The Wizard Knight Companion

by Michael Andre-Driussi

  Myth: (Norse) alternate spelling of Gerd, an Old Norse name meaning “guarded, protected.” Also known as gerda, which see.

  Gerrune the fifth knight Able faced at halberts (II, chap. 30, 369). A big man, a free lance. Though Able bests him, Gerrune is declared the victor. When the honor battle between Queen Gaynor and Princess Morcaine comes up, many suppose he will be the queen’s champion (II, chap. 32, 387). He is one of the five who stay through the end of Able’s fight against Loth (II, chap. 32, 391).

  giants giant blood is full of creatures: “I was tempted to stamp on the ugly little creatures that swam in it” (I, chap. 67, 411).

  Gif a slave of Logi (II, chap. 17, 195). Probably one of the two women sleeping on the hearth (191). Later one of the two women being sorted out (II, chap. 21, 251), she becomes one of Svon’s slaves (II, chap. 23, 277). She had been paired to Rowd in Logi’s house.

  Onomastics: possibly from gif gaff, used by Sir Walter Scott as meaning “good turn for good turn.” Possibly related to Old Norse gefa (to give) and gjof (gift).

  Gilling the King of the Angrborn (II, chap. 6, 68). Upon taking the throne he put down a rebellion (II, chap. 8, 88). Gilling wants the green knight. To get him, he obtains the knight’s cat (Mani) and asks him the knight’s name. Toug tells them it is Sir Able (89). See mystery of king gilling’s murder.

  Myth: (Norse) “screamer,” a giant who is the father of Suttung. He is drowned by two dwarfs who had previously slain Kvasir.

  Glennidam the village where Ulfa and Toug were born (I, chap. 4, 38). It is located on a stream that must be named the Glenny, and they presumably have a dam on it. The population is around 53. Baki tells Toug the village revered the Aelf because Disiri was kind, offering to hide their children when the Angrborn came (II, chap. 17, 191). This sounds a lot like what happened with the real Able in the next village of Griffinsford. A mix of villagers and outlaws includes: Brega, Disira, Egil, Haf, Hulta, Old Toug, Ossar, Seaxneat, Toug, Ulfa, Ulfa’s mother, Vali, and Ve.

  Glummnir a champion among the giants, a peer of Schildstarr (II, chap. 12, 135).

  Onomastics: Glúmr, originally a nickname related to Modern Norwegian glum, “a person with a glowering expression.”

  Golden Tijanamir the old Caan’s fourth son. According to prophesy, he would reign but die young in a golden fortress. His helmet was gold in color, just as those of his brothers bore their name colors. Shortly after he became caan, he led his elephants against Woddet. “Sir Woddet’s point entered the eye socket, and the Golden Caan died in that fortress of gold” (II, chap. 37, 443).

  Goldenlawn the manor Lynnet came from (II, chap. 22, 259). Located just a few miles north of Redhall, it has a garden grotto built by her father for her mother. This grotto is practically a shrine to Disiri and she seems to use it as such with Able (II, chap. 27, 339).

  Gorn the innkeeper at the Dollop and Scallop (I, chap. 36, 228; first met 223). He tries to overcharge Able. Then he sets Sir Nytir on him.

  Onomastics: Old Norse word for guts/bowels.

  Gottfried see names on the wind.

  Grandmother when Ulfa tries to seduce Able, “she was rubbing herself against me, reminding me of grandma’s cat” (I, chap. 8, 63). This is one of the few traces of Able’s grandmother. One of the

  puzzles about his American past is how he managed to be raised by his brother Ben when both boys were orphaned at a young age. The solution would seem to be that their grandmother moved into their house and cared for them. Even though they had an adult guardian, Ben still raised Able in the sense of teaching him the Male Mysteries.

  Other than this, we know that Able’s grandparents were farmers.

  Green Knight Able, with his blank green shield, is referred to as the green knight. But the famous Green Knight is another sort of wizard knight from the days of King Arthur who allows his head to be cut off by Sir Gawain in exchange for the opportunity to give Gawain a similar blow in one year.

  Greenflood a river south of Burning Mountain (II, chap. 38, 455), presumably the border between Celidon and the southern realm. The Lotherling overseas expeditionary force led by Smiler seems to have made landfall south of the river.

  Grengarm the dragon who has Eterne and has taken over the grotto of the Griffin (I, chap. 68, 422; mentioned in I, chap. 9, 69). Grengarm is also the dragon spirit who impregnates the Lothurling Queen, as the name list makes plain in the entry for Smiler: “This is what we called the Dragon Prince. The dragon was Grengarm” (II, glossary).

  A group of Aelf (including Uri) placed a female sacrifice for him at the altar of the Griffin (I, chap. 68, 422). She turns out to be Morcaine. Able kills Grengarm and his picture adorns Able’s shield.

  Myth: (Norse) perhaps a blend of Grendal and Garm. Grendal is the monster of the fen in the poem Beowulf. Garm is the underworld dog who kills Tyr at Ragnarok.

  Griffin the little river running past Griffinsford and into the Irring (I, chap. 2, 26). The source of the Griffin is within a cave in the mountains bordering Jotunland (I, chap 68, 419). The outside of the cave seems to be carved like a griffin, but it is really a petrified griffin. Inside the grotto the dragon Grengarm guards a hoard of treasure, including the sword Eterne.

  Griffinsford a village the Angrborn raiders wiped out, located at a crossing point on the Griffin (I, chap. 1, 20). Its inhabitants included Baldig, Black Berthold, Bold Berthold, Cli, Deif, Gerda, Grumma, Mag, the real Able, Skjena, Uld, and Wer.

  Groa one of the women on the Isle of Glas (II, chap. 22, 263). She carved an image of the Lady for them, “but another came by night and broke it, leaving an image of herself by the pool, beautiful beyond woman.” Groa taught Mag how to write.

  Myth: (Norse) a sibyl who was wife to Aurvandil the Brave. She worked to heal Thor’s head-wound but he distracted her, so the hone (a fine-grained whetstone for sharpening tools) is still stuck in his head.

  Grumma a villager of Griffinsford who was bitten by a two-headed turtle (II, chap. 22, 264).

  Onomastics: perhaps a female version of (Scandinavian) Grummi, meaning “cruel one.”

  Gylf Able’s dog (I, chap. 11, 80). The Valfather lost him and Able gets to keep him until the Valfather wants him back. Able gets him from two Bodachan (a brown woman/deer and a man), who take baby Ossar in exchange. Frightened of how the dog changes into a large monster when in combat, Able abandons him before Irringsmouth, but Gylf follows and hides on the ship Western Trader. After Able is badly wounded, he sends Gylf to find help from Aelfs. Garsecg chains Gylf in a cave (I, chap. 63, 392–93) before going to aid Able (I, chap. 39, 242), but eventually Gylf breaks free (243). Gylf catches up with Able at Forcetti, snatching food at the inn Dollop and Scallop and finally coming when Able calls outside the farmhouse (240).

  Myth: (Norse) Gylfi, an early king of Sweden who let Gefion take Zealand. He appears in the Prose Edda as the questioner of the Gods. See ossar; farvan.

  garvaon

  gaynor

  gerrune

  glummnir

  green knight

  groa

  H

  Haf one of the two boys who tries to rob Able on the road between Irringsmouth and Griffinsford (I, chap. 2, 27; II, chap. 1, 20). Young Toug is the other one, and Able at that time is younger still.

  Onomastics: Old Icelandic word for “sea.”

  Halweard the steward Marder sent to Redhall (II, chap. 27, 338).

  Onomastics: Anglo-Scandinavian form of Hallvardr (Halvard), literally “rock guardian” (stolid defender).

  He Who Smiles the formal name of Smiler, the Lothurling leader (II, chap. 38, 452). A Chinese proverb says, “He who smiles in a crisis has found someone to blame.” A Japanese proverb goes, “He who smiles rather than rages is always the stronger.”

  Heimir Gerda’s half-giant son by Hymir, he tries to sneak up on Able’s camp at night, but then he runs off (II, chap. 7, 75; he is first mentioned in I, chap. 28, 175). He and his younger sister Hela are welcomed into Able’s group. He is a head taller
than Hela (I, chap. 10, 76), so he must be around 8' 8". He was turned out of the house when he reached a certain age, as happens with half-giant males.

  Myth: (Norse) foster-father of Valkyrie Brynhild.

  Hel the Overcyn woman in charge of death (I, chap. 69, 424). Her realm is across the Bridge of Swords, presumably located on the fourth level (along with Dream and Earth).

  Obviously warriors hope to earn a place elsewhere: Arnthor fears that he will not be worthy of the Valkyries (II, chap. 39, 466) but he hopes he might be included among the phantom heroes of the sword Eterne (467), rather than being relegated to the drab place of common death. But there is a worse place than that, as revealed when Ravd says to Brega, “If you break that oath, Hel will condemn your spirit to Muspel, the Circle of Fire” (I, chap. 6, 52).

  Myth: (Norse) daughter of Loki, she is Queen of the Dead.

  Hela Gerda’s half-giant daughter by Hymir (II, chap. 7, 79). “She said she was dumb because she was too smart to say she was smart” (II, glossary). She falls in love with the Knight of the Sun, Sir Woddet. She is eight feet tall (I, chap. 10, 76). She is Heimir’s little sister (I, chap. 64, 398), and she voluntarily followed him into exile.

  Myth: (Norse) another name for Hel.

  Herewor herald of Sir Woddet (II, chap. 13, 154).

  Onomastics: probably related to Old English Hereweald, like Harald, i.e., herald.

  Hermad one of Marder’s knights, he attacks Able on the practice field and gets all his ribs broken (I, chap. 33, 204).

  Myth: seems close to Norse Hermod, son of Odin, who rode to Hel to seek Balder.

  Hern the Hunter a name sometimes used for the Valfather when he hunts giants in animal form with a pack of dogs like Gylf (II, chap. 5, 54).

  Myth: (English) a mythic hunter.

  History two timelines for The Wizard Knight.

  timeline 2002

  Assuming that Able leaves America in 2001 and arrives in Irringsmouth in the minimal amount of time, in 2002; and that Mag is a clone of the girl who will become Mrs. Ormsby in America (where the real girl emerged in an America decades after she left).

  -1000 years War between Aelf and Setr (I, chap. 26, 165), circa a.d. 1000 (according to Setr, but he is a liar).

  -58 years? Bold Berthold born (a.d. 1943).

  -55 years? The real Able born, then Mag disappears, taken by dragon Setr to Glas.

  -50 years? Black Berthold dies; Bold Berthold raises his little brother, the real Able (a.d. 1951).

  -39 years? The real Able leaves Mythgarthr, stays in Aelfrice for many Aelf years; Bold Berthold fights giants and is wounded; Gerda captured, enslaved. Griffinsford destroyed (a.d. 1962).

  -30 years The tradition of knights at the ford ends.

  -22 years Arnthor becomes king of Celidon (a.d. 1979).

  -19 years Ben is born in America (a.d. 1982).

  -16 years Arthur is born; Mrs. Ormsby vanishes (a.d. 1985).

  -11 years? Mr. Ormsby dies in America. Ben (8) raises his little brother (5) with his grandmother.

  -10 years Idnn is born in Celidon; Lynnet is captured by raiding giants, enslaved.

  -1 year fall 2001. Arthur walks from the cabin to Mythgarthr, then is pulled into Aelfrice.

  1 year spring 2002. Able arrives in Mythgarthr. Missing time of one season, perhaps 100 days, presumably the period when Disiri and the Aelf kings were loading the message into his mind in Aelfrice. He meets Bold Berthold, who takes him for the real Able.

  summer. Able meets Sir Ravd. Leads Ravd and Svon to Glennidam. While searching for Disira he meets Disiri and she makes him a man (aging him less than ten years). He returns, takes young Toug on trip to Aelfrice, rescues Disira and takes her to Berthold’s hut where they dawdle for weeks until summer is over.

  fall. Seaxneat kills Disira, and Bold Berthold is missing, presumed dead, so Able goes out to clean up the outlaw forest. Later he goes to sea, is wounded, and goes to Aelfrice where three years pass on Mythgarthr.

  4 years Garvaon’s wife dies in childbirth (I, chap. 57, 355); in late fall Able returns to Mythgarthr from Aelfrice, goes to Mountain of Fire, takes a short trip to Muspel that adds one year in Mythgarthr time.

  5 years Able, Pouk, and Thunrolf in down levels.

  6 years spring. At Forcetti Able gets quest to hold pass.

  summer. He ditches squire Svon in late June or early July (I, chap. 44, 272). He asks to borrow a horse from Beel (I, chap. 48, 297). Late Summer when Able goes after raiders (I, chap. 62, 379). Able kills Grengarm and dies. Able spends 20 years in Skai, comes back. After breaking through the giant ambush, Able takes a trip to Aelfrice with Gylf and Baki (314). Able fights Kulili, yields, and is spared (324). Able gets Garvaon, Svon, and Toug to fight Setr; Vil jumps on the dragon’s back and chokes Setr using the magic bowstring he had stolen from Able (326).

  september. Garvaon is buried the day before the battle of the pass. After the battle, Queen Idnn says Able came to borrow a horse two months ago (II, chap. 27, 331).

  fall. Raid on Khazneh.

  7 years january. At Redhall, Halweard says it is winter, and after a brief meeting with Disiri, Able returns to Redhall with snow in his hair (II, chap. 27, 339). Able gives part of message to King Arnthor, is sent to dungeon.

  february. Queen Idnn arrives at Kingsdoom; Able breaks parole; Battle of Five Fates.

  march. Able and Escan go to lower levels; Forest Fight.

  july. From Aelfrice and below, Able and Escan return to find Kingsdoom in ruins and high summer (four months have passed in their absence). They go to Redhall, to Irringsmouth (hoping for a ship), down the coast to Forcetti, and then to Kingsdoom.

  august. Three weeks from Kingsdoom to Mountain of Fire (II, chap. 37, 439).

  september. The River Battle.

  timeline 2041

  Assuming that Able leaves America in 2001 and arrives in Irringsmouth in 2041; and Mrs. Ormsby is a serial mom who becomes Mag.

  1982 Ben is born.

  1985 Art is born, Mrs. Ormsby disappears/dies (post partum).

  1986 Bold Berthold is born.

  1989 The real Able is born; Mag disappears.

  1990 Mr. Ormsby dies. Ben 8, Art 5.

  2001 The real Able (age 12) goes to Aelfrice; Bold Berthold (age 15) fights against giants; Art (age 16) walks to Mythgarthr, ends up in Aelfrice for many Aelfrice years.

  2030 Idnn born; Gaynor born (circa).

  2041 Able (age 16/23) arrives in Mythgarthr in spring. Ben (59). Bold Berthold (55), who was once 1 year younger than Art, is now 32 years older.

  2042 Able in Aelfrice.

  2043 Able in Aelfrice.

  2044 Able returns to Mythgarthr in late fall, then goes down levels.

  2045 Able, Pouk, and Thunrolf in down levels.

  2046 Able, Pouk, and Thunrolf return 1 year and 1 day.

  2047 Able’s visit to Redhall in winter marks beginning of seventh year.

  Hob one of Caspar’s warders (I, chap. 42, 263). He laughs at Able in a menacing way so Able beats him (261). This causes a problem, the solution being Able’s temporary banishment (264). Later Hob is killed and eaten by Org (I, chap. 43, 267). This causes another problem, so Able has to take Org with him on his temporary banishment.

  Myth: (British/Scottish) a figure of folklore, sometimes a kindly brownie, other times more dangerous. For example, Hob Headless, who haunted a road near the River Kent. “Confined under a rock for 99 years, Hob Headless trapped passersby who rested upon his rock, gluing them down so that they could not rise and escape” (Monaghan).

  Hordsvin the cook on the Western Trader (I, chap. 19, 125). He brings food down to a badly wounded Able in the cable tier. He says he and his helper Surt fought next to Able against the Osterling pirates.

  Onomastics: possibly meaning “strong young man,” from the Norse hordr (hard, strong) and sveinn (young man).

  Hrolfr a forester who used to work for Escan’s father (II, chap. 36, 431). His wife was Amabel. They adopted Payn, Escan’s bastard.
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br />   Onomastics: Norse name Hrolf means “wolf”; Hrolfr Kraki was a famous warrior king of Denmark.

  Huld the witch who owned Mani (II, chap. 1, 21). Mani says she has been hovering around them ever since they left her house, hoping to do them a favor (II, chap. 4, 41), but she is not around anymore (presumably since she did a favor by appearing beside Able for Gerda [I, chap. 66, 406]). She also has information she gives to Able by way of Mani. She moans at the sight of Gerda’s chains (II, chap. 7, 76). She tells Mani about Baki’s injury (II, chap. 8, 85). She takes the shape of Idnn to tend Gilling while the real Idnn goes to find Able (II, chap. 14, 157).

  Myth: (Norse) a witch who appears in the Ynglinsaga and the Starlingasaga. Her name derives from hulda (hiding, secrecy).

  Hulta a woman in Glennidam, wife of Vali, mother of Ve (I, chap. 8, 65).

  Onomastics: the similar name Hulda means “beloved” (German), “weasel” (Hebrew), “hidden” (Norse/Swedish).

  Hunbalt a knight of Eterne (II, chap. 26, 320).

  Onomastics: close to Hunbaut, eponymous hero of an early 13th century French romance.

  Hymir the Angrborn who got Gerda (first mentioned in I, chap. 64, 396). Father of giant Hyndle, and half-giants Heimir and Hela.

  Myth: (Norse) sea giant with whom Thor went fishing on his expedition to catch the World Serpent.

  Hyndle “Hymir’s Angrborn son” (I, glossary), Gerda’s master, a giant (I, chap. 64, 396).

  Myth: (Norse) seems close to Hyndla, a giantess who appears as the rival of Freyja.

  Idnn Beel’s daughter (first mentioned in I, chap. 19, 123). She is named after the goddess (II, chap. 12, 134). She is around sixteen years old. Afraid of her fate, she tries to talk Able into “rescuing” her, but he refuses. She cannot see that Garvaon loves her, and she fixes her sights on Svon. She becomes Queen of Jotunland when she marries King Gilling (II, chap. 13, 155). After he dies she marries Svon.

  Idnn the goddess. Beel says of his daughter, “Her honesty rivals that of her patroness, and her wisdom the Lady’s,” to which a giant says of Overcyn Idnn, “Neither that false slut nor the witch her sister find favor among the sons of Angr, Southling” (II, chap. 12, 134). Thus she is said to be sister to the Lady.