Frostborn: The Dragon Knight (Frostborn #14)

by Jonathan Moeller

  Nadia Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price.

  Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief.

  Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die.

  Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…

  Read Cloak Games: Thief Trap, Cloak Games: Frost Fever, Cloak Games: Rebel Fist, Cloak Games: Shadow Jump, Cloak Games: Shatter Stone, and Cloak Games: Truth Chain along with the short stories Wraith Wolf and Dragon Pearl.

  About the Author

  Standing over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.

  He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works. His books have sold over a half million copies worldwide.

  Visit his website at:

  http://www.jonathanmoeller.com

  Visit his technology blog at:

  http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com

  Contact him at:

  jmcontact@jonathanmoeller.com

  You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page or Twitter feed.

  Glossary of Characters

  ACCOLON: The son of Sir Arandar and grandson of the High King.

  ARDRHYTHAIN: The last archmage of the high elves, and the founder of the Order of the Magistri and the Order of the Soulblade.

  AELIA LICINIUS ARBAN: The eldest daughter of Gareth Licinius, and the late wife of Ridmark Arban. Killed at Castra Marcaine by Mhalek.

  AGRIMNALAZUR: An urdmordar, slain by Ridmark Arban in Urd Arowyn.

  ANTENORA: A former apprentice of the last Keeper of Avalon upon Old Earth, cursed by Mordred Pendragon’s dark magic to live forever until she finds redemption. Now the apprentice of Calliande of Tarlion.

  ARANDAR PENDRAGON: A Knight of the Order of the Soulblade and current bearer of the soulblade Heartwarden. The bastard son of the High King Uthanaric Pendragon, and the father of Accolon and Nyvane. Plague killed his wife Isolde. Currently the Prince Regent of the loyalist army of Andomhaim.

  ARLMAGNAVA: A Frostborn woman, a Seeker of the Order of the Inquisition of the Dominion of the High Lords, the military Order of the Frostborn devoted to spying and recruitment of allies.

  AXAZAMAR: The King of Khald Tormen and older brother of Narzaxar.

  AZAKHUN: A dwarven Taalmak of Khald Tormen. Caius baptized him into the faith of the Dominus Christus in the Vale of Stone Death.

  THE ARTIFICER: A dark elven noble and wizard, formerly the apprentice of the Warden. His spirit was bound to the Iron Tower. Defeated by Ridmark and his companions.

  AVENTINE ROCARN: A knight in service to Tarrabus Carhaine.

  BORS DURIUS: A son of Dux Kors Durius of Durandis.

  CADWALL GWYRDRAGON: The Prince of Cintarra, the largest city in Andomhaim.

  CAIUS: A dwarven noble of Khald Tormen and a friar of the mendicant orders. The first of the dwarven kindred to convert to the church of the Dominus Christus.

  CALAZON: A dwarven stonescribe and advisor to Prince Narzaxar.

  CALLIANDE: The Keeper of Tarlion, the guardian of the realm of Andomhaim against the powers of dark magic. The daughter of Joanna and Joachim, and the former student of the Magistrius Marius and the Keeper Ruth.

  CAMORAK: A Magistrius in service to Joram Agramore of Dun Licinia. Prone to drunkenness and boorish comments, but nonetheless a skilled healer.

  CARADOG LORDAC: A knight in service to Tarrabus Carhaine.

  CLAUDIUS AGRELL: A knight in service to Tarrabus Carhaine, serving as Constable of Castra Carhaine.

  CONSTANTINE LICINIUS: The son of Gareth Licinius, and a Swordbearer, wielder of the soulblade Brightherald.

  CORBANIC LAMORUS: A vassal of the High King, and current Comes of Coldinium. Now serves as Constable of Tarlion, defending the city from Tarrabus Carhaine.

  CORTIN LAMORUS: A knight and the son of Corbanic Lamorus.

  CROWLACHT: A headman of the orcish kingdom of Rhaluusk and a warrior of King Ulakhamar. Fought alongside Ridmark and his friends at the Iron Tower.

  CURZONAR: A Prince of the Range, son of the Red King Turcontar and the First Queen Raszema.

  THE CUTTER: An urdhracos bound to the service of the Sculptor.

  DAGMA: Sister of Jager, and seneschal of the keep of Dun Licinia.

  DECIMUS: A man-at-arms under the command of Sir Ector Naxius.

  DIETER: Husband of Dagma, Jager’s sister. A skilled carpenter.

  ECTOR NAXIUS: A knight in service to Dux Sebastian of Caertigris. Familiar with the manetaurs, the tygrai, and the Range.

  GARETH LICINIUS: The Dux of the Northerland, and father of Constantine, Imaria, and Aelia.

  GAVIN: A young man from the village of Aranaeus in the Wilderland, now a Swordbearer and the wielder of the soulblade Truthseeker.

  GOTHALINZUR: An urdmordar, slain by Ridmark Arban at the village of Victrix.

  IMARIA LICINIUS SHADOWBEARER: The youngest daughter of Gareth Licinius, and a former Magistria of the Order. The new bearer of Incariel’s shadow after the death of Tymandain Shadowbearer.

  JAGER: A bold halfling thief and merchant, married to Queen Mara of the Nightmane Forest. Serves as her Prince Consort.

  JORAM AGRAMORE: A knight and vassal of Dux Gareth Licinius. Currently serves as the Comes of Dun Licinia.

  KADIUS: A decurion of men-at-arms in the army of Arandar Pendragon.

  KAJALDRAKTHOR: A Frostborn warrior, and Lord Commander of the Order of the Vanguard. Leader of the Frostborn forces in Andomhaim.

  KALDRAINE PENDRAGON: The eldest son of High King Uthanaric Pendragon and heir to the realm of Andomhaim. Murdered during the battle of Dun Calpurnia.

  KALOMARUS: The legendary Dragon Knight, who disappeared after the first defeat of the Frostborn.

  KHARLACHT: An orcish warrior of Vhaluusk and follower of Ridmark Arban.

  KORS DURIUS: The Dux of Durandis, Andomhaim’s western march against the mountains of Kothluusk.

  KURASTUS: A Magistrius and the Master of the Order of the Magistri.

  KURDULKAR: A manetaur Prince of the Range and a follower of the shadow of Incariel. Killed by Ridmark Arban.

  LANETHRAN: A bladweaver of the high elves.

  LEOGRANCE ARBAN: The Dux of Taliand, and the father of Ridmark Arban and Tormark Arban.

  LINUS RILLON: A knight of Tarrabus Carhaine and one of the Enlightened of Incariel. Killed by Accolon in self-defense.

  MALHASK: The king of the orcish kingdom of Khaluusk and a vassal of the High King.

  MALVAXON: The Rzarn of Great House Tzanar of Khaldurmar.

  MALZURAXIS: A dwarven scout of Khald Tormen.

  MARA: The daughter of the Traveler, the dark elven lord of Nightmane Forest. Now rules as the Queen of Nightmane Forest.

  MARCAST TETRICUS: A knight formerly in service to the garrison of the Iron Tower, now opposed to Tarrabus Carhaine.

  MARHAND: A Swordbearer, and Master of the Order of the Soulblade. Carries the soulblade Torchbrand.

  MARIUS: Known as the Watcher, Calliande’s former teacher in the magic of the Magistri. Watched over her in spirit form after she awakened in the Tower of Vigilance without her memories.

  MARTELLAR: A manetaur khalath in service to Prince Curzonar.

  MHALEK: Orcish warlord and shaman who believed himself a god. Defeated at Black Mountain,
and the killer of Aelia Licinius Arban.

  MIRIAM: The sister of Arandar’s late wife Isolde. Her husband died in the same plague that killed Isolde.

  MORIGNA: A sorceress of the Wilderland, and former lover of Ridmark. Murdered by Imaria Licinius and the Weaver at Dun Licinia.

  MOURNACHT: A Mhorite orcish warlord and shaman, later subverted into the service of Tymandain Shadowbearer. Killed by Ridmark Arban near Dun Licinia.

  NARAXZANAR: The former king of Khald Tormen, father of Axazamar and Narzaxar.

  NARZAXAR: The younger brother of King Axazamar of Khald Tormen and the Taalakdaz (chancellor) of the dwarven court.

  NYVANE: The daughter of Sir Arandar and granddaughter of the High King.

  PAUL TALLMANE: A vassal of Tarrabus Carhaine, member of the Enlightened of Incariel, and Constable of the Iron Tower. Defeated by Ridmark Arban and killed by Jager at the Iron Tower.

  QHAZULAK: An Anathgrimm orc. Champion of Nightmane Forest, and Lord Captain of the Queen’s Guard.

  QUINTUS: A merceny soldier and lieutenant of the smuggler Smiling Otto.

  RALAKAHR: A manetaur khalath in service to Prince Kurdulkar of the Range. Killed by Ridmark Arban.

  RASZEMA: The First Queen of the manetaurs, and senior wife of Red King Turcontar.

  RHISON MORDANE: A household knight of Tarrabus Carhaine and an Enlightened of Incariel.

  RHOGRIMNALAZUR: An urdmordar, slain by Ridmark Arban and his companions in the ruins of Urd Cystaanl.

  RHYANNIS: A high elven bladeweaver. Owes her life to Ridmark Arban.

  RIDMARK ARBAN: Known as the Gray Knight, the youngest son of Dux Leogrance Arban of Taliand. Expelled from the Order of the Swordbearers and branded for cowardice upon his left cheek. The widower of Aelia Licinius Arban.

  RJALMANDRAKUR: A Frostborn noble, Lord Commander of the Order of the Vanguard, the military Order of the Dominion of the High Lords devoted to quickly subjugating new worlds. Killed by Ridmark during the battle of Dun Calpurnia.

  RUTH: The former Keeper of Andomhaim who took Calliande as an apprentice.

  SEBASTIAN AURELIUS: The Dux of Caertigris, the eastern march of the High Kingdom.

  SEPTIMUS ANDRIUS: The Dux of Calvus, an Enlightened of Incariel, and a follower of Tarrabus Carhaine.

  THE SCULPTOR: A dark elven lord and wizard. Creator of many of the dark elves' war beasts.

  SMILING OTTO: A halfling smuggler and merchant, previously based out of Vulmhosk.

  TAGRIMN VOLARUS: A knight and vassal of Dux Gareth Licinius, and the lord of Mourning Keep in the southern hills of the Northerland.

  TARRABUS CARHAINE: The Dux of Caerdracon and the an Initiated of the Seventh Circle of the Enlightened of Incariel. Also the leader of the Enlightened of Incariel. Now claims to be the High King of Andomhaim by right of conquest.

  TAZEMAZAR: An arbiter of the manetaurs.

  TIMON CARDURIEL: The Dux of Arduran, an Enlightened of Incariel, and a follower of Tarrabus Carhaine.

  TORMARK ARBAN: The eldest son of Leogrance Arban, and the heir to the duxarchate of Taliand. Ridmark Arban’s oldest brother.

  THE TRAVELER: The dark elven prince of Nightmane Forest, and creator and master of the Anathgrimm. Killed by his daughter Mara in Khald Azalar.

  TURCONTAR: The Red King of the manetaur kindred.

  ULAKHAMAR: The king of the orcish kingdom of Rhaluusk and a vassal of the High King.

  UTHANARIC PENDRAGON: The High King of Andomhaim, and the heir of Arthur Pendragon. The bearer of the soulblade Excalibur and the Pendragon Crown. Murdered during the battle of Dun Calpurnia.

  VALMARK ARBAN: The second son of Dux Leogrance Arban, and bearer of the soulblade Hopesinger.

  VERUS MACRINUS: The Dux of Tarras, and an Enlightened of Incariel and supporter of Tarrabus Carhaine.

  VHORSHALA: A priestess of the ghost orcs.

  THE WARDEN: The lord of Urd Morlemoch, and widely regarded as the greatest wizard ever produced by the dark elves. Trapped in Urd Morlemoch since the arrival of the urdmordar fifteen thousand years ago.

  THE WEAVER: Formerly a Magistrius named Toridan. Now a powerful Enlightened of Incariel capable of changing form quickly. Killed by Ridmark Arban in the Stone Heart of Khald Tormen.

  TOMIA ARBAN: The wife of Leogrance Arban, and the mother of Tormark Arban and Ridmark Arban. Died of illness when Ridmark was a child.

  ZHORLACHT: A warrior and wizard of the Anathgrimm orcs. Formerly a priest of the Traveler, and now an advisor of Queen Mara.

  ZHORLASKUR: The king of the orcish kingdom of Mhorluusk and a vassal of the High King.

  ZOTHAL - A tygrai Imryr in service to the arbiter Tazemazar and the First Queen Raszema.

  ZUGLACHT: An orcish wizard and the ruler of the town Shakaboth.

  Glossary of Locations

  ANDOMHAIM: The realm of the High King, founded by Malahan Pendragon, the grandson of Arthur Pendragon of Britain, when he fled the fall of Arthur’s realm through a magical gate to another world.

  ARANAEUS: A village of the Wilderland, birthplace of Gavin. Formerly ruled by the cult of the urdmordar Agrimnalazur.

  BASTOTH: The capital city of the manetaurs and the seat of the Red King of the Range.

  THE BLACK MOUNTAIN: A mountain of peculiar black stone north of Dun Licinia. Sacred to both the dark elves and the dvargir.

  CAERDRACON: A duxarchate in central Andomhaim, one of the wealthiest and most powerful of the realm.

  CAERTIGRIS: The eastern march of Andomhaim, bordering on the lands of the manetaurs.

  CALVUS: A duxarchate in central Andomhaim.

  CASTRA CARHAINE: The stronghold and seat of Dux Tarrabus Carhaine of Caerdracon.

  CASTRA DURIUS: The stronghold of Dux Kors Durius, located in western Durandis.

  CASTRA MARCAINE: The stronghold and seat of Dux Gareth Licinius of the Northerland.

  CASTRA ARBAN: The stronghold and seat of Dux Leogrance Arban of Taliand.

  CATHAIR SOLAS: The last city of the high elves, located far beyond the northern boundaries of Andomhaim.

  CINTARRA: The largest city of Andomhaim, ruled by the Prince of Cintarra, Cadwall Gwyrdragon.

  COLDINIUM: A city on the northwestern borders of Andomhaim. Its Comes is a direct vassal of the High King.

  DUN CALPURNIA: A town in the western Northerland, overlooking the valley of the River Moradel.

  DUN LICINIA: A town in the Northerland, marking the northern border of the realm of Andomhaim.

  DURANDIS: The western march of the kingdom of Andomhaim, bordering the mountains of Kothluusk.

  THE IRON TOWER: Once the northwestern outpost of the kingdom of Andomhaim, commanded by Sir Paul Tallmane. Destroyed by Ridmark Arban and his allies in their fight against the Artificer.

  KHALD AZALAR: A destroyed kingdom of the dwarves, located beneath the mountains of eastern Vhaluusk.

  KHALD TORMEN: The chief of the remaining Three Kingdoms of the dwarves, located beneath the mountains of Kothluusk west of Durandis.

  KHALDURMAR: The chief city of the dvargir in the Deeps.

  KHALUUSK: One of the three orcish kingdoms sworn to the High King, located north of the Shaluuskan Forest.

  KOTHLUUSK: A kingdom of Mhor-worshipping orcs, located west of Durandis.

  THE LABYRINTH: A dark elven ruin in the Deeps below the Range.

  LIAVATUM: A village in the western Northerland.

  MORAIME: A town in the Wilderland, formerly the home of Morigna.

  NIGHTMANE FOREST: The domain of the Traveler and the homeland of the Anathgrimm orcs, now ruled by Queen Mara.

  THE NORTHERLAND: The northernmost march of the realm of Andomhaim.

  OPPIDUM AURELIUS: A trading town in the western edge on the Range.

  THE QAZALUUSKAN FOREST: The vast forest north of Taliand, home to the ghost orcs.

  THE RANGE: The vast grassland east of the realm of Andomhaim, home to the manetaur and tygrai kindreds.

  REGNUM: A village in western Calvus, destroyed by Tarrabus Carhaine and t
he Enlightened of Incariel.

  RHALUUSK: Kingdom of orcs near Durandis. The King of Rhaluusk is sworn to the High King of Andomhaim, and the orcs of Rhaluusk follow the worship of the Dominus Christus.

  SHAKABOTH: A trading town in the upper levels of the Deeps, ruled by the orcish wizard Zuglacht.

  THE SHALUUSKAN FOREST: The forest north of Taliand, home to the ghost orcs.

  TALIAND: The oldest duxarchate of Andomhaim, located west of the mouth of the River Moradel.

  TARLION: The capital city of Andomhaim and the seat of the High King. Home to the High King’s Citadel and the Well, the source of the magic of the Magistri. Formerly known as Cathair Tarlias before the founding of Andomhaim.

  THAINKUL DURAL: A ruined thainkul a short distance from Moraime.

  THAINKUL MORZAN: A ruined thainkul a few days from Khald Tormen.

  URD AROWYN: The stronghold of the urdmordar Agrimnalazur.