by Helen Lowe
Nuithe: “dark heart” in the old Sworn tongue; Ilkerineth’s wife and Nherenor’s mother; also Lady of Ways
Oakward: secret society in Emer, said to resist evil
Oath Hold: fortress of the House of Blood; its leaders are maternal kin to Parannis and Sarein
Oath, the: see Blood Oath
Old Alth: senior wyr pack handler in the Red Keep
Old Earl: Earl Tasarion of Night’s father; Malian’s grandfather
Old Empire: empire said to have existed prior to the Derai arrival on Haarth, which stretched from Jaransor to Ishnapur
Old Keep: original Keep of Winds, now abandoned
One, 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 Chosen of Mhaelanar
Onnorin: granddaughter of the Earl of Adamant; First Kinswoman to Rook
opener of ways: a class of adept
Orcis: warrior-priestess of the House of Adamant, Second to Torlun
Oriflame: standard of the Storm Spears
Ornorith: “of the Two Faces,” the Derai Goddess of Luck; depicted as having two masked faces looking in opposite directions
Orriyn: Darksworn facestealer, died on Emer’s Northern March; coterie-sister to Rhike and Gervon; see also Selia
Orth: warrior of the House of Swords
outsider: Derai term for anyone non-Derai
Palla: House of Blood honor guard in Jad’s eight-unit
Paran: lord of Oath Hold, maternal grandfather of Parannis and Sarein
Paranna: of Oath Hold, Earl Sardon of Blood’s second wife, mother to Parannis and Sarein
Parannis: a Son of Blood and seventh child to the Earl of Blood; twin to Sarein and half brother to Kharalthor, Hatha, Huern, Liankhara, Sardonya, and Anvin; also half brother to Myrathis
Patrol, the: corps that keeps the River’s “peace of road and river”
Peta: Aralorn Hill horse, belonging to Raven
Pha’Rho-l-Ynor: Sea navigator lost four hundred years before; see also Taierin
Pha’Rho-l-Ynor, the: Sea House ship lost with all hands, over four hundred years before
Plain of Ash: mountain basin adjoining the Towers of Morning
Port Farewell: major trading port and capital of Aralorn
Power-born: Derai born with the old powers
Powers: supernatural and magical powers of the Derai, once used to combat the Swarm of Darkness. They 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 normal human range; chameleon ability to blend into surrounding materials and elements; dreaming; empathic spirit bond; farseeing and foreseeing; fire calling; illusion working; mindspeaking; mind- and spirit-walking; psychic shielding; prophecy; seeking; truthsaying; and weatherworking.
priestess-queens: rulers of Jhaine, nine in number
Prince of Fire: leader of the Sworn nation of Fire; see also Khelor and Ravirien
Prince of Lightning: leader of the Sworn nation of Lightning; see also Ilkerineth
Prince of the Sun: leader of the Sworn nation of the Sun; see also Aranraith
Raher:Emerian knight, trained at Normarch
Ralth: House of Blood warrior
Raptor of Darkness: major Swarm demon
Raven: Southern Realms hedge knight
Ravirien: prince of the Third Line of the Blood of Fire
Rayn: Grayharbor shipping clerk
Red Keep: principal stronghold of the House of Blood
Reith: Sea House marine, in Nimor’s escort
Rhaikir: lieutenant in the Prince of Fire’s personal guard
Rhanar: House of Blood honor guard in Jad’s eight-unit
Rhi: House of Morning priestess
Rhike: Darksworn adept, died in Caer Argent
Rhisart: House of Blood warrior, from Bane Hold
Rigan: House of Blood wagoner
Rin: marine on the Che’Ryl-g-Raham
Rindle: river on Emer’s Northern March
rites of Hurulth: vigil kept for Derai dead
Rithor: squire to Yorindesarinen at time of her battle with the Chaos Worm
River of No Return: see Telimbras
River, the: lands along the Ijir river, including the cities Ij, Terebanth, and Ar
Rook: initiate farspeaker from the House of Adamant
Rowan Birchmoon: Winter shaman, former consort to the Earl of Night; see also Winter Woman
Rul: personal emissary of the Earl of Adamant; half-brother to Torlun
ruling kin: ruling bloodline of a Derai House; see also Blood, the
Sailcloth Street: Grayharbor thoroughfare
Salar: Darksworn Ascendant, most closely associated with Sun
Salar’s children: demons that ride Wall storms and slip through fissures in reality
Sarathion: lieutenant to the Lord Captain of the Patrol
Sardon: current Earl and hereditary ruler of the House of Blood
Sardonya: a Daughter of Blood and fifth child of the Earl of Blood; full sister to Kharalthor, Hatha, Huern, Liankhara, and Anvin; half sister to Parannis and Sarein; also half sister to Myrathis
Sarein: a Daughter of Blood and eighth child of the Earl of Blood; twin to Parannis and half sister to Kharalthor, Hatha, Huern, Liankhara, Sardonya, and Anvin; also half sister to Myrathis
Sarr: House of Blood farrier
Sarus: veteran sergeant of the Earl of Night’s Honor Guard
Sea Count: hereditary ruler of the Sea House
Sea envoy: see Nimor
Sea House: House of the Derai Alliance, traditionally “the navigators”
Sea Keep: paramount stronghold of the Sea House
Sea Mew: coastal trader, registered out of Grayharbor
Second: second-in-command of a Derai military unit
Second Line: second line of a Derai House’s Blood
seeing: the power to see and foretell future occurrences
seeker: one with power to seek out the hidden and find the lost
seeking: active use of a seeker’s power
seer: one who has the power to see into the future
Selia: Normarch damosel, slain by the facestealer Orriyn
Serianrethen: a Son of Stars, first husband to Nerith of the Sea Keep
Ser Ombrose Sondargent: Duke of Emer’s nephew and former champion, now turned rebel
Seruth: one of the three gods of the Southern Realms, the lightbringer, guardian of journeys and new beginnings; also Serrut in Emer
Seven, a: elite Jhainarian warriors bound together into a unit; escort of the priestess-queens of Jhaine; also used by Ishnapuri magi
Shadow Band: initiates of Kan, sworn to protect the rulers of Ar
shadow hunters: Thanir’s cadres; see also Darksworn
Shah: ruler of Ishnapur
shielding: power to conceal objects and people physically and from magic
Shield of Heaven: one of the three magical arms of the hero Yorindesarinen; also Shield of Stars
Ship’s Luck: weatherworker’s companion on a Sea House ship
Ship’s Prow House: Grayharbor residence
Ships’ Shrine: sea keep memorial to lost ships
Silent God: Hurulth, the god of death, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai
Sird: warrior-priest from the House of Adamant
siren worm: minion of the Swarm
Sirit: elderly Morning priestess; also old Lady of Morning
Sirithilorn: formerly Golden Fire of the House of Morning
Sondcendre: noble house of the Emerian Cendreward
Son of Blood: title given to a son of an Earl of Blood
Song of Haarth: voice of the magic of Haarth
southern deserts: vast desert region lying to the south of Ishnapur
Southern Realms: lands of Haarth that lie between the River and Ishnapur; also called the Southern
Lands
’spawn: see darkspawn
springtime love: Emerian tradition of courtly romance
Sri: House of Morning priestess
Stefa: innkeeper’s daughter at Grayharbor’s Anchor inn
Stoneford: village in southern Aralorn
Storm Spears: warrior society historically associated with the House of Blood
Summer’s Eve: Emerian festival marking first new moon of summer
Sun: one of the three nations of the Sworn
Sundering: schism that separated the Darksworn from the Derai
Surinay: once of the House of Morning, now married to the Sea Count
Swarm Bestiary: an illustrated compendium of Swarm demons, minions, and darkspawn
Swarm of Dark: Derai’s ancient enemy; vast entity comprising many fell creatures
Swarm, the: shortening for Swarm of Dark
Sworn: name the Darksworn give themselves
Taierin: weatherworker and niece to Count Tirunor, over four hundred years ago
taint: House of Blood term for priestly and old powers; also “tainted”
Taly: ensign in the Red Keep garrison, serves Myrathis; also Talies
Tarathan of Ar: herald of the Guild, from the River’s Terebanth Guild House
Tasarion: current Earl and hereditary ruler of the House of Night
Tasian: former Heir of Stars whose murder precipitated the Derai civil war
Tavar: House of Blood clan, associated with Brave Hold
Tavaral: the Faithkeeper, a general in Yorindesarinen’s time; he advanced to support the hero against the Chaos Worm, but came too late
Tawr: of the Spear, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai
Tawrin: House of Swords warrior, companion to Orth
Tehan: Sea House marine in Nimor’s escort
Telimbras: river that runs the length of the Jaransor hills, bordering the Gray Lands, and eventually becomes a tributary of the Ijir; also River of No Return
Telmirieneth: Earl of Stars, over four hundred years before
Temorn: captain of marines on the Che’Ryl-g-Raham
Temple of Night: temple precinct in the Keep of Winds
Temple quarter: temple complex in a Derai keep, comprising the temples and adjunct buildings dedicated to all of the Nine Gods
Tenneward Lodge: country house of Lord Tenneward of Emer
Ter: Night honor guard in Garan’s eight-unit
Tercel: bay warhorse, belonging to Kalan
Terebanth: city of the River
Terennin: Lord of the Dawn Eyes, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai, also known as both the Farseeing and Farseer
Teron: of Cloud Hold, sworn to the Earl of Night
Thanir: Darksworn warrior and mage, lieutenant to Aranraith
The Leas: site of a recent were-hunt led skirmish, on Emer’s Northern March
Thiandriath: Lawgiver, one of the Nine Gods of the Derai
Third Line: third line of a Derai House’s Blood
Thuunoth: former Golden Fire of the House of Adamant
Tirael: second son of the Countess of Stars; also Tiraelisian
Tirorn: House of Swords warrior and captain, nephew to the Sword Earl, also kinsman to Orth; lost in Ij
Tirunor: Sea Count, over four hundred years before
Token-bearer: one who bears the Token
Token, the: ring associated with the Hunt of Mayanne and its Huntmaster
Torlun: commands a House of Adamant company
Towers of Morning: principal stronghold of the House of Morning
Tymar: Sea House marine in Nimor’s escort
Tyun: Sea House marine, captain of Nimor’s guard
Vael: Star knight and healer; also Vaelenor
Valadan: marshal of the House of Fire, second-in-command of its armies
Valan: of Blood’s Ward Hold, former suitor to Sardonya
Vela: attendant to Lady Myrathis
Wall of Night: vast mountain range garrisoned by the Derai Alliance that protects Haarth from the Swarm, said to have been created by the House of Night; also called the Shield-wall of Night, or Wall
wallspawn: Blood name for darkspawn
Ward Hold: satellite fortress of the House of Blood
weatherworker: Derai with the power to command natural elements
were-hunt: collective power of the Swarm, comprising were-hunters
Westwind Hold: satellite fort of the Keep of Winds
Wild Lands: vast wilderness lying between the Winter Country and the River
Winter Country: steppes in the north of Haarth
Winter People: nomads who dwell in the Winter Country
Winter Woman: see Rowan Birchmoon
Wolf: Winter Country shaman, Rowan Birchmoon’s great-uncle
wolfpack: River and Emerian term for an outlaw band
wyr hounds: hounds unique to the Derai, able to detect psychic trails and powers
Xer: Star knight in Tirael’s escort; also Xerianor
Xeria: House of Stars priestess during the civil war; she extinguished the Golden Fire
Yelme: Sea House marine in Nimor’s escort
Yelusin: collective name Sea House ships give themselves
Yhle: granddaughter of the Earl of Adamant
Ynvis: warrior in the Prince of Fire’s personal guard
Yorindesarinen: greatest hero of the Derai, Heir of Stars in her day: she slew the Worm of Chaos but died of the wounds received in that battle
Yris: Patrol river pilot
Yyr: formerly Golden Fire of the House of Swords
Zharaan: priestess-queen of Jhaine in the years following the Cataclysm
Zhineve-An: contemporary priestess-queen of Jhaine
Acknowledgments
The Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, famously said that “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Similarly, the journey of a book begins with the first word on a blank page—and in getting to that magical finale, “the end,” a great many more words will have been written. A considerable number of people, too, will have been fellow travelers on the journey.
The first—but never the least—of these fellow travelers is my partner, Andrew, whose unflagging support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the story helped keep me moving forward, even when the going was proverbially tough.
The journey of this book was a long one, and I sincerely thank my lead editor, Kate Nintzel (HarperVoyager USA), for her considerable patience and not inconsiderable grace throughout, as well as for her unwavering faith in, and commitment to, the ongoing Wall of Night story, and Daughter of Blood in particular. My UK editor, Jenni Hill, was new to the series when I began this book, and I am correspondingly grateful for her patience and continued support.
My agent Robin Rue of Writers House, and her colleagues Beth Miller and Angharad Kowal, have also played a vital part in enabling me to complete the book. I thank them most sincerely for all they have done and continue to do.
I am aware that there are many more people who work for my publishers and play an essential part in transforming what comes from me as “story” and “manuscript,” into what readers experience as a “book.” Most of these people are unknown to me personally, but I know they include dedicated professionals in the production team and art department, as well as marketing and publicity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work, which is very much appreciated. And to particularly mention, with thanks, the few who are known to me, including my copyeditor, Peter Weissman; Joanna Kramer, Editorial Manager at Orbit; and the Hachette team here in New Zealand, including Melanee Winder, Susy Maddox, and Ruby Mitchell.
Many thanks go, as always, to those who were willing to read the manuscript-in-progress and provide insights, critique, and feedback, as well as to confirm specialist research and check specific facts. I would like to particularly thank Peter Fitzpatrick, Joanna Preston, Andrew Robins, Paul Waterhouse, Brynley Crosado, and Irene Williamson. I am also grateful to Dr. Robynanne
Milford for answering early questions, and to Dr. Michael Rathbone for later reviewing the sections specifically dealing with injury and wounds, and their treatment.
In 2012, I was privileged to be an Ursula Bethell Writer-in-Residence at the University of Canterbury, which provided both financial and creative support during the early stages of Daughter Of Blood. I would like to particularly thank Dr. Christina Stachurski, curator of the residency programme, as well as the University of Canterbury and its English Department, and Toi Aotearoa: Creative New Zealand, for making the residency opportunity possible.
I would also like to thank Samantha Webb for offering her fisher’s hut as a writing retreat toward the end of the project. The quiet environment and uninterrupted time the hut provided was invaluable in finishing the book. I would also like to thank the permanent residents in the hut community for their welcome and support.
When The Heir of Night was published, I began a tradition of running a Tuckerization contest as part of the book launch. So when The Gathering of the Lost came out, part of the celebration included drawing a winner who would give her or his name to a character in Daughter of Blood. One of the provisions of the contest is that I reserve the right to “adapt the winning name to best fit a fantasy character.” In this case, the winner was UK reader, Cheryl Graham—and although I am keenly aware of just how long Cheryl has had to wait to do so, I hope she will enjoy meeting her namesake, Che’Ryl-g-Raham. I note, needless to say, that the character created is entirely fictional.
Finally, I would like to thank all those readers who have not only read and enjoyed The Heir of Night and The Gathering of The Lost, but taken the time to write and tell me so—and then waited with patience (that word again!) and understanding for Daughter of Blood to complete its journey from the first word on the blank page, through to “the end.” The same vote of thanks for patience, and I hope understanding, goes to all my readers.
An Excerpt from The Heir of Night
If you haven’t read the first volume in the Wall of Night saga,
keep reading to see where it all began.
THE HEIR OF NIGHT
Available now wherever books are sold.
1
The Keep of Winds
The wind blew out of the northwest in dry, fierce gusts, sweeping across the face of the Gray Lands. It clawed at the close-hauled shutters and billowed every tapestry and hanging banner in the keep. Loose tiles rattled and slid, bouncing off tall towers into the black depths below; as the wind whistled through the Old Keep, finding every crack and chink in its shutters and blowing the dust of years along the floors. It whispered in the tattered hangings that had once graced the High Hall, back in those far-off days when the hall had blazed with light and laughter, gleaming with jewel and sword. Now the cool, dry fingers of wind teased their frayed edges and banged a whole succession of doors that long neglect had loosened on their hinges. Stone and mortar were still strong, even here, and the shutters held against the elements, but everything else was given over to the slow corrosion of time.