The Stormcaller: Book One Of The Twilight Reign (70 page)

BOOK: The Stormcaller: Book One Of The Twilight Reign
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As outside, all was still within, except for the gentle movement of drapes at the open window, through which came a wisp of a breeze. A huge four-poster bed, curtains of green and gold tied at each post, dominated the room. The shadow ignored the bed and its occupants, who lay across the linen sheets, barely covered. It ignored the ornate basket-hilt rapier hanging on a chair-back beside an axe, the blade of which was perforated by glowing red-edged runes, and moved to the far corner of the room, where a small spiral staircase took it up to a circular mezzanine no more than four yards across. A small, elegant desk stood at the centre. Eight thin apertures cut into the stone gave a view of the room below. Hanging from the wall were a number of two-foot-high purple slate tablets. There were eleven in total, each covered by a green velvet cloth embroidered with a bee with wings spread and the name of a city. The shadow ignored the nearest and glided around the desk to reach the cloth that bore the word ‘Scree’. It raised a long finger that tapered into a cruel claw and began to trace through the air in front of the covered tablet. A faint scraping broke the quiet.
The shadow finished its writing and looked through a stone slit at the couple slumbering on the enormous bed.
‘Come and join the performance, my friend,’
it murmured as it twitched the cloth slightly askew.
‘Yours is a starring role.’
Then the shadow spread its unsubstantial fingers and gave a sharp twist through the air. A muted crack echoed around the room. The deed done, the shadow retraced its movements, pausing momentarily at the bed where the two figures still slept, legs entangled despite the heat. One ethereal finger caressed the man’s cheek before pausing over an eyelid that gave a tiny twitch.
‘And what if I were to blind you now, O mighty king? Render you unable to behold this nation you love so? But I shall not; there are sights I would have you see before the end.’
The heavy summer silence returned to the room as the shadow slipped towards the door and out into the twilight of the corridor, then faded into nothing.
 
King Emin scowled at the tablet, pulling his shirt to order and tucking it in to his breeches as he did so.
‘Come back to bed,’ purred Queen Oterness from the bed, stroking the slight bump of her belly. One sharp-eyed old countess had noticed it already and there had been a sudden surge of speculation at court that an heir to the throne might at last be on the way. The royal couple were keeping quiet for now - the pregnancy was in its early stages and the queen feared her age might cause difficulties - but in the meantime that small swelling had restored her husband’s precarious affection.
‘Unfortunately, I cannot,’ Emin muttered in reply. He didn’t take his eyes off the tablet as he reached out a hand and tugged the bell-pull that hung above the desk.
‘Oh, charming,’ muttered his queen. ‘My husband is too busy to entertain his wife, so he sends for his bodyguard to finish the job.’
Emin’s glare stopped the queen short and she pulled the sheets to cover her naked body. It was too hot for a shift, even if Coran was joining them, and she was too comfortable to leave the indentation she had shared with Emin but a minute before.
‘I’m sorry, Emin, you know I didn’t mean that in spite - but whatever is wrong? I’ve not seen you so angry in years - what’s the news?’
Coran jerked open the door and hurried in before the king had time to answer his wife. The white-eye glanced at the bed and bowed his head even as his eyes followed the linen-covered curves of the queen’s body. The white-eye was barely dressed himself, wearing only a long shirt tied at the waist by the sword-belt he was still in the process of buckling.
Oterness looked at the livid scars on Coran’s knee; he glowered at her and hurried up the spiral stair. He had barely reached the top stair when Emin reached out a finger and pointed to the uncovered tablet.
‘Summon the Brotherhood. We ride for Scree.’
Coran stared at the slate board, unspeaking, until Emin indicated they should go back downstairs. The white-eye touched his knee, running a finger over the ugly scarring there. His face darkening with fury, he followed his king.
Queen Oterness watched the two men, a shiver running down her spine as she wondered what was affecting them so.
Then Coren spoke, his voice trembling with hatred. ‘Ilumene,’ he said.
The blood drained from her face. All was explained in that one word. Before King Emin reached for his clothes he took his queen’s hand and squeezed her fingers. Her other hand fell protectively to her belly, trembling. When she touched the skin below her navel she could feel rough scars, and she could still trace a name with her fingers. The tattoo she’d put there only hid the name from sight; the scar remained.
‘And where we find Ilumene, Rojak will be close at hand,’ Emin told her. ‘And they will both pay.’
Cast List
• Afasin White-eye general of the Knights of the Temples

Alterr
Goddess of the Night Sky and Greater Moon and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Amanas, Quitin
Keymaster of the Heraldic Library of Tirah

Amavoq
Goddess of the Forest, patron of the Yeetatchen tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Antern, Count
Advisor to King Emin

Anviss
God of Woods, also known as the God of Lonely Places

Aracnan
An immortal of unknown origin

Aryn Bwr
Battle-name of the last king of the elves who led their rebellion against the Gods, his true name having been excised from history

Asenn
Goddess of Rain and Snow, daughter of Lliot
• Atro White-eye Lord or the Farlan before Lord Bahl

Azaer
A shadow

Bahl
White-eye Lord of the Farlan

Belarannar
Goddess of the Earth and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Berard, Captain
Commander of the garrison of Ghorent

Brandt, Commander
Commander of the Narkang City Watch, younger brother of Suzerain Toquin

Carel (Carelfolden), Betyn
A former Farlan Palace Guard sergeant, now mercenary

Cerrat
A novice chaplain in the cult of Nartis

Cerse, Sir
Colonel of the Tirah Palace Guard legion

Certinse, Knight-Cardinal
Commander of the Knights of the Temples, younger brother of Suzerain Tildek and Farlan by birth

Certinse, Sir Dirass
Knight of the Palace Guard. Third son of Suzerain Tildek

Certinse, Cardinal
Younger brother of Suzerain Tildek, Duchess Lomin and Knight-Cardinal Certinse

Chalat
White-eye Lord of the Chetse tribe

Charr
White-eye Krann to Lord Chalat

Chirialt, Dermeness
Farlan mage

Chotech, General
Member of the Knights of the Temples

Coadech, Suzerain
Lord of Narkang’s most easterly suzerainty

Coran
White-eye bodyguard of King Emin

Cosep,
A Farlan Swordmaster

Creyl, Sir
Advisor to King Emin

Daran, Mistress
Chaperone for Tila Introl
• Death Chief of the Gods and head of the Upper Cirle of the pantheon

Dedev, Borl
Farlan ranger

Destech
Lieutenant of the mercenary Tochet

Dev, General
Chate Highest ranked of Chetse generals and Commander of the Ten Thousand

Deyl,Morten
Chief Councillor of the Public Assembly of Narkang
• Diolis,
General
Member of the Knights of the Temples

Disten, Cardinal
Famous member of the cardinal branch of the Farlan Cult of Nartis

Dle, Norimin
Chief Librarian of the College of Magic of Narkang

Doranei
Member of the Brotherhood, King Emin’s personal agents

Elierl, General Brinn
Farlan general posted to Lomin

Eraliave
Elven general who predated the Wars of the Houses

Farlan,
Deliss Famous Farlan king and father of Kasi Farlan

Farlan, Kasi
Legendary prince of the Farlan in whose image white-eyes were created and after whom the lesser moon was named

Fedei, Wisten
The Seer of Ghorent

Fordan, Leren
Suzerain of the Fordan shire of the Farlan

Fordell, Invriss
A mage from Lomin

Forell, Duchess
A high ranking member of the White Circle

Genedel
A dragon

Gerrint
Chetse soldier of the Lion Legion - adjutant to General Dev

Gort, Jebehl
General of the Knights of the Temples and member of its ruling council

Grast, Deverk
Former Lord of the Menin who instigated the Long March to their current home and tried to wipe out the Litse tribe

Horen, Councillor
Head of the town council of Ghorent

Ilit
God of the Wind, Patron of the Litse tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Ineh
Deceased white-eye lover of Lord Bahl

Inoth
Goddess of the Western Seas, as eldest child of Lliot she replaced him in the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Introl, Anad
Gatekeeper of the Tirah, member of the city council and father of Tila Introl
• Introl, Tila personal maid to the Krann Isak

Isak
White-eye chosen to be Krann to Lord Bahl

Jeil
Farlan ranger

Karkarn
God of War and Destruction, patron of the Menin tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Kerin
Commander of the Swordmasters and Knight-Defender of Tirah

Kinbe, Count
Farlan nobleman from Lomin

Kulet
Former white-eye sergeant in the Palace Guard

Lady, The
Common name of Fate, Goddess of Luck

Lahk, General
White-eye general commanding the forces around Tirah

Larat
God of Magic and Manipulation and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Larim
White-eye Chosen of Larat and Krann to Lord Salen

Leferna, Priata
The commander of White Circle forces in Tor Milist

Legana
A devotee of the Lady and Farlan agent

Leitah
Goddess of Wisdom and Learning, sister to Larat, who died in the Great War

Lesarl, Chief Steward
Principal advisor to the Lord of the Farlan

Lliot
God of Water who died during the Age of Myths. His domain was divided up among his five children: Inoth, Turist, Shoso, Vasle and Asenn

Lomin, Duchess
Wife of Duke Lomin, mother to Scion Lomin, sister to Cardinal Certinse, Knight-Cardinal Certinse

Lomin, Duke
Respected but aging ruler of the Farlan city of Lomin

Lomin, Scion Karlat
Son of Duke Lomin and grandson of Suzerain Certinse

Malich, Cordein
A necromancer from Embere

Mihn ab Netren ab Felith -
wanderer from the coast north of the Great Forest

Morghien
Drifter of Embere descent, known as the man of many spirits

Nartis
God of the Night, Storms and Hunters, patron of the Farlan tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Nemarse, Duke
Duke of Raland

Nerlos, Marshal
Farlan noble whose castle defends the southern route to Tirah

Nostil, Velere
Eldest son of the last elven king, Aryn Bwr

Ortof-Greyl, Major
Member of the Knights of the Temples

Salen
Menin White-eye, Chosen of the God Larat

Seliasei
Aspect of Vasle that now possesses Morghien

Semar
Past Lord of the Farlan who designed and built the Tower of Semar

Sempes, Duke
Ruler of the Farlan city of Perlir

Shalstik
Elven prophet who spoke of Aryn Bwr’s return

Sheredal
Spreader of the Frost, an Aspect of the Goddess Asenn

Shoso
God of Northern Seas, son of Lliot

Shotir
God of Healing and Forgiveness

Solsis, Count
Farlan nobleman from Lomin

Sorodoch
Chetse mage-smith

Styrax, Kohrad
White-eye son of Lord Styrax

Styrax, Lord Kastan
White-eye Lord of the Menin

Tebran, Suzerain Kehed
Farlan nobleman

Tildek, Suzerain
Esh Farlan nobleman, father of Sir Dirass Certinse, elder brother of Knight-Cardinal Certinse, Cardinal Certinse and the Duchess of Lomin

Thonal, King Emin
King of Narkang and the Three Cities

Thonal, Queen Oterness
Queen of Narkang

Tohl, Marshal Dorik
Member of the original Brotherhood criminal gang

Torl, Suzerain
Farlan nobleman

Tochet
Chetse mercenary, former General of the Eastern Tunnels

Triena
Goddess of Romantic Love and Fidelity, part of the linked Goddesses who together cover all the aspects of love

Tsatach
God of Fire and the Sun, patron of the Chetse tribe and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon

Turist
God of the Southern Seas until he was killed during the Great War

Vasle
God of Rivers and Inland Seas

Veil
Member of the Brotherhood, King Emin’s personal agents

Vener, Telith
General of the Knights of the Temples
• Veren First God of the Beasts, killed during the Great War

Verliq
Mage and academic who founded a small nation in the east before Lord Styrax conquered it

Versijt, Lord Aliax
Famous Yeetatchen ruler who almost conquered the Farlan

Vesna, Count Evanelial
Famous Farlan soldier from Anvee

Vilan, Count
Farlan nobleman from Tori

Volah, Suzerain Abse
Farlan nobleman

Volah, Scion Sohn
Farlan nobleman

Vrerr, Duke
Ruler of Tor Milist

Vrest
God of the Beasts and member of the Upper Circle of the pantheon, formerly an Aspect of Veren before Veren’s death

Vrill, Duke Anote
Menin white-eye general

Vukotic, Prince Koezh
Ruler of the Vukotic tribe, cursed with vampirism after the Last Battle

Vukotic, Prince Vorizh
Younger brother of Koezh, cursed with vampirism after the Last Battle and subsequently driven insane

Vukotic, Princess Zhia
Youngest of the Vukotic family, cursed with vampirism after the Last Battle

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