member of Clan Enduyo
Yaarike—High Magister of the Order of Builders, leader of Clan Kijada
Yaaro-Mon—Yaarike’s great-grandfather, a fugitive from the Garden
Yayano of the Pointing Finger—a noble Celebrant, kin to Zuniyabe
Zuniyabe—the sixteenth High Celebrant
OTHERS
Andoro—Porto’s brother
Ayaminu—a Sitha, originally from Hikehikayo
Crexis, Imperator—the ruler of Nabban at the time of the execution of Usires Aedon
Endri—a soldier from Harborside in Ansis Pelippé in Perdruin
Halawe, Lord—Perdruinese noble who went to fight at the Hayholt, killed by bukken. Endri was one of his “recruits
Miriamele, Queen—at the time of this story the High Queen of Osten Ard
Porto—a soldier from The Rocks in Ansis Pelippé
Sida—Porto’s wife
Simon, King—aka “Seoman Snowlock,” at the time of this story the High King of Osten Ard
Tinio (short for “Portinio”)—Sida and Porto’s son
Usires Aedon—the martyr who was executed on The Holy Tree in Nabban but came back to life, celebrated as the child of God
PLACES, CREATURES, THINGS
Asu’a—the Sithi and Norn name for their ancient city, currently buried beneath the mortal’s castle called the Hayholt
Avenue of Triumph—a processional road leading to the Sancellan Mahistrevis in Nabban
Black Water Field—a great common square in Nakkiga, at the foot of the Tearfall
Bridge of Exodus—a structure in Nakkiga-That-Was
Cold Root—Suno’ku’s sword
Cold Leaf—Suno’ku’s dagger
Dirt Goblins—informal name for “Bukken” (Rimmersgard name) or “diggers”—burrowing, manlike creatures
Elder Halls—older cemeteries
Field of Banners—the muster-place of the Hikeda’ya armies outside of the mountain, now a bare spot in Nakkiga-That-Was
Field of Stone Flowers—memorial to Queen Utuk’ku’s most beloved dead
Gatherer’s Temple—a building at the heart of Tzo, in the Lost Garden
Glittering Passage—the great main boulevard on the first tier of Nakkiga
Grayflame—sword of the Hikeda’ya hero, Hamakho
Green Angel Tower—mortal name for the last Sithi structure at the Hayholt; the tower collapsed at the end of the Storm King’s War
Gyrfalcon Castles—fortresses built on the side of Ur-Nakkiga Moon Festival Canal—one of several canals, now dry and obscured, that once crisscrossed Nakkiga-That-Was
“The Musician and the Soldier”—an old Keida’ya song from Tumet’ai
Hall of Sleeping Sacrifices—a tomb
Hikehikayo—once a city inhabited by both Sithi and Norn, now deserted, located in the Whitefell Mountains west of Nakkiga
House of Sleep—places where the dead are prepared for entombment
Hringholt—a province of Rimmersgard
Kei-mi—an extract of witchwood bark
Kementari—a Keida’ya city, now ruined, on the island of Warinsten
keta-yi’indra—a deep, deathlike, rejuvenative sleep utilized by very old, very skilled immortals
Kraki’s Field—battle site in Rimmersgard near Hernystiri border
Kvalnir—Isgrimnur’s sword
Lake Rumiya—lake on the northeastern side of the mountain Ur-Nakkiga (or Stormspike, as the Rimmersmen call it)
Nakkiga-That-Was—the ruined city outside the mountain, once also inhabited by the Hikeda’ya
Norskog—Brindur’s home, next to Skoggey
Ostheim—Aerling’s home city in Rimmersgard
Queen’s Gallery—a structure in Nakkiga-That-Was
Royal Way—ancient ceremonial road through Nakkiga-That-Was, now ruined
Silent Palace—the complex containing the Elder Halls
Skuggi Pass—near the border of Northern Rimmersgard and the Norn lands
Castle Tangleroot—a ruined Hikeda’ya border fort
Sky Palace—an observatory in Nakkiga-That-Was where the Hikeda’ya once watched the stars
Sky Dance—Hikeda’ya term for the changing constellations
St. Asla’s church—Rimmersgard church where Geli, Skali’s son, took sanctuary
Street of Eight Ships—a wide avenue in Nakkiga
Temple of the Martyrs.—building at the heart of Nakkiga, famous for its water clock and bells
The Cold, Slow Halls—a place of punishment in the depths of Nakkiga
The Heart of What Was Lost—a gem brought out of the Garden by Yaaro-Mon
Saint Tunato’s Day—known in the north as St. Tunath’s Day, Decander the 21st
Three Ravens Tower—a fortress built into the wall guarding the inner Norn lands
Well of Eternity—also known as The Well of the Breathing Harp, at the heart of Nakkiga
White Bear and Stars—Duke Isgrimnur’s family standard
Witiko’ya—a ferocious, wolflike creature
Yedade’s Box—a device by which Hikeda’ya children are sorted
WORDS
Hikeda’yei!—literally, “You Hikeda’ya people!”
Ogu Minurato—Hikeda’ya name for “Tangleroot Castle”
Sturmrspeik—Rimmerspakk name for “Stormspike”
Venga Do’tzae—Hikeda’ya version of Z
ida’ya name meaning “The Lost Garden” or “The Blessed Garden”—the abandoned ancient home of the Keida’ya (the combined race)
Shu’do-tkzayha—Hikeda’ya version of Zida’ya name for mortals, “Sudhoda’ya,” meaning “Sunset-children”
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