Dark the Dreamer's Shadow

by Jennifer Bresnick

  Arran Swinn: Captain of the Tortoise who is accused of smuggling by the Guild of Miners, setting him on a journey that leads him to the depths of the neneckt homeland. His parents are Elspeth and Giles Swinn.

  Bartolo: A servant of King Tiaraku who is responsible for bringing Arran Swinn to Niheba and forcing him to comply with Tiaraku’s plots.

  Bay of Burlera: The expanse of ocean stretching from the western prairie lands to the northward turn of Rhior-Adril’s coastline. The city of Paderborn sits on its shore.

  Bezhaka: A type of white stone imbued with magical properties. It is highly sacred to the neneckt.

  Cantrid: A small trading town to the west of Paderborn.

  Divided: A cult of Siheldi worshippers who are based in caverns underneath Niheba. They are led by the Warden.

  Durville: The sailing master of the Tortoise and a long-time friend of Arran Swinn.

  Eallawif: Ancient, capricious creatures that most often takes the form of a beautiful young woman. Eallawif grant wishes to humans in exchange for a heavy price.

  Elargwyd: A neneckt who seeks passage on the Tortoise from Arran Swinn. She seeks to rob him of his pendant and use him for her own gains.

  Elspeth Swinn: Arran Swinn’s mother, who used to run a boarding house in Paderborn.

  Emyer-Ekvori: The underwater city of the neneckt, which extends around and through the island of Niheba.

  Faidal: A neneckt who claims to be a Guild inspector and convinces Arran to go with him to Niheba before finding his missing pendant on the sea floor.

  Fyrendor: The human word for the fiery gateway to hell in their religious myths. Many believe that the Siheldi live behind it.

  Genedi: A neneckt functionary who finds himself on the wrong side of Tiaraku’s ambitions.

  Giles Swinn: Arran Swinn’s deceased father, who gave his life to the Siheldi in exchange for his family’s safety.

  Guild of Miners: A powerful association of inspectors and enforcers responsible for regulating the sale and trade of red iron throughout the continent. They are known for their ruthless tactics and low tolerance for smugglers.

  Habur: A neneckt warrior who does Tiaraku’s bidding.

  Irithi Athdra: A group of powerful Siheldi spirits that have been released into the world by the destruction of Sind Heofonne.

  Ivory Isles: A cluster of islands to the far west of Paderborn, known for their balmy weather and exotic goods.

  Jairus Lanque: A Guild agent who has infiltrated the Divided and attempts to learn Bartolo’s secrets.

  Lanning: A black market tradesman and banker for discerning clients in Paderborn.

  Leofric Gunhilde: A retired politician who agrees to help Megrithe find Arran Swinn on Niheba.

  Malveisin: The king of Rhior-Adril who resides in Paderborn.

  Megrithe Prinsthorpe: A Guild inspector who pursues Arran Swinn to Niheba after being informed of his purported smuggling activities.

  Neneckt: A race of sea-dwelling creatures that can change their shape at will when above the water. Under the ocean, they are invisible beings of spirit.

  Nievfaya: A neneckt slave who works for Tiaraku and Bartolo, also known as Faidal and Elargwyd. She is responsible for bring Arran to Niheba, but also tries to help him escape from the Siheldi.

  Niheba: A large island to the north and east of Paderborn, where the neneckt live. Human trade to the island is regulated by King Tiaraku and the Treaty of Libourg.

  Nikodelmus Daggertooth: Known to Megrithe as Nikko, he is a neneckt who lives with Leofric Gunhilde and has a complicated past in Niheba.

  Norem Cloche: A physician employed by the Guild who befriended Jairus Lanque as a child.

  Oughon: A member of the order of neneckt shaman who are both healers and keepers of rites and rituals.

  Paderborn: The capital city of Rhior-Adril, a spreading metropolis that lives in constant fear of the Siheldi. King Malveisin reigns over the city, and the Guild also considers Paderborn its seat of power.

  Port Ravenaught: A frontier settlement to the north of Paderborn. It is known for its rough living and as a gateway for smugglers.

  Red iron: A rare and costly substance that is the only sure way to repel the Siheldi. Its production and sale is tightly controlled by the Guild of Miners.

  Rhior-Adril: The mainland country that includes Paderborn, Cantrid, Port Ravenaught, and other notable cities. Its king is Malveisin and its residents are primarily human.

  Siheldi: Evil spirits that feast on human souls and only emerge under the cover of darkness. They terrorize the populace and can only be repelled by the presence of genuine red iron.

  Sind Heofonne: The neneckt term for the underwater prison that holds the Siheldi Queen.

  Tiaraku: The king of the neneckt, whose iron-fisted rule has caused much discontent among his people. He enlists Bartolo and Faidal to help him free the Siheldi Queen and take control of the spirits himself.

  Treaty of Libourg: The law governing trade between Rhior-Adril and Niheba, instituted when Tiaraku came to the throne.

  Warden: The leader of the Divided who attempts to gain control of the Siheldi Queen.

  Ychauyad: A neneckt substance that allows human beings to breathe and live underwater.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jennifer Bresnick is the author of the award-winning fantasies The Last Death of Tev Chrisini and The Spoil of Zanuth-Karun. Born and raised on Long Island, NY, she now resides in the Boston area, fervently avoiding all discussions about professional sports.

  When she isn't writing down the conversations in her head to give them an appearance of respectability, Jen enjoys getting bossed around by her cat and spending time at the archery range.

  Please visit www.jenniferbresnick.com for more information on The Dreamer’s Shadow series and exclusive details about other upcoming works.