by Chris Evans
Rok har Elvish for tree’s blood, meaning tree sap. As prepared by the Elves of the Long Watch, the liquid acts to give the drinker renewed vitality.
Ryk faur/faurre Elvish for bond brother/sister referring to the magical bond that is created between an elf and a Wolf Oak.
Saber A long, curved sword used primarily by the cavalry.
Sarka har Elvish for blood tree, one of the sapling offspring of the Shadow Monarch’s Silver Wolf Oak. These trees thrive on the blood of the living.
Shabraque A covering placed over a saddle to protect it from wear. This covering is typically colored and embroidered to signify the regiment the rider belongs to.
Shatterbow Double-barreled crossbow that fires explosive darts. This is Sergeant Yimt Arkhorn’s main weapon.
Shako A tall, cylindrical hat with a leather peak worn by soldiers in the Calahrian Imperial Army. It is typically adorned with a metal badge, plumage, or other devices to identify a particular regiment.
Siggers Nickname given to soldiers in the Calahrian Army derived from the silver-green color of their uniform jackets.
Sreex A bird with large, leathery wings and a whiskered muzzle instead of a beak. It was once thought to be extinct.
Wolf Oak Ancient tree species able to channel the natural power of the world. They were brought to a state of sentience by the first elves, and since then form a magical bond with elves. Silver Wolf Oaks are rare and channel the purest energy. Elves bonding with a Silver Wolf Oak typically are unable to cope with the energy and become dïova gruss as they lose themselves in the natural order of the world.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
At the writing of this I don’t have children, or pets, or even plants—living ones anyway—plants I mean, but I do have family and friends, and my gratitude for their continuing support only grows. The act of writing might be a solitary pursuit, but being a writer doesn’t have to be.
There are two intrepid souls who step fearlessly into the breach time and again as my first readers: my brother Michael and my great friend and artist/writer, Deb Christerson, both of whom read the manuscript multiple times and still profess to like it…and me. Now, that’s friendship.
Equally important in providing encouragement and advice are three exceptional people I met early on in my publishing career. Shelly Shapiro, Chris Schluep, and Bill Takes are great counselors in all things publishing, but even better friends, and I am a better writer, and person, for knowing them.
There’s an ever-expanding group of friends who worked especially hard to keep me sane, healthy, and focused, and to them my debt is high. Whether it was a well-timed joke, a swift kick in the creative process, or simply being there, they made the writing of this book both possible and enjoyable: my aunts, Nancy Whitson and Brenda Sandusky; Col. Robert Black and his wife, Carolyn; Edith Dunker; Peter Ferk; Karen Traviss; Natalie Wessel; and Jeff Young all deserve my sincerest thanks, and they have it.
I want to make special mention of my editor at Pocket Books, Ed Schlesinger. Ed patiently and skillfully talked me through the sophomore issues of a second novel, a task made all the more challenging as, being an editor myself, I know just enough to be really dangerous to the whole process. Ed’s expert guidance made sure everything was smooth sailing.
Thanks, too, to Pocket Books Deputy Publisher Anthony Ziccardi and my agent, Don Maass, for their strong and unwavering support in building my career. I couldn’t have asked for two brighter, or more dedicated, publishing professionals in this regard.
I drew support and encouragement from many others in many different quarters—Mike Bechthold, Charles Coleman Fin-lay, Rome Quezada, Peter Rossi, Shawn Speakman, Jessica Strider, Mark Zug, the superlative staff at the New York Society Library, and the Gracie Mews diner for helping to feed my mind and body; at S&S UK, Sally Partington; at Pocket Books, publisher Louise Burke, Barry Porter, Melissa Gramstad, Lisa Keim, Amre Klimchak, Kerrie Loyd, Jean Anne Rose, and Alan Dingman; and at Stackpole Books, president and fellow author David Detweiler, Janelle Bender, Cathy Craley, Anne Lodge-Smith, David Reisch, web designer Tessa Sweigert, and my other publisher and supporter, Judith Schnell.
And finally—and always—my parents. Without them, I would not be where I am, or who I am, today.
Chris Evans
New York City, March 2009