Wend paused. “Through Cennoreth, I suppose.” Then he turned and looked at her over his shoulder, like Navis in the portrait behind her. His face had gone beyond happy to become the face of a man of power. Oddly enough, that made him look kinder. “Mitt gave me a message for you. I’m sorry—I’d forgotten until now. I’ve no idea what he meant. He said, ‘Tell her to make it four years, not two, to allow for inflation.’ Does that mean anything to you?”
It certainly did. Maewen almost laughed as she watched Wend walk away. Four years! No way! She was going to get the train to Dropthwaite tomorrow, and somehow, she was going to find Cennoreth there.
A Guide to Dalemark
Aberath, the northernmost earldom of North Dalemark;
also the town on the north coast, situated on the Rath estuary at the mouth of the river Ath.
Aden, the small river running north to the sea at Adenmouth, thought by some to be all that remains of the great River of the spellcoats.
Adenmouth, a small town and lordship in the extreme northwest of North Dalemark, and part of the earldom of Aberath.
Adon, a name that seems to mean “High Lord” and has several applications:
1. One of the secret names of the One.
2. The name or title of the heroic King of Dalemark about whom there are many songs and legends. The Adon was an Earl of Hannart who married Manaliabrid of the Undying as his second wife and went into exile with her and the Singer Osfameron, during which time he was murdered by his jealous half brother Lagan and brought back to life by Osfameron. He then became King, but on his death his two children disappeared, leaving Dalemark without a King and riven by civil war.
3. The title of the eldest son and heir of the Earl of Hannart.
The Adon’s gifts, the legendary gifts Manaliabrid brought to the Adon as her dowry. These are:
1. A ring said only to fit the finger of one with royal blood.
2. A cup which was be
lieved to acknowledge the true King and also to shine in the hands of anyone telling the truth.
3. A sword which, it was said, only the true King could draw from its scabbard.
“The Adon’s Hall,” one of the old-style songs composed by the singer-mage Osfameron, in which Osfameron seems to be thinking not only of the Adon in exile in a ruinous hall but of his own cwidder and of the Sayings of King Hern.
Al, the most common short form of Alhammitt, the commonest name in South Dalemark. The name of a castaway picked up by the yacht Wind’s Road.
Alda, the wife of Siriol; a confirmed alcoholic.
Alhammitt
1. The true name of the Earth Shaker.
2. The most common man’s name in South Dalemark.
3. Mitt’s actual name.
Alk, a lawman from the North Dales who took office under the Countess of Aberath and shortly married her. His status then became that of Consort of Aberath, with the courtesy title (which was seldom used) of Lord. Alk devoted his time to inventing steam engines and eventually, almost single-handedly, brought about the industrial revolution of Dalemark.
Alksen, Major, the head of security at the Tannoreth Palace.
Alk’s Irons, the name given by the people of Aberath to the steam machines invented by Alk. The most notable of these were a plow, a hoist, a press, a pump, and a locomotive.
Alla, the elder daughter of Alk and the Countess of Aberath.
Allegiances, the personal ties of primitive Haligland. A man or woman would be born into one clan, sent as foster child to a second, swear friendship to a third, and marry into a fourth. This formed a network of friendship and obligation which you were bound to tell to a stranger when you told your name. Allegiances defined you as a person. If you did not tell, or had no allegiances, you were either a criminal or a social outcast.
Almet, the son of the Adon and Manaliabrid, who declined to be King after his father.
Amil, one of the secret names of the One, which appears to mean either “Brother” or “River.” It later became the name of the line of kings that began with Amil the Great.