The Valdemar Companion

by John Helfers; Denise Little

  Stefen (Bard)

  Stefen had been kidnapped by Bard Lynnell and brought to the Collegium when he was only ten. Until then, he had been in the dubious care of an elderly drug addict, Berte, playing on street corners. At eighteen, Stefen was Medren Ashkevron’s roommate, and Medren noticed that when he was ill and Stefen played, his pain went away. The Bardic Council studied Stefen’s skills after he had successfully demonstrated his talent by aiding the seriously ill King Randale. As a result of this and his natural ability for all three Bardic Gifts, he was advanced to full Bard status. Stefen had a crush on Vanyel and set out to win his affections. It took some time to gain the trust of the over-worked Herald-Mage, but Stefen was successful. The two spent many hours together and became lifebonded. Stefen became willing to dare any danger and go wherever Herald-Mage Vanyel was to be with his partner. Moonwind discovered that Stefen was actually the reincarnation of Tylendel. When Vanyel died, Vanyel left Stefen the life-long task of convincing the people of Valdemar that they could survive without Herald-Mages, and that the skills of regular Heralds would serve to protect the kingdom. In the end, Stefen went to his natural death in the Forest of Sorrows a contented man, and joined Vanyel and Yfandes guarding the Forest of Sorrows and later in the havens. (LHM, Winds, Storm)

  Steladar (Companion)

  One of the original three Grove-Born Companions, he Chose King Valdemar’s son. (Arrows)

  Stella Harthorn

  Villager who unfairly accused Lilly of profiting from Errold’s Grove’s occupation during the barbarian invasion. (Owl)

  Stellat shoots

  A plant that clusters at the foot of a mother tree like a town at the foot of a Lord’s Keep. (Oath)

  Stenchbeetles

  An odorous pest, they inhabit some of the southern woodlands of Valdemar. (Arrows)

  Stormcloud

  The Tayledras scout who is Darkwind’s oldest and best friend. Hls Mage-Gift was not enough to qualify him for the Council. His bondbird was a white raven, Krawn, a talkative joker. (Winds)

  Lyla Stormcloud

  She was a half-Shin’a’in mercenary from the far southeast, beyond even the Dhorisha Plains. Her father was a Hawkbrother and her mother a Full Bard. Thanks to an arrangement with the Taleydras of the Pelagiris Forest, she came north with astonishing speed to assist Kethry. (Sword)

  Stormwing k’Sheyna

  A captive Hawkbrother Adept caged by the sorceress Keyjon. Guardian of the firebirds, he refused to help her enslave them. (Oath)

  Stormwing

  An Adept who couldn’t join Starwind’s search for a colddrake swarm set loose near the k’Treva vale because she was pregnant. (LHM)

  Stranger’s Gate

  A town’s entry where non-citizens register their names, origins, and business with Gate Guards. In Mornedealth, Stranger’s Gate linked town to Trade Road and was wide enough for three wagons to pass side by side; it had an ironwork portcullis as well as massive bleached wood doors. (Oath)

  Strategy Room

  Located in Urtho’s Tower, its most prominent feature was a table-sized contour map of the war zone. (Gryphon)

  Street of the Chandlers

  A Mornedealth lane where a faked traffic blockage forced Kethry down an adjacent alley, where she was abducted. (Oath)

  Sturgeon, Giant Lake Evendim

  A white-fleshed freshwater fish that lives in the deep rivers of Valdemar. Normally a large fish, the specimens that live in the magic-tinged waters of Lake Evendlm grow into true giants. The tough fisher folk hunt the sturgeon with harpoons and harvest the roe for caviar and the bladder stones for cleaning purposes. (LHM)

  Sturgeon stones, or cleaning stones

  White stones found in the swim bladders of the giant Lake Evendim Sturgeon. These are valued for their ability to remove any kind of stain or mark from white leather, and each year the fisher folk pay part of their taxes to the crown in sturgeon stones. A cleaning stone is included in each Herald’s field kit. (LHM)

  Sulemeth (King)

  The Haighlei Emperor of the nation of Ghandai. Two of his sons are part of Shalaman’s bodyguard. (Gryphon)

  Sulma Farle

  Urtho’s Field Commander during the mission to disable the “stick” weapons of Ma’ar’s troops. (Gryphons)

  Summer Horse Fair

  The Shin’a’in chose a town to hold their annual horse fair in every year, but change it from time to time based on sales and safety Issues. (Oath)

  Summerdance

  A young Tayledras woman who flirted with Darian as soon as she met him, and became his first real girlfriend at k’Vala Vale. Apprenticed to Steelmind, she studicd plants and herbs, and their uses. (Owl)

  Summerfawn

  A Kaled’a’in Adept who went with Silence/Snowfire to find k’Sheyna’s new homeland. A Gate could not be built unless the anchors had seen the place and could visualize it as a terminal. She was the one who remained at the new site to anchor that Gate, sending Snowfire back to anchor the k’Sheyna Gate, lessening the burden on both Adepts. (Winds)

  Summerhawk

  She was with the k’Leshyan delegation which came to Haven, and part of the Husbandry Discipline. Notable as a good cook. (Storm)

  Summerhawk

  A Kaled’a’in trondi’irn who accompanied Judeth to Khimbata with the Silvers. He is a strong Mindspeaker. (Gryphon)

  Summersky

  A Tayledras scout who relieved Darkwind when he patrolled with Elspeth. (Winds)

  Summerstar

  A Tayledras scout. (Winds)

  Suncat Trevavyska

  A member of the Falcon Clan, he was a Councilman in the ancient times when the Kaled’a’in divided into two peoples. (Winds)

  Sun Throne

  The Sun throne is reserved exclusively for the High Priest of Karse, speaker for Vkandis. (BB, Storm)

  Sun-Lord Resoden

  A deity worshipped in Jkatha, Kethry punished an ex-apprentice mage-turned-robber by putting a geas on him to build walls for Sun-Lord Resoden. (Oath)

  Sun Descending

  A Karsite holy service conducted at the end of each day by one of the Voices of Vkandis. (Arrows)

  SunHeart

  A Karsite version of walking the Moonpaths. The seeker must be in the sun-exposed Temple or must go out into the open sunlight and wait for the God’s answer to his prayer. (Storm)

  Suncloud

  A Tayledras scout sent to fetch extra Gate-guards when Herald-Mage Savil arrlved in the Vale unexpectedly. (LHM)

  Sundered kin

  To the Shin’a’in, these are the magic users known elsewhere as the Hawkbrothers or Tayledras. (Winds)

  Sundering of the Clans

  The division of Kaled’a’in into the Shin’a’in and the Tayledras after the end of the Mage Wars. (Winds)

  Sundisk pectoral

  A very ancient symbol, as old as Karse itself, worn only by the Son of the Sun. (Storm)

  Sunfeather

  A Tayledras scout. (Winds)

  Sunhame

  Karse’s capital and the site of Vkandis Sunlord’s first and largest Temple, called the Throne of Vkandis. (Storm)

  Sunhawks

  A top mercenary company formed by its Captain Idra, and composed of specialist troops: skirmishers, horse-archers, and trackers. Its colors were brown and golden-yellow. Tarma hired on with them as scout and Kethry as mage, with Warrl as a bonus. The Sunhawks’ repute was so high that monarchs often negotiated contracts in person with Idra. (Oath)

  Sunleaf

  A k’Vala scout whose bondbird is a forestgyre. (Owl)

  Sunlord Vkanda

  An early name for the Karsite god, his is the official state religion of Karse. In the time of Vanyel, Vykandis was referred to as Vkanda. (LHM)

  Sunsdale

  An about-to-be-attacked Karsite village which appeared to Alberich in a vision. He led his soldiers to Sunsdale’s defense and destroyed the bandits who had hoped to convert the town into an impregnable stronghold after killing
most of its residents and enslaving the rest. This brought Alberich to the attention of the priests, who pronounced him a witch for possessing the Gift of Foresight, and sentenced him to death by burning. (Arrows)

  Sunsguard

  Karse’s military, reorganized when Solaris became High Priest. (Winds)

  Sunsinger, Rothas

  One of a pair of early Heralds that Talia read about in tales and legends. Rothas Sunsinger was lifebonded to Lythe Shadowdancer, and they were separated by a tragic curse, she confined to the dark hours, he to the daylight. They had many adventures before finding the means to break their curse. Their story is well-loved by the people of Valdemar, and many versions of their life and wanderings exist. (Arrows)

  Sunsong

  A Tayledras Adept, still recovering from moving some firebirds to a sanctuary at the time Starwind needed help in coping with the colddrakes, and thus excused from being asked. (LHM)

  Sunstone

  A Tayledras scout whose bondbird is a falcon. (Owl)

  Sun’s Ray

  Talia’s Karsite priestly title after she was adopted into their order. (Storm)

  Suras

  One of the three hertasi who attached himself to Darkwind when he moved back into the Vale. (Winds)

  Suriya

  One of Hadanelith’s victims at White Gryphon. (Gryphon)

  Sursha (Queen)

  The widow of Jkatha’s King and his appointed regent for their three children. Civil war erupted when her brother-in-law, Declin Lord Kelcrag, opposed her. Sursha chose Havak Lord Leamount as her General-In-Chief. He and the Sunhawks won the war for her. Her eldest son is likely to wed Merill of Rethwellan. (Oath)

  Swan

  She was one of the Chesters’ milch cows. White, and with a nasty habit of using her tail to sting anyone milking her, who hadn’t warmed his hands before touching her udder, as Lavan found out the hard way. (BB)

  Sweetsprings

  The first town Talia came to when Roland took her to Haven. A roadguard and a kindly innkeeper befriended her there. (Arrows)

  Sword that Sings, The

  The subject of an ancient story Jadrek found in Rethwellan’s chronicles. Legend said the sword could determine the country’s lawful ruler. Idra sought permission to leave the capital on the pretext of a hunt for the missing Sword, but was using the story to find Prince Stefanson. Raschar the Usurper gave his approval. Though he wanted the Sword himself, to prove he was the rightful monarch, he was sure she was using the tale as a ruse to get to Stefan, so he caught and killed his sister before she could leave town. Kethry and Tarma came upon the weapon beside a skeleton in The Comb. Kethry sensed magic on it and took it with her. Later, at Herald Roald’s lodge, Stefansen unsheathed the Sword, and it sang for him, the true king. (Oath)

  Sword-dance

  Strenuous and whirling, it is performed by men of the Shin’a’in Clans. It should properly end in a calculated sprawl and a pretense of utter exhaustion. (Oath)

  Sworn One

  A Shin’a’in who is Kal’enedral or pledged to the Goddess. (Oath)

  Sylvan (Herald)

  A mathematics instructor at the Collegium. (Arrows)

  Syrtin

  Lady Myria’s newborn son. Giving birth to him left her in poor condition because her stingy late husband would not hire a Healer to attend her. (Oath)

  Tadrith Skandrakae

  Son of Skandranon and Zhaneel and Keenath’s twin. He was a goshawk type gryphon with broad gray wings and short ear tufts. He joined the Silvers with dreams of doing something spectacular but very different from the heroic deeds his father was famous for. Like his partner Silverblade, he felt smothered by his parents and was eager to accomplish something on his own, and succeeded magnificently. Tad joined the gryphon fighting wing known as the Silvers. On his first mission he was lost in the wilderness along with his partner Sliverblade, and had to fight off a pack of vicious, magic-absorbing wyrsa, then survive in the jungle despite his unjuries until help came. (Gryphon)

  Tahk

  The stablemaster at the Palace in Haven. (Storm)

  Tailor’s Court

  A street in Haven and the site of the Lady Fountain. (Arrows)

  Talamir (King’s Own Herald)

  Talamir was the Queen’s Own Herald in the first years of Queen Selenay’s reign. During his years as a regular Herald, he was one of the two Heralds who got Alberich over the border from Karse. Talamir served Selenay’s father, King Sendar, in the Tedrel Wars, and he was trying to protect the King, along with Jadus, when his first companion, Taver, was killed. Jadus lost his leg and King Sendar perished in the same attack. Talamir almost died of pain and guilt, but was chosen by Rolan to be Queen’s Own and survived, though it was said half of his heart was already in the Havens with Taver. When Selenay took the throne, the elderly Talamir was uncomfortable advising a young and headstrong female ruler, and was unable to prevent Selenay from contracting an impetuous marriage to Prince Karathanelan of Rethwellan, the father of Princess Elspeth. When, under the manipulations of Nursemaid Hulda, Elspeth behaved so badly that her selection as Heir was in doubt, Talamir was on the point of proposing that she be fostered with his remote kindred. He died before the plan was put in place, and it was later confirmed that he was poisoned. Herald Teren and Herald Keren were his surviving grandchildren. (Arrows)

  Talen

  The dyheli who served as Keisha’s mount on her ride back to Errold’s Grove. (Owl)

  Talesar (Lord)

  One of Lord Breon’s rude guests at the celebration when Darian was made a knight. (Owl)

  Tale’edras

  See Tayledras

  Tale’sedrin

  The Shin’a’in name for Tarma’s clan, Children of the Hawk, which was nearly wiped out by bandits. Tarma was the only survivor, and became Kal’enedral to seek revenge, aided by the White Winds sorceress, Kethry. As Tarma’s blood-sister, Kethry was Oathbound to raise the clan banner again because the Swordsworn Tarma had taken a vow of celibacy. The mage and her husband Jadrek produced seven children to form the core of the reborn Tale’sedrin, thus the clan became known as The Clan that Would Not Die. (Oath, Storm, Sword)

  Tale’sedrin token

  The size of a coin, it is metallic on one side, enameled on the other, and bears the image of a gold-feathered hawk. Given by the Kal’endral to OutLanders they deem worthy, it grants passage through the Dorisha Plains. (Winds)

  Tarma shena Tale’sedrin

  Once a talented young woman on the eve of marriage to a good man she loved, with a voice that was the pride of the Shin’amn clans, her life changed forever after a vicious bandit attack. Her voice was ruined when the bandits raped, strangled, and left her for dead during her Clan’s massacre. She became Kal’enedral, bonded to the Goddess, a sexless Swordsworn Warrior determined to pursue revenge as the sole survivor of the massacred Stooping Hawk Clan. Trained by spirit-servants of the Goddess and aided by the mage Kethry, Tarma won her revenge. The bandits all died, and the women who defeated them became she’enedra, or blood sisters. It was through Kethry, who as she’enedra was a member of the clan, that Clan TaLesedrin lived once more. For the rest of her life Tarma traveled with Kethry. They helped put Prince Stefansen, the rightful king of Rethwellan, on the throne, and they trained his descendants in a school where Tarma taught the students swordfighting while Kethry taught magic, and Kethry’s husband, Jadrck, taught scholarly subjects. After Tarma and Kethry retired and turned the school over to Kethry’s son, they helped Kethry’s granddaughter Kerowyn save her brother’s fiancé when she was abducted from her wedding feast, and took Kerowyn and Daran, prince of Rethwellan, on as students. (Oath, Sword)

  Talhkarsh

  The true name of the imp a young sorcerer named Leland meant to summon and bind to his will, but he called instead upon the demon Thalhkarsh, a fatal mistake. (Oath)

  Talia Sensdaughter (Queen’s Own herald)

  Talia grew up as one of the Holderkin, a puritanical border group which disc
ourages knowledge of outsiders. When Talia turned thirteen she fled her family and an arranged marriage and ran to a secret hiding place in terror and grief. She heard the unmistakable sound of a Companion’s bridle bells and tumbled from her cave to fall at the hooves of Rolan, who Chose her. This would prove to be the turning point in Talia’s life. She was now Monarch’s Own herald and in charge of the taming of the brat, Princess Elspeth. Talia uncovered a plot by nursemaid Hulda to keep Elspeth from being Chosen, and was able to end the conspiracy and turn young Elspeth into a giving and loving girl. Talia’s gift of Empathy was combined with Healing, thus making her a Mind-Healer. She used her Gift to calm the troubles of the Queen and all the Heralds. Talia became close to everyone in the Circle after letting go of the insecurities she’d learned in her Holderkin upbringing. She was especially close to Herald Kris and Herald Dirk. Talia was assigned to ride her trainee circuit with Kris, and during it was thoroughly schooled in using her Gift, after a near-meltdown out on the far end of Valdemar. After her completion of her internship, Talia and Kris were sent on a doomed mission to Hardorn to check out Ancar’s suitability as a possible spouse for Elspeth. During Ancar’s assassination coup Kris was assassinated and Talia was captured and tortured. Prince Ancar and Hulda were plotting to take over Valdemar by marrying Ancar to Elspeth and then subverting the Princess, but Talia was able to keep Valdemar’s royals out of Ancar’s hands. Dirk rescued Talia from certain death by using his Fetching powers amplified by the Companions and Elspeth’s Farsight. Talia lived to enjoy her lifebond with Dirk. They were married and had a son named Jemmie. After the marriage, Dirk and Talia were sent on a diplomatic mission to Karse to meet with Solaris, the new Son of the Sun. Solaris declared Talia to be an honorary Priestess of Vykandis upon the advice of her Firecat Hansa.

  A later mission sent them to Rethwellan to seek help from King Faram. They received help in the form of Kerowyn and her Skybolts, and the Rethwellan Army under the leadership of its Lord Marshall, Prince Daran, who would become a Herald himself and Queen Selenay’s Consort. (Arrows, Storm, Sword)