by Tad Williams
Opal heard him in the main room and rushed out from the back of the house, face full of misery and fear. He thought she would demand to know where he had been all these long, long hours, but instead she just grabbed his hand and dragged him toward the bedroom. She was moaning and he suddenly knew the worst had happened: the boy was dead.
To his shock, Flint was not dead but awake and watching. Chert turned to Opal, but she still had the look of someone who had discovered her most prized possession had been stolen.
“Boy?” he asked, kneeling beside him. “How do you feel?”
“Who are you?”
Chert stared at the familiar face, the shock of hair so pale as to be almost white, the huge, watchful eyes. Everything was the same and yet the child also seemed somehow slightly different. “What do you mean, who am I? I’m Chert, and this is Opal.”
“I… I don’t know you.”
“You’re Flint, we’re… we’ve been taking care of you. Don’t you remember?” Slowly, weakly, the boy shook his head. “No, I don’t remember you.”
“Well… if you’re not Flint, who are you?” He waited in a kind of airless terror for the answer. “What’s your name?”
“I said I don’t know!” the boy whined. There was something in him Chert had never seen before, a trapped and frightened animal behind the narrow face. “I don’t know who I am!”
Opal stumbled out into the other room, clutching her throat as though she couldn’t breathe. Chert followed her, but when he tried to put his arms around her, she flailed at him in her misery and he retreated. Since he could think of nothing else to do he came back to the bed and took the boy’s hand; after a moment of trying to pull his fingers free, the boy who looked like Flint relaxed and let him hold it. Helpless and weary, all thought of what had just happened to him outside the city gates swept aside, at least for now, Chert sat this way for an hour, calming a terrified child while his wife cried and cried in the other room.
Appendix
PEOPLE
Adcock—one of the royal guard under Vansen’s command.
Agate—Funderling woman, a friend of Opal’s.
Agnes—daughter of Finneth and Onsin.
Anazona—Briony’s youngest maid.
Andros—a priest, proxy to Lord Nynor.
Angelos—an envoy from Jellon to Southmarch.
Anglin—Connordic chieftain, awarded March Kingdom after Coldgray Moor
Anglin III—King of Southmarch, great-grandfather of Briony and Barrick.
Amssa—Queen of Southmarch, Olin’s second wife
Antimony—a young Funderling temple brother
Argal the Dark One—Xixian god, enemy of Nushash
Autarch—Sulepis Bishakh am-Xis III, monarch of Xis, most powerful. nation on the southern continent of Xand
Avin Brone—Count of Landsend, the castle’s lord constable
Axamis Dorza—a Xixian ship’s captain
Back-on-Sunset-Tide—Skimmer extended family
Barrick Eddon—a Prince of Southmarch
Barrow—a royal guard
Baz’u Jev—a Xandian poet
Beetledown—a Rooftopper
Big Nodule (Blue Quartz)—Chert’s father
Blackglass—a Funderling family
Boulder—a Funderling.
Brambinag Stoneboots—a mythical ogre.
Bratchard, Lord—a nobleman.
Brenhall, Lord—a nobleman.
Brigid—a serving-woman at the Quiller’s Mint.
Briony Eddon—a Princess of Southmarch.
Brother Okros—physician-priest from Eastmarch Academy.
Caddick—soldier of the Southmarch royal guard, known as “Longlegs.”
Calkin—a Skimmer.
Caradon Tolly—Gailon’s younger brother.
Caylor—a legendary knight and prince.
Chaven—physician and astrologer to the Eddon family.
Chert (Blue Quartz)—a Funderling, Opal’s husband.
Cheshret—Qinnitan’s father, a minor priest of Nushash.
Child of the Emerald Fire—a Qar tribe.
Chryssa—Chief Acolyte of the Hive Temple in Xis.
Cinnabar—a Funderling magister.
Clemon—famous Syannese historian, also called “Clemon of Anverrin.”
Cloudwalker—another name for Perin, the sky god.
Collum—Willow’s younger brother.
Collum Dyer—one of Vansen’s soldiers.
Comfrey M’Neel—a noblewoman.
Conary—proprietor of the Quiller’s Mint.
Cononc, Sivonmc, and Iellic tribes—”primitive” tribes who lived on. Eion before conquest by the southern continent of Xand
Cusy—chief of the Favored (eunuchs) of the Royal Seclusion in Xis
Daman Eddon—Merolanna’s husband, King Ustin’s brother
Dannet Beck—Raemon Beck’s cousin
Dawet dan-Faar—envoy from Hierosol
Dab Dawley—a Southmarch guard
Dawtrey—a legendary knight, sometimes called “Elf-spelled”
Derla—wife of Raemon Beck
Dimakos Heavyhand—one of the last chieftains of the Gray Companies
Donal Murray—onetime captain of the Southmarch royal guard
Droy Nikomede—a.k.a. “Droy of Eastlake,” a Southmarch noble
Durstin Crowel—Baron of Graylock
Dunyaza—Qinnitan’s friend, an acolyte of the Hive
Earth Elders—Funderling guardian spirits.
Eats-the-Moon—a Qar of the Changing tribe.
Ellis—Merolanna’s maid.
Elan M’Cory—sister-in-law of Caradon Tolly.
Ena—a young Skimmer girl, Back-on-Sunset-Tide clan.
Enlo—god of the harvest.
Erivor—god of waters.
Euan Dogsend—Chaven’s friend, “the most learned man in Blueshore.”
Evander—Syannese count, envoy to Southmarch.
Ever-Wounded Maid—a character out of legend.
Evon Kinnay—friend of Gailon Tolly, son of Baron of Longhowe.
Ewan—Finnith’s son.
Falk—a Southmarch guard.
Fergil—son of Finneth and Onsin.
Ferras Vansen—Captain of the royal guard.
Finton—Raemon Beck’s younger son.
Finn Teodoros—a writer.
Finneth—a woman of Candlerstown.
Funderlings—sometimes known as “delvers,” small people who specialize in stonecraft.
Gailon Tolly, Duke of Summerfield—an Eddon family cousin
Gar Doiney—a scout
Gil—a potboy at the Quiller’s Mint.
Galhbert Perkin—Count of Craneshill, Lord Chancellor of Southmarch
Gowan M’Ardall—an earl, his fiefdom is in Helmingsea
Grandfather Sulfur—a Funderling elder of the Metamorphic Brothers
Gray Companies—mercenaries and landless men turned bandits in the wake of the Great Death
Great Mother—goddess worshipped in Tuan
Greenjay—a Qar of the Trickster tribe
Gregor of Syan—a famous bard
Grenna—a lady’s maid
Guard of Elementals—a tribe of the Qar
Gwatkin—soldier of the Southmarch royal guard
Gyir—a Qar, Yasammez’s captain, a k a “Gyrir the Storm Lantern”
Gypsum—a Funderling family
Habbili—a god, the crippled son of Nushash
Haketam—people of the Haketan tribe in Xand
Hammerfoot—a Qar, of Firstdeep.
Hand of the Sky—a Rooftopper deity.
Hanede—Shaso’s daughter.
Harry—Chaven’s manservant.
Harsar—Ynnir’s counselor.
Hasuris—a Xixian storyteller.
Havemore—Brone’s factor.
Hendon Tolly—youngest of the Tolly brothers.
Heryn Millward—a Southmarch royal guard.
Hesper—King of Jellon, betrayer of King Olin.
Hiliometes—a legendary demigod and hero.
Hisolda—Anissa’s midwife.
Hornblende—Funderling, Stonecutters Guild foreman.
Hull-Scrapes-the-Sand—Skimmer extended family.
Iaris—an oracle of Kermos, a semi-saint.
Idrin—young son of Gowan of Helmingsea.
Ivar Brenhill—a knight and nobleman of Silverside.
Jeddin—chief of the autarch’s Leopard guards, also known as “Jin.”
Jem Tallow—a Southmarch guard officer.
Karal—King of Syan killed by Qar at Coldgray Moor.
Kaspar Dyelos—Chaven’s mentor, a.k.a. “Warlock of Krace.”
Kellick Eddon—great-grandnephew of Anglin, first of Eddon family March Kings.
Kendrick Eddon—Prince Regent of Southmarch, eldest son of King Olin.
Kermos—earth god.
Kert hillmen—a wild tribe that lives northwest of Kertewall.
King Nikolos—Syan monarch who moved the Trigonarchy out of Hierosol.
Krisanthe—Queen Meriel’s mother, the twins’ grandmother.
Kupilas—god of healing.
Lander III—son of Karal, King of Syan, a.k.a. “Lander the Good,” “Lander Elfbane.”
Lapis—Chert’s mother.
Layhn—uncle of Tyne Aldritch.
Laybrick—a Southmarch guard.
Leotrodos—Perikalese scientist friend of Chaven.
Lepthis—an Autarch of Xis.
Lew—a Southmarch guard.
Lindon Tolly—father of Gailon, former First Minister of March Kingdoms.
Lily—Anglin’s granddaughter, queen who led Southmarch in time of Gray Companies.
Little Carbon—a Funderling craftsman.
Little Raemon—Raemon Beck’s oldest son.
Lord of the Peak—a Rooftopper deity.
Lorick Eddon—Olin’s older brother, who died young.
Ludis Drakava—Protector of Hierosol.
Luian—an important Favored in the Seclusion, previously known as “Dudon.”
Madi Surazem—goddess of childbirth.
Matthias Tinwright—a poet, a k a “Matty.”
Mayne Calough—a nobleman and knight.
Meriel—Olin’s first wife, daughter of a powerful Brennish duke.
Merolanna—the twin’s great-aunt, originally of Fael, widow of Daman Eddon.
Mesiya—moon goddess.
Metamorphic Brothers—a Funderling religious order.
Mica—Schist family member, Hornblende’s nephew.
Mickeal Southstead—a Southmarch guard.
Mistress Jennikin—Chaven’s housekeeper.
Moina Hartsbrook—a young Helmingsea noblewoman, one of Briony’s ladies-in-waiting.
Mokori—one of the autarch’s stranglers.
Mormng-in-Eye—a Qar of the Changing People.
Muchmore—a Southmarch scout.
Nevin Hewney—a playwright.
Nodule—Chert’s brother, a k a “Magister Blue Quartz.”
Nose, Grand and Worthy—a Rooftopper dignitary.
Nushash—Xixian god of fire, patron god of the autarchs.
Nynor—Steffans Nynor, Count of Redtree, Lord Castellan of Southmarch Castle.
Old High Feldspar—a wise elder of the Funderlings, now deceased.
Old Pyrites—a Funderling acquaintance of Chert and Opal.
Olin—King of Southmarch and the March Kingdoms.
Onsin—a Candlerstown blacksmith, called “Oak-arms.”
Opal—a Funderling, Chert’s wife.
Panhyssir—Xixian high priest of Nushash.
Parnad—father of current autarch, Sulepis, sometimes known as “the Unsleeping.”
Pedar Vansen—Ferras Vansen’s father
Perin—sky god, called “Thane of Lightnings”
Pinimmon Vash—Paramount Minister of Xis
Prusus—scotarch of Xis, sometimes called “Prusus the Cripple”
Pumice—a Funderling guildsman
Purifiers—fanatics who banded together to punish Qar and others for the Great Death.
Puzzle—court jester to the Eddon family
Qar—race of non-humans who once occupied much of Eion
Quicksilver—important Funderling family
Quiet People—a name for the Qar Qinnitan—an acolyte of the Hive in Xis
Raemon Beck—member of a Helmingsea trading family
Rafe—Ena’s friend, Hull-Scraped-the-Sand clan
Raven, Prince of Birds—character from legend
Robben Hulligan—a musician, friend of Puzzle
Rocksalt—a Funderling peddler.
Rooftoppers—little-known residents of Southmarch Castle
Rorick—Earl of Daler s Troth, an Eddon cousin of Brennish ancestry, related to Meriel.
Rose Trelling—one of Briony’s ladies-in-waiting, a niece of Avin Brone
Rugan—the High Priestess of the Hive
Rule—Avin Brone s informant
Rusha—a hairdresser in the Royal Seclusion
Sanasu—widow of Kellick Eddon, known as “Weeping Queen”
Sandstone—a Funderling family
Sawney Wander-Eye—a Skimmer
Schist—a Funderling family, one of them is chorister of Funderling Town.
Sedimentary—a Funderling clan made up of several families
Selia—Anissa’s maid, also from Devonis
Shaso dan-Heza—Southmarch master of arms
Silas of Perikal—semi-legendary knight
Sni’sni’snik-soortah—Rooftopper name for “Rooftoppers.”
Sisel—Hierarch of Southmarch, chief religious figure m March Kingdoms.
Siveda—goddess of night.
Sivney Fiddicks—a nobleman and knight.
Skimmers—a people who make their livings on and around water.
Stone Circle People—a Qar tribe.
Stone of the Unwilling—a Qar of the Guard of Elementals.
Surigah—Xixian goddess.
Sveros—old god of the night sky, father of Tngon gods.
Talc—Schist family member, Hornblende’s nephew.
Tanyssa—a gardener and errand-runner in the Royal Seclusion.
Three Highest—reference to the gods of the Tngon.
Timoid, Father—Eddon family mantis (priest)
Toby—Chaven’s assistant.
Tricksters—a tribe of the Qar.
Trigon—priesthoods of Perin, Erivor, and Kernios acting in concert.
Trigonarch—Head of Trigon, chief religious figure in Eion.
Tully Joiner—a man of Candlerstown.
Turley Longfingers—a Skimmer fisherman, Back-on-Sunset-Tide clan.
Twelve Families—governing body of old Hierosol.
Twilight People—another name for the Qar.
Tyne Aldritch—Earl of Blueshore, an ally of Southmarch.
Uncle Flint—Chert’s uncle.
Upsteeplebat, Queen—monarch of the Rooftoppers.
Ustin—King Olin’s father.
Utta—a.k.a. “Sister Utta,” a priestess of Zoria and Briony’s tutor.
Whispering Mothers—Qar, known as “They who nurse the Great Egg.”
Widow Rocksalt—a Funderling.
Willow—a young woman.
Yasammez—Qar noblewoman, sometimes known as “Lady Porcupine,” or “Scourge of the Shivering Plain”
Yellow Knight—nemesis of Silas of Perikal
Ynnir the Blind King—lord of the Qar, “Ynnir din’at sen-Qin, Lord of Winds and Thought,” a.k.a.”Son of the First Stone”
Young Pyrite—a Funderling
Zoria—goddess of wisdom
Zmeos—a god, Perin’s nemesis
Zosim—son of Erilo, god of playwrights and drunkards.
PLACES
Akans—an island between Xand and Eion.
Badger’s Boots—a Southmarch inn.
Basilisk Gate—main gate of Southmarch Castle.
Beetle Way—street in
Funderling Town.
Bird Snare Market—a marketplace in Xis.
Brenland—small country south of the March Kingdoms.
Brenn’s Bay—named after a legendary hero.
Candlerstown—Daler’s Troth town.
Cascade Stair—in the Funderling Depths.
Cat’s Eye Street—a street in Xis.
Chapel of Erivor—Eddon family chapel.
Chamber of Cloud-Crystal—in the Funderling Depths.
Cloud-Spirit Tower—a tower in Qul-na-Qar.
Coldgray Moor—legendary battleground, from a Qar word, “Qul. Girah.”
Creedy’s Inn—tavern in Greater Stell
Dale House—Daler’s Troth town, seat of Earl Rorick
Deep Library—a place in Qul-na-Qar
Eastmarch Academy—university, originally in old Eastmarch, relocated to Southmarch at the time of the last war with the Qar
Eastside Gate—one of the gates of Candlerstown
Eion—the northern continent
Emberstone Reach—in the Funderling Depths
Fael—a nation in the heartland of Eion
Faneshill—a large town south of the Settland Road
Farmers’ Hall—an ornamental hall in the Throne Hall
Feather Cape Row—a street in Xis
Firstdeeps—a place in Qar lands
Fitter’s Row—a street in Southmarch
Free Kingdoms—the kingdoms of Eion which have not fallen under the Autarch’s rule.
Funderling Town—underground city of Funderlings, in Southmarch
Garden of Queen Sodan—a garden in the Royal Seclusion of Xis
Great Gable—Rooftopper sacred spot
Greater Stell—Dalter’s Troth town
Gypsum Way—a street in Funderling Town i.
Hangskin Row—a street near the Old Tannery Dock.
Hawkshill—Daler’s Troth town.
Hidden Hall—part of the Rooftopper kingdom.
