The Heir of Night
Page 45
Night of Death: refers to the peace feast at the end of the Derai civil war, which turned into a night of slaughter between House and House, warrior and priest, kin and kin. See also Great Betrayal and Time of Blood.
Nine Gods: the nine gods of the Derai. See also the Nine, Hurulth, Mayanne, Meraun, Mhaelanar, Ornorith, Tawr, Terennin, and Thiandriath.
nine Houses: the nine Houses of the Derai Alliance. See also Houses and Derai Alliance.
Nine, the: the nine gods of the Derai. See also Nine Gods.
Nirn: a Darks warm sorcerer.
Oath, the: see also Blood Oath.
Old Earl: the current Earl of Night’s father, Malian’s grandfather, now deceased.
Old Empire: an empire said to have existed prior to the Derai arrival on Haarth and to have stretched from Jaransor to Ishnapur.
Old Keep: the original Keep of Winds, now abandoned.
old powers: see powers.
One-to-Come: see Chosen of Mhaelanar, Shield of Mhaelanar, and One.
One, the: the prophesied hero who will come to unite the Derai and defeat the Swarm, predicted to be born of the Blood of the Houses of Night and Stars. See also the One-to-Come, Chosen of Mhaelanar, and Shield of Mhaelanar.
Ornorith: known as Ornorith of the Two Faces, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai, Goddess of Luck. She is depicted as having two, masked faces, looking in opposite directions.
outsiders : a Derai term for the non-Derai peoples of Haarth.
Place Between: a name for the space between worlds and different planes of existence.
power-wielders: Derai who wield the powers.
powers, the: the supernatural and magical powers of the Derai, which they once used to combat the Swarm of Darkness. Such powers include: the ability to command objects and forces, both natural and physical; understanding the speech of beasts and birds; acute eyesight and hearing, including seeing in the dark and hearing outside the normal human range; the chameleon ability to blend into surrounding materials and elements; dreaming; the EMPATHIC spirit bond; farseeing and foreseeing; fire calling; illusion working; mindspeaking; mind- and spiritwalking; psychic shielding; prophecy; seeking; truthsaying; and weather working. See also old powers.
Raptor of Darkness: a psychic vampire and eater of souls; a dark and terrible power of the Swarm.
Red and White Suite: a suite in the Earl’s quarter of the
New Keep.
Right of Blood: the right of the Derai Blood to speak directly with Earl and Heir. See also Right of Kin and Blood.
Right of Kin and Blood: a matter of great importance, usually life threatening to the Blood of a Derai House. See also Kin Right.
Rithor: a companion of Yorindesarinen, sent away before her final battle with the Worm of Chaos.
River: the lands along the Ijir river system, mainly comprising city states such as Ij, Terebanth, and Ar.
River lands: see River.
River of No Return: see Telimbras.
Rose, the: see Tower of the Rose.
Rowan Birchmoon: a woman of the Winter people, consort of the Earl of Night. See also Lady Consort, Lady of Winter, and Winter woman.
Saga of Yorindesarinen: the epic tale of the deeds of the hero Yorindesarinen.
Sarus: a sergeant and veteran of the Earl of Night’s Honor Guard.
Sea House: a House of the Derai Alliance.
Sea Keep: the stronghold of the Sea House.
Second, the: the second-in-command of an Honor Guard. See also Lieutenant.
seeing: the power to foretell and see future events.
seeker: one with the power to seek out the hidden and find the lost.
seeking: the active use of a seeker’s power.
seers: Derai with the power to foretell and see into the future. See also sibyls.
Selmor: see Brother Selmor.
Serianrethen: of the Blood of the House of Stars, first husband of Nerith of the Sea Keep.
Serin: an initiate priest serving in the Temple of Night.
Shield of Mhaelanar: see Chosen of Mhaelanar.
Shield of Stars: the shield of Yorindesarinen, said to have been made by Terennin in the deeps of time.
Shield of the Derai: see Mhaelanar.
Shield of the Nine: see Mhaelanar.
Shield-wall of Night: see Wall of Night.
shielding: the power to conceal objects or people from both physical and psychic search.
sibyls: see seers.
Silent God, the: see Hurulth.
siren worm: a powerful minion of the Swarm.
Sister Korriya: see Korriya.
Soril: a guard serving the House of Night.
Spearbearer, the: see Tawr.
Spinner of Nets: see Mayanne.
spirit bond: an empathic/psychic link between two Derai that can be either one or two-way. It usually occurs between two who are either blood kin, lovers, or very close friends.
spiritwalking: an old power of the Derai, allowing those with the gift to leave their bodies and act on the psychic/ metaphysical plane. See also mindwalking.
Star of the Derai: see Xeria.
starbane: a term sometimes used for the silver fire associated with the hero, Yorindesarinen.
stewards: non military retainers of the House of Night.
Storm Hold: a satellite fort of the Keep of Winds.
Sundering, the: see Great Sundering.
Swarm of Dark: the enemy of the Derai; a vast entity comprising many fell and evil creatures. See also darkspawn, Darkswarm, and Darksworn.
Swarm, the: see Swarm of Dark; Darkswarm.
Sword Earl: see Earl of Swords.
Swordsman of Stars: see Telemanthar.
Tain: a guard serving the House of Night.
Tarathan of Ar: a herald of the Guild, from the Guild House of Terebanth, a city on the River.
Tarn Hold: a satellite fort of the Keep of Winds.
Tasarion: the current Earl of Night, hereditary ruler of the House of Night.
Tasian: the Heir of Stars at the Time of the Great Betrayal.
Tasianaran: the full name of Tasian (see above).
Tavaral: a Derai general at the time of Yorindesarinen whose name meant “faith-keeper.” He brought up his wing to support the hero in her battle with the Worm of Chaos, but came too late.
Tawr: one of the Nine Gods of the Derai, called the Spear-bearer.
Telemanthar: the Swordsman of the Stars, an ancient hero of the Derai, twin brother of Errianthar the Priestess.
Telimbras: the braided river that runs the length of the Jaransor hills, separating them from the Gray Lands. It eventually becomes a tributary of the Ijir. See also River of No Return.
Temple of Mhaelanar: temple within the Temple of Night particularly dedicated to Mhaelanar, the Defender.
Temple of Night: the main temple precinct of the Keep of Winds, comprising temples to all nine Derai gods, but primarily dedicated to the god Mhaelanar, the Defender.
Temple of Stone: the main temple precinct of the Keep of Stone, the stronghold of the House of Adamant.
Temple quarter: temple complex in a Derai keep, comprising the temples and adjunct buildings dedicated to all of the Nine Gods, plus the living quarters of the priesthood.
Ter: a guard serving the House of Night.
Terebanth: a city of the River.
Terennin: one of the Nine Gods of the Derai. See also the Farseer, the Artisan, the Artificer, and the Lord of the Dawn Eyes.
Terennin’s Token: see Token.
Terithis: an initiate priestess serving in the Temple of Night.
Teron: the Earl of Night’s senior squire.
Thiandriath: the Lawgiver, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai. Also called the Merciful and Just.
Time of Blood, the: the civil war between the Houses of the Derai Alliance, which terminated in the Night of Death. See also Great Betrayal.
Tisanthe: an initiate priestess serving in the Temple of Night.
Token-bearer: the one who bea
rs the Token.
Token, the: the ring said to have been made by Terennin to bind the Hunt of Mayanne.
tor hawks: a breed of hawk found in Jaransor.
Torin: an initiate priest serving in the Temple of Night.
Tower of the Rose: the tallest tower in the guest wing of the Keep of Winds. See also the Rose.
trueseer: a seer whose visions come true.
truthsayer: a Derai with the power of truthsaying.
truthsaying: an old power of the Derai, allowing those with the gift to see through lies and to perceive the truth of hidden or concealed matters.
Two-Faced Goddess: see Ornorith.
Var: an initiate priest serving in the Temple of Night.
Vern: an initiate priest serving in the Temple of Night.
Vhirinal: an Ephor of the city of Terebanth, on the River.
vigil, the: denotes the Derai’s long war against the Swarm, including their watch on the Wall of Night. See also Long War.
Wall of Night: the vast mountain range that protects Haarth from the Swarm and which is garrisoned by the Derai Alliance. It is said to have been created by the House of Night. See also Shield-wall of Night.
Wall, the: see Wall of Night.
ward fire: a protective fire, said to be used by heralds of the Guild.
Warriors’ court: the hall that serves as a forecourt to the High Hall in Derai fortresses.
weatherworkers: Derai with the power to command the elements and natural forces.
Web of Mayanne: the tapestry in the Keep of Winds that depicts the Hunt of Mayanne.
were hunt: a power of the Swarm.
were hunters: the individuals that comprise a were hunt.
Westwind Hold: a satellite fort of the Keep of Winds.
Winter Country: the vast steppes in the northern regions of Haarth, which are inhabited by the Winter people.
Winter people: the nomadic peoples who inhabit the Winter Country.
Winter woman: see Rowan Birchmoon.
Worm of Chaos: according to legend, the deadliest foe ever sent by the Swarm against the Derai; slain by Yorindesarinen.
wyr hounds: hounds of the Derai, able to track psychic trails and those with psychic powers.
Xeria: a priestess of the House of Stars at the time of the Great Betrayal and reputed to be one of the greatest power wielders born to the Derai. See also Star of the Derai.
Xeriatherien: the full name of Xeria (see above).
Yorindesarinen: the greatest hero of the Derai; Heir of the House of Stars in her day, she slew the Worm of Chaos but died of the wounds received in that battle. See also Child of Stars.
Acknowledgments
Writing the first book in a series is always a major undertaking, and The Heir of Night has been no exception. I would particularly like to acknowledge:
My partner, Andrew, for his unstinting encouragement and support, as well as both our extended families.
My editor, Kate Nintzel, my agent, Robin Rue, and her assistant, Beth Miller, for loving the book and wanting to bring it to the world—and to the rest of the Eos team for backing Kate’s call.
Peter Fitzpatrick for the wonderful map and Web sites.
Clare Davies and Grant Shanks, who were the first readers from within the professional writing field and who have remained generous with both their feedback and support.
All my readers: Irene Williamson, Janine Sowerby, Lou Stella, Elizabeth Kerr, Fitz, Sean Elvines, Robin Robins, Joffre Horlor, and Chris Whelan, for the time they gave to reading varying drafts and providing feedback. I am very grateful to you all.
I also wish to acknowledge Owen Marshall and the New Zealand Society of Authors/Creative New Zealand mentorship program. Although The Heir of Night was not part of the program, Owen’s mentorship has assisted in the development of my writing.
Maggie Rowe, also for her mentorship and wise advice throughout the process.
My thanks to you all for everything that you have done, individually and collectively, to help me see The Heir of Night published.
By Helen Lowe
The Wall of Night
HEIR OF NIGHT
THORNSPELL
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