Karden (Master)
The owner of an isolated, stench-producing tannery in the valley beyond a Hawk’s Nest supply village. (Oath)
Karelee
One of Ikala’s casual bed partners. (Gryphon)
Karis (Armsmaster)
He was the old Armsmaster of Deveran Remoerdis. As Reta told Vanyel, Karis had been retired and took to teaching young Tashir, protecting the boy as much as he could. The Armsmaster gave the boy a place to hide when he was abused and an adult to look up to who was sane, stable, and fond of him. A good man, he was killed in the Palace massacre at Highjorune. (LHM)
Karles (Companion)
Shandi’s Companion. (Owl)
Karli
A young woman raised in Westmark. Her stepfather, who was abusing her and her siblings sexually, murdered her when she tried to escape from him by arranging to leave town with Trader Evan. (Arrows)
Karly
A trooper with Urtho’s forces, he was often rude to Amberdrake. (Gryphon)
Karry
A Perlin falcon who was Starblade’s first bondbird, When Falconsbane captured Starblade he gave Karry to Nyara to eat. (Winds)
Karse
A kingdom on the southeastern borders of Vaidemar and often at war with its neighbors. After Herald-Mage Vanyel turned a Karse mage’s demons back onto their own country, the Karsite priesthood outlawed magic. The reaction developed into a holy crusade under the leadership of a young zealot known as the Prophet. Magic was allowed only within the priesthood and under the direction of the Prophet; all others with Gifts were burned in the Cleansing Fires. During the reign of King Theran, Karse’s army seemed to be unstoppable until Lavan Firestorm destroyed them in the Battle of White Foal Pass. Heralds and their Companions were declared demons before this time in Karse, but the army’s destruction by fire, a tool they used so often to terrorize others, frightened them enough to keep them out of Valdemar for another hundred years. During the reign of Valdemar’s King Sendar, Karse hired a nomadic nation of mercenaries to attack Valdemar. Sendar was killed defending the realm and his daughter Selenay ascended the throne and finished the task, teaching Karse another severe lesson. Ancar tried to invade Karse, but got no more than a few leagues over the border when the land itself began opposing him. Sun-priests summoned demons to attack his armies, and scores of men vanished every night. When a woman became Karse’s High Priest, Solaris, Ancar lost even the small bit of land he had gained earlier. Solaris changed the country by abolishing the corrupted Black Robes who began the terror and Cleansing Fire. She had the backing of their God Vkandis and his Firecats; something the country had lost during the burning times when even Karsites were sacrificed for Blood-magic. Solaris stopped the slave trade, the dealing of narcotics, and demon summoning. She also formed an alliance with Valdemar, inducting Talia as an honorary priestess, and then formed an alliance with Hardorn under King Tremane’s rule. (Arrows, LHM, Storm, Winds)
Kash
A hired thug that Gulidmaster Vatean used to kidnap children for resale to slavers. (TT)
Kat (Herald)
A Herald mourned by Vanyel on his return to Haven from Karse, she was one of his many friends who had died in the line of duty. (LHM)
Kata’shin’a’in
Lying just beyond the crater wall of the Dhorisha Plains in Jkatha, it is the regular venue for Shin’a’in trade, especially horse fairs. It is a city of thousands of brightly colored tents. Those on the outskirts, downwind, belong to beast sellers, then inward are the sellers of beast equipment, and further toward the center are leather workers. More inward are the makers of glass, metal, and stonework, then the tents of textile merchants. Closest to the core are sellers of foods and consumables. The core of the city has no shops, only the residences of year-round inhabitants, and some inns. After the trading season, the tents are gone, leaving only blowing leaves and memories, and a very few permanent buildings where a huge city had stood days earlier. (Oath, Storm, Sword, Winds)
Ka’tesik
A spring on the Dhorisha Plains. The Hawkbrother Tarma and Kethry met in the Pelagiris Forest told them Clan Liha’irden was camped near there. (Oath)
Kathal
A Shin’a’in term that means “go gently.” (Oath)
Katran
Lady Myria’s very protective older companion, Katran was especially angry that Lady Myria had been injured during childbirth because Myrla’s husband was too parsimonious to hire a Healer to attend her. (Oath)
Ka’venusho
The Kal’enedral name for Urtho’s Tower. (Gryphon, Storm)
Kav
A popular beverage in the Eastern Empire. (Storm)
Kaven
A member of Ancar’s Elite Guard who visited the traveling Faire. He was the first in his group to sample Firesong’s cure-all, and he found it good. (Winds)
Kavinestral Pheregrul
Kethry’s brother, eight years her senior, he was handsome, lazy, and spendthrift. He sold his sister into marriage to the sadistic Wethes Goldmarchant when she was barely twelve. By the time Kethry returned to Mornedealth, Kavin was head of the powerful Blue Faction among the city’s Fifty Noble Houses. (Oath)
Kayka
He was an unpartnered Companion stallion who volunteered to be the mount of Lo’isha, the Sworn-Shaman, on the mission to Urtho’s Tower. (Storm)
Kayla (Weaponsmaster)
The weaponsmaster at the Collegium during Vanyel’s time. (LHM)
Kechara
A misborn gryphon with a loving personality and an unusually long-range Gift for Mindspeech, her name meant ‘beloved” or “darling” in Kaled’a’in. She was the result of Urtho’s attempt at improving the gryphon species, but was never able to fly and had the intelligence of a nestling. Urtho felt he was protecting her by keeping her hidden in his Tower so she would not be discriminated against. Skandranon found her there and befriended her. Concerned for her welfare, he convinced Urtho to let him care for her and brought her through the Gate with the Kaled’a’in after Urtho’s death. Eventually, Kechara was adopted by Skan and Zhaneel and assisted the Silvers with her powerful Mindspeech. She was a quarter the size of Skan, with a small head, long wings, and dusty buff-gray color feathers. (Gryphons)
Kechara
A Tayledras endearment. (Owl)
Kedd (Herald-trainee)
One of the Herald-trainees taught by Herald Pol. Kedd’s Gift was Animal Mindspeaklng. (BB)
Kedrick
Tremane’s cousin and heir, he was left in charge of the Duke’s estate when Tremane was assigned to head the Empire’s Hardornen operation. (Storm)
Keenath
He was Tadrith’s twin and a gryfalcon like his mother Zhaneel. He was small, with light peregrine coloring, and stubby, dexterous handlike claws. Ill-equipped for fighting, he decided to train as a trondi’irn. (Gryphon)
Keeper
Title for the supervisor of the Children’s Cloister in Karse. The youngsters feared his wrath, likely to descend upon them for any infractions of the rules. (Storm)
Keeper’s Crossing
A village in Hardorn where Talia and Kris stayed in the hostel during their ambassadorial mission. It was at this inn that Talia was served the goatsfoot mushrooms that temporarily damaged her empathic ability. (Arrows)
Kel Hairlip
One of Lord Rendan’s cutthroat gang. (LHM)
Kefta
Tarma’s uncle, who displayed his rarely performed sword dance to celebrate the clan’s success at the Summer Horse Fair. He died the night that her clan was destroyed. (Oath)
Keighvin (Monarch’s Own Herald)
Talamir’s predecessor as Monarch’s Own Herald. (Arrows)
Keileth
Master of the Merchants’ School. (BB)
Keisha Alder
Healer of Errold’s Grove and k’Vaidemar Vale. In addition to her Healing Gift, she also had the Gift of Empathy. She discovered cures for the diseases afflicting the Northern Tribes, and eventually become famous
as a Wisewoman among them. Romantically involved with Darian, and sister to Herald Shandi. (Owl)
Keitel
He was the skinny young apprentice of Imperial mage Sejanes. (Storm)
Kelcrag (Lord)
Brother-in-law of widowed Queen Sursha of Jkatha, he opposed her regency and began a civil war. His initial assault drove Sursha and her supporters out of Throne City, the capital, but did not defeat her. Mercenaries, including the Sunhawks, were hired to supplement the Queen’s forces against Kelcrag’s bluecoat rebels. He was defeated and killed. (Oath)
Keldar (Firstwife)
She was the Firstwife in the Steading where Talia was born. Keldar heads a family that includes eight Underwives, but her voice rules the roost. Following the cultural patterns of the repressive Holderkin society, she did her best to break Talia’s rebellious spirit while Talia was still a child. (Arrows)
Kele
A Shin’a’in term that means “onward.” (Oath)
Kelee
A hertasi artisan who made the ring Elspeth gave Darkwind out of silver, crystal, and Gwena’s intricately braided tail hairs. (Winds)
Kelethen
A hertasi, the personal attendant to Urtho. (Gryphon)
Kellan (Companion)
Savil’s Companion. (LHM)
Kelles
One of the gods in the Velgarth pantheon. (Oath)
Kellwood oil
Used in massage treatments for muscle strains or as a prelude to amorous activities. (Arrows)
Kelmskeep
Lord Breon’s manor and stronghold, the nearest defensible place to Errold’s Grove, its walls are three stories high, with guard walks on top and observation towers at the corners, inside the manor’s crenellatcd walls, there are civilized comforts and manicured gardens. (Owl)
Kelreesha Trondaar
His gryphons served with the Sixth Wing of Urtho’s forces. Zhaneel attached herself to his group without waiting for assignment. (Gryphon)
Kelsie
The maid at the Chitward town house. She brought food to Lavan when he was sick. (BB)
Kelsy (Herald)
Herald who was newly trained in Mage-Gift, and part of a weather control group. (Winds)
Keltev
Talia’s brother, he used to tease her about wanting to become a Herald. He was growing up to be as cruel and sadistic as his elder sib Justus until Justus was killed in a border raid while trying to prove his bravery. The shock of his death made Keltev shape up nicely. (Arrows)
Kelvren
Silver Gryphon, Skothkar, “The Brave,” Scout of the k’Vala gryphon wing and later a valued member of k’Valdemar Vale. Trained by the Kaled’a’in in White Gryphon, he is young, but a very capable fighter. (Owl)
Kemak
Ma and Pa Kemak, as Sunhawk Kyra called them, were the proprietors of the Wheat Sheaf Inn in Petras. (Oath)
Kemoc (Herald)
A potential candidate for Heir to the throne of Valdemar if Princess Elspeth wasn’t Chosen. (Arrows)
Kendrick (Lord)
Joserlin Corvcau was originally fostered in that Lord’s Holding, and as a result admires both Kendrick and Armsmaster Orser. (LHM)
Kendrick Gorley (Lord)
The drunken petty despot of Viden, he hired prison scum and operated a protection racket, bullying local merchants and shaking down travelers like Tarma and Kethry. In Bard Leslac’s version of events, however, Gorley became a “Wicked Overlord” and a powerful foe. He challenged Tarna while he was drunk and died when a misstep while he was lunging toward her caused him to fall and strike his head on the fireplace. (Oath)
Kephira
A stimulant used by Mornelithe Falconsbane. (Winds)
Keplan
Master of a Leather and Furrier’s Guild in Hardorn, he was a Town Councillor in a community a day’s ride out from Shonar. Keplan was part of the delegation proposing that Tremane go through with the ancient earth-binding ceremony and become Hardorn’s king. (Storm)
Kera (Herald)
A Herald stationed on the Karsite border. When the anti-mage crusade began in that hostile neighboring land, Vanyel needed to contact her to assure himself that she was well and to get information from a Valdemaran operative on location. (LHM)
Keren (Herald)
A riding instructor at the Collegium, she was Talia’s long-time friend and surrogate mother. Her twin, Teren, not only Mindspoke with her, but also but with his Companion, Wythra, and Keren’s Companion Dantris as well. Herald Talamir, who was Queen’s Own before Talia, was their grandfather. Keren was raised in the Lake Evendim sector and had experience rescuing people from ice-choked waters; it was this training that saved Talia when she nearly drowned in the river. Lifebonded with Herald Ylsa until Ylsa’s death, and then with Herald Sherrill. (Arrows, Winds)
Kerenal
Need told the story of the two sets of twin gods and goddesses, Kerenal and Dina, Karanel and Dara. (Winds)
Kerithwyn (Healer)
A Healer Talia brought back to Waymeet to treat the plague victims there. Normally residing at a district Healers’ Temple, Kerithwyn agreed to stay until everyone stricken with snow fever was cured. (Arrows)
Kerle
He was one of Vanyel’s many cousins and fosterlings residing at Forst Reach. (LHM)
Kern
Grandfather of the young mother threatened by the colddrake queen, he willingly sacrificed his life in hopes that she and his grandchildren would have a chance to escape the monster. (LHM)
Kernos
God worshipped in Valdemar and also known as Kernos of the Northern Lights. His acolytes are a martial order of fighting monks. Worship is organized in Temples, where good works may be performed, such as distribution of food to the poor, and in cloistered religious retreats devoted to prayer. They favor the Heralds. Many oaths, some of them vulgar, aresworn in Kernos’s name. (Arrows, BB, LHM)
Kerowyn
Nicknamed Kero, she was Kethry’s granddaughter, by her youngest girl, Lenore. While still a teenager, she won fame rescuing her brother Lordan’s kidnapped bride Dierna. Her Godmother Tarma, the kyree Warrl, and the sword Need assisted her. A ballad was written about the rescue, entitled “Kerowyn’s Ride,” which would haunt her the rest of her life. With Need now her own, Kero was trained by Tarma in swordwork and fighting skills whiel Warrl trained her in the use of her Mindspeech Gift. Upon completion of her education, Kerowyn joined with the mercenary company Skybolts and rose in rank to eventually become its Captain. She was lifebonded to Herald Eldan, whom she rescued from a priestess’ burning fires in Karse. It was an unusual romance because she saw little of him for the next ten years, but conversed with him every night by Mindspeech, thinking she was merely dreaming. Kero was afraid becoming a wife would diminish her, and resisted the lifebond for fear of losing her identity. Kerowyn was instrumental in the defeat of Ancar when Valdemar hired the Skybolts to help them in the war. During the final battle, Kero’s battlesteed Helisbane was killed and she was Chosen by Sayvil. Queen Selenay rewarded the Skybolts by giving them a town of their own, and making them part of Valdemar’s official army, with Kero as their Captain. As a Herald, Kero rarely wore Whites because she felt they made her a target in battle. After moving to Valdemar, she was able to continue her affair with Eldan in person. Kerowyn trained Elspeth in swordwork and passed Need on to her. She also led Valdemar’s forces to Errold’s Grove when it was unclear if the barbarians coming into Valdemar were friend or foe. (Owl, Storm, Sword, Winds)
Kertire
A dark beauty, one of the Iiane gigglers who became part of Vanyel’s admiring circle at Court. (LHM)
Kessira
Tarma’s Shin’a’in saddlebred mare. Like all of her kind, she ran free and was trained nearly from birth to come only to her owner. When Tarma and Kethry returned to the Plains and acquired the battlesteeds Ironheart and Hellsbane, Kessira was left there to be pampered and maintained for breeding among the Tale’sedrin herds kept by Liha’irden caretakers. (Oat
h)
Kester (Lady)
A Valdemaren Councillor, she was speaker for the West and ruler of the Lake Evendim area. (Arrows, Winds)
Kestra
A Shin’a’in term meaning “casual friend.” (Oath)
Kestra’chern
Among the Kaled’a’in, a person trained to aid in the healing of the spirit, mind, and body. Their skills are massage, aromatherapy, herbal remedies, therapeutic baths, sexual therapy, and counseling. Serving as confidants and adviros to their clients, theis is a highly respected profession among the Kaled’a’in, and should not be confused with prostitution. (BV)
Kethra
A Shin’a’in shaman and Healer, and an adopted Tayledras Wingsib. While working to cure Starblade, she became his lover and lifemate. (Winds)
Kethren
Justin and Estrel’s baby. (Oath)
Kethry, or Kethryveris Pheregrul
Known most commonly as Kethry, she grew up in Mornedealth as a member of one of the Fifty Noble houses. After her parents died, her brother Kavin sold her in marriage to the rich, ambitious, and perverted Wethes Goldmarchant. Her old nurse smuggled the girl out of the sadist’s house. Kethry’s magical powers began manifesting in nightmares of her ordeal, so the nurse took her to the nearest White Winds mage-school for help. When Kethry first met Tarma in Breather’s Crossing, she was a Journeyman mage wandering the country, offering her services to those who were in trouble, and dealing with the geas of her enchanted sword named Need. This sword enabled Kethry to defend herself and other women by taking over her body and giving her warrior gifts. After a chance meeting, Kethry joined forces with Tarma to destroy the brigands who slew the Tale’sedrin. When the task was done, the two women swore an oath to become she’enedran, blood-sisters. This meant that Kethry would become the clan mother of Talesedrin and preserve Tarma’s clan. Together the pair would defeat demons, save women in peril and decide the fate of kings. Kethry married Jadrek, Rethwellan’s Royal Archivist, and produced a large family. Tarma, Kethry, and Jadrek founded a school of magic and war that trained the future rulers of Rethwellan and Jkatha, as well as any number of other students. They also adopted children and took in fosterlings to rebuild the Tale’sedrin Clan. (Oath, Sword)
The Valdemar Companion Page 32
