Seer of Shadows

by Cleave Bourbon

  Delanora/Delanorasylva - Dragon-speak name for Shadesilver.

  Dellah – Former Inn mistress of the Tiger’s Head Inn in Brookhaven, Symboria. Currently the queen of the Trigothian kingdom of Ardenia, Mother to Dorenn Adair.

  Denosia - Mysterious kingdom on the continent across the Great Ocean.

  Deylia - A young Trigothian woman who befriends Rennon in the capital of city of Trigoth.

  Devyn Adair - Innkeeper’s son from the village of Brookhaven in Southeastern Symboria. Son of Lourn and Dellah Adair.

  Draegodor (Dray-go-door) - The city of red. Home of the dragons not in exile, nestled deep in the Jagged Mountains.

  Dragon Claw - Parrying sword (dagger) of a dragon knight. Not actually a dragon claw but made of metal.

  Dragon Fang - Sword of a dragon knight. Not actually a dragon fang but made of metal.

  Dragon Knight - Men, elves, dwarves, and Scarovs who have chosen, or have been chosen by the dragons, to serve as knight protectors of the dragon realm.

  Drakkius - Symbolic leader of Abaddonia.

  Dramyd (Draw-mid) - Winged creature created from drake eggs. Designed to kill, they do the bidding of Aedreagnon, Drasmyd Duil, Naneden, and Toborne.

  Dranmalin/Draenmaulin - An ancient sword forged by dragons. Its name literally means dragon hammer in ancient dragon-speak. It magically binds to its owner. It is currently Dorenn Adair’s sword after leaving Signal Hill.

  Drasmyd Duil (Draws-mid Do-ill) - Shapeshifters. They are cunning and deadly. They usually lead packs of Dramyds. They are also known as Shadow Lurkers. They answer to Toborne.

  Duil Clan - Clan of dragonkind Toborne used to create the Drasmyd Duil. Their specialty is shape-shifting into other beings.

  Endil - (Foreshome) Home city of the wood elves (Sylvan, Eridil) located deep in the Great Sythian Forest.

  Elanadil - Name of the magical sword of Ianthill. (It is a purely conjured sword.)

  Elvander - Name of the magical sword of Seancey Namear.

  Enowene (IN-O-ween) - Arillian elf and younger sister of Ianthill and Erinthill.

  Eridil - Elven name for wood or Sylvan elves. They are the only race of elves that did not migrate; instead, they made their home in Endil (Foreshome), where they remain. They are shorter than Arillian elves and have slightly darker skin, but are still considered fair and wise.

  Erinthill - Arillian elf and fraternal twin sister of Ianthill, mother of Brynna.

  Essence Sickness - An illness caused by the unskilled use of drawing essence for magical purposes. It usually occurs to first-time wielders who have yet to be trained. It does not occur, however, if the wielder discovers he can draw essence as a child (before puberty). The illness is characterized by wild mood swings, delusions of grandeur, and eventually insanity. If left untreated, the insanity will be followed by death. Wielders afflicted with essence sickness often speak uncharacteristically of themselves and say things they would never say otherwise.

  Father Tarle – The main priest and leader of the Temple of Loracia in Brookhaven.

  Fawlsbane Vex - God, co-creator of the world, and father of the gods. Husband of Loracia, Goddess of Life.

  Ganas Nashe (Gann-is Na-shae) - Scout from Brookhaven for the king’s army of Symboria. Finder of the Lost Army in Denosia.

  General Rellagorn - Leader of the army of the North and West.

  General Sythril - General of Sythia who fought in the Ishrakian war. He hired seers to curse the leader of Ishrak so he could win. When the seers cursed Ishrak, they warned him not to follow the beaten army, but he didn’t listen. He pursued the opposing army back into Ishrak in order to defeat them unconditionally. Unfortunately, he led his army into a doomed land where he eventually became part of the curse he created.

  Golvashala - A golden dragon also known as the Oracle. Golvashala means gold scales in dragon-speak. He is the cause of the War of the Oracle that created the Sacred Land. He is also called Kambor in common tongue.

  Gondrial - First apprentice to Ianthill. A longtime friend of Lady Shey.

  Hadder - An apothecary in Trigoth who brews potions that affect the mind.

  Ianthill (E-un-thill) - Member of the holy trine (First Trine) representing elves Xeian, and Breannan. (Favors ruling with compassion, kindness, and a people’s majority.)

  Imprints/Imprinting - The act of putting matching images, etc., magically into the skin. Some cultures do this to signify marriage in which the imprints serve where gold or other precious metals made into rings might serve in other cultures.

  Ishrak - Northern kingdom bordering Symboria, the Jagged Mountains, and Ardenia. The kingdom was cursed and remains a forbidding, desolate land full of danger. Only small pockets of man, elf, and civilized folk live there.

  Jac - Member of the lost army.

  Jungle Elves - See Noradil.

  Kambor - Common tongue name used by the Oracle, Golvashala, when in human form.

  Kellegarn – One of the eight gods. Creator of the race of Dwarves, he loves all of the earth and rocks and gems and taught his creations the ways of stone and mining.

  Kerad - Powerful cleric of Loracia currently serving in the Vale of Morgoran and therefore serving Morgoran.

  Kimala – Former mistress of Naneden, A spy of Enowene’s spy ring.

  King Amarantus - Lord and ruler of the dragons of Draegodor.

  King Occelot - The somewhat sniveling, and sometimes incompetent, ruler of the kingdom of Symboria.

  Kragodor - The black city. Nestled in the treacherous Mountains of Madness in Ishrak, Kragodor is home to the exiled dragons who were last known to serve Toborne.

  Kyrie - Mysterious, sometimes-companion of Lady Shey. He is a Kylerie elf, which is an elf about half the size of an Arillian Elf. He loves danger and intrigue. His strange habit of showing up when events go wrong drives some people to wonder where his allegiances lie. Dorenn believes Kyrie is more than he seems.

  Loracia (LORE-race-E-uh) - Goddess of life and mother of the gods.

  Lora Daine- (lora dane) (AKA dragon stone) Stone of the dragons and dragon knights used for communication between dragons and their dragon knights over long distances. Depending on the size and magic of the stone, it can send small parties instantly across short distances. It can also sometimes be used to send its user back and forth between stones over greater distances. Dragon stones are rare to normal peasants. Only people of stature (other than the dragons and dragon knights) are allowed to use them.

  Lourn – Former Innkeeper and owner of the Tiger’s Head Inn in Brookhaven, Symboria. Currently the king of the Trigothian kingdom of Ardenia, Father of Dorenn Adair.

  Lux Amarou - Continent in the northwest formerly inhabited by the Amar, (high men). The oldest cities of man are on Lux Amarou, but they are all mostly in ruins now and inhabited by the ghosts of the dead, among other agents of death and destruction for an age past. A few of the living still reside there, but not many.

  Lux Enor - Capital of the west. The home city-state of the highlord. The highlord rules over all of Trigothia, Symboria, and what’s left of Ishrak. The last highlord, Rastafin Stowe, was assassinated without leaving an heir. To avoid any power vacuums, only the magical Silver Drake can choose one worthy enough to sit on the highest throne in the land. After Rastafin Stowe, she has yet to proclaim a successor, so the throne remains vacant. A warder presides over the day-to-day affairs but has limited power.

  Malantis – One of the eight gods. Third son of Fawlsbane Vex and Loracia. God of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and everything water related.

  Melias - Monk of Fawlsbane Vex. Guardian and sworn protector of Dorenn Adair. Now transformed into a creature called the Brae Daun Duil.

  Mindwielder/Mindwielding - Sometimes referred to as mentalism, this is what people who can use the magic of the mind, with or without drawing essence, are called. One difference between a mindwielder and a wielder is that mindwielders possess the ability to talk to each other mentally (telepathy).

  Morgoran
- AKA Morgoran Cleareyes. Member of the holy trine (First Trine) representing man and Fawlsbane Vex. He is reputed to be the most powerful wielder who has ever lived. (Favors balance in ruling.)

  Mount Aroanian - A mountain peak in the Mountains of Madness of Ishrak.

  Mount Urieus - A mountain peak in the Jagged Mountains where people are sent to wait for permission from the dragons to enter into Draegodor.

  Myradon - The first and most powerful gold dragon created by Fawlsbane Vex. He guards the ethereal gates of Venifyre.

  Myradon Codex - The lost tome written by Myradon that contains the magic of the dragons. It contains a powerful dragon’s fire spell, which is executable by potent wielders of essence.

  Naneden (Na-NEED-den) - Symbolic leader of Scarovia. He is considered to be mad by all who know him.

  Nine Cards - A simple card game enjoyed primarily in Symboria as well as parts of the Trigothian kingdoms.

  Noanas - a Lost race of high dwarf.

  Noradil - Elven name for the shadow or jungle elves of Darovan. They migrated along with the Siladil but found the desert too open and sparse. They moved into the dense jungle of Darovan and started harvesting the plant life there to make poisons, medicines, and magical elixirs. Most apothecaries are Noradil.

  Oberan (Oh-ber-ann) - First dragon knight of King Amarantus.

  Rennon - One of Devyn’s closest friends. Apprentice to Sanmir, the apothecary of Brookhaven, Symboria. He is a powerful mindwielder and the healer of the mindwielders formerly known as the afflicted.

  Rodraq (Rod-rack) - Lady Shey’s man-of-arms, killed by Dramyds in Symboria.

  Rugania - Island off the coast of Sythia, across the sea from Darovan. Also called the Isle of Doom, this is the place where wielders were once trained by masters in the art of wielding. It is nicknamed the Isle of Doom because anyone trying to sneak on the isle without the wielders’ consent and preparation often died before they crossed the beaches.

  Sand Elves - See Siladil.

  Scarovia - Kingdom east of the Jagged Mountains, home of the Scarovs, or Scarovians as some cultures call them.

  Seabrey - Large port city in northern Symboria. Trade city of the north for the kingdoms of Ardenia and Sythia (see Basillain).

  Seancey (SHAWN-see) - Ranger of Symboria stationed in the Vale of Morgoran, brother of Lady Shey.

  Seandara (SHAWN-dar-a) - Princess of Endil (Foreshome). Has a reoccurring dream of Dorenn.

  Shadow Elves - See Noradil.

  Shadow Lurker - Pertains to a Drasmyd Duil. A nickname.

  Shila - Dwarf who helped Lady Shey after she escaped her kidnappers.

  Siladil - Elven name for the sand elves of Darovan. They migrated to Darovan and learned to live in the harsh desert conditions. They are notoriously hard to see while traveling across the sand, and they can sink into it as if they were submerging in water. They are fierce fighters and are almost impossible to defeat in the desert. They have darker, sun-kissed skin and light eyes. They are shorter than the Arillian elves and considered to be more primitive.

  Sildariel - Stern matron, queen, and leader of the Sylvan elves of Endil.

  Solicanth - The joining of two celestial beings through time. They are either a force for great good or a source for great evil. They sometimes live in harmony, but more often than not, they clash. If they live in harmony, they are usually very integral to the peace and prosperity of the kingdoms.

  Steban - First dragon knight of Charna (one of King Amarantus’ sisters).

  Swordmaster Grint - Villager of Brookhaven who taught young village boys (and sometimes girls) the way of weapons. He was an infantryman and good friend of Lourn Adair.

  Sylvalora (SIL-va- lore-a) - The Silver Drake, sometimes traveling companion and mentor to Lady Shey.

  Symbor - Capital city of the kingdom of Symboria. This city was once called Paladine and is not to be confused with Old Symbor, which is now a ruin in the Sacred Land. Old Symbor is the original home of Shey and Seancey.

  Symboria - The oldest kingdom of men on the continent proper, home to the race of men known as Are’dune, descendants of the Amar from Lux Amarou.

  Tabac - The giant leaf of the tabac plant that is shredded, dried, and cured to fill a pipe.

  Kelle – Former kitchen maiden in the Tiger’s Head Inn in Brookhaven, Symboria. Currently, she is the first female dragon knight and the first dragon knight of Shadesilver the white dragon.

  Toborne - Member of the holy trine (First Trine) representing Aedreagnon and the Scarovs. He tried to steal the Silver Drake but failed. (Favors cut-throat politics and ruling by fear.)

  Trendan - Half-elven friend of Dorenn from the realm of the woodland elves. He has lived in Brookhaven most of his life.

  Theosus Fiderea - A dragon hidden in Trigothia as an apothecary.

  The Archers of Endil - Elven archers from the city of Endil (Foreshome) who have built a reputation as the most feared archers ever known. They are of the Eridil (Sylvan elves) and have never known defeat.

  The Defenders - Similar to the Enforcers except that they only patrol the Sacred Land.

  The Enforcers - A band of men dedicated to enforcing the law against magic in Symboria and Trigoth the city. The Enforcers are dwindling in numbers and are not actively recruiting. They are considered abominations by those who are left that can wield essence because they are also essence wielders who chose to follow a very different path, which is unforgivable.

  The Great Sythian Forest - Huge forest stretching the whole length of the coast of Sythia from north to south. It is the home of the Eridil, among other creatures.

  The Isle of Doom - See Rugania.

  The Jagged Mountains - Huge mountain range that separates Scarovia and Abaddonia from the West. It is the home of dwarves, Dramyds, and Drasmyd Duil, among others.

  The Lost Army - The army of the North and West, lost near a city called Anisport, a whole continent away from where they should be.

  The Mountains of Madness - A mountain range in the northern part of Ishrak. Not only are these mountains infested with orcs and foul beasts but it is also home to the black city of Kragodor, the city of the fallen (evil) dragons.

  The Sacred Land - Huge tract of land once belonging to Symboria that hosted the War of the Oracle and was devastated into a wasteland unable to support life or feed essence for wielders. It is guarded as a reminder of what magic can do to the land and is the reason magic use was outlawed in the southern kingdoms.

  The Sea Goddess - A wooden clipper ship captained by Felladane.

  The Silver Drake - A statuette made of pure silver inset with ruby eyes made by the First Trine to select the one man worthy of leading the kingdoms of the West as overlord or highlord. The gods themselves took up the Silver Drake and each bestowed into it their own gift. It is unknown what many of the gods’ gifts were, but the goddess of life, Loracia, gave the Silver Drake the gift of life. Fawlsbane Vex gave it a will and mind of its own.

  Tolennor Forest - Forest southwest of the Vale of Morgoran. It is haunted and cursed. The cursed village of Signal Hill was located in this forest.

  Tome of Enlightenment - Tome given to man by the god Fawlsbane Vex, laying down the guidelines and ability for man to do magic.

  Trigoth - Once the capital city of Trigothia, it was split into three sectors each belonging to the three Trigothian kingdoms of Adracoria, Ardenia, and Sythia.

  Trigothia - Ancient kingdom of the three major houses of Are’dune men. In the civil wars, the three families separated the kingdom into the three kingdoms of Ardenia (Arden family), Sythia (Arasyth family), and Adracoria (Adrac family).

  Tyre - City near Seabrey, Symboria. Last city before advancing to Mount Urieus.

  Vale of Morgoran - Vale with the Tower of Morgoran at its center. Once the tower stood there alone, but after Morgoran was cursed to see only the future, a small village cropped up at the tower’s base and expanded. People hoped that Morgoran could cure their loved ones or predict their future. Even though
Morgoran is no longer cursed, the village still functions and remains.

  Venifyre (Ven-nee-fear) - Realm and home of the gods. In ancient dragon-speak first created by the gods, y is represented as an ea sound, so Venifyre is not pronounced Ven-nee-fire but Ven-nee-fear. So Genidyre would be pronounced Jin-nee-dear, not Jin-nee-dire.

  Veric Namear - An assassin and father of Lady Shey. He was forced against his will to abandon his family when Sheyna was still a toddler.

  Vesperin - Orphaned cleric of Loracia from Brookhaven, Symboria, and close friend of Dorenn.

  Vetell Fex - Monastery located in Symboria, named after the brother of the god Vex. Vetell Fex simply means Fex’s home.

  War of the Oracle - A war started by Golvashala (the Oracle) to rid the land of magic so he could take over and rule. He was defeated and presumed dead. (This war created the Sacred Land.)

  Winterhaven - A festive winter holiday in the Trigothian kingdoms Symboria, Ishrak, Darovan, and Arillia. It is a popular date to get married in the Trigothian kingdoms.

  Wielding - The ability to magically draw essence from everything around that contains essence and wield it to accomplish higher functioning magical feats. Drawing too much essence from one area may devoid that area of its ability to replenish essence for a longer period of time. Unless one is a mindwielder, areas devoid of essence are therefore devoid of magic. Areas of devastation come back with greater amounts of essence.

  Xeian – One of the eight gods. The middle son and co-creator of the race of elves, lover of trees and green and things that grow.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Seer of Shadows (Shadows of the First Trine, #1)

  Seer of Shadows: Shadows of the First Trine 1...

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: The Reaper in the Dark

  Chapter 2: The Blight

  Chapter 3: Reign is Falling

  Chapter 4: Leave-taking

  Chapter 5: Defender Patrol

  Chapter 6: Valwall

  Chapter 7: Shadow Fall

  Chapter 8: Beneath the White Tower

  Chapter 9: Nightmares

  Chapter 10: Vicious

  Chapter 11: One Among Us