The Forging of the Dragon (Wizard and Dragon Book 1) (36 page)

GLOSSARY

altershape — The animal shape taken by a wizard when he or she so chooses. The animal-form taken reveals something of the wizard’s personality or desires.

Amyryth — The affectionate mother of Dark the Prophet — his “s’mother.”

Arl — A warlike state located in the mountainous region southwest of the Central Gate. Its capital sits upon a promontory in the Arl Lake.

Bearsbane — A title given to anyone who has slain a bear.

Berillitha — A female tugolith met by Seagryn in the far north.

Chaom — Leading warrior of the army of Haranamous and chief military advisor to Haran. He is a large, careful man not given to revealing his feelings.

clawsp — A glossy purple-shelled flying social insect that loves sugar and exudes a substance harmful to human flesh whenever aroused.

Dark the prophet — An adolescent with a gift of foreknowledge so exact that his name is already legend. Other than that he’s a normal youth.

Drax — A three-sided table game played throughout the old One Land, usually with wagers on the outcome.

Elaryl — Blond bride of Seagryn and daughter to Talarath. She is well-meaning,
naïve
, and a bit prudish, in addition to being very lovely.

Gadolitha — Berillitha’s twin brother. A protective, somewhat bad-tempered tugolith.

Garney — The small, self-important Keeper of the Outer Portal for the old One Land, or Remnant. He is single-minded in his sense of duty.

Haran — King of the land of Haranamous, which bears a part of his name.

Haranamous — A coastal state rich in culture and farmland located south of the Central Gate and bordered by Pleclypsa and — unfortunately — by Arl.

Imperial House of Haranamous — The royal palace of the dynasty of Karan, brought to life centuries earlier by the wizard Nobalog.

Jarnel — Prince of the Army of Arl and a representative to the “Conspiracy” from that warlike state.

Karmelad — Secretive advisor to the paranoid King of Arl.

Kerl — A stolid, stalwart, gray horse who comes to mean much to Seagryn.

Lamath — “Land of faith,” the large coastal land located north of the Central Gate ruled as a theocracy by the Council of Elders.

lesefs — Small, shaggy animals that live in burrows in the snow. They balloon up when excited or alarmed. Their blood is caustic to other animals.

Marwand — A non-state composed of bands of fierce, independent warriors battling Arl or raiding into Lamath. It has no borders but roughly occupies the Marwilds.

Marwilds — A vast, sparsely settled forest land to the west of the Central Gate occupied primarily by Marwandian raiders and wizards.

megasin — An ancient power who can shape rock with her will and who craves human companionship.

Merritt — Conspiring second-in-command to Jarnel.

moosers — Hooved herd animals domesticated to provide meat and milk.

mudgecurdle — A furry creature looking just like a rabbit but ejecting a horrible stench when startled. Also an epithet meaning traitor.

Nebalath — A thin-faced wizard of some years who has long been the covering powershaper for the land of Haranamous, and is a friend to the Imperial House.

Nobalog — A long-dead wizard who brought the Imperial House to life and taught it to converse with wizards.

Ognadzu — Hostile son of Paumer, recently made a representative to the “Conspiracy” from Pleclypsa by his father.

Paumer — The most successful merchant in all the fragments of the old One Land, he is an organizer of the “Conspiracy” and a representative to it from Pleclypsa.

Pleclypsa — A warm, sunny land to the south of Haranamous, bordered on three sides by the sea and populated by merchant-types.

powershaper — Anyone gifted with the ability to shape the powers, but classically only one who, among other talents, can change into an altershape.

pyralu — Enormous, deadly insect taken as the symbol of the Army of Arl.

Quirl mod Kit — Leader of a band of Marwandian raiders living in the Marwilds on the edge of Lamath.

Rangsfield Sluice — A man-made feature of the Great River built by inhabitants of the village of Rangsfield to preserve their economic stability.

Ranoth — Wise, diminutive leader of the Council of Elders, the ruling body of the land of Lamath.

the Remnant — Name of the underground kingdom which maintains the ancient dynasty of the old One Land.

Ritaven — A pleasant village on the eastern edge of the Marwilds.

Seagryn — A cleric of the land of Lamath with a formidable personal problem.

Sheth — The foremost wizard of his time. He is secretive, charming when he chooses to be, irresponsible for all his great talent, and occasionally cannibalistic. His altershape is a huge black bear.

Talarath — Tall, dour member of the Council of Elders of the land of Lamath, and father to Elaryl. A difficult man to please.

tugoliths — Enormous horned creatures from the far north who can carry on human conversation at the level of toddlers; called “northbeasts” by the Marwandians.

Tunyial Falls — Vast waterfall that interrupts the navigability of the Great River between Arl Lake and the sea.

twi-beast — The name bestowed by Sheth upon the two-headed dragons he manufactures.

Uda — Youthful daughter of Paumer, she is bright, ambitious, and manipulative. She is also infatuated with Dark the prophet.

Vilanlitha — An arrogant punt, or lone tugolith, given by Paumer to his daughter Uda.

Wilker — Foppish, posturing bureaucrat within the Remnant. He bears the title of Undersecretary for Provincial Affairs and as such is a member of the “Conspiracy.”

Yashilitha — An older tugolith, father of Berillitha and Gadolitha and head of their wheel.

Yost — A captain in the army of Haranamous.