NIPPER: Young servant assigned primarily to the kitchen of the imperial palace
NOVRON: Savior of mankind, demigod, son of Maribor, defeated the elven army in the Great Elven Wars, founder of the Novronian Empire, builder of Percepliquis, husband of Persephone
NOVRONIAN: nov-ron-e-on Pertaining to Novron
NYPHRON CHURCH: The worshipers of Novron and Maribor
NYPHRONS: nef-rons Devout members of the Nyphron Church
OBERDAZA: oh-ber-daz-ah Tenkin or Ghazel witch doctor
OLD EMPIRE: Original united kingdoms of man, destroyed one thousand years in the past after the murder of Emperor Nareion
ORRIN FLATLY: Ratibor city scribe, assistant of Arista
OSGAR: Reeve of Hintindar
OSTRIUM: Tenkin communal hall where meals are served
OUDORRO: Friendly Tenkin Village in Calis
PALACE OF THE FOUR WINDS: Home of Erandabon Gile in Dur Guron
PARKER: Quartermaster and later commander of Nationalist army, killed in Battle of Ratibor
PARTHALOREN FALLS: path-ah-lore-e-on The great cataracts on the Nidwalden near Avempartha
PATRIARCH: Head of the Nyphron Church, lives in the Crown Tower of Ervanon
PAULDRON: Piece of armor covering the shoulder
PERCEPLIQUIS: per-sep-lah-kwiss Ancient city and capital of the Novronian Empire, named for the wife of Novron, destroyed and lost during the collapse of the Old Empire
PERCY BRAGA: See Braga, Percy
PERIN: Grocer from Ratibor
PERSEPHONE: Wife of Novron, Percepliquis was named after her
PICKERING: Noble family of Melengar and rulers of Galilin, Count Pickering is known to be the best swordsman in Avryn and believed to use a magic sword
PICKILERINON: Seadric, who shortened the family name to Pickering
PITH: Small-value coin of the Old Empire
PLANCHETTE: Footrest for a woman’s sidesaddle
PLESIEANTIC INCANTATION: plass-e-an-tic A method used in the Art to draw power from nature
POE: Cook’s assistant aboard the Emerald Storm, Merrick’s assistant
POLISH: Head of the Black Diamond thieves’ guild in Ratibor
PRALEON GUARDS: pray-lee-on Bodyguards to the king in Ratibor
PRICE: First Officer of the Black Diamond thieves’ guild
PRINCESS: Name of Arista’s horse on the ride to Percepliquis
QUARTZ: Member of the Ratibor thieves’ guild
QUEEN’S GAMBIT: Series of moves used to open a chess game
QUINTAIN: Used in training for the joust; when hit, it will spin and can knock the rider off his saddle
RATIBOR: Capital of the kingdom of Rhenydd, home of Royce Melborn
RAT’S NEST, THE: Hideout of the Black Diamond thieves’ guild in Ratibor
RED: Old elkhound, large dog frequently found in the kitchen of the imperial palace
REEVE: Official who supervises serfs and oversees the lands for a lord
REGAL FOX INN, THE: Least expensive tavern in the affluent Hill District in Colnora
REGENT: Someone who administers a kingdom during the absence or incapacity of the ruler
REGINA, QUEEN: Wife of Vincent, Queen of Maranon
RENDON, BARON: Nobleman of Melengar
RENIAN: rhen-e-ahn Childhood friend of Myron the monk, died at a young age
RENKIN POOL: Citizen of Ratibor with fighting experience
RENQUIST: Commander of the Nationalist army, promoted to the position by Hadrian
RENTINUAL, TOBIS: History professor at Sheridan University, built a catapult to fight the Gilarabrywn
RENWICK: Imperial page, assigned to act as Sir Hadrian’s squire
RHELACAN: rell-ah-khan Great sword given to Novron by Maribor, forged by Drome, enchanted by Ferrol, used to defeat and subdue the elves
RHENYDD: ren-yaed Poor kingdom of Avryn, ruled by King Urith, now part of the New Empire
RILAN VALLEY: Fertile land that separates Glouston and Chadwick
RIONILLION: ri-on-ill-lon Name of the city that first stood on the site of Aquesta, destroyed during the civil wars that occurred after the fall of the Novronian Empire
RIYRIA: rye-ear-ah Elvish for two, a team or a bond, name used to refer collectively to Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater
RONDEL: Common type of stiff-bladed dagger with a round handgrip
ROSE AND THORN, THE: Tavern in Medford run by Gwen DeLancy, used as a base by Riyria
ROSWORT, KING: Ruler of Dunmore, husband of Freda
ROYALISTS: Political party that favors rule by independent monarchs
ROYCE MELBORN: Thief, one-half of Riyria, half-elf
RUDOLF, PRINCE: Son of King Armand, Prince of Alburn, brother to Beatrice and Hector
RUFUS, LORD: Ruthless northern warlord, intended emperor for the New Empire, killed by a Gilarabrywn in Dahlgren
RUFUS’S BANE: Name given to the Gilarabrywn slain by Thrace/Modina
RUPERT, KING: Unmarried king of Rhenydd
RUSSELL BOTHWICK: Farmer in Dahlgren, married to Lena, father of Tad
RYN: Half-elf who helped save Alric from Baron Trumbul
SALDUR, MAURICE: Former bishop of Medford, former friend and advisor to the Essendon family, co-regent of the New Empire, nickname: Sauly
SALIFAN: sal-eh-fan Fragrant wild plant used in incense
SALTY MACKEREL, THE: Tavern in the shipping district of Aquesta
SARAP: Meeting place or talking place in the Tenkin language
SAULY: Nickname of Maurice Saldur, used by those closest to him
SENON UPLAND: Highland plateau overlooking Chadwick
SENTINEL: Inquisitor generals of the Nyphron Church, charged with rooting out heresy and finding the lost Heir of Novron
SERET: sir-ett The Knights of Nyphron. The military arm of the church, first formed by Lord Darius Seret, commanded by sentinels
SET: Ratibor member of the Black Diamond thieves’ guild
SEWARD: Captain of the Emerald Storm, died at sea
SHARON SEA: Southern body of water west of the Ghazel Sea
SHERIDAN UNIVERSITY: Prestigious institution of learning, located in Ghent, Arista studied there
SHIP’S MASTER: Highest non-officer, in charge of running the daily workings of the ship
SHIRLUM-KATH: Small parasitic worm found in Calis, can infect untreated wounds
SIWARD: Bailiff of Hintindar
SKILLYGALEE: skil`li-ga-lee Oatmeal porridge served to sailors for breakfast
SPADONE: Long two-handed sword with a tapering blade and an extended flange ahead of the hilt allowing for an extended variety of fighting maneuvers. Due to the length of the handgrip and the flange, which provides its own barbed hilt, the sword provides a number of additional hand placements, permitting the sword to be used similarly to a quarterstaff and as a powerful cleaving weapon. The spadone is the traditional weapon of a skilled knight.
STANLEY, EARL FRANCIS: Nobleman of Harborn, killed in a Wintertide joust with Sir Jervis
STAUL: Tenkin warrior aboard the Emerald Storm, hired to find the Horn of Gylindora, killed by Royce in jungles of Calis
SUMMERSRULE: Popular midsummer holiday, celebrated with picnics, dances, feasts, and jousting tournaments
TABARD: Tunic worn over armor, usually emblazoned with a coat of arms
TAD BOTHWICK: Son of Lena and Russell, from a poor farming family of Dahlgren
TALBERT, BISHOP: Head of the Nyphron Church in Ratibor
TARIN VALE: Hometown of Amilia
TARTANE: Small ship used for fishing and coastal trading; single mast, large sail
TEK’CHIN: One of the fighting disciplines of the Teshlor Knights, preserved by the Knights of the Fauld, handed down to the Pickerings
TEMPLE: Ship’s master of the Emerald Storm, second in command
TENENT: The most common form of semi-standard international currency. Coins of gold, silver, and copper stamped with the likeness of the kin
g of the realm where the coin was minted
TENKIN: Community of humans living in the manner of Ghazel and suspected of having Ghazel blood
TERLANDO BAY: Harbor of Tur Del Fur
TESHLOR: Legendary knights of the Novronian Empire, greatest warriors ever to have lived
HALL OF TESHLOR: Building in Percepliquis were Teshlors trained and lived
THEOREM ELDERSHIP: Secret society formed to protect the heir
THERON WOOD: Father of Thrace, farmer of Dahlgren, killed by the Gilarabrywn
THRACE WOOD: Daughter of Theron and Addie, name changed to Modina by the regents, crowned Empress of the New Empire, killed the Gilarabrywn in Dahlgren
THRANIC, DOVIN: See Dovin Thranic
TIBITH: Friend of Mince and Kine who died
TIGER OF MANDALIN: Moniker given to Hadrian while in Calis
TILINER: Superior side sword, used frequently by mercenaries in Avryn
TOLIN ESSENDON: Son of Brodric, moved the Melengar capital to Medford, built Essendon Castle, also known as Tolin the Great
TOPE ENTWISTLE: Northern scout, signaled the elven advance
TOPMEN: Members of a ship’s crew who work high up in the rigging and sails
TORSONIC: Torque-producing, as in the cable used in crossbows
TRAMUS DAN: Guardian of Naron, later changed his name to Danbury Blackwater
TREMBLES: Fermented sweet drink made from flowers
TRENCHON: City bailiff of Ratibor
TRENT: Northern mountainous kingdoms not yet controlled by the New Empire
TRILON: Small, fast bow used by Ghazel
TRUMBUL, BARON: Mercenary, hired by Percy Braga to kill Prince Alric
TULAN: Tropical plant, found in southeastern Calis, used in religious ceremonies, leaves are dried and burned as offerings to the god Uberlin, smoke of the leaves produces visions when inhaled
TUR: Legendary village believed to have once been in Delgos, site of the first recorded visit of Kile, mythical source of great weapons
TUR DEL FUR: Coastal city in Delgos, on Terlando Bay, originally built by dwarves, was overrun by goblins when the city’s volcanic defenses were disabled by Royce and Hadrian
UBERLIN: God of the Dacca and the Ghazel, son of Erebus and his daughter, Muriel
ULI VERMAR: Obscure reference used by Esrahaddon
ULURIUM FOUNTAIN: Great sculptured fountain at the end of the Grand Mar, before the palace in Percepliquis
UMALYN: Tribe of elves, priests of Ferrol
URITH, KING: Former ruler of Ratibor, died in a fire
URLINEUS: Last of the Novronian Empire cities to fall, located in eastern Calis, constantly attacked by Ghazel. After its collapse, it became the gateway for the Ghazel into Calis
UZLA BAR: Ghazel chieftain, challenging Erandabon Gile for control of Ghazel
VALIN, LORD: Elderly knight of Melengar, known for his valor and courage, no strategic skills
VANDON: Port city of Delgos, home to the Vandon Spice Company, pirate haven, grew into a legitimate business center when Delgos became a republic
VAULT OF DAYS: Large hall outside Novron’s tomb
VELLA: Kitchen servant in the imperial palace
VENDEN POX: Poison, impervious to magic remedies
VENLIN: Patriarch of the Nyphron Church during the fall of the Novronian Empire
VERNES: Port city at the mouth of the Bernum River
VIGAN: Sheriff of Ratibor
VILLEIN: Person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
VINCE EVERTON: Alias used by Royce Melborn while in Hintindar
VINCE GRIFFIN: Founder of Dahlgren Village
VINCENT, KING: Ruler of Maranon, married to Queen Regina
VINTU: Native tribe of Calis
WANDERING DEACON OF DAHLGREN: Name that refers to Deacon Tomas
WARRIC: A kingdom of Avryn, once ruled by Ethelred, now part of the New Empire
WATCH OFFICER: Officer of the watch, in charge during a particular shift, responsible for everything that transpires during this time
WESBADEN: Major trade port city of Calis
WESLEY: Son of Lord Belstrad, brother of Sir Breckton, junior midshipman on the Emerald Storm, killed in the arena fight in the Palace of the Four Winds
WESTBANK: Newly formed province of Dunmore
WESTERLINS: Unknown frontier to the west
WHERRY: Light rowboat, used for racing or transporting goods and passengers on inland waters and harbors
WICEND: why-send Farmer in Melengar, name of the ford that crosses the Galewyr into Glouston
WIDLEY: Professor at Sheridan University, tried and burned for heresy
WILBUR: Armor smith in Aquesta
WILFRED: Carter in Hintindar
WINDS ABBEY: Monastery of the Monks of Maribor, rebuilt by Myron Lanaklin with the help of Magnus the dwarf after being burned
WINSLOW, ALBERT: See Albert Winslow
WINTERTIDE: Chief holiday, held in midwinter, celebrated with feasts and games of skill
WITCH OF MELENGAR: Derogatory title attributed to Arista
WYATT DEMINTHAL: See Deminthal, Wyatt
WYLIN: why-lynn Master-at-arms at Essendon Castle
WYMAR, MARQUIS: Nobleman of Melengar, member of Alric’s council
YOLRIC: Teacher of Esrahaddon
ZEPHYR, BROTHER: Monk at rebuilt Winds Abbey, illustrator
ZULRON: Deformed oberdaza of Oudorro
CONTENTS
FRONT COVER IMAGE
WELCOME
DEDICATION
EPIGRAPH
PLACES AND PEOPLE
MAP
BOOK V
Wintertide
CHAPTER 1: AQUESTA
CHAPTER 2: INTO DARKNESS
CHAPTER 3: SIR BRECKTON
CHAPTER 4: WEDDING PLANS
CHAPTER 6: THE PALACE
CHAPTER 7: DEEPER INTO DARKNESS
CHAPTER 8: SIR HADRIAN
CHAPTER 9: WINDS ABBEY
CHAPTER 10: THE FEAST OF NOBLES
CHAPTER 11: KNIGHTLY VIRTUE
CHAPTER 12: A QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
CHAPTER 13: THE HOUSE ON HEATH STREET
CHAPTER 14: TOURNAMENT DAY
CHAPTER 15: THE HUNT
CHAPTER 16: TRIALS BY COMBAT
CHAPTER 17: THE FINAL DARKNESS
CHAPTER 18: WINTERTIDE
CHAPTER 19: NEW BEGINNINGS
CHAPTER 20: THE QUEEN’S GAMBIT ACCEPTED
CHAPTER 21: LANGDON BRIDGE
BOOK VI
Percepliquis
CHAPTER 1: THE CHILD
CHAPTER 2: NIGHTMARES
CHAPTER 3: PRISONS
CHAPTER 4: FALL THE WALL
CHAPTER 5: THE MARQUIS OF GLOUSTON
CHAPTER 6: VOLUNTEERS
CHAPTER 7: THE LAUGHING GNOME
CHAPTER 8: AMBERTON LEE
CHAPTER 9: WAR NEWS
CHAPTER 10: BENEATH THE LEE
CHAPTER 11: THE PATRIARCH
CHAPTER 12: THIEVES END
CHAPTER 13: THE VOYAGE OF THE HARBINGER
CHAPTER 14: THE COLD
CHAPTER 15: PERCEPLIQUIS
CHAPTER 16: THE WHITE RIVER
CHAPTER 17: THE GRAND MAR
CHAPTER 18: DUST AND STONE
CHAPTER 19: SEALING OF THE GATE
CHAPTER 20: THE VAULT OF DAYS
CHAPTER 21: THE SACRIFICE
CHAPTER 22: NOVRON THE GREAT
CHAPTER 23: THE SKY SWIRLS
CHAPTER 24: THE GIFT
CHAPTER 25: THE ARRIVAL
CHAPTER 26: THE RETURN
CHAPTER 27: THE CHALLENGE
CHAPTER 28: FULL CIRCLE
CHAPTER 29: FROM OUT OF A CLEAR BLUE SKY
EXTRAS
MEET THE AUTHOR
A PREVIEW OF THE DRAGON’S PATH
GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND NAMES
BOOKS BY MICHAEL J. SULLIVAN
COPYRIGHT
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