The Valdemar Companion

by John Helfers; Denise Little

  Kettlesmith

  A town Talia visited on her way from Sensholding to Haven. A Roadguard instructed her to stop there and pick up food for the final leg of her journey. She assured Talia that the dayguard at Kettlesmith knew of Holderfolk, liked children, and would be very helpful to a confused young traveler. (Arrows)

  Keyjon

  A sorceress born of mage-talented parents and spoiled throughout childhood and adolescence. Her own talents were small, but her one true Gift was the ability to steal spells and powers from others. She wanted to make firebirds her slaves and would torture and kill to achieve her goal. (Oath)

  Khamsin

  A benign Other-Planar creature that resembles a jewel-bright desert lizard standing erect. Intelligent and wary, it can be hired for a piece of fruit to scout out potential magic for a sorcerer. (Oath)

  Khimbata

  The capital of Emperor Shalaman’s Haighlei Kingdom. It is the most northerly of the Black Kings’ cities and is two weeks sail down the coast of the Western Sea from White Gryphon. (Gryphon)

  Kiela

  A young blonde Herald who had recently been riding circuit in Staghorn Forest. (BB)

  Kilchas (Herald-Mage)

  Noted as the best Mindspeaker in the Circle, he was the Herald-Mage anchoring the South in the Guardians’ Web-Spell. He was an offensive combat mage and his hobby was astronomy. He apparently fell from his rooftop observatory when observing astronomical phenomena, but in reality was murdered by the Dark Mage Leareth. His Companion Rohan died simultaneously in Companion’s Field. (LHM)

  Kili

  An old Makaar leader with a prominent black and white crest. He was a familiar antagonist of Skandranon, and one he often taunted. (Gryphon)

  Killing Trees

  Located in the Forest of Sorrows (Herald-Mage) Vanyel’s ancient curse had long protected Valdemar against any invasion from the north. The trees of Sorrows would spear, squeeze, and drop on those who were evil, killing them. The curse was lifted when Vanyel was lost in a power-meld during the final solution of the Mage-Storms. (Arrows, Owl, Storm)

  Kilmer

  An Errold’s Grove resident and a member of the Fellowship. (Owl)

  Kimbry (Companion)

  Companion of Seneschal’s Herald Joshe. (LHM)

  Kin of Vkandis

  A community of religious worshippers in Karse. Under the new rules decreed by Solaris, the Kin should be guided to those in need, as young priest Karal was to An’Desha. (Storm)

  Kindas Sun-Kindler

  A deity worshipped in Hardorn, his sect is a rival to that of Tembor Earth-Shaker. (Arrows)

  Kingsmen

  What the people beyond Valdemar’s northern borders call the Heralds, Guards, and other agents of Valdemar’s monarch. (LHM)

  King’s Arms

  A tavern in Haven that served low quality but edible food and drink. Its owners had no love for the Hollybush tavern. (TT)

  King’s Tower

  What Hardornens started calling Tremane’s residence in Shonar after he was bound to the land and properly crowned. (Storm)

  Kira

  The ten-year-old daughter of Archduke Tilden, and Merrill’s fraternal twin. The twins had an unusual upbringing, tutored at age three by a retired acrobat and at six by a professional dancer. (Oath)

  Kitten-paw flowers

  A plant normally found only in Karse, and a common herbal remedy for headache. (Storm)

  Kla’heshey’meserin

  A Gryphon Kaled’a’in term meaning Clan k’Leshya, The Lost Ones, or the Spirit Clan. (Winds)

  Klaus (Leftenant)

  A fellow officer of Alberich’s in the Karsite military. Klaus was his senior in years of service though not in experience, and was resentful when Alberich was promoted to Captain before him. (Arrows)

  Kleimar

  A region of Valdemar rife with old-fashioned prejudice, including a bias against the shay’a’chern. Seneschal’s Herald Jaysen in Vanyel’s time was from that area. (LHM)

  K’Leshya

  A Kaled’a’ln Clan, the only one not named for a totemic animal. Its name means “Spirit Clan.” The Clan developed an especially close relationship with Urtho’s created creatures and the other non-human races. Amberdrake joined k’Leysha when he came to Ka’venusho; his family was lost in the devastation caused by Ma’ar, and k’Leshya became his new kinship group. After the Cataclysm, k’Leshya traveled further into unknown territories than any other Kaled’a’ln Clan. They went through two Gates, not one, and continued their migration all the way to the Western Sea. In the time of Queen Selenay, Treyvan and Hydona arrived outside of k’Sheyna Vale, seeking land for colonizing by surplus k’Leshya members. Their arrival was a distinct shock to k’Sheyna, who never expected to see any members of the by-now legendary k’Leshya Clan. Spirit Clan humans are more genetically diverse than most Tayledras Clans; some have round faces, some green or brown eyes, and some are blond or redheaded. (BV)

  Knowles Crossing

  A town on the Heralds’ northern circuit. (Arrows)

  Kobold

  A mischievous spirit of mines and caves. The Collegium’s Cook, Mero, insisted kobolds were playing pranks on him whenever things turned up missing in his kitchen, even though he knew it was actually the young Herald-Trainees teasing him. (Arrows)

  Koil

  Known as Widow Koil, she and her children made paper and fabric flowers to sell. (TT)

  Korad

  One of Urtho’s Generals. (Gryphons)

  Korwain

  An artist in Haven who had a brief affair with a noblewoman. (TT)

  Kra’heera shena Tale’sedrin

  Kerowyn’s Shin’a’in cousin and an apprentice shaman. When Valdemarans arrived at Bolthaven, Kra’heera wanted Kerowyn to talk to them in their own language so that he could read their minds and decide if they were worthy to receive ownership of Shin’a’in bred horses. She suspected he was also responsible for supplying Geyr with mastiffs out of the Pelagiris Forest. (Sword, Winds)

  Krashak

  A demonic creature inhabiting Valdemar’s Pelagir Hills, The krashak was twice a man’s height, had four arms, with a face like a boar, taloned hands, no genitals, nipples, or navel, and was the color of clay. Jadrek also told Prince Roald how to get rid of it; High Magick was vulnerable to Earth Magick, in this case salt, moly, and Lady’s Star. Throwing these into the krashak’s eyes and mouth would make it disintegrate. (Oath)

  Krawlven

  One of Ma’ar’s rebirth names. (Winds)

  Krawn

  He was Stormcloud’s bondbird, a white raven, and a talkative jokester. (Winds)

  Krebain

  An evil mage who was advancing from the western lands, brutally encroaching on TayLedras territory and the land held by peasants under Tayledras protection. Krebaln was a blood-mage who grew in strength from every victim he took. A Change-child, he was graceful, slim, and very tall, he had white-blond hair, and blue-black eyes that were slitted like a cat’s. Vanyel killed him in a battle at Covia after Krebaln confessed to the murder of Staven Frelennye, the twin of his lover Tylendel. Wester Leshara also wanted him to kill Vanyel, and had hired him to do so, but when Krebain saw how beautiful Vanyel was, he wanted Vanyel for himself instead. Defeating Krebain was the turning point in Vanyel’s decision to be a Herald. (LHM)

  Kreeak

  Wintersky’s bondbird, a little sharpshinned hawk. (Owl)

  Kreel

  Firestorm’s bondbird, a broad winged female cooperihawk half Vree’s size. (Winds)

  Krethes

  A Shin’a’in term that means “speculation.” (Oath)

  Kris

  Prince of Valdemar and Princess Lyra’s twin, he is the son of Queen Selenay and her Consort Daren. (Winds)

  Kris (Herald)

  A student of history, law and administration, he hoped to replace Dean Elcarth when the elder Herald retired from the Collegium. Kris’s Gifts were FarSeeing and Mindspeech. His Companion was Tantris. Kris was the s
econd son of Lord Peregrine, one of the Seneschal’s chief assistants, and his mother organized the resupply of Heralds’ Waystatlons throughout the realm. Lord Orthallen was Kris’s uncle, and used that relationship to try to influence him. Kris was one of the potential candidates for Heir if Queen Selenay’s child wasn’t Chosen. When Talia was ready to begin her internship, it was Kris who was chosen to be her mentor. His uncle planted ideas that Talia was unfit to be Queen’s Own and this weighed heavily on his mind when he saw that Talia had no control over her Gift of empathy. Kris decided to train her, and got his chance to do so when they were snowed in at a Herald’s station while on circuit. The stress led to a romance that put Kris at odds with his best friend Dirk, whom he knew to be in love with Talia. By the time Talia was trained and their circuit completed, they decided to become platonic friends. On a subsequent mission into Hardorn, Kris and his Companion were murdered by Ancar’s troops while Talia was captured. (Arrows)

  K’tathi

  One of Scout Wintermoon’s two bondbirds, a large snow-winged owl like his partner Corwith. (Winds)

  K’Treva

  One of the Tayledras Hawkbrother Clans. Their territory was located near the edge of the Pelagir Hills. K’Treva Vale, like all Tayledras settlements, is dedicated to cleansing and removing old and evil magic from the land, making it fit once more for humans and for animals that were displaced from their original haunts by ancient sorcery and the malevolent creatures spawned by that magic. K’Treva Vale is a teardrop-shaped canyon altered by Tayledras magic to shelter it from the weather and maintain a perfect climate. There are other clans scattered throughout the length of the tainted lands, among them k’Sheyna, k’Chona, and k’vala. The k’Treva Clan adopted Vanyel and his aunt Savil as Wingsiblings. (LHM)

  Kuari

  Darian’s bondbird, he was an eagle-owl and the fledgling of Hweel and Huur. (Owl)

  Kulath

  A Shin’a’in term meaning go find. (Oath)

  Kurhanna

  The tribal name given to Darian Firkin after the sweat lodge adoption ceremony. In the language of the Ghost Clan, it means night walker. (Owl)

  K’Vala

  A Tayledras clan that was once decimated by a blood-path Adept who sculpted himself into a child’s form. He played on the clan’s emotions until he trapped them. When this happened the clan’s territory lay on the Eastern Shore of the Great Crater Sea, which outlanders know as Lake Evendim. (Winds)

  K’Valdemar

  A new Vale in Valdemar built where Starfall’s original outpost near Errold’s Grove had been. Snowflre brought Darian to this small place, not yet classed as a Vale, as a refugee from the barbarian attack. Years later, when they returned from k’Vala. Darian found k’Valdemar was now a true Vale. with impressive works constructed by the hertasi, including pools and ekeles, though until the Heartstones were fully charged they wouldn’t have a weather-ameliorating shield. The Vale now serves as an embassy. (Owl)

  K’Varda

  The collective name for the Mage-Clans of the Tayledras. Their mission is to identify places where the magic creatures of the Pelagirs may live in peace, and then take the magic out of places where they do not live and make that land safe for human habitation. The k’Varda guard the Pelagirs from despoilers, just as their cousins, the Shin’a’in, guard the Dhorisha Plains. (LHM)

  Kyanshi

  A Tayledras couple-dance for the experienced. its steps and movements are difflcult if one is young and only used to the patterns of children’s round dances. (Owl)

  Kyldathar (Companion)

  Companion to Herald-trainee Neave. (Arrows)

  Kyle Osterham

  The woodcutter of Errold’s Grove. (Owl)

  Kyliera Grove Brendewhins

  A fluttering talkative relative of one of Lady Treesa’s court ladies. (LHM)

  Kylla

  One of the numerous progeny housed at Foist Reach, Kylla was the baby who kept getting out of the nursery, usually without a stitch on. (LHM)

  Kylleen

  A gryphon, one of the Silvers serving with the fishing fleet. (Gryphon)

  Kyllian

  A famous Fireflower Mage. Wizard Justyn had a badly painted portrait of him on the wall. Too old to take part in battle during the Great War, he served as rear-line instructor to young Herald-Mages and as a Healer saving Jusryn’s life among others. (Owl)

  Kynan

  A veteran Skybolt briefly considered for command after Ardana Flinteye’s expulsion. Kynan lacked Kerowyn’s training in tactics, logistics, and supply, and couldn’t work with mages. Also, what command expertise he had stopped at groups larger than a squad. (Sword)

  Kyndri (Herald-Chronicler)

  Herald-Chronicler in Vanyel’s era. The information Kyndri recorded told Elspeth that old descriptions of the incredible powers available to a strong mage like Vanyel were not Chroniclers’ hyperbole but the truth. (Winds)

  Kyra

  One of Tarma’s scouts. Kyra was an expert with bow, knife, tracking, and riding. She was also Shieldmated to Rild. When the Sunhawks were stalemated during the Jkathan civil war, Kyra knew the country, had kin in the region, and remembered a way to get around the entrenched rebels in their hilltop fortress. (Oath)

  Kyran (Bard)

  A Bard, and the lover of Queen Elspeth the Peacemaker. Vanyel pointed out to Randale that Elspeth could have married Kyran after the death of Randale’s grandfather, but did not for the same reasons of duty to the state that prevented Randale and his lifebonded Shavri from marrying. (LHM)

  Kyree

  Larger than any true wolf, a kyree’s shoulder is as high as a man’s waist, with a broad and wolfilke head with a rounded forehead, forward-facing eyes, and enormous jaws. As intelligent as a human, kyree are Mindspeakers. The kyree have three sexes: males, females, and neuters. Pack life centers on the breeding males and females, leaving the neuters at loose ends, so they tend to be great wanderers. (BV)

  Kyrll (Seneschal’s Herald)

  On permanent assignment at the Palace, he occasionally teaches at the Collegium. His Gift is Farspeaking. He taught Talia the Arrow-Code. (Arrows, Storm, Winds)

  Kyrith (Companion)

  The original Grove-Born Companion who Chose King Valdemar’s Herald in the first days of the special bonding between the magical not-horses and the realm’s governors. (Arrows)

  Kyrr

  Dawnflre’s bondbird, she was a red-shouldered hawk. While they were in full-bond, Dawnfire was trapped in Kyrr’s body and captured by Falconsbane. (Winds)

  Lada (Companion)

  A Companion who was in foal, and was expected to have a difficult birth. She Chose Wrenlet with less than two moons gestation left. (BB)

  Lady-Fountain

  A fountain in Tailor’s Court that’s a Haven landmark. It vents down a culvert to Breakneedle Street, or did until it was diverted into a cellar gathering room at the Virgin and Stars Tavern, the third-year Bardic students favorite meeting place. (Arrows)

  LadyTrine

  The Rethwellan term for the triple Goddess aspects of Agnetha, Agnira and Agnoma. (Sword)

  Laeka

  Hadell’s daughter, a stablegirl at the Broken Sword Inn. (Oath)

  Laine

  Hywel’s mother, a member of the Ghost Cat Clan, and the chief’s wife. (Owl)

  Laisfaar

  Once a thriving trade town near the Pass of Stelvi, It was captured by Ma’ar’s forces and its citizens enslaved. (Gryphon)

  Laj’ele’ruvon

  A Tayledras word for a knowledge-seeker. The dying Firefalcon Clan shaman Jadrie found by the riverside was one of those. (Oath)

  Lake District

  Annexed by Tashir Remoerdis when he assumed the vacant throne of Lineas-Baires, the Lake Evendim people and their envoys are touchy and proud. When they arrive at Haven. they insisted on being greeted by King Randale as full provincials, or they would be grievously affronted. (LHM)

  Lake Evendim

  A huge lake located at the western ed
ge of Valdemar, which the Kaled’a’in call the Great Crater Sea. The site of Ma’ar’s stronghold during the Great War; when his tower was destroyed by Urtho, the resulting crater eventually filled with water. It is now a thriving area with many fishing communities that harvest the giant sturgeons that live in the lake. (BV)

  Laker

  A Skybolt scout assigned to accompany visitors from Valdemar to Bolthaven’s guest house. He was given the task because he spoke their language, and might have learned information by listening to their conversations. (Sword)

  Lakshe

  A procurer of boy whores in Khimbata’s sordid street trade. He offered to take Kanshin on as part of his stable, but Kanshin declined. (Gryphon)

  Lallis

  A young woman of Errold’s Grove. Lallis was the boldest of the teenage girls, and was notorious for flaunting her assets. (Owl)

  Lance of Hope

  The name for the daily beam of sunlight which shines through the Eye In the Temple of Vkandis in Karse. (Storm)

  Lancir (Queen’s Own Herald)

  He was the Queen’s Own Herald to Eispeth the Peacemaker, and was an expert on reading people’s inner nature. A Mindhealer, he came through Tylendel’s Mage-Gate with Savil and Jaysen on Sovvan-night to try to help with the tragedy Tylendel had caused. Afterward, Lancir and his Companion Taver volunteered to stay behind to deal with the surviving Lesharas. (LHM)

  Landon Castle

  A castle located near Valdemar’s eastern border with Hardorn. Selenay and Elspeth had been there, and Elspeth decided it would make an excellent Gate terminus. After Elspeth built the Gate (her first), the Queen and Darenthallis Gated directly to the castle to finish the last details of the war with Hardorn after Ancar’s death. (Sword)