“The Seven Marches,” the set of lively tunes to which soldiers marched in both North and South Dalemark. Each march had well-known words.
Shelling, a village much like other villages on the west bank of the great River of prehistoric Dalemark, the birthplace of Closti the Clam and his children.
Shelling River Procession, held once a year at Midsummer to honor the River as a god. This was one of four yearly ceremonies in which flags were carried, and probably gave rise to the custom of flying flags over the stalls at Midsummer Fairs all over historic Dalemark.
She Who Raised the Islands, the most common term for the lady of the Undying who, as wife of the Earth Shaker, has power nearly equal to his but is, on the whole, more benign. As Libby Beer she provides fruit and nourishment, but in her stronger aspects she is the earth itself and the only one of the Undying able to control the Earth Shaker. She is adored particularly in the Holy Islands, where she takes the shape of a beautiful red-haired woman dressed in green.
Shield of Oreth, a mountain plateau in the southwest of North Dalemark that faces the milder weather of the sea. The name is from the least known of the secret names of the One, and it should perhaps be noted that at least three of the Undying and the Adon’s sword were to be found there. In early historic times the Shield was well farmed and populous, but it fell into wasteland during the Adon’s wars. Navis Haddsson was given ducal lands here and was fond of saying that of all his achievements, the one which gave him most pleasure was the restoration of the Shield to farmland and prosperity.
Singers, a race of men and women, most of whom claimed descent from Tanamoril or Osfameron, who traveled the country of Dalemark singing, playing music, and telling stories. Because Singers were among the few people able to move freely between North and South, they also carried news, letters, and often fugitives. Some even acted as spies, but this was rare: Singers had their own rigid customs and standards, chief among which was always to tell the truth and never to perform a vile or a violent act. They also passed down by word of mouth innumerable old customs, sayings, beliefs, and incantations, many of which were lost when Moril Clennensson disbanded the Singers in the reign of Amil the Great.
Siriol, the owner of the Flower of Holand, a fisherman and a prominent member of the Free Holanders, the society of secret freedom fighters to which Mitt also belonged. Mitt was apprenticed to Siriol for a while until his indentures were bought out by Hobin the gunsmith. Siriol greatly distinguished himself during the Great Uprising and afterward became first a councillor and then semipermanent Mayor of Holand.
Six steps up to a front door were standard in Holand in South Dalemark, where the land is only inches above sea level and there is constant danger of flooding, particularly during the autumn storms.
Skreths, Lawschool slang word for the cloister to the east of the school.
Small Western clan, any of several minor clans that sailed from Haligland to prehistoric Dalemark during the years before the main invasion.
Soulboat, a small skiff specially enchanted to hold the souls of the dead once they had been retrieved from Kankredin’s net.
Soulnet. See Nets.
Souls of mortals were believed until quite recently to be the prey of witches and sorcerers, whether joined to a body or not. The mages of primitive Haligland claimed to be able to steal a man’s soul while he slept, and Kankredin is said to have been able to take someone’s soul at any time he wished. Souls of the Undying and those descended from them were a different matter because they were believed to be combined not only with a body but with the entire country, too.
South, the eight earldoms of Dermath, Holand, Waywold, Canderack, Andmark, Carrowmark, Fenmark, and the South Dales. This part of Dalemark has a warm climate, a rich soil, and few high mountains. In early historic times it was very wealthy, but it became steadily poorer under the oppressive rule of the Southern earls, until, shortly before the reign of Amil the Great, the South was actually often poorer than the North and only ruled by fear. The North regarded this regime with disgust; the South was deeply suspicious of the North; and each considered itself superior to the other. The South, in fact, was noted for a number of virtues not seen in the North: efficiency, coolheadedness, perseverance, and clear-sightedness, combined with a strong sense of humor.
South Dales, the earldom closest to North Dalemark and in many ways not unlike the North in climate and geography. But being this close to the freethinking North had a bad effect on the earls of the South Dales: They were the most tyrannical, warlike, and unjust of all the Southern earls.
Spannet, a stablehand in Adenmouth in North Dalemark.
Specials, guns made secretly by Hobin of Holand in South Dalemark which he sold only to a chosen few. Each gun had some unusual feature, and all were better than any of the weapons he sold in public.
Spellcoat, a poncholike garment woven with word pictures that either told a story or stated facts. The garment, in the weaving, became the spell that made the story or fact come true. See also Weaving; Words.
Spirits were thought to be everywhere and to govern everything in prehistoric Dalemark, and it was necessary to please or soothe them every day. Some of the more powerful spirits almost had the status of gods and were confused by many with the Undying. The unusual thing about Closti’s family is that they did not share this belief. Hern, in fact, rejected spirits out of hand as “unreasonable.”
Spring floods, as a result of the snow melting in central Dalemark, are extensive even in modern times. In the uncontrolled River of prehistoric times there was always much flooding, which not only devastated homes but also brought fertile silt, driftwood, and fish. This violent mixture of destruction and benevolence caused many people to regard the River as a god.
Square rigging, the old type of sail which is simply a sheet of canvas hung between two yards across the mast and swiveled at both ends to catch the wind. South Dalemark very early gave this up in favor of the far more efficient fore-and-aft rigged triangular sail, but the North still clung to the old rig right up to the reign of Amil the Great, when Ynen Navisson reorganized all shipping to form his fleet.
Square-topped pillar, a waist-high primitive altar only found in the Holy Islands.
Squarks, Lawschool slang meaning “being too bumptious.”
Stair, Lord of Adenmouth in North Dalemark, a confirmed alcoholic.
Stapled, Lawschool slang meaning “to be posted on a notice board as a wrongdoer.” Any pupil who was stapled lost certain privileges for a month.
Steam organ, at Hannart in North Dalemark, a huge music-making machine built into the side of the mountain, operating like a church organ but powered by steam. It was said to have been the brainchild of the Adon and brought sightseers to Hannart from the moment it was built. It is clear that the people of the Adon’s time knew all about steam power two centuries before the industrial revolution but considered it only worthwhile for providing entertainment.
Stirring, Holy Islands dialect for rowing a boat.
Stork, the totem standard of the King of prehistoric Dalemark, where birds had a significance and potency which it is now hard to define. No one but the King or his accredited agents dared carry the Stork. Thus the people of Shelling knew at once that the messengers were there by royal decree.
Surnam, Lawschool slang for the one who spearheads an attack at grittling.
Sweetheart, a black cat rescued from an island by the children of Closti the Clam on their journey up the great River.