The Valdemar Companion

by John Helfers; Denise Little

  Grenthan Miles (Healer)

  One of the middle rank of Healers serving with Kerowyn’s troops. (Owl)

  Grenvis

  Mage and Lord of the lands west of the Pelagir Hills. Some of the peasants had held their settlements from Grenvis. Phellip, citizen of a village located near k’Treva Vale, had seen cold-drakes in action in the old days, when Lord Grenvis was under attack from enemy mages. (LHM)

  Gretshke

  Semi-demonic creatures, they are mostly head, teeth, and appetite. Though not immune to cold Iron, gretshke can be overwhelming in swarms of hundreds or thousands. Vanyel had encountered a swarm and the Adept Mage commanding them on the Karsite border. Circumstances he found after the massacre at the Lineas palace forcibly reminded him of the damage inflicted by gretshke. (LHM)

  Grevas

  General Thayer’s secretary. (Storm)

  Greyhame, Duke

  His levies fought alongside the Sunhawks in the Jkathan civil war. His officious sentry challenged Tarma’s scouting party and received a lesson in manners from Ironheart. (Oath)

  Griffin’s Egg

  A tavern used as a watering hole by the Unaffiliated students at the Collegium. After flooding the Bardic student’s lair, the Blues fled for cover to the Griffin’s Egg, which didn’t protect them from being smoked out by the vengeful Bardic students. Herald-trainee Skif’s contribution was to snatch every Blue purse that he could get his fingers on and leave them hanging in an embarrassing place. (Arrows)

  Griffon (Herald)

  One of Talia’s year-mates. His Companion is Harevis. A tall, somber young man, his Gift was FireStarting. In the battle with Hardorn, he used his Gift to turn some of the demon warriors into walking pyres. Then he joined forces with Farseer Davan, and with Rolan, Talia, and Dirk to locate and destroy Prince Ancar’s primary mage. He eventually became Herald to the Lord Marshall of Valdemar. (Arrows, Storm)

  Grimkin

  An unidentifiable blob in the very bad painting Justyn displayed of Wizard Kyllian, probably meant ro be the wizard’s cat familiar. (Owl)

  Grindel

  Author of Discourses On Unnatural History, a book Archivist Jadrek and Herald Roald had studied. They agreed the only translation worth reading was the Orwind, not the Quena. (Oath)

  Ground and Center

  The basic technique for controlling paranormal talents. To one with Sight, unGifted and untrained Gifted persons radiate auras of energy that don’t mesh, and flux erratically. Once a Gifted person learns to Center, those multiple flaring energy fields fuse into one. Grounding stops the flaring. The Gifted are trained to find a stable place within the body to Center. Finding a similar place outside the body, in the earth itself, provides the connection and the stability needed for Grounding, which essentially shunts excess Gift energy into the ground, and provides a solid platform from which to use and control the Gift. (BV)

  Grove

  A wooded area in the Companion’s field noted for its aura of peacefulness. A holy place, it is the site where the first Companions appeared in answer to King Valdemar’s prayer, and it is the place where all new Grove-Born Companions appear. However, the Companions tend to avoid it except when a Herald dies and the Bell Tower of the Temple rings a death knell, or when a new Grove-Born Companion arrives. (BV)

  Grove Temple

  A very ancient marble structure in the middle of the Grove, barely larger than the common room of the Heralds’ suite, the Temple has a porch flanked by pillars, solid bronze doors, and the Bell Tower holding the bell rung for the death of a Herald. Two benches and an altar are its only furnishings. Behind the altar there is a bas-rellef depicting the moon, sun, stars and swirling clouds containing suggestions of male and female faces. (BV)

  Grove-Born

  The term for the original Companions and for any Companions who were not conceived by natural means, but appeared, fully adult, within the Grove of Companion’s Field. The Monarch’s Own Companion is always Grove-Born. Grove-Born Companions also appear in times of need, as did Gwena, Elspeth’s Companion. Knowledge of her Groveborn origin, however, has been hidden from the Heralds. (BV)

  Grumio

  A silk merchant whose packtralns were being plundered. On one raid Lena his niece and only heir, was kidnapped. He had little hope she was still alive, but hired Tarma and Kethry to avenge her and make certain the raids were stopped. (Oath)

  Gryfalcon

  A term Amberdrake coined to describe Zhaneel’s unique physical traits. She had a longer wing-span than typical gryphons and hands instead of claws. (Gryphon)

  Gryphlets

  Baby gryphons, like Jervan and Lytha, the young of Treyvan and Hydona. Gyrphlets are very sensitive to power flows in their birth area. They also have Mindspeech, and are as active and mischievous as any highly intelligent younglings. (BV)

  Gryphon

  A majestic creature with the head and forelegs of an eagle, the body of a lion, and powerful hawk wings. Gryphons are bold, intelligent, and crafty, with magical Gifts and the ability to speak and Mind-Speak. Their laughter is a high-pitched whistling and their language is tonal. They have a pleasant spicy smell, like cinnamon. Created by the Mage Urtho, he considered them to be his children. The gryphons Treyvan and Hydona arrived in Valdemar and took up residence in the ruins near k’Sheyna Vale when Darkwind was seven or eight years old. They chose that site because it contained old magic, which was beneflclal for their nestllngs, Gryphons are instinctual earth-mages and they have the innate ability to detect truth. Treyvan and Hydona were the advance guard for the group from White Gryphon, known as the Spirit Clan or Lost Clan. k’Leysha, who were seeking unoccupied land to found a Vale for settlers from there. (Gryphon, Winds, Storm, Owl)

  Gryphon-guards

  Two gryphons who attend the Haighlei Emperor, serving alongside the younger sons of other Black Kings. (Gryphon)

  Guard, The

  The military and peacekeeping forces of Valdernar, with detachments posted throughout Valdemar, particularly along the border, around the palace, and in major cities. Lissa Ashkevron became Captain of a Guard unit, which impressed her relatives at Forst Reach. (BV)

  Guard uniforms

  Worn by Vaidemar’s military, they are bright blue for regular guards, while Palace Guards wear midnight blue. (BV)

  Guardian Spirits

  What the Shin’a’in call the Companions, deeming them superior to Ethereal Spirits and the equals of Spirit-Kalenedral. (Winds)

  Guardian beasts

  A creation of Mornellthe Falconsbane, they are bat winged creatures taller than a man, half-wolf and half something unnamable. (Winds)

  Guardians

  Herald-Mages who kept watch on the four quarters of Valdemar through their Mage-Web. Using that network, they could Sense any threat crossing the border and sound the alert. An Adept Mage participating in the web needed to focus about a fourth of her or his mind on the Web’s tuning and the contact was effective whether awake or sleeping. The position of Guardian was one of great honor and responsibility, and could be very draining to the Adept Mages keeping watch. When the number of Heraid-Mages began to dwindle, Herald-Mage Vanyel created a spell to tie all of the existing Heralds into the net and dispense with the need for Guardians. In effect, the Heralds became a living warning system against invasion or threat to Vaidemar. (LHM)

  Guild

  Guilds are cooperatives of workers in the same or similar trades. They regulate and protect workers and their craft. In some trades, apprenticeship is limited to those able to buy into the Guild, unless they find masters willing to waive the fee. For mercenary soldiers, the process is this: They place a bond with the Guildhall. Those mercenaries in good standing wear their Guild tags on a thong about their necks to prove they paid their dues. These dues support Guildhalls, where hiring is done and disputes are settled by a board of Arbitrators. Kero went to such a Gulidhall in the town of Selina to tell her side of the quarrel with Ardana and receive justice. Other guilds include Woodworkers,
Needleworkers, Potters, Leatherworkers, Traders, and so on. (Oath, Sword)

  Gulian

  Known as Old Man Gulian, he was the rudest man in Errold’s Grove. (Owl)

  Gwena (Companion)

  When Elspeth was fifteen, Gwena was born from the Grove. Elspeth was called to the grove and watched as Gwena materialized, then was Chosen, but Elspeth does not remember the experience. In fact, all the Heralds were mildly hypnotized to remember Gwena as a shy, normal companion who had not yet Chosen. Gwena was brought to Valdemar to be Compaion to the first Herald-Mage since Vanyel and it was essential to keep both of their capabilities secret until Elspeth was ready to take her place in history. Gwena, like Roland, could Mindspeak over long dlstances Gwena and the Companions guided Elspeth to her destiny, even though she often fought against them. Gwena killed Ancar, trampling him to death while cursing him for all the pain he had caused. (Arrows, Storm, Winds, Sword)

  Gwynver

  One of three widows of the murdered Red Fox shaman. With the other two, she agreed to help lead their clan’s survivors to Snow Fox territory (Owl)

  Gyrefalcon’s Marches

  One of Vaidemar’s Great Courts lying outside the capital city of Haven. Site of a series of brutal bandit raids which terrorized villagers during Talia’s first months as Queen’s Own. One raid nearly destroyed an entlre village and its people. Herald-Intern Christa lost her life there, saving children from a fire. Queen Selenay and the Council tried to organize defenses with the Guards and Heralds. Lord Orthallen argued that the situation demanded a larger army, causing Talia to abhor his politlcal manipulation of a terrible human tragedy. (Arrows, LHM)

  Hackamore

  A reined, bitless halter. (BV)

  Hadanelith

  A false kestra’chern in White Gryphon. He had forged Amberdrake’s name on his credentials and passed as legitimate for some time before he was caught. Manipulative and cruel, with a sadistic hatred of women, he tortured many of his clients and was exiled from White Gryphon for his crimes. Noyoki found him in the forest and rook the madman into his employ, hiding him in Kanshin’s house and using him in a scheme to assassinate Shalaman. (Gryphon)

  Hadell

  Landlord of Mornedealth’s Broken Sword Inn. He served with Jervac, the friendly Gate Guard who recommended Hadell’s establishment to Tarma and Kethry. Hadell had to quit the service when he got a tendon cut in a brawl. He used his mustering-out pay to buy the Inn. (Oath)

  Hadli

  One of Quenten’s eleven apprentice mages. A dark-haired, plump girl, she had the ability to touch Prince Daren’s temples and feed information he had directly into Quenten’s mind and those of other mages. (Sword)

  Hagen

  A Skybolt scout. Shallan’s lover, Relli, was off with Hagen’s unit on patrol when captain Twoblades gave orders to quit camp in a hurry. Hagen’s group barely got back in time to pull out with the rest before the Karsites attacked. (Sword)

  Hai

  Shin’a’in term meaning “yes.” (Oath)

  Hai shala

  Shin’a’in term meaning “do you understand?” (Oath)

  Haighlei

  Six nations lying far to the south of Velgarth. Their leaders are known as The Black Kings, and among them is King Shalaman. His kingdom and another lie between the Salten Sea and the Western Sea; four more realms lie further south, dividing a continent between them, which is joined to the northern two by an isthmus. The k’Leshya lived among these people after the Cataclysm and became their allies. (Gryphons, Owl, Storm)

  Haighlei music

  Performed by uniformed Royal Musicians who have been trained in their art since childhood. Some use plucked or bowed stringed instruments, others flutes; the second half of the orchestra is made up of gongs, drums and various percussion instruments. Listeners in White Gryphon found the resultant music infectious but overwhelmingly loud. (Gryphon)

  Hai’she’li

  Shin’a’in term meaning “yes,” literally, “yes, I swear!” (Oath)

  hai’vetha

  Shin’a’in term meaning “yes, (be) running.” (Oath)

  Hakan

  Steelmind’s bondbird, a buzzard. (Owl)

  Halcom (Brother)

  A priest at the Temple and Priory of Thenoth, Lord of the Beasts. He had a club foot and came from a noble family. (TT)

  Halfway Inn

  A hostelry that sits in the middle of the forest that divides Forst Reach from the rest of Valdemar. The name is a conscious pun. (LHM)

  Hall of Fragrant Joy

  Tower-topped building in Khimbata where Skandranon and Amberdrake were held prisoner. It was a part of town where prostitution was a business, and the hall was well known but private. (Gryphon)

  Halloway

  A town in Hardorn. Reports from Halloway after a Mage-Storm indicated that some rocks had melted into puddles and then resolidifled in a heartbeat, occasionally trapping living things within the hardened stone. (Storm)

  Hammer Lung

  (Tuberculosis) A new disease that afflicted some members of Snow Fox tribe. The symptoms were a racking cough and extreme difficulty in breathing, especially after any exertion. The victims were unable to endure altitude sickness, and thus couldn’t journey over the Great Pass and travel south to Ghost Cat Clan’s newfound home and the “holy dyheli’s” sanctuary, where Healers might help them. (Owl)

  Hammer-jays

  Birds in the Pelagiris wfth a bell-like cry. (Owl)

  Hanbil Brason

  Owner of the village inn in Errold’s Grove. (Owl)

  Handmaidens of the Goddess

  Term for the repressively cloistered Temple women among the Holderkin. Forbidden to speak or ever leave the Temple precincts, they effectively became the institution’s living chattels. (Arrows)

  Hanging Goose Tavern

  A tavern in the city of Shonar in Hardorn, it was a hotbed of resistance against Ancar, and a place where the surviving royalist faction met after his father’s death. Gwena told Darkwind to go there alone after sundown. He was to say to the beer pourer, ”I drink my beer very cold”—a key phrase that would let the local network of royalists know he was the man they were expecting and not a spy. (Storm)

  Hansa

  Firecat who attends Solaris. Hansa advised Solaris to make Herald Talia an honorary Sun-priest as a means of cementing the alliance between Valdemar and Karse. (Storm)

  Hardaxe (Goodwife)

  Generous citizen of the first town Talia reached on her flight from Sensholding. The Goodwife had a daughter a bit older than Talia, and supplied some castoff clothes for her to use during the rest of her journey to Haven. (Arrows)

  Harde

  General of imperial forces assigned to Hardorn. He told Grand Duke Tremane that they had to do something about the increasing Mage-Storms. (Storm)

  Hardorn

  A kingdom which borders Karse and Valdemar to the east, and the Eastern Empire on its western border. King Alessandar of Hardorn made a proposal for Elspeth’s hand in marriage to his son, Prince Ancar. Hardorn possessed a large standing army, a fact that made it a useful nation for a marriage-alliance. When Talia and Kris went to Hardorn to investigate the proposal, they discovered that Ancar was disliked and mistrusted by Hardorn’s people, While they were there, Ancar assassinated his father and plotted to use Elspeth to take over Valdemar as well. Ancar killed Kris and his Companion, and captured and tortured Talia in pursuit of this goaL. Talia was able to get word to Valdemar in time to stop Queen Selenay and Elspeth before they crossed into Hardorn. Ancar declared war on Valdemar. He used Blood magic to drain his lands and persecuted his own people, killing anyone with a claim to the throne. He began a series of failed wars of conquest on all his neighbors, including multiple attacks on Valdemar. After Companion Gwena killed Ancar, the Eastern Empire invaded Hardorn. But the Mage-Storms disrupted the invasion, Hardorn went without a king until Duke Tremane was crowned. Tremane began the process of restoring Hardorn, and made alliances with Valdemar, Karse
and Iftel. (Arrows, LHM, Storm, Winds)

  Harevis (Companion)

  Herald Griffon’s Companion. Griffon called her Farist, as in fairest of all rhyming with Harevis. (Arrows)

  Harris Neshem

  An Errold’s Grove farmer, his only livestock consisted of a few chickens. He had to borrow his brother’s oxen to plow his field. He and his brother were related to Kyle Osterham, whom they helped to Wizard Justyn’s cottage when Kyle cut himself woodchopping. (Owl)

  Harrod Dobbs

  A glassmaker and member of Errold’s Grove’s Village Council. (Owl)

  Harthen (Herald)

  A Herald who agreed with Dirk that chirras “sing.” which was later proved to Talia and Kris while they waited out a blizzard in a Forest of Sorrows Waystation. (Arrows)

  Harvest fair

  A common annual festival throughout Valdemar, celebrating the results of the growing season and the bounty of the land. Usually accompanied by dancing, music, and a trade fair, though celebrations are much quieter among the Holderkin. (BV)

  Harvestfest

  Another name for Sovvan, the celebration of the season’s turning and a time of year when the barrier between the real world and the spirit world is thinnest. (LHM)

  Hashi

  Neuter kyree, he was his clan’s representative in k’Valdemar Vale, and accompanied Darian on his journey North. (Owl)

  Hathkel (Viscount)

  One of Tarma’s and Kethrys early employers. The job ended with them isolated at Hathkel’s estate, far from any city and other employment. (Oath)

  Haven

  Valdemar’s capital, it lies in a river valley. Originally a small walled city, it now spreads far and wide beyond those original walls, with the greatest growth extensions clustered along the four main Trade Roads. Within the city’s first wall lies the Palace, the Collegium, and a green belt of land which includes Companion’s Field. Outside the gates of the Palace Wall are the nobility’s residences. Further out sit the homes of wealthy merchants, craftspeoplc, and Guild officials, and then the homes of average citizens, then the mercantile district, and last of all the city’s slums and manufacturing areas. The Palace and the nobIlIty’s buildings arc made of granite; lesser structures are of wood. Haven’s main streets spiral out ward away from the Palace grounds and its enclosing beige brick walls. At their widest, the streets can accommodate three carriages. At the city’s lower levels are shops, offices, and the better inns, which have lodgings on the upper stories. Outside of the wealthy areas of Haven, and away from the main roads, the city is composed of narrow lanes so closely crowded together that opposing eaves touch. (BV)