Read The Dusk Watchman: Book Five of The Twilight Reign Online
Authors: Tom Lloyd
Ok, so I have to admit that many other people have put a huge amount of work into the Twilight Reign. Without their efforts and dedication the series might never have come about and it certainly wouldn’t be the thing of pride for me that it is now. I barely know where to start, but two figures stand out:
Firstly my lovely wife, Fiona, without whom I’d no doubt be a borderline psychotic and malnourished recluse. Well, more so anyway. It’s easy to get drawn into the world you’re writing about and forget about what’s actually important. It’s been a relentless effort on her part to keep me cheerful and engaged with real life while I worked through this project of a million words – and an effort for which I’m hugely grateful.
The other woman whose-word-I-must-obey-because-she’s-always-going-to-be-right-and-arguing-only-makes-it-worse is Jo Fletcher; beloved editor whose portrait would no doubt hang, Lenin-like, in Death’s office if He had one. She gave me my chance and made damn sure I didn’t waste it, improving the books at every step and being my most vocal champion in an industry where obscurity kills most careers.
Along the way have been so many others who also deserve thanks, particularly: Louise Gould who stepped into the breach to edit this last book when all sensible advice would be to run away, my entire (and extended) family who’ve all been hugely supportive, and Pyr
Über
editor Lou Ander for all his work, advice and enthusiasm on the other side of the pond. Also Simon Spanton for taking up the reins at Gollancz, Gillian Redfearn, Charlie Panayiotou, Jon Weir, and all the rest at Gollancz and Pyr, plus agents John Parker and Simon Kavanagh, and website supremo Robin Morero.
Not to be forgotten are my long-suffering readers – particularly Nathaniel Davies and Richard Lloyd-Williams, but also Steve Diamond, Simon Kavanagh and Sarah Mulryan. Additionally thanks to those writers I like to think have over the years become, well, people I’ve met: Joe Abercrombie, James Barclay, David Devereux, Jaine Fenn, Suzanne McLeod and the many others on the Gollancz list who combine to make it far more than a collection of competitors.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Abay, General Hym
– general of the Knights of the Temples and member of its ruling council
Aels, Counsel Mirani
– Vanach Commissar of the Fourth Enlightenment
Afasin
– White-eye general of the Knights of the Temples, ruler of Mustet and member of its ruling council
Alterr
– Goddess of the Night Sky and Greater Moon, member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Amah, Suzerain Duril
– Deceased Farlan nobleman, died at battle of Chir Plains
Amah, Suzerain Koshir
– Farlan nobleman, uncle of Duril Amah
Amavoq
– Goddess of the Forest, patron of the Yeetatchen, member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Amber
– A Menin major in the Cheme Third Legion
Antern, Count Opess
– Narkang nobleman and advisor to King Emin
Anyar, Duke Heyl
– ruler of Sautin
Aracnan
– Deceased Demi-God, first son of Death
Ardela
– Farlan devotee of the Lady, Legana’s companion
Arek, General Kontor
– Menin general, commander of the Fourth Army
Aryn Bwr
– Battle name of the last Elven king, who led their rebellion against the Gods. His true name has been excised from history
Ashain, Coternin
– Narkang mage
Azaer
– A shadow
Bahl
– Deceased Lord of the Farlan; Chosen of Nartis before Lord Isak
Belarannar
– Goddess of the Earth, member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon, once patron of the Vukotic tribe
Bessarei, General Saraventole
– General of the Narkang Kingsguard
Beyn, Ignas
– Deceased member of the Brotherhood
Bissen
– Mage in the employ of Natai Escral, Duchess of Byora
Carasay, Sir Cerse
– Colonel of the Tirah Palace Guard Legions
Carel (Carelfolden), Marshal Betyn
– Farlan nobleman, mentor, friend and former commander of Lord Isak’s Personal Guard
Cedei, Herred
– Member of the Brotherhood
Celao, Lord
– Litse white-eye, Chosen of Ilit and ruler of the Ismess quarter of the Circle City
Cerrat, Jeco
– Legion Chaplain of the Ghosts, raised directly from novitiacy by the posthumous order of Lord Bahl
Certinse, Knight-Cardinal Horel
– Commander of the Knights of the Temples, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Farlan by birth
Certinse, High Cardinal Varn
– Deceased Farlan cleric. Third son of the Tildek Suzerainty, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Knight-Cardinal Certinse and Duchess Lomin
Certinse, Duke Karlat
– Deceased Farlan nobleman, former ruler of Lomin, nephew of Suzerain Tildek
Cetarn, Shile
– Deceased mage from Narkang
Chaist, Duke
– Ruler of Embere, Member of the Knights of the Temples
Coran
– Deceased white-eye bodyguard of King Emin Thonal of Narkang
Cotterin, Suzerain Piranei
– Narkang nobleman
Dacan, Priesan
– Vanach Commissar of the Fifth Enlightenment and member of the ruling Sanctum
Daima
– A witch of Llehden
Daken, General (the Mad Axe)
– White-eye from Canar Fell, a General of the Narkang Army and Marshal of Inchets, aligned to the Litania the Trickster, an Aspect of Larat
Danva, Suzerain Woral
– Deceased Farlan nobleman, suzerain-in-regent for his infant nephew
Danva, Suzerain Wattan
– Farlan nobleman, son of Woral Danva
Darass, Prefect Shor
– Vanach Commissar of the Fifth Enlightenment and, Overseer of Toristern Settlement
Dashain (Dash)
– Second-in-command of the Brotherhood
Dass
– Carastar mercenary
Dassai, Marshal Canerin
– Narkang nobleman and colonel of the Green Scarves
Death
– Chief of the Gods and head of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Dechem
– Chetse champion from the Eastern Desert
Dedessen
– A minor daemon
Derager, Gavai
– Wife of a Byoran wine merchant, a Farlan agent
Derager, Lell
– Wine merchant from Byora and Farlan agent
Derenin, Suzerain
– Narkang nobleman, lord of Moorview Castle
Derral, Captain Kinen
– Soldier from the Circle City, member of the Knights of the Temples
Dev, General Chate
– Chetse general and Commander of the Ten Thousand
Doranei, Ashin
– A member of the Brotherhood
Dorom, Colonel
– A Menin officer
Ebarn, Fei
– A battle-mage from Narkang
Echer, High Cardinal
– Deceased Farlan cleric and leader of the cardinal branch of the Cult of Nartis
Ehla
– The name Lord Isak is permitted to use for the witch of Llehden
Eleil, Cardinal Luth
– Deceased priest of Ilit from Ismess, member of the Knights of the Temples, former head of the Serian in the Circle City, then deputy of the Devout Congress
Endine, Tomal
– Narkang mage in the employ of King Emin
Escral, Duchess Natai
– Ruler of the Byora quarter of the Circle City
Escral, Duke Ganas
– Deceased husband of Natai Escral
Etesia
– Goddess of Lust, one of the three linked Goddesses – with Triena, Goddess of Romantic Love, and Kantay, Goddess of Longing – who together cover all the aspects of love
Farlan, Prince Kasi
– Farlan prince during the Great War, in whose image white-eyes were created and after whom the lesser moon was named
Farray, Sepesian
– Vanach Commissar of the Fourth Enlightenment
Fate
– Deceased Goddess of Luck, also known as the Lady, killed by Aracnan
Fernal
– a Demi-God living in Llehden, son of Nartis and nominated by Isak to be his successor as Lord of the Farlan
Fershin, Horman
– Farlan wagon-driver, father to Lord Isak
Firnin, Camba
– Specialist mage from Narkang
Firrin
– A member of the Brotherhood
Fordan, Suzerain Leren
– Farlan nobleman, died at the Battle of Chir Plains
Fordan, Suzerain Karad
– Farlan nobleman, son of Leren Fordan
Forrow, Ame
– A member of the Brotherhood and Coran’s replacement as King Emin’s bodyguard
Frost
– Nickname of a Menin nobleman
Fynner, Chaplain
– Priest of Nartis from Lomin and chaplain of the Knights of the Temples
Galasara
– Elven poet from before the Great War
Garalden, Sergeant
– Soldier in charge of a squad in King Emin’s Narkang Army.
Garash, High Priest Kel
– Priest of Belarannar from Narkang, member of the Knights of the Temples and head of the Devout Congress
Gaur, General
– Beastman warrior from the Waste, former commander of the Third Army and most trusted aide of the former Menin lord
Genedel
– A dragon
Gesh
– Litse white eye, Chosen of Ilit and Krann to Lord Celao, First Guardian of the Library of Seasons
Gittin, Colonel
– Officer of the Knights of the Temples from Mustet
Gort, General Jebehl
– Deceased general of the Knights of the Temples and member of its ruling council
Govin, Keyt
– Menin mage, adept of Larat and part of Larim’s coterie
Grast, Deverk
– Infamous former Lord of the Menin
Grisat
– Mercenary-turned-penitent of Ushull in the Circle City
Haysh (The Steel Dancer)
– Aspect of Karkarn, one of several Aspects linked to a specific style of fighting taught in training temples prevalent among the Menin
Hesh, Isalail
– Litse boy, son of a carpenter in Byora
Hirta
– Female member of the Brotherhood
Holtai, Tasseran
– Narkang mage and scryer
Horotain, Priesan
– Vanach Commissar of the Fifth Enlightenment and member of the Sanctum
Horshen, Commissar
– Vanach commissar of the Second Enlightenment
Hulf
– Dog belonging to Isak
Ifarana
– Goddess of Life and once member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon until falling at the Last Battle
Ileil, Child Soisa
– Litse inhabitant of Byora and follower of Ruhen
Ilit
– God of the Wind, patron of the Litse tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Ilumene
– A former member of the Brotherhood, now disciple of Azaer
Introl, Tila
– Deceased Farlan political advisor to the Lords Isak and Fernal; fiancée of Count Vesna
Isak
–Deceasedwhite-eye, former Lord of the Farlan, Duke of Tirah and Chosen of Nartis
Istelian, Child
– Byoran member of Ruhen’s Children
Jachen, (Major Jachen Ansayl)
– Commander of Lord Isak’s personal guard, former mercenary
Jackdaw (Prior Corci)
– Former monk of Vellern
Jailer of the Dark
– Dragon that fought the Gods during the Age of Myths and lost. Too powerful for them to completely kill, it was chained to the doorway to Death’s throne room on the lower slope of Ghain
Jeil
– Farlan ranger assigned to Lord Isak’s Personal Guard
Jesters
, the – Four brothers, sons of Death, all Demi-Gods and Raylin mercenaries
Kadin, Major Sessero
– Officer of the Knights of the Temples
Kantay
– Goddess of Longing, one of the linked Goddesses – with Etesia, Goddess of Lust and Triena, Goddess of Romantic Love – who together cover all the aspects of love, sometimes referred to as Queen of the Unrequited
Kao
– Berserker Aspect of Karkarn
Karkarn
– God of War, patron of the Menin tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Kayel, Sergeant Hener
– The alias used by Ilumene in the Circle City
Kervar, Quartermaster-General Pelay
– Farlan Quartermaster-General of the Farlan Army
Kestis, Commissar
– Vanach Commissar of the Third Enlightenment
Kirl, Horsemistress Lay
– Deceased Menin auxiliary, attached to the Cheme Third Legion
Kitar
– Goddess of Harvest and Fertility, member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Kosotern, Captain
– Member of the Knights of the Temples from Mustet
Koteer
– Demi-God and eldest brother of the Jesters, a son of Death
Lahk, General
– Farlan white-eye, commander of the forces in Tirah and a marshal of the Tirah-Tebran border district
Larassa
– Deceased Farlan caravan driver, mother of Isak Stormcaller
Larat
– God of Magic & Manipulation, member of the Upper Circle of the Pantheon
Larim, Lord Shotein
– Menin white eye mage, Lord of the Hidden Tower and Chosen of Larat
Legana
– Farlan Mortal-Aspect of the Lady, formerly a devotee and former agent of Chief Steward Lesarl