King's Last Hope: The Complete Durlindrath Trilogy

by Robert Ryan

  This glossary contains a range of names and terms. Many are of Halathrin origin, and their meaning is provided. The remainder derive from native tongues and are obscure, so meanings are only given intermittently.

  Some variation exists within the Halathrin language, chiefly between the regions of Halathar and Alonin. The most obvious example is the latter’s preference for a “dh” spelling instead of “th”.

  Often, Camar names and Halathrin elements are combined. This is especially so for the aristocracy. No other tribes had such long-term friendship with the Halathrin, and though in this relationship they lost some of their natural culture, they gained nobility and knowledge in return.

  List of abbreviations:

  Azn. Azan

  Cam. Camar

  Chg. Cheng

  Comb. Combined

  Cor. Corrupted form

  Duth. Duthenor

  Esg. Esgallien

  Hal. Halathrin

  Leth. Letharn

  Prn. Pronounced

  Age of heroes: A period of Camar history that has become mythical. Many tales are told of this time. Some are true, others are not. And yet, even the false ones usually contain elements of historical fact. Many were the heroes that walked abroad during this time, and they are remembered still, and honoured still, by the Camar people. The old days are looked back on with pride, and the descendants of many heroes yet walk the streets of Cardoroth, though they be unaware of their heritage and the accomplishments of their forefathers.

  Alar: Azn. A strain of horses raised in the southern deserts of Alithoras. Bred for endurance, but capable of bursts of speed. Most valued possession of the Azan people, who measure wealth and status by their number. In their culture, where a person on foot is likely to die between water sources, horse-theft is punished by torture and death.

  Alithoras: Hal. “Silver land.” The Halathrin name for the continent they settled after the exodus. Refers to the extensive river and lake systems they found and their appreciation of the beauty of the land.

  Alith Nien: Hal. “Silver river.” Has its source in the mountainous lands of Auren Dennath and empties into Lake Alithorin.

  Anast Dennath: Hal. “Stone mountains.” Mountain range in northern Alithoras. Contiguous with Auren Dennath and location of the Dweorhrealm.

  Angle: The land hemmed in by the Carist Nien and Erenian rivers, especially the area in proximity to their divergence.

  Angrod: One of the ancient names of the witch better known in present times as Durletha.

  Arach Neben: Hal. “West gate.” The great wall surrounding Cardoroth has four gates. Each is named after a cardinal direction, and each also carries a token to represent a celestial object. Arach Neben bears a steel ornament of the Morning Star.

  Aranloth: Hal. “Noble might.” A lòhren.

  Arell: A name formerly common among the Camar people, but currently out of favor in Cardoroth. Its etymology is obscure, though it is speculated that it derives from the Halathrin stems “aran” and “ell” meaning noble and slender. Ell, in the Halathrin tongue, also refers to any type of timber that is pliable, for instance, hazel. This is cognate with our word wych-wood, meaning timber that is supple and pliable. As elùgroths use wych-wood staffs as instruments of sorcery, it is sometimes supposed that their name derives from this stem, rather than elù (shadowed). This is a viable philological theory. Nevertheless, as a matter of historical fact, it is wrong.

  Aurellin: Cor. Hal. The first element means blue. The second appears to be native Camar. Queen of Cardoroth and wife to Gilhain.

  Auren Dennath: Comb. Duth. and Hal. Prn. Our-ren dennath. “Blue mountains.” Mountain range in northern Alithoras. Contiguous with Anast Dennath.

  Azan: Azn. Desert dwelling people. Their nobility often serve as leaders of elug armies. They are a prideful race, often haughty and domineering, but they also adhere to a strict code of honor.

  Barok: A healer in Cardoroth. A man held in high regard by the profession he represents. Distantly related to the king on his mother’s side. It is believed by some that he obtained his position as chief physician via political influence. Others argue that, his family being wealthy, they bribed the king’s chancellor in order to obtain the favored position for one of their own. Be that as it may, it is well known in Gilhain’s court that the king dislikes him. This likely stems from an older cause, however. In his youth, the king required stiches. Barok inserted them, but miscalculated the date of their removal. The process, undertaken many days later than it should have been, was painful. Gilhain still bears the scars on his arm, not just of the initial cut, but also the faint point marks where the string was pulled from his flesh.

  Brand: A Duthenor tribesman. Currently serving King Gilhain as his Durlindrath. However, by birth, he is the rightful chieftain of the Duthenor people. However, an usurper overthrew his father, killing him and his wife. Brand, only a youth at the time, swore an oath of vengeance. That oath sleeps, but it is not forgotten, either by Brand or the usurper. The usurper sought to have him killed also, but without success.

  Bragga Mor: Cam. A great poet and storyteller from the city of Esgallien. He traces his ancestry back to the days when one of his forefathers served Conhain, that realm’s first king, as both bodyguard and court bard. It is said that Bragga Mor is similarly skilled in both music and in sword play.

  Camar: Cam. Prn. Kay-mar. A race of interrelated tribes that migrated in two main stages. The first brought them to the vicinity of Halathar; in the second, they separated and establish cities along a broad sweep of eastern Alithoras.

  Camarelon: Cam. Prn. Kam-arelon. A port city and capital of a Camar tribe. It was founded before Cardoroth as the waves of migrating people settled the more southerly lands first. Each new migration tended northward. It is perhaps the most representative of a traditional Camar realm.

  Carangar: Hal. “Car – red, angar – outcrop of rock or something prominent that juts from the surface of the land or another object.” A Durlin.

  Cardoroth: Cor. Hal. Comb. Cam. A Camar city, often called Red Cardoroth. Some say this alludes to the red granite commonly used in the construction of its buildings, others that it refers to a prophecy of destruction.

  Cardurleth: Hal. “Car – red, dur – steadfast, leth – stone.” The great wall that surrounds Cardoroth. Established soon after the city’s founding and constructed with red granite. It looks displeasing to the eye, but the people of the city love it nonetheless. They believe it impregnable and say that no enemy shall ever breach it – except by treachery.

  Careth Nien: Hal. Prn. Kareth nyen. “Great river.” Largest river in Alithoras. Has its source in the mountains of Anast Dennath and runs southeast across the land before emptying into the sea. It was over this river (which sometimes freezes along its northern stretches) that the Camar and other tribes migrated into the eastern lands. Much later, Brand came to the city of Cardoroth by one of these ancient migratory routes.

  Carist Nien: Hal. “Ice river.” A river of northern Alithoras that has its source in the hills of Lòrenta.

  Carnhaina: First element native Cam. Second Hal. “Heroine.” An ancient queen of Cardoroth. Revered as a saviour of her people, but to some degree also feared, for she possessed powers of magic. Hated to this day by elùgroths, because she overthrew their power unexpectedly at a time when their dark influence was rising. According to dim legend, kept alive mostly within the royal family of Cardoroth, she guards the city even in death and will return in its darkest hour.

  Carnyx horn: The sacred horn of the Camar tribes. An instrument of brass, man high with a mouth fashioned in the likeness of a fierce animal, often a boar or bear. Winded in battle and designed to intimidate the foe with its otherworldly sound. Some believe it invokes supernatural aid.

  Chapterhouse: Special halls set aside in the palace of Cardoroth for the private meetings, teachings and military training of the Durlin.

  Crenel: The vertical gap on a battlement between merlons. The merlon
offers protection, the crenel an opening through which missiles are fired.

  Drùghoth: Hal. First element – black. Second element – that which hastens, races or glides. More commonly called a sending.

  Durletha: Hal. “She who is as enduring as stone.” A witch of Alithoras whose birth was before even the rise of the ancient, but now forgotten, Letharn empire.

  Durlin: Hal. “The steadfast.” The original Durlin were the seven sons of the first king of Cardoroth. They guarded him against all enemies, of which there were many, and three died to protect him. Their tradition continued throughout Cardoroth’s history, suspended only once, and briefly, some four hundred years ago when it was discovered that three members were secretly in the service of elùgroths. These were imprisoned, but committed suicide while waiting for the king’s trial to commence. It is rumored that the king himself provided them with the knives that they used. It is said that he felt sorry for them and gave them this way out to avoid the shame a trial would bring to their families.

  Durlin creed: These are the native Camar words, long remembered and much honored, uttered by the first Durlin to die while he defended his father, and king, from attack. Tum del conar – El dar tum! Death or infamy – I choose death!

  Durlindrath: Hal. “Lord of the steadfast.” The title given to the leader of the Durlin.

  Duthenor: Duth. Prn. Dooth-en-or. “The people.” A single tribe, or sometimes a group of tribes melded into a larger people at times of war or disaster, who generally live a rustic and peaceful lifestyle. They are raisers of cattle and herders of sheep. However, when need demands they are fierce warriors – men and women alike.

  Elugs: Hal. “That which creeps in shadows.” A cruel and superstitious race that inhabits the southern lands, especially the Graèglin Dennath.

  Elùdrath: Hal. Prn. Eloo-drath. “Shadowed lord.” A sorcerer. First and greatest among elùgroths. Believed to be dead or defeated.

  Elùgai: Hal. Prn. Eloo-guy. “Shadowed force.” The sorcery of an elùgroth.

  Elùgroth: Hal. Prn. Eloo-groth. “Shadowed horror.” A sorcerer. They often take names in the Halathrin tongue in mockery of the lòhren’s practice to do so.

  Elu-haraken: Hal. “The shadowed wars.” Long ago battles in a time that is become myth to the Camar tribes.

  Erenian River: A river in northern Alithoras. Some say its name derives from a corruption of the Halathrin word “nien,” meaning river. Others dispute this and postulate the word derives from a pre-exodus name adopted by the Camar tribes after they settled the east of Alithoras.

  Exodus: The arrival of the Halathrin into Alithoras from an outside land. They came by ship and beached north of Anast Dennath.

  Faladir: A city founded by a Camar tribe.

  Foresight: Premonition of the future. Can occur at random as a single image or as a longer sequence of events. Can also be deliberately sought by entering the realm between life and death where the spirit is released from the body to travel through space and time. To achieve this, the body must be brought to the very threshold of death. The first method is uncontrollable and rare. The second exceedingly rare but controllable for those with the skill and willingness to endure the danger.

  Forgotten Queen (the): An epithet for Queen Carnhaina.

  Free Cities: A group of cooperative city states that pool military resources to defend themselves against attack. Founded prior to Cardoroth. Initially ruled by kings and queens, now by a senate.

  Galenthern: Hal. “Green flat.” Southern plains bounded by the Careth Nien and the Graèglin Dennath mountain range.

  Gavnor: A lòhren of Queen Carnhaina’s ancient court. Driven by desperate need he attempted to Spirit Walk, though he did not have sufficient skill. He saw deeply into what was, and what yet may be. But he was assailed. He had neither the skill to attempt to defend himself, nor to return to his body. He was lost in the void, from whence none had ever returned. Yet Carnhaina recalled him, revealing herself as a great power, greater than most lòhrens or elùgroths. But Gavnor was changed by the experience. He withdrew from the court, renounced his stature among the lòhren order, and wandered the land as a lover of nature. It is said that his power was increased, and he may well yet still live. But none have seen him for long centuries.

  Gernlik: Cam. A Durlin.

  Gilhain: Comb. Cam & Hal. First element unknown, second “hero.” King of Cardoroth. Husband to Aurellin.

  Graèglin Dennath: Hal. Prn. Greg-lin dennath. “Mountains of ash.” Chain of mountains in southern Alithoras. The landscape is one of jagged stone and boulder, relieved only by gaping fissures from which plumes of ashen smoke ascend, thus leading to its name. Believed to be impassable because of the danger of poisonous air flowing from cracks, and the ground unexpectedly giving way, swallowing any who dare to tread its forbidden paths. In other places swathes of molten stone run in rivers down its slopes.

  Great North Road: An ancient construction of the Halathrin. Built at a time when they had settlements in the northern reaches of Alithoras. Warriors traveled swiftly from north to south in order to aid the main population who dwelt in Halathar when they faced attack from the south.

  Grothanon: Hal. “Horror desert.” The flat salt plains south of the Graèglin Dennath.

  Halathar: Hal. “Dwelling place of the people of Halath.” The forest realm of the Halathrin.

  Halathgar: Hal. “Bright star.” Actually a constellation. Also known as the Lost Huntress.

  Halathrin: Hal. “People of Halath.” A race named after a mighty lord who led an exodus of his people to the continent of Alithoras in pursuit of justice, having sworn to redress a great evil. They are human, though of fairer form, greater skill and higher culture. They possess an inherent unity of body, mind and spirit enabling insight and endurance beyond other races of Alithoras. Reported to be immortal, but killed in great numbers during their conflicts with the evil they seek to destroy. Those conflicts are collectively known as the elù-haraken: the Shadowed Wars.

  Harakgar: Leth. The three sisters. Creatures of magic brought into being by the lore of the Letharn. Their purpose is to protect the tombs of their creators from robbery.

  Harlak: Leth. An ancient name of Aranloth.

  Harath Neben: Hal. “North gate.” This gate bears a token of two massive emeralds that represent the constellation of Halathgar. The gate is also known as “Hunter’s Gate,” for the north road out of the city leads to wild lands full of game.

  Hvargil: Prince of Cardoroth. Younger son of Carangil, king of Cardoroth. Exiled by Carangil for treason after it was discovered he plotted with elùgroths to assassinate his older half-brother, Gilhain, and prevent him from one day ascending to the throne. He gathered a band about him in exile of outlaws and discontents. Most came from Cardoroth but others were drawn from Camarelon.

  Immortals: See Halathrin.

  Karappe: A great healer of antiquity. Responsible for many of the medical treatises still used today among the Camar peoples. He lived to 109 years of age, and remained sprightly well past his hundredth birthday. Famous for recommending two mugs of beer, or one glass of wine, a day as good for health.

  Kareste: A mysterious girl who helps Brand. She possess potent magic.

  Kardoch: A hero of ancient lethrin society. Revered by them, and at times worshipped by them. It is believed that the elùgroths stamp out the latter practice. They have no room in their rule for reverence of anything save their own power, and the power that they ultimately serve themselves.

  Khamdar: An elùgroth. Leader of the host the besieges Cardoroth.

  Kirsch: A race of men who established a mighty empire across Alithoras. Yet they predated even the Letharn and nearly all knowledge of them is lost forever.

  Lake Alithorin: Hal. “Silver lake.” A lake of northern Alithoras.

  Letharn: Hal. “Stone raisers. Builders.” A race of people that in antiquity ruled much of Alithoras. Only traces of their civilization remain.

  Lethrin: Hal. “Stone peopl
e.” Creatures of the Graèglin Dennath. Renowned for their size and strength. Tunnelers and miners.

  Lòhren: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren. “Knowledge giver – a counsellor.” Other terms used by various nations include wizard, druid and sage.

  Lòhren-fire: A defensive manifestation of lòhrengai. The color of the flame varies according to the skill and temperament of the lòhren.

  Lòhrengai: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren-guy. “Lòhren force.” Enchantment, spell or use of arcane power. A manipulation and transformation of the natural energy inherent in all things. Each use takes something from the user. Likewise, some part of the transformed energy infuses them. Lòhrens use it sparingly, elùgroths indiscriminately.

  Lòhrenin: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren-in. “Council of lòhrens.”

  Lòrenta: Hal. Prn. Ler-rent-a. “Hills of knowledge.” Uplands in northern Alithoras in which the stronghold of the lòhrens is established.

  Lornach: A Durlin. Friend to Brand and often called by his nickname of “Shorty.”

  Lost Huntress: See Halathgar.

  Magic: Supernatural power. See lòhrengai and elùgai.

  Menetuin: A city on the east coast of Alithoras. Founded by the Camar.

  Merlon: The vertical stonework on a battlement between crenels. The merlon offers protection, the crenel a gap through which missiles are fired.

  Netherwall: One of the ancient names of the witch better known in present times as Durletha.

  Nudaluk: Cam. A bird of the woodpecker family.

  Otherworld: Camar term for a mingling of half-remembered history, myth and the spirit world.

  Red-fletched arrows: Cardoroth is famed for having great archers, and the greatest of them always use the red feathers of the Cara-hak turkey for their fletching. The bird is revered by them as a creature of luck, and it is considered ill fortune to shoot one. But many a farmer or hungry hunter does so, and the feathers are never wasted. But a wide variety of feathers are used from different bird species for arrow making, though all are dyed red before use.