Dragon Prince 02 - The Star Scroll

by Melanie Rawn

  Sioned watched until they disappeared. Only then did she feel Rohan’s touch on her shoulders. She turned, met his gaze.

  “It was wonderful,” she said softly. “Indescribable.”

  “For the first time in my life, I truly regret not being faradhi.”

  Her heart swelled with pity that he would never know what it was to touch one of his dragons. “Rohan—”

  He shook his head, smiling. “Later. When you’ve had time to think it all through. When you can find words to describe the indescribable—because I want to know everything!”

  Pol approached them, still on horseback. “What did she tell you, Mother? What did she say?”

  Sioned looked up at him. “We can stay here, and we can build our palace—as long as we provide the dragons a free meal when they stop over! This valley is on one of their flight paths between the Veresch and the Catha Hills. Oh, Pol—I can hardly wait until you learn to use your gifts!”

  “So I can talk to a dragon of my own?” He laughed in excitement. “I think you’re the only one who can teach me that, Mother.”

  “Well, if you’re giving lessons. . . .” Maarken put in.

  “Once I figure out how it happened,” she promised.

  A sharp, frightened cry startled them. High overhead a small, swift shape darted across the sky: Alasen’s hawk. Ostvel kicked his horse to a gallop, following the bird to the top of the valley. The others hurried after, and finally came upon him in a wooded slope, where a thin waterfall drifted down a cliff. With autumn rains it would swell to a roaring torrent, and perhaps with winter it would turn to a column of ice. But now it was like frail white gauze, nearly silent.

  Ostvel was on foot, his horse tethered nearby, and gestured them to silence as they rode up. His gaze was fixed on a stripling pine. In an upper branch was a flash of amber and green and bronze.

  “So your big cousins scared you, eh?” he crooned to the hawk. “It’s all right now, little one. They’re gone. Why don’t you come down now? Alasen, call to her.”

  She slipped from her saddle and glided toward him, whistling the low, three-note call to which the hawk had been trained to respond. Feathers rustled. She whistled again, holding out her arm invitingly. A few moments later the bird leaped down with a cry both forlorn and relieved and settled on her wrist. It took Alasen some while to smooth feathers and coax wings to fold; when she had, Ostvel slid the hood over the bird’s head.

  “Well,” he said, “at least we know what to name this place.”

  “Lost Hawk Valley?” Maarken asked whimsically.

  “Ah, no,” Rohan said, and there was that in his voice which drew all eyes. He smiled. “What else could we call it and our new palace but Dragon’s Rest?”

  Index of Characters

  * Sunrunner

  ABIDIAS (658-701). Lord of Tuath Castle. Died of Plague.

  ABINOR. Lady of Rezeld Manor.

  AFINA. Kiele’s childhood nurse.

  AILECH. Afina’s sister; deceased.

  AJIT (657-). Prince of Firon. Six wives, including Pavla (713).

  ALADRA (676-694). Roelstra’s mistress.

  ALASEN of Kierst (696-). Volog’s younger daughter.

  ALLUN (685-). Lord of Lower Pyrme.

  *ANDRADE of Catha Freehold (649). Milar’s twin. Lady of Goddess Keep 677-.

  *ANDRY of Radzyn Keep (699-). Son of Chay and Tobin; Sorin’s twin. Fostered at High Kirat 711-713; Goddess Keep 713-.

  ANTALYA of Waes (679-701). Sister of Lyell. m698 Eltanin. Mother of Tallain. Died of Plague.

  ARLIS of Kierst-Isel (710-). Son of Latham and Hevatia, grandson of Volog and Saumer; heir to both princedoms.

  ATHIL (680-703). Father of Ianthe’s son Segev.

  AUDRITE of Sandeia (670-). m692 Chadric. Mother of Ludhil, Laric.

  AVALY of Rezeld Manor (703-). Daughter of Morlen and Abinor.

  BAISAL (650-). Lord of Faolain Lowland.

  BIRANI of Kierst (688-). Daughter of Volog. m708 Obram.

  BOSAIA of Einar (698-). Brother of Sabriam. Fostered at Lower Pyrme 710-.

  CABAR (687-). Prince of Gilad. m705 Kenza.

  *CAMIGWEN (676-701). m698 Ostvel. Mother of Riyan. Died of Plague.

  CHADRIC of Dorval (664-). Son of Lleyn. m692 Audrite. Father of Ludhil, Laric. Fostered at Stronghold 677; knighted 683.

  CHALE (645-). Prince of Ossetia.

  CHALIA of Ossetia (650-695). Chale’s sister. m680 Haldor. Mother of Jastri, Gemma.

  CHAYNAL (668-). Lord of Radzyn Keep. m690 Tobin. Father of Maarken, Jahni, Andry, Sorin. Battle Commander of the Desert 695-.

  CHELAN (670-). Father of Ianthe’s son Ruval.

  CHIANA (698-). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila.

  CIPRIS (687-708). Roelstra’s daughter by Surya.

  CLADON (681-). Lord of River Ussh.

  CLUTHA (644-). Prince of Meadowlord. Father of Gennadi, Halian. Grandfather of Isaura.

  *CRIGO (665-698). Addicted to dranath by Roelstra.

  DANLADI (694-). Roelstra’s daughter by Aladra.

  DAVVI (665-). Prince of Syr. Sioned’s brother. m686 Wisla. Father of Kostas, Riaza, Tilal.

  DRESLAV (646-). Lord of Grand Veresch.

  ELTANIN (678-). Lord of Tiglath. m698 Antalya. Father of Tallain.

  EMLYS. Lord of Dasan Manor. Athri at whose home Masul grew up.

  ENEIDA. Fironese ambassador.

  *EOLIE. At Graypearl.

  *ERIDIN. At Goddess Keep.

  EVAIS (674-). Father of Ianthe’s son Marron.

  FARID (638-704). Lord of Skybowl. Killed by Merida.

  *FENICE. At Goddess Keep.

  FEYLIN (684-). m706 Walvis. Mother of Sionell, Jahnavi.

  GARIC (642-). Lord of Elktrap Manor.

  GEIR of Waes (707-). Son of Kiele and Lyell. GEMMA of Syr (694-). Daughter of Haldor and Chalia. GENNADI of Meadowlord (667-). Daughter of Clutha. *GERIK. Ancient Sunmnner.

  GEVINA (679-701). Roelstra’s daughter by Vamana. Died of Plague.

  GIAMO. Innkeeper on Dorval.

  HADAAN (634-714). Lord of Remagev. Rohan’s distant cousin.

  HALDOR (656-701). Prince of Syr. m680 Chalia. Father of Jastri, Gemma. Died of Plague.

  HALIAN of Meadowlord (680-). Son of Clutha.

  HEVATIA of Isel (682-). Daughter of Saumer. m707 Latham. Mother of Arlis.

  *HOLLIS (691-). At Goddess Keep.

  IANTHE of Princemarch (676-704). Roelstra’s daughter by Lallante. Mother of Ruval, Marron, Segev, Pol. Killed by Ostvel.

  INOAT of Ossetia (664-). Son of Chale. Father of Jos.

  ISAURA of Meadowlord (700-). Granddaughter of Clutha.

  JAHNAVI of Remagev (711-). Son of Walvis and Feylin.

  JAHNI of Radzyn Keep (693-701). Son of Chay and Tobin; Maarken’s twin. Died of Plague.

  JAL. Guard in Chay’s service.

  JASTRI (688-704). Prince of Syr. Son of Haldor and Chalia. Killed in battle.

  JAYACHIN. Waesian merchant’s daughter.

  JELENA (689-701). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila. Died of Plague.

  JERVIS (655-701). Lord of Waes. Father of Antalya, Lyell. Died of Plague.

  *JOBYNA. At Goddess Keep.

  JOS of Ossetia (709-). Son of Inoat.

  KARAYAN (660-689). Roelstra’s mistress.

  *KASSIA. At Goddess Keep.

  KENZA (683-). m705 Cabar of Gilad.

  KIELE (681-). Roelstra’s daughter by Karayan. m704 Lyell. Mother of Geir, Lyela.

  KIERA of Einar (698-). Sister of Sabriam and Bosaia.

  *KLEVE (681-). Itinerant Sunrunner.

  KOLYA (696-). Lord of Kadar Water.

  KOSTAS of River Run (687-). Son of Davvi and Wisla. Fostered at Swalekeep 700; knighted 708.

  LALLANTE of The Mountain (655-679). m673 Roelstra.

  LAMIA (683-701). Roelstra’s daughter by Karayan. Died of Plague.

  LARIC of Dorval (698-). Son of Chadric and Audrite. Fostered at High Kirat 710; knighted 718.

  LATHAM of Kierst (683-).
Son of Volog. m707 Hevatia. Father of Arlis.

  LENALA of Princemarch (674-701). Roelstra’s daughter by Lallante. Died of Plague.

  LLEYN (637-). Prince of Dorval. Father of Chadric.

  LUDHIL of Dorval (694-). Son of Chadric and Audrite. Fostered at Fessada 705; knighted 714.

  LYELA of Waes (709-). Daughter of Kiele and Lyell.

  LYELL (683-). Lord of Waes. m704 Kiele. Father of Geir, Lyela.

  *MAARKEN of Radzyn Keep (693-). Son of Chay and Tobin; Jahni’s twin. Fostered at Graypearl 702; knighted 712; Goddess Keep 712-719.

  MAETA (670-). Commander of Stronghold guard. Myrdal’s daughter.

  MARRON of Feruche (701-). Ianthe’s son by Evais.

  MASUL (698-). Pretender to the throne of Princemarch.

  *MEATH (673-). At Graypearl.

  *MERISEL. Ancient Sunrunner.

  MILAR of Catha Freehold (649-701). Andrade’s twin. m670 Zehava. Mother of Tobin, Rohan. Died of Plague.

  MILOSH of Fessenden (699-). Pimantal’s youngest son.

  MIREVA (659-). Sorceress who raised Ruval, Marron and Segev.

  MIYON (689-). Prince of Cunaxa.

  MORIA (684-). Roelstra’s daughter by Surya.

  MORLEN (674-). Lord of Rezeld Manor.

  *MORWENNA (684-). At Goddess Keep.

  MOSWEN (692-). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila.

  MYRDAL (645-). Retired commander of Stronghold guard. Maeta’s mother.

  NARAT (667-). Lord of Port Adni. m705 Naydra.

  NAYATI (684-717). Roelstra’s daughter by Vamana.

  NAYDRA of Princemarch (673-). Roelstra’s daughter by Lallante. m705 Narat.

  OBRAM of Isel (680-711). Son of Saumer. m708 Birani.

  OSTVEL (673-). Lord of Skybowl. m698 Camigwen. Father of Riyan.

  PALILA (669-698). Roelstra’s mistress.

  *PANDSALA of Princemarch (675-). Roelstra’s daughter by Lallante. At Goddess Keep 698-704. Regent of Princemarch 705-.

  PATWIN (691-). Lord of Catha Heights. m709 Rabia. Father of Izaea, Sangna, Aurar.

  PAVLA (687-713). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila. m713 Ajit.

  PELLIRA. Guard in Pandsala’s service.

  PIMANTAL (657-). Prince of Fessenden.

  POL of Princemarch (704-). Rohan’s son by Ianthe. Fostered at Graypearl 716-.

  RABIA (693-715). Roelstra’s daughter by Palila. m709 Patwin. Mother of Izaea, Sangna, Aurar.

  RASOUN. Overseer at Skybowl mines.

  REVIA. Guard in Chay’s service.

  RIALT. Merchant’s son at Graypearl.

  RIAZA of River Run (694-701). Daughter of Davvi and Wisla. Died of Plague.

  *RIYAN of Skybowl (699-). Son of Ostvel and Camigwen. Fostered at Swalekeep 711-713; at Goddess Keep 713-718; at Swalekeep 718-.

  ROELSTRA (653-704). Ruler of Princemarch, High Prince 665-704. m673 Lallante. Father of Naydra, Lenala, Pandsala, Ianthe; Gevina, Rusalka, Alieta, Nayati; Kiele, Lamia; Moria, Cipris; Pavla, Jelena, Moswen, Rabia, Chiana; Danladi. Killed by Rohan.

  ROHAN (677-). Prince of the Desert 698-; High Prince 705-. Fostered at Remagev 690; knighted 695. m698 Sioned. Father of Pol.

  *ROSSEYN. Ancient Sunrunner.

  RUSALKA (680-712). Roelstra’s daughter by Vamana.

  RUVAL of Feruche (700-). Ianthe’s son by Chelan.

  SABRIAM (695-). Lord of Einar. Brother of Bosaia, Kiera.

  SAUMER (659-). Prince of Isel. Father of Obram, Hevatia.

  SEGEV of Feruche (703-). Ianthe’s son by Athil.

  SINAR (610-678). Prince of Kierst. m635 Siona. Grandfather of Sioned, Davvi, Volog.

  *SIONA (614-679). m635 Sinar. Grandmother of Sioned, Davvi, Volog.

  *SIONED of River Run (677-). Sister of Davvi. m698 Rohan. Princess of the Desert 698-; High Princess 705-.

  SIONELL of Remagev (708-). Daughter of Walvis and Feylin.

  SORIN of Radzyn Keep (699-). Son of Chay and Tobin; Andry’s twin. Fostered at New Raetia 711-.

  SURYA (665-690). Roelstra’s mistress.

  TALLAIN of Tiglath (700-). Son of Eltanin and Antalya. Fostered at Stronghold 713-.

  TIBAYAN (642-714). Lord of Lower Pyrme.

  *TIEL. At Swalekeep.

  TILAL of River Run (692-). Lord of River Run. Son of Davvi and Wisla. Fostered at Stronghold 702; knighted 712.

  TOBIN of the Desert (671-). Rohan’s sister. m690 Chaynal. Mother of Maarken, Jahni, Sorin, Andry.

  ULRICCA. Goldsmith in Waes.

  *URIVAL (653-). Chief Steward of Goddess Keep 681-.

  VAMANA (658-686). Roelstra’s mistress.

  VELDEN (683-). Prince of Grib.

  *VESSIE. At Goddess Keep.

  VOLNAYA of Kierst (702-). Volog’s younger son.

  VOLOG (659-). Prince of Kierst. Father of Latham, Birani, Alasen, Volnaya.

  WALVIS (685-). Lord of Remagev. m706 Feylin. Fostered at Stronghold 697; knighted 703. Father of Sionell, Jahnavi.

  WILLA. Giamo’s wife.

  WISLA of River View (663-717). Princess of Syr 705-717. m686 Davvi. Mother of Kostas, Tilal, Riaza.

  YARIN (690-). Lord of Snowcoves.

  ZEHAVA (638-698). Prince of the Desert. m670 Milar. Father of Tobin, Rohan. Killed by a dragon.