The Ever After

by Amanda Hocking

  Förening, Minnesota—the capital and largest city of the Trylle kingdom. It is a compound in the bluffs along the Mississippi River in Minnesota where the palace is located.

  Förening Tertiary Educational Center—a post-secondary institution in Förening that specializes in trades and apprenticeships, aimed at non-changeling Trylle and mänsklig. It offers licensures in nursing, woodworking, culinary arts, veterinary medicine, and teaching, among many others.

  Forsa River—the river that runs through Merellä. It is a wide stream that slices the city in half and meets the ocean. The name means “rushing stream.”

  Frey—a mythological figure. To humans, he is known as the legendary Norse deity of virility and fair weather. To trolls, he is a troll from Alfheim who stayed behind to help rebuild their kingdom after the Battle for the Bridge. He is a prominent figure in the Älvolk cult known as the Freyarian Älvolk.

  Freyarian Älvolk—the followers of the Älvolk who began following the more extreme teachings of Frey. See Frey.

  fúinn muitit—an incantation used by the Älvolk to cause slow memory decay over time. It is a phrase from Irytakki meaning “rotting memory.”

  Fulaträsk, Louisiana—the capital city of the Omte, spread out in the trees and swamps of the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana.

  gädda—the Swedish name for pike. See northern pike.

  geitvaktmann—a goat watchman, similar to a shepherd or a peurojen.

  giant woolly elk—a name that trolls have given the line of Irish elk they breed. See Irish elk.

  girjastu—the Älvolk word for “library.”

  gräddtårta—a Swedish cream-layer cake. Common during Midsommar.

  Grændöden—a plague. See Green Death.

  Green Death, The—a mass death in the thirteenth-century of Scandinavian trolls. Troll historians believe that it was an outbreak of C. viridi.

  häxdoktor—a medicine man for the Älvolk.

  hnefatafl—a family of ancient Nordic and Celtic strategy games played on a checkered or latticed game board with two armies of uneven numbers.

  hobgoblin—an ugly troll that stands no more than three feet tall, known only to the Vittra tribes. They are distinct from Vittra trolls with more humanoid features and attractive appearance who have dwarfism. Hobgoblins are slow-witted, possess a supernatural strength, and have slimy skin with a pimply complexion.

  host family—the family that a changeling is left with. They are chosen based on their ranking in human society, with their wealth being the primary consideration. The higher-ranked the member of troll society, the more powerful and affluent the host family their changeling is left with.

  hrudda—a word in Irytakki meaning “hurry.”

  Hudson Bay—a large bay in Canada. Doldastam is located on the Manitoba side, with Iqaluit across the bay on the Nunavut side.

  Information Styrelse—a committee in charge of information (similar to a board of education) in the Mimirin. These boards are subordinate only to their members and the Korva, and they preside over the Mästares and the teaching staff (including docents). The name comes from the Swedish word styrelse, meaning “board of directors.” The word information is the same in both Swedish and English. Each of these boards has thirteen members.

  Inhemsk Project—an effort undertaken by the Mimirin in Merellä to help trolls of mixed blood find their place in the troll world. Though it is primarily run by the Vittra, it is open to trolls from any of the five tribes. The main purpose is to combat the dwindling populations of the trolls (due both to issues like infertility among the Vittra and Skojare, as well as changelings choosing to live among the humans or being exiled because of their mixed race). The effort also seeks to reconnect trolls with their heritage and pass along history and culture.

  inovotto muitit—an incantation meaning “never remember.” The Älvolk use it to erase memories.

  Invasion of Doldastam—the final battle in the Kanin Civil War that ended the war in May 2014. The Dålig supporters were led by Viktor and Karmin Dålig allied with the Kanin guards and the Omte, and the Strinne supporters were led by Bryn Aven and Mikko Biâelse allied with the Skojare, Trylle, Vittra, and many of the Kanin townsfolk. The Strinne supporters were victorious in the Invasion of Doldastam, and the invasion ended with the traitors being executed and Linus Berling coronated as the King of the Kanin.

  Iqaluit, Nunavut—the capital city of Canada’s northernmost province. It has a large Inuit population, but most residents can speak English. Despite being the largest city in Nunavut, it has a population of only around seven thousand. Nunavut has no roads connecting the towns to one another, and it is only accessible by plane, usually by flying in from Winnipeg or Churchill in Manitoba.

  Irish elk—a species of deer believed to be extinct; also known as the giant deer. It is believed to be one of the largest species of deer, but humans hunted them to extinction in the wild thousands of years ago. The Vittra have been secretly breeding and raising them, and they are known as “giant woolly elk” or “woollies.” They stand about 2.1 meters tall at the shoulders, carrying the largest antlers of any known cervid, and they can weigh over fifteen hundred pounds.

  Irytakki—a language spoken only by álfar and the Älvolk. It is a blend of the native Alfheim language and Nordic languages.

  Isarna, Sweden—an island and village in the Kalix archipelago in the Bay of Bothnia in Sweden. It is a Trylle/Skojare co-op, and the largest—and essentially only—troll settlement in Scandinavia, and is accessible only by ferry or boat. The name means “islands of ice.” The nearest human settlement is Nikkala, on mainland Sweden.

  Iskyla, Nunavut—a small Kanin village, it is one of the northernmost troll communities in the world. Some Inuit humans also live there. It has become a dumping ground for unwanted babies. The name translates to “ice.” In 2014, Iskyla had a population of 878.

  Jakob W. Rells University of Parapsychology and Medicine—a university in Seattle, Washington. Rells University is renowned for paranormal and scientific studies, and is sometimes referred to as the Harvard of parapsychology. It was established by renowned telekinetic expert and medical doctor Jakob W. Rells in 1889. Rells presented as human, but he is suspected to have been from the Trylle kingdom.

  jallaki—a word in Irytakki meaning “foolish.”

  Juni’s Jubilant Confectionery—a bakery in Doldastam, owned and operated by Juni Sköld.

  Kalix Skärgård—a group of 792 Swedish islands in the north part of the Bay of Bothnia. Skärgård literally means “archipelago” or “string of islands” in Swedish. A few of the islands have small permanent populations, but most are used only for recreation in the summer months. They are icebound during the winter.

  Kanin—one of the most powerful of the five troll tribes. They are considered quiet and dogmatic. They are known for their ability to blend in, and, like chameleons, their skin can change color to help them blend in to their surroundings. Like the Trylle, they still practice changelings, but not nearly as frequently. Only one in ten of their offspring are left as changelings. The Kanin are also the oldest tribe of trolls, having been the original troll tribe before the brothers Norund the Younger and Jorund the Elder fought about moving south in circa 1200 CE. Norund stayed in the north, strengthening the Kanin in Doldastam, while his brother went south and established the Vittra in Ondarike.

  Karelian Piiraka—a Finnish rye pastry. Rye-crusted, hand-held pies with rice porridge as the most common filling, but a mix of root vegetables as filling is a frequent variation.

  kasteren axe—a small hatchet with curved blades, similar to an ulu knife, with a long, slender handle. Used in the game of økkspill. The name means “thrower.”

  Kebnekaise—the highest mountain in Sweden. The Kebnekaise massif, which is part of the Scandinavian Mountains, has two main peaks, of which the southern, glaciated one is highest at 2,097.5 meters (6,882 feet) above sea level as of August 2014. The mountain is in Swedish Lapland, about 150 kilometers (93 miles
) north of the Arctic Circle.

  klampiveleska—an álfar term for spouse or life partner; the literal translation is “the one you fondly choose to be joined with.”

  Korva—a title for the Mimirin dean. The name means “crown.” The Korva is the highest position in the Mimirin.

  Lake Sodalen—an elongated mountain lake in the valley of the Kiruna municipality in the Swedish Lapland. In summer, boat traffic runs on the lake. The name means “valley lake.”

  leat fámus—an incantation meaning “to be open” in Irytakki.

  Lost Bridge of Dimma—a legendary bridge in troll mythology—akin to the city of Atlantis or the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—that is watched over by the Älvolk. The bridge was alleged to have connected the ancient troll city Áibmoráigi to the utopian kingdom of Alfheim, and it was believed to have collapsed before the end of the Viking Age (circa 1000 CE). The bridge was lost and the First City of Áibmoráigi was destroyed during the Battle for the Bridge, also known as Vígríðabifröst.

  lysa—a telekinetic ability related to astral projection that allows one troll to psychically enter another troll’s thoughts through a vision, usually a dream.

  mänsklig—often shortened to mänks. The literal translation for the word mänsklig is “human,” but it has come to describe the human child that is taken when the Trylle offspring is left behind.

  Markis—a title of male royalty in troll society. Similar to the title of Duke, it’s given to trolls with superior bloodlines and their correlating telekinetic abilities. Markis have a higher ranking than the average troll, but are beneath the King and Queen. The hierarchy of troll society is as follows: King/Queen; Prince/Princess; Markis/Marksinna; Högdragen; troll citizens; trackers; mänsklig; host families; humans (not raised in troll society).

  Markis and the Shadow, The—a troll reinterpretation of the Danish fairy tale Skyggen (in English, The Shadow).

  Markis Ansvarig—a position of authority in troll communities, similar to a mayor or chieftain. Literal translation is “Markis-in-charge.” It is a position used in cities without any major royals, like King/Queen or Prince/Princess. The female equivalent would be Marksinna Ansvariga.

  Marksinna—a title of female royalty in troll society. The female equivalent of the Markis.

  Mästare—the title given to prestigious department heads at the Mimirin.

  Merellä, Oregon—a large, affluent citadel in Oregon. It is technically under the Vittra rule, but many trolls from tribes all over live there. It is virtually a metropolis compared to most troll towns and villages, and it is essentially a college town built around the Mimirin Talo institution and library. The name means “by the sea.” It is one of the oldest cities in North America, having been colonized after the trolls came over with the Vikings. Trolls first arrived in North America in early 1000 CE, and the trolls began moving west to get away from the violence of the Vikings. They settled Merellä around 1400 CE. It remains hidden with powerful cloaking spells by the Ögonen.

  Midsommar—a trollized version of the festival “Midsommarafton” or “Midsummer’s Eve.” It is a summer festival, celebrating the end of the long winter, with flowers, greenery, and maypoles.

  Mimirin, the—the great institution and library that holds much of the history of the trolls, located in the city of Merellä. The full official name is “Mimirin Talo,” which means “House of Mimir,” a reference to Mimir, the Norse god of knowledge and remembering. The Vittra were inspired by the Museum in Alexandria to build the Mimirin hundreds of years ago.

  Mörkaston, Nevada—a Vittra city located near Ruby Dome in northeastern Nevada. The name is an anglicized version of mörkaste höjden, which means “darkest point.”

  mourning flower—See sorgblomma.

  nettle—a stinging herbaceous plant common in Scandinavia. Nettles lose their sting when cooked and can be used in lieu of spinach or any other leafy green. Nettles can also be used dried and brewed as a tea.

  Ningrava, Newfoundland—a Kanin village located in Newfoundland, Canada. The name is a shortened version of kanin grava, meaning “rabbit burrow.”

  Norra av Nord—a restaurant on Lake Sodalen in Sweden. The name means “Norra of the North” in Swedish, after its owner Norra.

  northern pike—a species of carnivorous fish common in the brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere, including the U.S. and Sweden. Pike can grow to a relatively large size, with European versions being the largest. Known as northerns and pike in Minnesota, and gädda in Sweden.

  Ögonen—the trollian guardians who use their powerful psychokinesis to hide the city of Merellä from humans. They are not considered to be part of any tribe and are almost considered to be something of another species. Their name means “eyes.” They are described as sinewy and nearly seven feet tall. They are covered in leathery, ochre skin, but it’s so thin it’s slightly transparent. They are androgynous, with very humanoid dark brown eyes.

  ogre—ogres are similar to hobgoblins, except they are giant, most standing over seven feet tall, with superior strength. They are dim-witted and aggressive, and they are known only to the Omte tribes.

  Öhaus—the proper name given to the town hall of Isarna. The name means “island house.”

  økkspill—a game similar to darts. The name literally means “axe games.” It involves a board with three bull’s-eyes—in white, black, and gold, respectively—and five kasteren axes.

  Omte—one of the smaller troll kingdoms, only slightly more populous than the Skojare. Omte trolls are known to be rude and somewhat ill-tempered. They still practice changelings but pick lower class families than the Trylle and Kanin. Unlike the other tribes, Omte tend to be less attractive in appearance. The Omte split off from the Vittra tribe in circa 1280 CE, when Dag felt like the Vittra favored the smaller hobgoblins and more conventionally attractive “humanoid” trolls. He took the ogres and established the tribe in Fulaträsk. Since 1280 CE, they have had forty monarchs—much more than any other tribe. The high turnover rate among Omte monarchs is due to their violent lifestyle, compromised immune systems, and lower intelligence. They are currently in the Torian Dynasty, with the widowed Queen Regent Bodil Elak ruling until her son Crown Prince Furston Elak comes of age in 2028.

  Ondarike, Colorado—the capital city of the Vittra. The Queen and the majority of the powerful Vittra live within the palace there. It is located in northern Colorado, near Walden in the mountains.

  Oslinna, Wyoming—a Trylle village that was decimated by the Vittra in 2010, but it has been slowly rebuilding. It is near Gillette, Wyoming.

  Ottawa, Ontario—the capital city of Canada, located in eastern Ontario. It is the second most populous city in Ontario.

  Överste—a position in the Kanin military. In times of war, the Överste is the officer in charge of commanding the soldiers. The Överste does not decide any battle plans, but instead receives orders from the King or the Chancellor.

  persuasion—a mild form of psychokinesis that enables weak mind control. The ability to cause another person to act a certain way based on thoughts.

  peurojen—the one in charge of the giant woolly elk, similar to a shepherd.

  precognition—a form of psychokinesis that is knowledge of something before its occurrence, especially by extrasensory perception.

  psionic—referring to the practical use of psychic powers or paranormal phenomena.

  psionic stun gun (PSG)—a weapon similar to a Taser or stun gun, but instead of electricity, it runs on psionic power.

  psychokinesis—a blanket term for the production or control of motion, especially in inanimate and remote objects, purportedly by the exercise of psychic powers. This can include mind control, precognition, telekinesis, biological healing, teleportation, and transmutation.

  Rektor—the Kanin in charge of trackers. The Rektor works with new recruits, helps with placement, and generally keeps the trackers organized and functioning.

  rose hip soup—a soup common in Sweden, wi
th a deep rosy color and sweet-tart tang. Rose hips, which ripen long after the rose blooms have faded, can be dried to enjoy all year and serve as an important source of vitamin C in northern countries.

  sage—an aromatic herb with lavender flowers. It is often used in herbalism and believed to have benefits relating to memory.

  Sámi—the indigenous peoples of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia. They have lived in arctic and subarctic regions for over 3,500 years. Also known as Sami, Saami, Fenni, Laplanders, or Lapps. They have historically had an appearance similar to Inuit and other First Nation peoples.

  semla—a Scandinavian sweet roll made of wheat bread, whipped cream, and almond paste. It is similar to a cream puff.

  Sintvann, North Carolina—an Omte city located in the Great Dismal Swamp in North Carolina. The name means “angry waters.”

  Skojare—the aquatic tribe of trolls that is nearly extinct. They require large amounts of fresh water to survive, and one-third of their population possess gills and are able to breathe underwater. Once plentiful, only about five thousand Skojare are left on the entire planet. In circa 1300 CE, Aun the Blue broke off from the Kanin tribe, heading south from Doldastam for a warmer water source. He took all the gilled trolls with him and established the Skojare in Storvatten. They have had twenty-four monarchs since 1300 CE, and they are currently in the Rolfian Dynasty, with King Mikko Rune. His daughter, the Crown Princess Lisbet “Libby” Biâelse, is next in line for the throne.

  Sommar plum—a vibrant fleshy fruit in the rose family. The skin is deep violet with white speckles, giving it a cosmic appearance similar to a black diamond apple, and the fruit itself is especially sweet and juicy.

  sorgblomma—a flower similar to the smörboll, with bold golden petals that are bloodred near the stem. The plant “bleeds” a reddish viscous liquid (similar to aloe in texture and taste) and has thorns. It is also known as the mourning flower and trollius funus.

  sounding horn—a sound device that is usually made of or shaped like an animal horn.

  Storvatten, Ontario—the capital and largest city of the Skojare, it is home to the palace and the Skojare royal family. It is situated on Lake Superior, not too far from Thunder Bay, Ontario, with a population of just over fifteen hundred in 2019.