Rhulyn-Rhunes: The seven southern clans of Rhunes: Nadak, Dureya, Rhen, Warric, Tirre, Melen, and Menahan. The Rhulyn-Rhunes have been in constant conflict with the northern tribes of the Gula-Rhunes.
Rhune: One of the five major races of Elan, the race of humans. The word is Fhrey for “primitive,” and for some, it is seen as derogatory. This race is technologically challenged, superstitious, and polytheistic. They live in clusters of small villages, and each clan is governed by a chieftain. There are two major groups of Rhunes, the Gula-Rhunes from the north and the southern Rhulyn-Rhunes. The two factions have warred for centuries.
Rhunic: The language spoken by the humans who live in Rhulyn.
Roan (Rhune, Rhen): An ex-slave of Iver the woodcarver. An incredibly talented, emotionally scarred inventor.
Rol: A small Dherg fortification. Rols were created throughout the frontier to provide shelter during the Belgric War. Most have a hidden door that opens and shuts via a series of pulleys and gears and are lined with Orinfar runes to protect those inside from magical attacks.
Rol Berg: A gate deep in the heart of Neith.
Rose Bridge: A bridge decorated with roses that crosses the Shinara River in Estramnadon, the Fhrey capital. The meeting place of the Gray Cloaks.
Rostwell: The mammoth dining hall in Caric where all members of the ruling party take their meals.
Roundhouse: A typical Rhune dwelling consisting of a single circular room with a cone-shaped roof, usually covered in thatch.
Ryeteen: The Fhrey term for a simplistic system of markings carried over great distances by birds for limited communication. Ryeteen is also used for the keeping of itemized lists.
Sebek (Fhrey, Instarya): The best warrior of the Galantians. He uses two cleve blades named Thunder and Lightning.
Second Chair: The honorific position held by the spouse of the chieftain.
Shahdi: The non-Instarya military group charged with maintaining order in Greater Erivan.
Sharhasa: An aptitude test given to Fhrey who wish to become Miralyith. Those who pass are granted access to the Estramnadon Academy and learn the ways of the Art.
Shegon (Fhrey, Asendwayr): A hunter stationed at Alon Rhist to provide the warrior tribe with fresh meat. He was killed by Raithe after Shegon killed Herkimer (Raithe’s father).
Shield: Also known as shield to the chieftain or chieftain’s shield. The chieftain’s personal bodyguard, and generally the finest warrior of a given clan.
Siegel (Rhune, Dunn): The chieftain of Clan Dunn.
Sikar (Fhrey, Instarya): An officer and patrol leader in the Instarya tribe stationed at Alon Rhist. A friend of Nyphron before the Galantian’s desertion.
Strom: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Dunn and Erling.
Stump, The (Rhune, Rhen): The Shield to Konniger, The Stump was promised Moya’s hand in marriage—much to Moya’s dismay. He was killed by Konniger when he reconsidered his part in the overthrow of Reglan’s reign.
Summerule: One of two Rhune holidays (the other is Wintertide). Summerule centers on a huge picnic and a number of athletic competitions.
Suri (Rhune, Rhen): The illegitimate child of Reglan, who had an affair with Maeve (Dahl Rhen’s Keeper of Ways). She was left to die in the forest, but was saved and raised by a mystic named Tura. She may be the only Rhune known to possess the ability to use the Art. She’s always accompanied by a white wolf named Minna, as the two are best friends.
Talwara: The official name of the Fhrey’s palace, where the fane resides and rules.
Tegan (Rhune, Warric): The chieftain of Clan Warric.
Tekchin (Fhrey, Instarya): One of Nyphron’s band of outlaw Galantians, Tekchin is a rough, outspoken warrior whose preferred weapon is a thin, narrow-bladed sword.
Ten Clans: The entirety of the Rhune nation, comprising seven Rhulyn clans and three Gula clans.
Tesh (Rhune, Dureya): The orphan boy who, along with Raithe, is all that remains of the Dureyan clan.
Tet: A curse word derived from Tetlin Witch.
Tetlin Witch: The universally hated immortal being thought to be the source of all disease, pestilence, and evil in the world.
Tirre: The southernmost Rhune dahl. Ruled by Lipit, it sits at the edge of the Blue Sea, across a narrow strait from the Dherg city of Caric.
Tirreans: Residents of Tirre.
Torc: A rigid circular necklace that is open in the front. In Rhune society, it is a mark of leadership. The Dherg often bestow a torc as a reward for a great accomplishment.
Traitor, The: The moniker Mawyndulë bestowed on Arion for her part in First Minister Gryndal’s death while aiding the Rhunes of Dahl Rhen.
Tressa (Rhune, Rhen): The wife of Konniger, ex-chieftain of Dahl Rhen.
Trilos (Fhrey, unknown tribal affiliation): A mysterious person obsessed with the Door in the Garden.
Tura (Rhune, no clan affiliation): An ancient mystic who lived in the Hawthorn Glen near Dahl Rhen; mentor to Suri. She predicted the coming of the Great Famine.
Uberlin: The god of evil worshipped by the Ghazel. The source of all wickedness in Elan, believed to be the father of the Tetlin Witch.
Udgar: The chieftain of Clan Erling of the Gula.
Uli Vermar (the reign of a fane): An event that occurs three thousand years after the crowning of a fane or upon his death, when other Fhrey can challenge to rule. This is done by petitioning the Aquila and being presented with the Horn of Gylindora.
Umalyn: The Fhrey tribe of priests and priestesses who concern themselves with spiritual matters and the worship of Ferrol.
Urum River: A north–south Avrlyn river west of the Bern, and the place where Raithe would like to make a new start.
Valentryne Layartren: A room within the great tower of Avempartha that allows multiple Artists to join forces and work as one. It’s particularly useful for locating people.
Vasek (Fhrey, Asendwayr): The Master of Secrets.
Vellum: Fine parchment perfected by the Dherg for drawing maps, made from the skins of young animals.
Vernes: The Rhune port city that grew up directly below Dahl Tirre.
Vertumus (Fhrey, Instarya): The personal assistant to Petragar.
Vidar (Fhrey, Miralyith): The senior councilor of the Aquila representing the Miralyith tribe and new tutor to Prince Mawyndulë.
Volhoric (Fhrey, Umalyn): The senior councilor of the Aquila representing the Umalyn tribe. He also holds the position of Conservator of the Aquila.
Vorath (Fhrey, Instarya): A member of Nyphron’s Galantians. He has taken to the Rhune custom of wearing a beard. His weapons of choice are flails, maces, and morning stars.
Warric: One of the seven Rhulyn-Rhune clans, ruled by Chieftain Tegan.
West Puddle: The more affluent area of the Rhen settlement in Tirre.
Wogan: The name by which the spirit of nature is known in and around the Crescent Forest.
Yarhold: The home city of the Grenmorians.
Ylfe: The Fhrey pronunciation of the derogatory Dherg term elf.
Zephyron (Fhrey, Instarya): The father of Nyphron, killed by Lothian during the challenge for fane upon Fenelyus’s death. Lothian killed Zephyron in an unusually gruesome fashion to make a point about Miralyith superiority and the folly of challenging their rule.
This book is dedicated to Tim Gerard Reynolds, the narrator of my Elan novels, whose vocal interpretations breathe life into mere letters, give voice to my imagination, and make me sound better than I am. Thanks, Tim, I owe you another dinner, and sorry for disrupting the recording sessions by making you laugh.