Echoes of the Fourth Magic (43 page)
Read Echoes of the Fourth Magic Online
Authors: R. A. Salvatore
Tags: #Fiction, #Fantasy, #General, #Epic, #Fantasy fiction, #Fantasy fiction; American, #Magic, #Science fiction, #Imaginary places
Del looked back to the angelic specter. Calae remained unchanging, his arm extended and his expression beckoning.
Del shook his head and smiled, accepting his fate at the hands of the trusted Calae. He cast a final, dreamy glance down at the enchanted forest.
Then stepped off the ledge.
Perhaps it was merely the winds within the stillness of the night, but more likely it was the magic of Calae, or of Ardaz or Brielle, carrying a final comfort to the man of yesterday who had so touched their lives, as the last sounds of Ynis Aielle carried to Del’s ears were the birth cries of a baby. For at that moment, a child was born unto Brielle, a beautiful girl.
Rhiannon, she would be called, the name of a woman who had graced that long-lost world with wisps of mystery and enchantment.
Also at that moment, snow began to fall across Aielle. Driven by the sea wind, it whipped with blizzard fury against the black walls of Talas-dun, where Reinheiser, the new Black Warlock, sat on his dark throne, awaiting the day when he would rise once again. It fell indifferently on Pallendara, barely visible against the whiteness of the newly polished walls. It shrouded sleeping Illuma, and descended gently on Avalon, where a new mother suckled her child.
That was to be the winter’s last snow, for the dawnslight came bright and clear, the first day of spring.
E
NGLISH IS THE
language common to all the races of Aielle, even spoken, though in a broken form, by the wild talons of the eastern wastes. This is merely a carryover from the times before the holocaust, English being the predominant language of the children on the ships the Colonnae guided to Aielle’s shores.
The Gaelic flavor of the rangers’ speech is due to the influence of Jennifer Glendower (Brielle). Alone in her domain for many centuries, the witch often wove spells of cell memory, seeking her ancestors through her genetic heritage. And from those encounters she acquired the more colorful phrases and rhythms of the speech of her Scottish highlander forefathers. These she passed along to Bellerian when he came north to live under the boughs of her wood, and he in turn imparted them to the children who would become the Rangers of Avalon.
Enchantish is the tongue of wizards, its rolling multisyllabic words an integral component of spellcasting. In Aielle it is most prevalent among the elves, who incorporated it into their everyday speech through their close association with the wizard Ardaz. Ironically, enchantish also has Gaelic overtones, for the language of the ancient Celtic peoples reflected their symbiosis with the land and the natural forces around them, the same forces from which wizards draw their power.
Aielle
—the land of rebirth
Ancient Ones
—the survivors of the
Unicorn
, delivered unto the future land of Aielle to teach the new race of man the lessons of the past
Andovar
—a ranger, friend to Belexus
Angfagdul—
(enchantish)
“the utter darkness,” referring to Morgan Thalasi
Ardaz
—the Silver Mage of Illuma, one of the four wizards trained by the Colonnae at the dawn of Aielle
Avalon
—a magical forest located southwest of the Crystal Mountains and bordering the field of Mountaingate
Backavar—
(enchantish)
“iron-arm,” referring to Belexus
Belexus
—a ranger, son of Bellerian, and reputedly the mightiest warrior in all Aielle
Bellerian
—the Lord of the Rangers of Avalon
Benador
—heir to the line of Ben-rin and rightful Overlord of Pallendara
Ben-galen
—father of Benador, killed by Ungden the Usurper
Ben-rin
—beloved Overlord of Pallendara at the time of the second mutation of man
Blackemara—
(enchantish)
“black mere,” a festering swamp in a box canyon just north of Avalon
Brady, Doc
—ship’s doctor on the
Unicorn
Brielle
—mistress of the First Magic, the Emerald Witch of Avalon and one of the Four
Brisen-Ballas
—the tower home of Ardaz on the cliff overlooking Illuma Vale
Brogg
—The Brown Wastes, a land desolated by Thalasi to discourage intruders from finding his stronghold
Caer Tuatha—
(enchantish)
“the city of man,” referring to Pallendara
Calae
—angelic Prince of the Colonnae
Calamus
—a Pegasus rescued from a dragon’s lair by Belexus and serving as his mount in return
Calva
—the grasslands of south-central Aielle, under the rule of the Overlord of Pallendara
Castel Angfagdt—
(enchantish)
“the castle of darkness,” referring to Talas-dun
Clas Braiyelle—
(enchantish)
“home of Brielle,” referring to Avalon
Colonnae
—angelic beings who served as guardians to the second race of man immediately following the holocaust
Corbin, Ray
—first officer of the
Unicorn
Crystal Mountains
—two great, mica-strewn ranges forming the northern border of the Calvan plains
Darwinia
—wife of Ben-galen, murdered by Ungden the Usurper
DelGiudice, Jeffrey
—Del, junior officer on the
Unicorn
Desdemona
—Ardaz’s shape-changing familiar, usually in the form of a black cat
e-Belvin Fehte—
(enchantish)
“the killing fires,” referring to the holocaust that destroyed the original race of man
Elves
—the second mutation of man, driven into exile by the Calvans
Erinel
—an elf, nephew of Ryell
Fahwayn
—Arien Silverleaf’s magical sword
Four
—the four adults saved from the holocaust by the Colonnae and trained as wizards
Four Bridges
—structures spanning the River Ne’er Ending in southern Aielle; site of a legendary battle between the talons and the Calvans
Glendower, Jennifer
—Brielle’s name before the holocaust
Glendower, Rudy
—Ardaz’s name before the holocaust
Illuma
—the secret mountain refuge harboring the fugitive elves
Illuma Vale
—the magical valley wherein lies Illuma
Istaahl
—the White Mage of Pallendara, one of the Four
Justice Stone
—site of Ardaz’s deception of Umpleby, where the wizard pretended to slay the elves while in reality shuffling them off to Illuma
Kored-Dul—
(enchantish)
“mountains of shadow,” located in northwestern Aielle and harboring Talas Dun
Loch-sh’Illume—
(enchantish)
“the moon pool,” the mountain pond located at the base of Shaithdun-o-Illume
Lochsilinilume—
(enchantish)
“land of the enchanted moonlight,” referring to Illuma
Luminas ey-n’abraieken—
(enchantish)
“dance of the brightest moons,” a celebration started by Arien Silverleaf to honor the beauty of the light of the full moon upon Shaithdun-o-Illuma
Mitchell, Hollis
—captain of the
Unicorn
Morgan, Thomas
—Morgan Thalasi’s name before the holocaust
Nuset
—National Undersea Exploration Team, sister organization of NASA
Pallendara
—Aielle’s greatest city, located on the southern coast
Perrault
—Istaahl’s name before the holocaust
Rangers of Avalon
—the children of the nobles of the court of Ben-galen when Ungden usurped the throne, stolen away to safety and trained as warriors by Bellerian
Reinheiser, Martin
—a civilian scientist aboard the
Unicorn
Ryell
—an elf, friend of Arien Silverleaf
Shaithdun-o-Illume—
(enchantish)
“mountain shelf of moonlight,” the special place of celebration for the elves of Illuma
Shank, Billy
—navigator of the
Unicorn
Silver City
—the city of the elves, Illuma
Silverleaf, Arien
—Eldar to the elves of Illuma, the first elf born of elven parents
Sylvia
—an elf, daughter of Arien Silverleaf
Talas-Dun
—Morgan Thalasi’s black fortress
Talons
—the first mutation of man, a wicked race serving as evil pawns in Morgan Thalasi’s designs for power
Telvensil
—a silvery, white-leafed tree common to the southern slopes of the Great Crystal Mountains
Thalasi, Morgan
—the Black Warlock, one of the Four and evil practitioner of the
Third Magic
—domination
Thompson, Michael
—an engineer on the
Unicorn
Tivriasis
—the singing stream of Shaithdun-o-Illume, named by Arien Silverleaf in memory of his late wife
Umpleby
—ancestor of Ungden, a ruthless land baron opposing Ben-rin, then Overlord of Pallendara
Ungden
—“the Usurper,” self-proclaimed Overlord of Pallendara who gained power by means of a bloody coup in which he killed Ben-galen and Darwinia
Unicorn
—the deep-diving submarine that took the ancient ones to the depths of the Atlantic, and ultimately, to the waters of the new world
Warders of the White Walls
—an order of knights bound by absolute oath to the Overlord of Pallendara
Witching Prophetics
—a series of prophecies by Brielle foretelling the coming of the ancient ones
Ynis Aielle—
(enchantish)
“isle of rebirth”
Don’t miss the stunning sequel to
ECHOES OF THE FOURTH MAGIC,
available at your local bookstores.
THE WITCH’S DAUGHTER
by R. A. Salvatore
His monstrous army overthrown, his spells cast down, and his spirit forced into the body of another, the warlock had taken two harrowing decades to win his war. But now he was ready to seek vengeance on witches and wizards, on humans and elves, as he sent out the call to marshal the greatest battalion of evil that had ever wreaked destruction.
THE WITCH’S DAUGHTER
by R. A. Salvatore
Published by Del Rey Books.
Available in bookstores everywhere.
Don’t miss any of the novels in
R. A. Salvatore’s thrilling
Demon Wars
saga!
THE DEMON AWAKENS
THE DEMON SPIRIT
THE DEMON APOSTLE
MORTALIS
ASCENDANCE
TRANSCENDENCE
IMMORTALIS
“[The Demon Awakens
is] Salvatore’s best work since the Dark Elf series … An enthralling epic adventure story, it introduces memorable characters and an intricate scheme of magic the readers won’t soon forget. I am anxious for the next.”
—Terry Brooks
Published by Del Rey
www.delreybooks.com
Available wherever books are sold
By R. A. Salvatore:
Published by Del Rey Books
The Demon Wars Saga
THE DEMON AWAKENS
THE DEMON SPIRIT
THE DEMON APOSTLE
MORTALIS
ASCENDANCE
TRANSCENDANCE
IMMORTALIS
ECHOES OF THE FOURTH MAGIC
THE WITCH’S DAUGHTER
BASTION OF DARKNESS
Praise for R. A. Salvatore’s
DemonWars
series!
The Demon Spirit
“This is one of the finest books yet in Salvatore’s prolific career.”
—
Publishers Weekly
The Demon Awakens
“An enthralling epic adventure story, it introduces memorable characters and an intricate scheme of magic the reader won’t soon forget. I am anxious for the next.”
—T
ERRY
B
ROOKS
Author of the
Shannara
and
Magic Kingdom
series
“The Demon Awakens
is Salvatore doing what he does best. Page-turning action provides the backdrop for engaging characters locked in the eternal struggle of good vs. evil. My favorite since
The Halfling’s Gem.”
—Mary Kirchoff Author of the
Defenders of Magic
trilogy
“Fans of his
Dark Elf
books will find all the familiar elements here—ancient evils, dazzling magic, and earnest young heroes—in a combination certain to place the series alongside the best of Eddings and Brooks in the minds of fantasy readers.”
—J
AMES
L
OWDER
Author of
Prince of Lies
