Read The Dragon of Despair Online
Authors: Jane Lindskold
Tags: #Adult, #Fantasy, #Adventure, #Science Fiction
Keen:
(H.H.) servant to Newell Shield.
Kenre Trueheart:
(H.H.) son of Zorana Archer and Aksel Trueheart; brother of Purcel, Nydia, and Deste Trueheart.
Kiero:
(N.K.) spy in the service of the Healed One.
Kistlio:
(N.K.) clerk in Thendulla Lypella; nephew of Grateful Peace; son of Idalia and Pichero; brother of Varcasiol, Linatha, and others. Deceased.
Lillis Norwood:
(Lady, H.H.) daughter of Norvin Norwood and Luella Stanbrook; sister of Edlin, Tait, and Agneta Norwood; adopted sister of Blysse Norwood (Firekeeper).
Linatha:
(N.K.) niece of Grateful Peace; daughter of Idalia and Pichero; sister of Kistlio, Varcasiol, and others.
Longsight Scrounger:
pirate, leader of those at Smuggler’s Light.
Lorimer Stanbrook:
(Lord, H.H.) spouse of Marras Eagle; father of Marigolde and Alben Eagle. Deceased.
Lovella Eagle:
(Crown Princess, H.H.) military commander; daughter of Tedric Eagle and Elexa Wellward; spouse of Newell Shield. Deceased.
Lucho:
(N.K.) a thug.
Lucky Shortleg:
a pirate.
Luella Stanbrook:
(Lady, H.H.) spouse of Norvin Norwood; mother of Edlin, Tait, Lillis, and Agneta Norwood.
Marek:
(Duke, Half-Moon Island) formerly Duke Lobster of Bright Bay but chose to follow the fate of his son, Harwill. Brother of Faelene, the current Duchess Lobster.
Marigolde Eagle:
(H.H.) daughter of Marras Eagle and Lorimer Stanbrook. In keeping with principles of Zorana I, given no title as died in infancy.
Marras Eagle:
(Crown Princess, H.H.) daughter of Chalmer Eagle and Rose Rosewood; sister of Tedric, Caryl, Gadman, and Rosene; spouse of Lorimer Stanbrook; mother of Marigolde and Alben Eagle. Deceased.
Melina:
(H.H.; N.K.) formerly entitled “lady,” with affiliation to House Gyrfalcon; reputed sorceress; spouse of Rolfston Redbriar; mother of Sapphire, Jet, Opal, Ruby, and Citrine Shield. Later spouse of Toriovico of New Kelvin, given title of Consolor of the Healed One.
Merri Jay:
(H.H.) daughter of Wendee Jay.
Merry Seagleam:
see Gustin II.
Minnow:
(Princess, B.B.) formerly Minnow Oyster. Daughter of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; sister of Shad and Tavis, twin of Anemone.
Nanny:
(H.H.) attendant to Melina Shield.
Nelm:
(N.K.) member of the Sodality of Herbalists.
Newell Shield:
(Prince, H.H.) commander of marines; spouse of Lovella Eagle; brother of Tab, Rein, Polr, and Melina Shield. Deceased.
Ninette Farmer:
(H.H.) relative of Ivon Archer; attendant of Elise Archer.
Northwest:
Royal Wolf, not of Firekeeper’s pack. Called Sharp Fang by his own pack.
Norvin Norwood:
(Earl Kestrel, H.H.) heir to Kestrel Grant; son of Saedee Norwood; brother of Eirene Norwood; spouse of Luella Stanbrook; father of Edlin, Tait, Lillis, and Agneta; adopted father of Blysse (Firekeeper).
Nstasius:
(N.K.) Prime, member of the Sodality of Sericulturalists, sympathetic to the Progressive Party.
Nydia Trueheart:
(H.H.) often called Dia; daughter of Aksel Trueheart and Zorana Archer; sister of Purcel, Deste, and Kenre Trueheart.
Oculios:
(N.K.) apothecary; member of the Sodality of Alchemists.
One Female:
also Shining Coat; ruling female wolf of Firekeeper and Blind Seer’s pack.
One Male:
also Rip; ruling male wolf of Firekeeper and Blind Seer’s pack.
Opal Shield:
(H.H.) daughter of Melina Shield and Rolfston Redbriar; sister of Sapphire, Jet, Ruby, and Citrine.
Oralia:
(Isles) wife of Waln Endbrook; mother of three children.
Ox:
(H.H.) born Malvin Hogge; bodyguard to Norvin Norwood; renowned for his strength and good temper.
Pearl Oyster:
(Queen, B.B.) spouse of Allister I; mother of Shad, Tavis, Anemone, and Minnow.
Perce Potterford:
(B.B.) guard to Allister I.
Perr:
(H.H.) body servant to Ivon Archer.
Pichero:
(N.K.) spouse of Idalia; father of Kistlio, Varcasiol, Linatha, and others.
Polr:
(Lord, H.H.) military commander; brother of Tab, Rein, Newell, and Melina.
Posa:
(N.K.) Prime, member of the Sodality of Illuminators.
Purcel Archer:
(Baron Archer, H.H.) first Baron Archer, born Purcel Farmer, elevated to the title for his prowess in battle; spouse of Rosene Eagle; father of Ivon and Zorana Archer. Deceased.
Purcel Trueheart:
(H.H.) lieutenant Hawk Haven army; son of Aksel Trueheart and Zorana Archer; brother of Nydia, Deste, and Kenre Trueheart. Deceased.
Race Forester:
(H.H.) scout under the patronage of Norvin Norwood; regarded by many as one of the best in his calling.
Rafalias:
(N.K.) member of the Sodality of Lapidaries.
Red Stripe:
also called Cime; a pirate.
Reed Oyster:
(Duke, B.B.) father of Queen Pearl. Among the strongest supporters of Allister I.
Rein Shield:
(Lord, H.H.) brother of Tab, Newell, Polr, and Melina.
Riki Redbriar:
(Lady, H.H.) spouse of Gadman Eagle; mother of Rolfston and Nydia Redbriar. Deceased.
Rillon:
(N.K.) a maid in the Cloud Touching Spire; a slave.
Rios:
see Citrine Shield.
Rip:
see the One Male.
Rolfston Redbriar:
(Lord, H.H.) son of Gadman Eagle and Riki Redbriar; spouse of Melina Shield; father of Sapphire, Jet, Opal, Ruby, and Citrine Shield. Deceased.
Rook:
(H.H.) servant to Newell Shield.
Rory Seal:
(Lord, B.B.) holds the title Royal Physician.
Rose Rosewood:
(Queen, H.H.) common-born wife of Chalmer I; also called Rose Dawn; his marriage to her was the reason Hawk Haven Great Houses received what Queen Zorana the Great would doubtless have seen as unnecessary and frivolous titles. Deceased.
Rosene:
(Grand Duchess, H.H.) fifth child of King Chalmer and Queen Rose; spouse of Purcel Archer; mother of Ivon and Zorana Archer.
Ruby Shield:
(H.H.) daughter of Melina Shield and Rolfston Redbriar; sister of Sapphire, Jet, Opal, and Citrine Shield.
Saedee Norwood:
(Duchess Kestrel, H.H.) mother of Norvin and Eirene Norwood.
Sapphire:
(Crown Princess, H.H.) adopted daughter of Tedric I; birth daughter of Melina Shield and Rolfston Redbriar; sister of Jet, Opal, Ruby, and Citrine Shield; spouse of Shad.
Sarena Gardener:
(H.H.) member of Prince Barden’s expedition; spouse of Donal Hunter; mother of Tamara. Deceased.
Seastar Seagleam:
(Grand Duchess, B.B.) sister of Gustin III; mother of Culver and Dillon Pelican.
Shad:
(Crown Prince, B.B.) son of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; brother of Tavis, Anemone, and Minnow; spouse of Sapphire.
Sharp Fang:
a common name among the Royal Wolves; see Northwest and Whiner.
Siyago:
(Dragon’s Fire, N.K.) a prominent member of the Sodality of Artificers.
Steady Runner:
a Royal Elk.
Steward Silver:
(H.H.) long-time steward of Eagles’ Nest Castle. Her birth-name and origin have been forgotten as no one, not even Silver herself, thinks of herself as anything but the steward.
Tab Shield:
(Duke Gyrfalcon, H.H.) brother of Rein, Newell, Polr, and Melina.
Tait Norwood:
(Lord, H.H.) son of Norvin Norwood and Luella Stanbrook; brother of Edlin, Lillis, and Agneta Norwood.
Tallus:
(N.K.) Prime, member of the Sodality of Alchemists.
Tavis:
(Prince, B.B.) son of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; brother of Shad, Anemone, and Minnow.
Tavis Seagleam:
(Prince, B.B.) third child of Gustin II and Amery Pelican; spouse of Caryl Eagle; father of Allister Seagleam.
Tedric I:
(King, H.H.) third king of Hawk Haven; son of King Chalmer and Queen Rose; spouse of Elexa Wellward; father of Chalmer, Lovella, and Barden; adopted father of Sapphire.
Tench:
(Lord, B.B.) born Tench Clark; right-hand to Queen Gustin IV; knighted for his services; later made Lord of the Pen. Deceased.
Thyme:
(H.H.) a scout in the service of Hawk Haven.
Timin Gardener:
(H.H.) Master Gardener for Eagle’s Nest Castle, possessor of the Green Thumb, a talent involving the growing of plants; son of Holly Gardener; brother of Sarena; father of Dan and Robyn.
Tipi:
(N.K.) slave, born in Stonehold.
Toad:
(H.H.) pensioner of the Carter family.
Tollius:
(N.K.) member of the Sodality of Smiths.
Toriovico:
(Healed One, N.K.) hereditary ruler of New Kelvin; spouse of Melina; brother to Vanviko (deceased) and several sisters.
Tris Stone:
a pirate.
Tymia:
(N.K.) a guard.
Ulia:
(N.K.) a judge.
Valet:
(H.H.) eponymous servant of Norvin Norwood; known for his fidelity and surprising wealth of useful skills.
Valora I:
(Queen, the Isles) born Valora Seagleam, assumed the name Gustin upon her coronation as fourth monarch of Bright Bay. Resigned her position to Allister I and became queen of the Isles. Spouse of Harwill Lobster.
Valora Seagleam:
see Valora I.
Vanviko:
(heir to the Healed One, N.K.) elder brother of Toriovico; killed in avalanche.
Varcasiol:
(N.K.) nephew of Grateful Peace; son of Idalia and Pichero; brother of Kistlio, Linatha, and others.
Vernita Carter:
(H.H.) born Vernita Painter. An acknowledged beauty of her day, Vernita became associated with the business she and her husband, Colby, transformed from a simple carting business to a group of associated livery stables and carting services; mother of Derian, Damita, and Brock Carter.
Violet Redbriar:
(Ambassador, H.H.) ambassador from Hawk Haven to New Kelvin; translator and author, with great interest in New Kelvinese culture.
Viona Seal:
(Queen, B.B.) second wife of King Gustin III; mother of Valora, later Gustin IV.
Wain Cutter:
(H.H.) skilled lapidary and gem cutter working out of the town of Hope.
Waln Endbrook:
(the Isles) formerly Baron Endbrook; also, Walnut Endbrook. A prosperous merchant, Waln found rapid promotion in the service of Valora I. Spouse of Oralia; father of two daughters and a son.
Wendee Jay:
(H.H.) retainer in service of Duchess Kestrel. Lady’s maid to Firekeeper. Divorced. Mother of two daughters.
Wheeler:
(H.H.) scout captain.
Whiner:
a wolf of Blind Seer and Firekeeper’s pack, later named Sharp Fang.
Whyte Steel:
(knight, B.B.) captain of the guard for Allister I.
Wind Whisper:
Royal Wolf, formerly of Firekeeper’s pack, now member of another pack.
Xarxius:
(Dragon’s Claw, N.K.) member of the Dragon’s Three; former Stargazer.
Yaree Yuci:
(General, Stonehold) commander of Stonehold troops.
Zahlia:
(N.K.) member of the Sodality of Smiths. Specialist in silver.
Zorana I:
(Queen, H.H.) also called Zorana the Great, born Zorana Shield. First monarch of Hawk Haven; responsible for a reduction of titles—so associated with this program that overemphasis of titles is considered “unzoranic.” Spouse of Clive Elkwood; mother of Chalmer I.
Zorana Archer:
(Lady, H.H.) daughter of Rosene Eagle and Purcel Archer; sister of Ivon Archer; spouse of Aksel Trueheart; mother of Purcel, Nydia, Deste, and Kenre Trueheart.
Tor Books by Jane Lindskold
THROUGH WOLF’S EYES
WOLF’S HEAD, WOLF’S HEART
THE DRAGON OF DESPAIR
Acknowledgments
As always, there are many people to whom I owe my thanks for their contributions to the development of this novel. Informally, Jim Moore, Yvonne Coats, Phyllis White, and Linnea Dodson took the time to read the manuscript and provide feedback. Kennard “the mad scientist” Wilson applied his sense of precision to various discrepancies in the glossary. I also appreciated the flood of comments from those readers who let me know what they thought about the story that came before this book.
More formally, my agent, Kay McCauley, remained the bedrock on which I stood. Various folks at Tor Books, including Tom Doherty, Fred Herman, Patrick Nielsen Hayden, and Teresa Nielsen Hayden, provided cogent thought, valuable assistance, and genuine enthusiasm for the unwinding of Firekeeper’s story.