by David Weber
“My, you are in a testy mood,” Merlin observed mildly.
“I’ve got a lot to be testy about,” Cayleb shot back. “This hasn’t exactly been the easiest year we’ve ever had, you know.”
“Yes, I do know,” Merlin said more gently. “But Hektor has Irys, Daivyn, and Coris safely back aboard Destiny. They’ll be headed home soon, and it should be interesting to see how Corisande reacts when Coris and Irys tell them it was Clyntahn who had Hektor murdered … and tried to murder Daivyn, as well. And for better or worse, Clyntahn’s come out into the open on the mainland. This isn’t just an overseas war for Howard and the Havens anymore, and that was his decision, not ours. In the long run, I think it’s going to come home to roost with a vengeance, as long as Stohnar does manage to hold. And Ehdwyrd and Seamount have the new rifled guns in production, not to mention Mahndrayn’s breech-loaders. I know we all miss Mahndrayn, but that was a brilliant design approach, and the Church isn’t going to like it one bit when it runs into them in the field. Kynt Clareyk’s about to suggest infantry mortars, as well, and that’s going to come as an unpleasant surprise to our friend Clyntahn, too. And then there’s Ehdwyrd’s first steam engine. That’s going to be a game-changer, especially since we won’t have to waste all that time tinkering and experimenting to improve it into a working proposition like they did back on Old Terra.”
“Are you trying to cheer me up by pointing out that the momentum is on our side?” Cayleb asked dryly. “Because, if you are, allow me to point out that for the next several months, at least, the momentum’s going to be rather solidly on Clyntahn’s side in Siddarmark. And if he knocks off the Republic, we’ll be a long time looking for another opportunity to establish a foothold anywhere on the mainland.”
“You are determined to be gloomy,” Merlin said in a gently teasing voice. “And, no, I wasn’t trying to tell you the momentum was on our side. I’m not even going to argue at this point that history is on our side, although I think it probably is. No, I’m just thinking about something you said a while back, Cayleb. This has been a bad year in a lot of ways … but we’re still here, and we’re stronger than we were the year before. And the reason we are is that you and Sharley and Maikel have laid a foundation here in Charis that someone like Zhaspahr Clyntahn will never be able to appreciate or match. Charis understands what this is about, and that’s our strength, the bedrock that Clyntahn doesn’t even begin to understand. These people—your people—recognize evil when they see it, and they’re not willing to let it triumph. They refuse to see it triumph. They may not know all that we know, and they’ve damned well never heard of the Terran Federation or the Gbaba, but they’re ready to pay the price to buy their children’s and their children’s children’s freedom from what Clyntahn represents, whatever that price is. And when you come down to it,” Merlin smiled crookedly, “we can work with that, you know.”
“You do have a way of finding a bright side, don’t you? What was it they called that back in the old days—a Pollyanna, I think?” Cayleb replied, but he was looking at his wife as he spoke, and he, too, smiled. He cupped one hand over the back of his sleeping daughter’s head and hugged her gently, and then he nodded.
“But you’re right, Merlin,” he said softly. “We can work with that.”
Characters
ABYLYN, CHARLZ—a senior leader of the Temple Loyalists in Charis.
AHBAHT, CAPTAIN RUHSAIL, IMPERIAL DESNAIRIAN NAVY—commanding officer HMS Archangel Chihiro, 40; Commodore Wailahr’s flag captain.
AHBAHT, LYWYS—Edmynd Walkyr’s brother-in-law; XO, merchant galleon Wind.
AHBAHT, ZHEFRY—Earl Gray Harbor’s personal secretary. He fulfills many of the functions of an undersecretary of state for foreign affairs.
AHDYMSYN, BISHOP ZHERALD—previously Erayk Dynnys’ bishop executor for Charis, now one of Archbishop Maikel’s senior auxiliary bishops.
AHLAIXSYN, RAIF—well-to-do Siddarmarkian poet and dilettante; a Reformist.
AHLBAIR, LIEUTENANT ZHEROHM, ROYAL CHARISIAN NAVY—first lieutenant, HMS Typhoon.
AHLDARM, MAHRYS OHLARN—Mahrys IV, Emperor of Desnair.
AHLVAI, CAPTAIN MAHLYK, IMPERIAL DESNAIRIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Emperor Zhorj, 48. Baron Jahras’ flag captain.
AHLVEREZ, ADMIRAL-GENERAL FAIDEL, ROYAL DOHLARAN NAVY—Duke of Malikai; King Rahnyld IV of Dohlar’s senior admiral.
AHLWAIL, BRAIHD—Father Paityr Wylsynn’s valet.
AHNDAIRS, TAILAHR—a Charisian-born Temple Loyalist living in the Temple Lands recruited for Operation Rakurai.
AHRDYN—Archbishop Maikel’s cat-lizard.
AHRMAHK, CAYLEB ZHAN HAARAHLD BRYAHN—Duke of Ahrmahk, Prince of Tellesberg, Prince Protector of the Realm, King Cayleb II of Charis, Emperor Cayleb I of Charis. Husband of Sharleyan Ahrmahk.
AHRMAHK, CROWN PRINCESS ALAHNAH ZHANAYT NAIMU—infant daughter of Cayleb and Sharleyan Ahrmahk; heir to the imperial Charisian crown.
AHRMAHK, HAARAHLD VII—King of Charis.
AHRMAHK, KAHLVYN—Duke of Tirian (deceased), Constable of Hairatha; King Haarahld VII’s first cousin.
AHRMAHK, KAHLVYN CAYLEB—younger son of Kahlvyn Ahrmahk, deceased Duke Tirian, King Cayleb’s first cousin once removed.
AHRMAHK, RAYJHIS—Duke of Tirian; Kahlvyn Ahrmahk’s elder son and heir.
AHRMAHK, SHARLEYAN ALAHNAH ZHENYFYR AHLYSSA TAYT—Duchess of Cherayth, Lady Protector of Chisholm, Queen of Chisholm, Empress of Charis. Wife of Cayleb Ahrmahk. See also Sharleyan Tayt.
AHRMAHK, ZHAN—Crown Prince Zhan; King Cayleb’s younger brother.
AHRMAHK, ZHANAYT—Queen Zhanayt; King Haarahld’s deceased wife; mother of Cayleb, Zhanayt, and Zhan.
AHRMAHK, ZHANAYT—Princess Zhanayt; Cayleb Ahrmahk’s younger sister; second eldest child of King Haarahld VII.
AHRMAHK, ZHENYFYR—Dowager Duchess of Tirian; mother of Kahlvyn Cayleb Ahrmahk; daughter of Rayjhis Yowance, Earl Gray Harbor.
AHRNAHLD, SPYNSAIR—Empress Sharleyan’s personal clerk and secretary.
AHRTHYR, SIR ALYK, CORISANDIAN GUARD—Earl of Windshare; Sir Koryn Gahrvai’s cavalry commander.
AHSTYN, LIEUTENANT FRANZ, CHARISIAN ROYAL GUARD—the second-in-command of King Cayleb II’s personal bodyguard.
AHZGOOD, PHYLYP—Earl of Coris; previously spymaster for Prince Hektor of Corisande; currently legal guardian for Princess Irys Daykyn and Prince Daivyn Daykyn.
AIMAYL, RAHN—a member of the anti-Charis resistance in Manchyr, Corisande. An ex-apprentice of Paitryk Hainree’s.
AIRNHART, FATHER SAIMYN—Father Zohannes Pahtkovair’s immediate subordinate. A Schuelerite.
AIRYTH, EARL OF—see Trumyn Sowthmyn.
AIWAIN, CAPTAIN HARYS, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Shield, 54.
ALBAN, LIEUTENANT COMMANDER NIMUE, TFN—Admiral Pei Kau-zhi’s tactical officer.
ANVIL ROCK, EARL OF—See Sir Rysel Gahrvai.
APLYN-AHRMAHK, ENSIGN HEKTOR, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—Duke of Darcos; ensign, HMS Destiny, 54; later promoted to lieutenant and serves as Sir Dunkyn Yairley’s flag lieutenant. Cayleb Ahrmahk’s adoptive son.
ARCHBISHOP MAIKEL—see Archbishop Maikel Staynair.
ARCHBISHOP PAWAL—see Archbishop Pawal Braynair.
ARTHMYN, FATHER OHMAHR—senior healer, imperial Palace, Tellesberg.
ATHRAWES, CAPTAIN MERLIN, CHARISIAN IMPERIAL GUARD—King Cayleb II’s personal armsman; the cybernetic avatar of Commander Nimue Alban.
AYMEZ, MIDSHIPMAN BARDULF, ROYAL CHARISIAN NAVY—a midshipman, HMS Typhoon.
BAHLTYN, ZHEEVYS—Baron White Ford’s valet.
BAHNYR, HEKTOR—Earl of Mancora; one of Sir Koryn Gahrvai’s senior officers; commander of the right wing at Haryl’s Crossing.
BAHR, DAHNNAH—senior chef, Imperial Palace, Cherayth.
BAHRDAHN, CAPTAIN PHYLYP, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Undaunted, 56.
BAHRDAILAHN, LIEUTENANT SIR AHBAIL, ROYAL DOHLARAN NAVY—the Earl of Thirsk’s flag lieutenant.
BAHRMYN, ARCHB
ISHOP BORYS—Archbishop of Corisande for the Church of God Awaiting.
BAHRMYN, TOHMYS—Baron White Castle; Prince Hektor’s ambassador to Prince Nahrmahn.
BAHRNS, KING RAHNYLD IV—King of Dohlar.
BAHZKAI, LAIYAN—a Leveler and printer in Siddar City; a leader of the Sword of Schueler.
BAIKET, CAPTAIN STYWYRT, ROYAL DOHLARAN NAVY—CO, HMS Chihiro, 50; the Earl of Thirsk’s flag captain.
BAIKYR, CAPTAIN SYLMAHN, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Ahrmahk, 58. High Admiral Lock Island’s flag captain.
BAILAHND, SISTER AHMAI—Mother Abbess Ahmai Bailahnd of the Abbey of Saint Evehlain.
BAIRAHT, DAIVYN—Duke of Kholman; Emperor Mahrys IV of Desnair’s Navy minister; Sir Urwyn Hahltar’s brother-in-law.
BAIRZHAIR, BROTHER TAIRAINCE—treasurer of the Monastery of Saint Zherneau.
BANAHR, FATHER AHZWALD—head of the priory of Saint Hamlyn, city of Sarayn, Kingdom of Charis.
BARCOR, BARON OF—see Sir Zher Sumyrs.
BAYTZ, FELAYZ—Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald’s youngest child and second daughter.
BAYTZ, HANBYL—Duke of Solomon; Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald’s uncle and the commander of the Emeraldian Army.
BAYTZ, MAHRYA—Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald’s oldest child.
BAYTZ, NAHRMAHN GAREYT—second child and elder son of Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald.
BAYTZ, NAHRMAHN HANBYL GRAIM—see Prince Nahrmahn Baytz.
BAYTZ, PRINCE NAHRMAHN II—ruler of the Princedom of Emerald; Cayleb and Sharleyan Ahrmahk’s Imperial Councilor for Intelligence.
BAYTZ, PRINCESS OHLYVYA—wife of Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald.
BAYTZ, TRAHVYS—Prince Nahrmahn of Emerald’s third child and second son.
BÉDARD, DR. ADORÉE, PH.D.—chief psychiatrist, Operation Ark.
BISHOP EXECUTOR WYLLYS—see Bishop Executor Wyllys Graisyn.
BISHOP ZHERALD—see Bishop Zherald Ahdymsyn.
BLACK WATER, DUKE OF—see Sir Adulfo Lynkyn.
BLACK WATER, DUKE OF—see Admiral Ernyst Lynkyn.
BLAHNDAI, CHANTAHAL—an alias of Lysbet Wylsynn in Zion.
BLAIDYN, LIEUTENANT ROZHYR, ROYAL DOHLARAN NAVY—second lieutenant, galley Royal Bédard.
BORYS, ARCHBISHOP—see Archbishop Borys Bahrmyn.
BOWAVE, DAIRAK—Dr. Rahzhyr Mahklyn’s senior assistant, Royal College, Tellesberg.
BOWSHAM, CAPTAIN KHANAIR, ROYAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Gale.
BRADLAI, LIEUTENANT ROBYRT, ROYAL CORISANDIAN NAVY—true name of Captain Styvyn Whaite.
BRAIDAIL, BROTHER ZHILBYRT—under-priest of the Order of Schueler; a junior Inquisitor in Talkyra.
BRAISHAIR, CAPTAIN HORYS, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Rock Point, 38. POW of Earl Thirsk surrendered to the Inquisition.
BRAISYN, AHRNAHLD, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—a member of Stywyrt Mahlyk’s boat crew.
BRAYNAIR, ARCHBISHOP PAWAL—Archbishop of Chisholm for the Church of Charis.
BREYGART, COLONEL SIR HAUWERD, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—the rightful heir to the Earldom of Hanth. Becomes earl 893.
BREYGART, FRAIDARECK—fourteenth Earl of Hanth; Hauwerd Breygart’s great-grandfather.
BROUN, FATHER MAHTAIO—Archbishop Erayk Dynnys’ senior secretary and aide; Archbishop Erayk’s confidant and protégé.
BROWNYNG, CAPTAIN ELLYS—CO, Temple galleon Blessed Langhorne.
BRYNDYN, MAJOR DAHRYN—the senior artillery officer attached to Brigadier Clareyk’s column at Haryl’s Priory.
BYRK, FATHER MYRTAN—upper-priest of the Order of Schueler; Father Vyktyr Tahrlsahn’s second-in-command.
BYRK, MAJOR BREKYN, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—CO, Marine detachment, HMS Royal Charis.
BYRKYT, FATHER ZHON—former abbot and current librarian of the Monastery of Saint Zherneau.
CAHKRAYN, SAMYL—Duke of Fern, King Rahnyld IV of Dohlar’s first councilor.
CAHMMYNG, AHLBAIR—a professional assassin working for Father Aidryn Waimyn.
CAHNYR, ARCHBISHOP ZHASYN—fugitive Archbishop of Glacierheart; a Reformist member of Samyl Wylsynn’s Circle; a major spiritual leader of the Reformists in Siddar City.
CHAHLMAIR, SIR BAIRMON—Duke of Margo; a member of Prince Daivyn’s Regency Council.
CHAIMBYRS, LIEUTENANT ZHUSTYN, IMPERIAL DESNAIRIAN NAVY—second lieutenant, HMS Archangel Chihiro, 40.
CHALMYR, LIEUTENANT MAILVYN, ROYAL CHARISIAN NAVY—first lieutenant, HMS Tellesberg.
CHALMYRZ, FATHER KARLOS—Archbishop Borys Bahrmyn’s aide and secretary.
CHARLZ, CAPTAIN MARIK—CO, Charisian merchant ship Wave Daughter.
CHARLZ, MASTER YEREK, ROYAL CHARISIAN NAVY—gunner, HMS Wave, 14.
CHERMYN, MATHYLD—Hauwyl Chermyn’s wife.
CHERMYN, RHAZ—Hauwyl Chermyn’s oldest son.
CHERMYN, VICEROY GENERAL HAUWYL, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN MARINES—CO, Charisian occupation forces in Corisande. Cayleb and Sharleyan Ahrmahk’s regent in Corisande; later Grand Duke of Zebediah.
CHERYNG, LIEUTENANT TAIWYL—a junior officer on Sir Vyk Lakyr’s staff; he is in charge of Lakyr’s clerks and message traffic.
CLAREYK, GENERAL KYNT, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN ARMY—Baron of Green Valley. Ex-brigadier, Imperial Charisian Marines.
CLYNTAHN, VICAR ZHASPAHR—Grand Inquisitor of the Church of God Awaiting; one of the so-called Group of Four.
COHLMYN, ADMIRAL SIR LEWK, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—Earl Sharpfield, second-ranking officer, Imperial Charisian Navy. Ex-Royal Chisholmian Navy.
CORIS, EARL OF—see Phylyp Ahzgood.
CRAGGY HILL, EARL OF—see Wahlys Hillkeeper.
DAHNVAHR, AINSAIL—Charisian-born Temple Loyalist living in the Temple Lands recruited for Operation Rakurai.
DAHNVAHR, RAHZHYR—Ainsail Dahnvahr’s father.
DAHNVAIR, CAPTAIN LAIZAHNDO, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Royal Kraken, 58.
DAHNZAI, LYZBYT—Father Zhaif Laityr’s housekeeper at the Church of the Holy Archangels Triumphant.
DAHRYUS, MASTER EDVARHD—an alias of Bishop Mylz Halcom.
DAIKHAR, LIEUTENANT MOHTOHKAI, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—XO, HMS Dart, 54.
DAIKYN, GAHLVYN—King Cayleb’s valet.
DAIVYS, MYTRAHN—a Charisian Temple Loyalist.
DARCOS, DUKE OF—see Hektor Aplyn-Ahrmahk.
DARYS, CAPTAIN TYMYTHY, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Destroyer, 54. Sir Domynyk Staynair’s flag captain.
DAYKYN, DAIVYN—Prince Hektor of Corisande’s youngest child. Prince of Corisande in exile following his father’s assassination.
DAYKYN, HEKTOR—Prince of Corisande, leader of the League of Corisande. Assassinated 893.
DAYKYN, HEKTOR (THE YOUNGER)—Prince Hektor of Corisande’s second oldest child and heir apparent. Assassinated 893.
DAYKYN, IRYS—daughter of Prince Hektor of Corisande; older sister of Prince Daivyn.
DAYKYN, RAICHYNDA—Prince Hektor of Corisande’s deceased wife; born in Earldom of Domair, Kingdom of Hoth.
DEEP HOLLOW, EARL OF—see Bryahn Selkyr.
DEKYN, SERGEANT ALLAYN—one of Kairmyn’s noncoms, Delferahkan Army.
DOBYNS, CHARLZ—son of Lyzbyt Dobyns; an adolescent Corisandian convicted of treason as part of the Northern Conspiracy.
DOBYNS, EZMELDA—Father Tymahn Hahskans’ housekeeper at Saint Kathryn’s church.
DOYAL, SIR CHARLZ, CORISANDIAN GUARD—former artillery commander in Prince Hektor’s field army; now chief of staff and senior intelligence officer for Sir Koryn Gahrvai.
DRAGONER, CORPORAL ZHAK, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—a member of Crown Prince Cayleb’s bodyguard.
DRAGONER, SIR RAYJHIS—Charisian ambassador to the Republic of Siddarmark.
DRAGONMASTER, BRIGADE SERGEANT MAJOR MAHKYNTY (“MAHK”), ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—Brigadier Clareyk’s senior noncom during Corisande Campaign.
DUCHAIRN, VICAR RHOBAIR—Minister of Treasury, Council of Vicars; one of the so-called Group of Four.
DYMYTREE, FRONZ, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—a memb
er of Crown Prince Cayleb’s bodyguard.
DYNNYS, ADORAI—Archbishop Erayk Dynnys’ wife.
DYNNYS, ARCHBISHOP ERAYK—Archbishop of Charis. Executed for heresy 892.
DYNNYS, STYVYN—Archbishop Erayk Dynnys’ younger son, age eleven in 892.
DYNNYS, TYMYTHY ERAYK—Archbishop Erayk Dynnys’ older son, age fourteen in 892.
EASTSHARE, DUKE OF—see Ruhsyl Thairis.
EDWYRDS, KEVYN—XO, privateer galleon Kraken.
EKYRD, CAPTAIN HAYRYS, ROYAL DOHLARAN NAVY—CO, galley King Rahnyld.
EMPEROR CAYLEB—see Cayleb Ahrmahk.
EMPEROR MAHRYS IV—see Mahrys Ohlarn Ahldarm.
EMPEROR WAISU VI—see Waisu Hantai.
EMPRESS SHARLEYAN—see Sharleyan Ahrmahk.
ERAYK, ARCHBISHOP—see Erayk Dynnys.
ERAYKSYN, LIEUTENANT STYVYN, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN NAVY—Sir Domynyk Staynair’s flag lieutenant.
ERAYKSYN, WYLLYM—a Charisian textiles manufacturer.
FAHRMAHN, PRIVATE LUHYS, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—a member of Crown Prince Cayleb’s bodyguard.
FAHRMYN, FATHER TAIRYN—the priest assigned to Saint Chihiro’s Church, a village church near the Convent of Saint Agtha.
FAHRNO, MAHRLYS—one of Madam Ahnzhelyk Phonda’s courtesans.
FAHRYA, CAPTAIN BYRNAHRDO, IMPERIAL DESNAIRIAN NAVY—CO, HMS Holy Langhorne, 42.
FAIRCASTER, SERGEANT PAYTER, CHARISIAN ROYAL GUARD—one of Emperor Cayleb’s personal guardsmen. A transferee from Crown Prince Cayleb’s Marine detachment.
FAIRYS, COLONEL AHLVYN, IMPERIAL CHARISIAN MARINES—CO, First Regiment, Third Brigade, ICMC.
FALKHAN, LIEUTENANT AHRNAHLD, ROYAL CHARISIAN MARINES—CO, Crown Prince Cayleb’s personal bodyguard. Later CO, Prince Zhan Ahrmahk’s bodyguard.
FATHER MICHAEL—parish priest of Lakeview.
FAUYAIR, BROTHER BAHRTALAM—almoner of the Monastery of Saint Zherneau.
FERN, DUKE OF—see Samyl Cahkrayn.
FHAIRLY, MAJOR AHDYM—the senior battery commander on East Island, Ferayd Sound, Kingdom of Delferahk.
FHARMYN, SIR RYK—a foundry owner/ironmaster in the Kingdom of Tarot.
FOFÃO, CAPTAIN MATEUS, TFN—CO, TFNS Swiftsure.
