Authors: Melanie Rawn
“If only she knew what is in her own bloodlines, that we have reclaimed for your children.”
“And won’t it be interesting to see how those bloodlines play out! Do you need a hand, or can you stand up on your own?”
“Your Grace, I have never been so drunk that I could not preside over a ceremony of any kind—especially of
this
kind.”
(most of them, anyway)
Bellgloss, Master
purveyor of thorn
Blackpath
Alaen
lutenist
Briuly
Alaen’s cousin; lutenist
Bowbender
Airilie
Jeska’s daughter
Jeschenar
masquer, Touchstone
Challender, Mirko
tregetour, Crystal Sparks
Coldkettle, Lord
Prince Ashgar’s private secretary
Crowkeeper, Herris
fettler, Black Lightning
Czillag
Chattim
glisker, the Shadowshapers
Deshenanda
his wife
Daggering, Lederris
masquer, Crystal Sparks
Eastkeeping
Lord Kelinn
Vrennerie’s husband
Lady Vrennerie
lady-in-waiting to Princess Miriuzca
Emmot
Sagemaster; Cade’s teacher, now retired
Fairwalk, Lord Kearney
Touchstone’s manager
Fluter, Tobalt
reporter,
The Nayword
Goldbraider, Vered
tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers
Grainer
Chirene
Sakary’s wife
Sakary
fettler, the Shadowshapers
Henick, Cyed
Archduke
Panshilara
his wife, the Archduchess
Highcollar
Lord Isshak
Lady Jaspiela’s father
Lady Kiritin
Lady Jaspiela’s mother; born Blackswan
Kevelock, Rauel
tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers
Knottinger, Thierin
tregetour, Black Lightning
Longbranch, Trenal
tregetour, Hawk’s Claw
Mistress Caitiffer
Mieka’s mother-in-law
Mistress Gesha
Trollwife at Shellery House
Mistress Luta
Trollwife in Seekhaven
Mistress Mirdley
Trollwife at Redpebble Square
Mistress Tola
Trollwife; friend of Mistress Mirdley’s
Mistress Wingdove
innkeeper in Lilyleaf; “Croodle”
Needler, Romuald
the Shadowshapers’ manager
Oakapple, Lord
distant cousin of the Blackpaths
Piercehand, Lord Rolon
owner of Castle Eyot; compulsive collector
Robel
Yazz’s wife; part Giant
Seamark, Kaj
masquer, Black Lightning
Silversun
Cadriel
Zekien’s father; Master Fettler
Cayden
tregetour, Touchstone
Derien
Cade’s younger brother
Lady Jaspiela
Cade and Dery’s mother; born Highcollar
Zekien
their father
Spangler, Pirro
glisker, Black Lightning
Staindrop, Brishen
Mishia’s sister
Tawnymoor, Lord
Princess Iamina’s husband
Threadchaser
Crisiant
Rafe’s wife; born Bramblecotte
Rafcadion
fettler, Touchstone
Mistress
Rafe’s mother
Master
Rafe’s father; baker
Warringheath, Master
owner of the Kiral Kellari
Windthistle
Barsabias
Hadden’s great-uncle; “Uncle Breedbate”
Blye
Jed’s wife; born Cindercliff; glasscrafter
Cilka
Mieka’s sister
Hadden
Mieka’s father
Jedris
Jez’s twin brother
Jezael
Mieka’s brother
Jinsie
Mieka’s twin sister
Jindra
Mieka’s daughter
Jorie
Tavier’s twin sister
Mieka
glisker, Touchstone
Mishia
Mieka’s mother; born Staindrop
Mistress Windthistle
Mieka’s wife; born Caitiffer
Petrinka
Cilka’s twin sister
Sharadel
Hadden’s great-grandmother; born Snowminder
Tavier
Mieka’s youngest brother
Yazz
Touchstone’s coachman; part Giant
Ashgar
Prince; heir to the throne
Iamina
Princess; King Meredan’s younger sister
Meredan
King of Albeyn
Miriuzca
Princess; Ashgar’s wife
Roshien
Queen of Albeyn
aflunters
in a state of disorder; discombobulated
agroof
flat on your face
backspang
a tricky evasion
blodder
to flow with a gurgling sound
bonce
head
brach
a hound bitch
breedbate
someone who likes to start arguments or stir up quarrels
bully-rook
a bragging cheater
caitiff
witch
carkanet
necklace
chavish
the sound of many birds chirping or singing at once; the sound of many people chattering at once
clinquant
glittering
clumperton
clownish, clumsy lout
cogger
false flatterer; charming trickster
Consecreations, the
consecrate
collided with
creation;
the local holy book
crambazzle
worn-out, dissipated old man
cullion
rude, disagreeable, mean-spirited person
fliting
an exchange of invective, abuse, or mockery, especially one in verse set forth between two poets
frustle
to shake out and exhibit plumage
giddiot
“giddy” and “idiot”
ginnel
a narrow passage between buildings
glunsh
to devour food in hasty, noisy gulps; by extension, a glutton
grinagog
person with a stupid, gaping grin
grouk
become gradually enlivened after waking up
hindering
a warding put on an individual’s magic so it cannot be used
kagged
mutilated Elfen ears
naffter
stupid person
pantomancer
person who sees omens in all events
pillicock
idiot
poofter
silly, effeminate man
quakebuttock
(aw, come on—isn’t it obvious?)
quat
a pimple; used in contempt of a person
quod
jail
quoob
eccentric fool
stitch up
frame
tiring room
from
retire;
a private chamber
yark
vomit
M
elanie Rawn is the author of the bestselling Dragon Prince trilogy and of the Dragon Star trilogy. She graduated from Scripps College with a BA in history, and has worked as a teacher and editor. Rawn lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Everyone knows Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, prospects, and her life to satisfy scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the mountains of Vystrana, where she made discoveries that would change the world…
A Natural History of Dragons
The Tropic of Serpents
Voyage of the Basilisk
“Her Ladyship is a determined and canny woman in search of dragons—I wholeheartedly approve!”
Melanie Rawn
“Fans of fantasy, science, and history will adore this rich and absorbing tale of discovery.”
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
Follow Magpie, Bear, Lena and friends as they face their demons and find their true strength on the road to becoming full Heralds, Bards and Healers of Valdemar.
Book One: Foundation
Book Two: Intrigues
Book Three: Changes
Book Four: Redoubt
Book Five: Bastion
“Lackey makes a real page-turner out of Mags’ and the collegia’s development… this book’s outstanding characters, especially Mags, will greatly please Valdemar fans.”
Booklist
“The tone, characterization, and rampant angst recall Lackey’s earliest Valdemar books… this is a worthy entry in the overall saga.”
Publishers Weekly
“Lackey’s Valdermar series is already a fantasy classic, and these newest adventures will generate even more acclaim for this fantasy superstar.”
Romantic Times
Mercedes Lackey’s bestselling fantasy series set in an alternative Edwardian Britain, where magic is real—and the Elemental Masters are in control.
The Serpent’s Shadow
The Gates of Sleep
Phoenix and Ashes
Wizard of London
Reserved for the Cat
Unnatural Issue
Home from the Sea
Steadfast
Blood Red
“Fantastic… this is Lackey at her best.”
Publishers Weekly
“Intriguing and compelling.”
Library Journal
“Colourful characters… great fun.”
Booklist
“Innovative historical fantasy.”
Romantic Times
In these classic coming-of-age fantasy omnibuses, spellbinding storyteller Mercedes Lackey chronicles the history of the magical kingdom of Valdemar.
The Heralds of Valdemar
Arrows of the Queen, Arrow’s Flight & Arrow’s Fall
The Mage Winds
Winds of Fate, Winds of Change & Winds of Fury
The Mage Storms
Storm Warning, Storm Rising & Storm Breaking
“She’ll keep you up long past your bedtime.”
Stephen King
“Lackey’s storytelling is impossible to resist.”
The British Fantasy Society
“Lackey is a spellbinding storyteller who keeps your heart in your mouth as she spins her intricate webs of magical adventure.”
Rave Reviews
The Empire has declared war on the were-ruled kingdom of Aydori, capturing five women of the Mage-Pack, including the wife of the Pack-leader. With the Pack off defending the border, it falls to Mirian Maylin and Tomas Hagen—she a low-level mage, he younger brother to the Pack-leader—to save them. But with every step into enemy territory, the odds against their survival grow steeper…