Two days later, Bolk set forth from Kachar, heading for the Sky Mountains far to the west, and with him went nine others of like mind. And DelfLord Thork stood at the gate and watched them ride down through the valley and away, not sorry to see them go.
Though he was surrounded by Counsellors and petitioners and planners with issues to be settled and tasks to be done, Thork sank deeper into his melancholy, his days seeming long and lonely and pointless, his nights black and empty. And not a moment passed he did not think of Elyn—her copper hair, her green eyes, her grace beyond description. Yet at last he knew that this could not go on: he knew that he must come to terms with her death, else he could not give his best to the people of Kachar. And so, leaving word with the Council and taking a seven-day of supplies, Thork set off for the DelfLord’s Retreat, a small chamber high within the Mountain, climbing up along the way discovered ages past, the path steep, ramped in some places, stairs carven in others.
Up he climbed and up, stopping often to rest, yet at last he came unto the room where DelfLords before him had come—to rest, to meditate, to ponder. The chamber was ample, some five paces by seven, and furnished with a cot and privy pot and desk and chair. Upon the desk were candles and an oil lamp, and blank scrolls of foolscap. An inkwell and goose quills sat waiting, but the ink was long dried, though a waxsealed tin of lampblack stood ready for mixing should he feel the need to write.
Along one wall stood a copper-clad door, green with verdigris, a heavy crossbar fastening it shut. Thork moved to the portal and, with a grunt, hefted the bar up and away. Hinges protested as he swung the door inward and open, to reveal a twisting narrow crevice leading outward, and he could hear cascading water.
Stepping through the portal, Thork followed the smoothed floor of the winding split, curving this way and that, passing a small tumbling rill and continuing on; and after thirty paces or so, he came out into daylight on a broad ledge high upon the flank of the Mountain.
Down below he could see the whole of the vale leading up to the gates of Kachar. Too, he could see where Black Kalgalath had torn stone from the slopes to hurl it down below, the steeps scarred deeply and over a vast area, and he recalled Counsellor Dalk’s words: “It was as if Kalgalath knew that we were ready to begin our march upon Jord, and he came and buried the gates under a mass that made the other appear as an afternoon’s shovelling. It took us nearly three months to dig free, yet we succeeded at last, not more than a week before you returned, DelfLord Thork.”
North and east, Thork could see the snowcapped peaks of the Grimwall; south and east, the Realm of Kachar, and beyond, the Land of Aven, perhaps even unto Garia as well.
And the DelfLord stood high in the airy silence, surveying the world—Mountains and forests, valleys and streams, stone and snow and soil—and he would have gladly given it all for just one more glimpse of the precious face of his beloved Princess of Jord.
It was upon the third day of his solitary retreat that Thork again stood out upon the Mountain flank. It was late afternoon, and overhead a black storm roiled among the peaks; lightning streaked downward, thunder crashing after, and high dark clouds swirled above, though here and there wide rifts clove upward into the flashing, booming churn.
Wind battered at Thork, pummelling him, swirling his cloak about him, blowing his hair and beard, as if the coming storm were angered by his very presence.
And of a sudden he saw a red hawk sailing ’cross the seething sky, riding the winds of the storm and crying out its defiance:
Skree!
And Thork stood and watched.
Skree!
And a vision of Elyn—copper hair and green eyes—rose up in his mind. . . .
Beloved.
“Red hawk against dark sky, rise up on the thunder and wind and lightning, and ride the storm, as did my Elyn.”
And the hawk rose up ever higher, wheeling on the wind, riding up o’er the white Mountain crests and up among the chasms between the grey roiling clouds. And again Thork heard the far-off Skree! as if the raptor challenged the very elements themselves.
How like my Elyn.
Higher and higher the hawk wheeled, Thork straining to see—
Beloved.
—tears running down his face.
And it began to rain, water lashing down; but still he stood weeping and watched the hunter soar up into the distant thundering sky. Yet at last he could see the hawk no more, its red flight beyond his vision. And he cast his hood o’er his head and turned and went back inside.
“Tell me, my son, what is the greatest enchantment of
all?”
“Why, love, Master, love; true love be the greatest
enchantment of all.”
EPILOGUES
Thork reigned long and was well loved. Under his guidance Kachar prospered and Blackstone again became the Jewel among Châkkaholts. Too, it is said that in some fashion he aided Jord to recover, though just how is not recorded. When he died he was laid to rest in stone carven with a pair of red hawks in flight, male and female, an unusual device for a Dwarven tomb. He was forever remembered in the songs of bards as one of the two who together slew Black Kalgalath.
He never married.
For many long ages the Harlingar and the Châkka held each other in contempt; and even though they fought shoulder to shoulder in the War to overthrow the Usurper, and again as allies during the Winter War, still they continued to bristle at the sight of one another. It was not until the War of Kraggen-cor, more than twenty-six hundred years after the slaying of Sleeth and the taking of his hoard, that the rancor between Dwarves and Riders was at last erased, for no hatred, no vengeance, no neglect is passed on forever; it must come to rest somewhere, to vanish in the eternity of time or to die under the weight of love. Even so, Elgo’s name forever became a curse in the mouths of the Châkka, and forever a benediction upon the lips of the Vanadurin.
There was but a single treasure of any consequence that survived from the hoard of Sleeth the Orm: a small silver horn on green baldric. Carven on the bell of the horn were diminutive riders on horseback racing among mystic runes. It came back into Jord upon a well-escorted waggon bearing Bram, son of Elgo and heir to Jord, and his mother, Arianne; and Bram called his favorite toy, the horn, his “tahn tahn,” for he was but three, nearly four, when Aranor sent for him to return to Jordkeep. The horn was passed down as an heirloom of Elgo through generation after generation of Vanadurin riders, until one day it fell into the hands of one of the Wee Folk. . . .
But that is another tale.
A PARTIAL CALENDAR OF MITHGARIAN EVENTS
TRANSLATIONS OF WORDS AND PHRASES
Throughout the Commentaries on the Lays of Bard Estor appear many words and phrases in languages other than the Common Tongue, Pellarion. For scholars interested in such things, these words and phrases are collected together in this appendix. A number of Tongues are involved:
The following is a cross-reference table of the most common terms found in the Jordian and Dwarven Tongues in The Commentaries.
In the following text, words and phrases are listed under the Tongue of origin. Where possible, direct translations [] are provided; in other cases, the translation is inferred from the context { } of The Commentaries. Also listed is the more common name (), where applicable.
Châkur [Dwarven Tongue]
Agan na stur ka Dechâkka! [Reflect no dishonor upon our ancestors!]
Châk [Dwarf]
Châkia {female Dwarves}
Châkian {a female Dwarf}
Châkka [Dwarves; of the Dwarves; Dwarven]
Châkka shok! Châkka cor! [Dwarven axes! Dwarven
might!]
Cheol {Yule}
chod {soft metal of slow harm} (lead)
Daūn [Dawn]
Dök! [Stop!; Halt!]
DelfLord {Lord of the delvings}
Dusken {sundown} (dusk)
Elwydd, Lol an Adon . . . [Elwydd, Daughter of Adon . . .]
Kraggen-cor {Mountain-stren
gth; Mountain-might}
Kruk! [Excrement!]
Kruk! Dök, praug, dök! [Excrement! Stop, pony, stop!] Maht! [Silence!]
Madûk {evil monster} (Hèlarms, Kraken, Monster)
Mitheor {mid-earth} (Mithgar)
Mountain {living stone} (living stone; mountain)
Nid pol kanar vo a Châkka! [None shall know of that but the Dwarves!]
Roo! Roo! [I wait!] (Dwarven horncall)
Sol Kani, den vani dak belka [Friend Wizards, for our lives we thank you]
trothmate {true-pledged mate} (husband; wife)
zhar {demonfire liquid} (naphtha)
Fjordsman [Fjordsmen’s Tongue]
bloodgield {blood gold} (blood money)
stad [stead] (village; town)
stadfolk [steadfolk] (villagers; townsfolk)
stadholl [steadhall] (town hall)
weregield {strange gold; doomed gold}
Naudron [Tongue of the Naudron]
Daga! Daga! {Kill! Kill!}
Slûk [Spawn Tongue]
Dubh {Dwarf}
Gulgok {Master}
Jūng [Tongue of the Jūngers]
Ghoda rhokho! {Stop your horses!}
Kaija, Wolc! {Greetings, Friends!}
Kha! {Yah!}
Utruni [Tongue of the Utruni]
Ar [the Sun]
Dakhu! {Look up!}
Shak fhan! {Brace stone!}
Valur [War-Tongue of Jord]
A-raw, a-rahn! [A foe, alert!] (Jordian horncall)
A-rahn! [Alert!] (Jordian horncall) Dracongield {Dragon gold}
faerygield {fairy gold}
Garn! {untranslated interjection used to express frustration or an ironic turn of events}
Hahn, taa-roo! [Recall or Withdraw!] (Jordian horncall)
Hai roi! {an enthusiastic call of greeting}
Hál! [Hail!]
Hál Jordreich! [Hail the Realm of Jord!]
Harlingar {Harl’s blood; Sons of Harl}
Harlingar, ot i markere fram . . . [Sons of Harl, from this point onward . . .]
Hèl {Hell}
Ic eom baec [I am back]
Rach! {untranslated interjection used to express frustration or rage}
Ra-tan-ta! [I answer!] (Jordian horncall)
Raw! Raw! Raw! [Attack! Attack! Attack!] (Jordian horncall)
Roon! Roon! Roon! (Jordian funeral horncall)
smt {sooty smear}
Taaa! Taaa! [Forward at a walk!] (Jordian horncall)
Taaa-tan, tan-taaa, tan-taaa! [Till we meet again, fare you well, fare you well!] (Jordian horncall)
Taa roo, taa roo, hahn! [Come in peace!] (Jordian horncall)
Ta-ra! Ta-ra! [At a gallop! At a gallop!] (Jordian horncall)
Ta-roo! Ta-roo! Tan-tan, ta-roo! [All is clear! All is clear! Horsemen and allies, the way is clear!] (Jordian horncall)
Ta-ta! Ta-ta! [At a trot! At a trot!] (Jordian horncall)
Ta-ti-ta! Ta-ti-ta! [At a canter! At a canter!] (Jordian horncall)
Vanadurin {Warriors of the Pledge}
V’takku, Vat! Doda! [Attack, Wind! Kill!]
weregield {strange gold; doomed gold}
GLOSSARY
A
Adon: the high deity of Mithgar. Also known as the Allfather.
Adonar: the world on the High Plane where Adon dwells. Adon’s Ban. See (the) Ban.
Adon’s Hammer. See (the) Kammerling.
Agnor: a Man of Jord. One of the warriors who judged Elyn at her testing for fitness to train as a Warrior Maiden.
Ai: an exclamation of surprise, delight, or fierce exultation.
Ai-oi: an exclamation of surprise or to call attention.
Alania: Woman of the Fian Downs. Wife of Aranor. Mother of Elgo and Elyn. Daughter of Earl Bost. Stepsister of Mala. Alania died of the fever when Elgo and Elyn were small children.
Alda: a Man of Jord. Healer. One of Elgo’s Warband that destroyed Sleeth in Blackstone. Died in the Great Maelstrom in the Boreal Sea.
Aldra: a Woman of Jord. Lady of Aranor’s Court.
(the) Allfather. See Adon.
Alric: a Man of Jord. A Loremaster. Sire of Ruric.
Andrak: a Wizard. Modru’s apprentice. Fought against
Adon in the Ban War. Suffered the Ban. Slain by Elyn of Jord during the Quest of Black Mountain.
(the) Angle of Gron: the Land of Gron (q.v.). Known as the Angle because of its wedge-like shape.
Ar (Utruni: Sun): an Utruni word meaning Sun.
Aralan: the Land to the east of the Khalian Mire.
Aranor: a Man of Jord. King. Husband of Alania. Sire of Elgo and Elyn. Lost many Men during the War of Kachar.
Ardon: a Man of Jord. As a youth he competed with bow and arrow against Elyn during her testing to receive Warrior Maiden training.
Ardu: a Man of Jord. Reynor’s younger brother. As a youth he was to bear Elyn’s letter to Aranor at Kachar, but Black Kalgalath’s raid upon Kachar prevented him from delivering it. His story of the raid precipitated Elyn’s quest for Black Mountain.
Arianne: a Woman of Riamon. Wife of Elgo. Mother of Bram. Daughter of Hagor.
Arik: a Fjordsman. Captain of the Longwyrm. Raider Captain during the Fjordsmen’s foray against Atli of Jute. Arlan: a Man of Jord. A huntsman. Bearer of the news of the Naudron raid into the disputed lands between Jord and Naud. One of Elgo’s Warband that destroyed Sleeth in Blackstone. Slain before the gates of Kachar during the War of Kachar.
Armsmaster: Jordian title of one who trains others in the use of weaponry.
Arnsburg: town near the center of the disputed lands between Jord and Naud. Here was fought the battle where both Elyn and Elgo were first blooded in combat.
Atli: a Man of Jute. Prince and then King. Dwelled for a while with the Fjordsmen, but was banished for murder. Led a raid against the Fjordsmen, which precipitated a blood feud. Slain by Tarly Olarsson during Arik’s raid into Jute.
Aulf: a Man of Jord. Captain whose troop escorted Bram to safety in Riamon, as well as escorting him back after the War of Kachar was finished.
(the) Avagon Sea: a great inland southern sea with a narrow strait into the Weston Ocean.
Aven: a Land bordered on the north and west by the Grimwall Mountains, on the south by Riamon, and on the east by Garia. Kaagor Pass connects Aven with Jord.
B
Bakkar: one of the Dwarven emissaries slain in Kaagor Pass.
(the) Ban: Adon’s banishment of all creatures of the Untargarda from the light of Mithgar’s Sun as punishment for aiding Gyphon during the Great War. Daylight strikes dead any who defy the Ban; their bodies shrivel into dry husks and blow away like dust. Some creatures of Mithgar, such as Cold-drakes, also suffer the Ban, though Dragonhide will protect a Dragon from withering away. Also known as the Withering Death.
Baran: a Dwarf of Kachar. DelfLord during the War of Kachar. Son of Brak and Sien. Brother of Thork. Survivor of the attack in Kaagor Pass, Baran was slain before the gates of Kachar by a spear thrown by Reynor at Bolk, precipitating the final battle in the War of Kachar.
Barda: a Man of Jord. Captain of the Keepwatch at Jordkeep at the time of the Battle of Arnsburg.
Bargo: a Man of Jord. One of Elgo’s Warband that destroyed Sleeth in Blackstone. Slain in Kachar by crossbow bolt moments after Elgo was slain.
(the) Barrens: the cold Land in the north where Modru fled after the Ban War.
(the) battle flag of Jord: white horse rampant on field of green.
(the) battle flag of Kachar: crossed silver axes on field of black.
(the) Battle of Hèl’s Crucible: the decisive battle of the Ban War.
(the) Battle-tongue (of the Harlingar): an ancient language spoken by the warriors of Jord. Used to keep secret their plans from ears that might overhear.
Bears that once were Men: legendary creatures. Probably werebears.
beasts of the elden days: legendary creatures from the dawning of Mithgar.
beitass: a slender pole used on a Dragon
boat to position a sail to catch the wind in a most effective manner. Also known as a whisker pole.
Béjan: a small mountain village in Xian.
Beryl: a Woman of Jord. Head seamstress at Jordkeep.
black-iron: a type of Dwarven steel.
black-iron armor: Dwarven armor made of black-iron.
black-iron mail: chain mail made of black-iron.
Black Kalgalath: a Dragon. A Fire-drake. Said to be the mightiest Dragon in Mithgar, though others claimed that Daagor was mightier. Refused to join Modru in the Ban War. Slain by the Kammerling, wielded by Thork. Also known as the Destroyer, the Pillager.
Black Mountain: a great dark mountain in the Grey Mountains of Xian. A Wizardholt.
black-oxen: wild black kine living in the Lands bordering on the northern shores of the Avagon Sea. Source of the black-oxen horns.
black-oxen horn: War horns used for signalling and borne by the Vanadurin.
Blackstone: the Dwarvenholt in the Rigga Mountains bordering on Rian. Invaded by Sleeth the Orm. Also known as the Châkkaholt of the Rigga Mountains, and as the Jewel of the Châkkaholts.
bloodgield (Fjordsman: blood gold): gold or silver paid to the kindred of those slain unjustly.
bloodquest: a quest for vengeance.
bloodraid: a raid for vengeance.
Bluehall: a Dwarvenholt on the island Kingdom of Gelen in the Weston Ocean.
Boer: a Man of Jord. A Marshal from the North Reach.
Bogar: a Man of Naud. King at the time of the battle of Arnsburg. Sire of Halgar. Slain in a battle with Kathians.
Bokar: a Dwarf of Blackstone. DelfLord at the time of Sleeth’s taking of Blackstone.
Bolk: A Dwarf of Kachar. Chief Captain of the Kachar guard. Warchief after Baran’s death until Thork’s return. Banished from Kachar to the Dwarvenholt of Skyloft in the Sky Mountains.
Dragondoom: A Novel of Mithgar Page 52