Wolf Hunting (79 page)

“Thank you, my lady,” he said, and he sounded a touch surprised. “I am very glad to have found you. I can promise you, we will meet again.”

He stepped back a few more paces, and by the time he had reached the trunk of the apple tree, he had vanished. As if she herself was coming back from a long distance away, Firekeeper heard sounds and knew that Enigma, the puma, was returning.

I wonder
, Firekeeper thought, staring where the Meddler had been,
what has happened here? When we left Misheemnekuru, I thought I was the one who was hunting. Perhaps the Meddler was doing the hunting, hunting those who could help him so he could find his way home again.

With that unsettling thought, Firekeeper turned to where Enigma had begun the ritual that would open the gate. When the wall shimmered, Firekeeper stepped through stone, into fire, hurrying to where Blind Seer waited.

DETAIL MAP OF THE LAND OF LIGLIM.

TOR BOOKS BY JANE LINDSKOLD

Through Wolf’s Eyes
Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart
The Dragon of Despair
Wolf Captured
Wolf Hunting
Wolf’s Blood*
The Buried Pyramid
Child of a Rainless Year

*Forthcoming

PRAISE FOR THE FIREKEEPER NOVELS OF JANE LINDSKOLD

“What do you get when you mix lost magic and feral children with dynastic politics, wolf social dynamics, treason, and overambitious, social-climbing parents? You get Jane Lindskold’s new novel
Through Wolf’s
Eyes
and another stay-up-to-finish-the-last-page read.”

—David Weber

“Her characters live—they’re real, but they are
different.
And the world they live in lingers in the mind; heroic, squalid, exotic, everyday. I was convinced that it went on by itself when I turned the last page. Bravo!”

—S. M. Stirling on
Through Wolf’s Eyes

“One thing I like about Jane Lindskold’s books is that she plays fair with her readers. It doesn’t matter that she’s writing a series; each book will stand on its own and be a satisfying read; for all that, it adds depth and texture to what went before.”

—Charles de Lint on
Wolf’s Head, Wolf’s Heart

“Exciting!”

—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review) on
Wolf Captured

GLOSSARY OF CHARACTERS

Agneta
¹
Norwood
: (H.H.) daughter of Norvin Norwood and Luella Stanbrook; sister of Edlin, Tait, and Lillis Norwood; adopted sister of Blysse Norwood (Firekeeper).

Aksel Trueheart:
(Lord, H.H.) scholar of Hawk Haven; spouse of Zorana Archer; father of Purcel, Nydia, Deste, and Kenre Trueheart.
²

Alben Eagle:
(H.H.) son of Princess Marras and Lorimer Stanbrook. In keeping with principles of Zorana I, given no title as died in infancy.

Alin Brave:
(H.H.) husband of Grace Trueheart; father of Baxter Trueheart.

Allister I
: (King, B.B.) called King Allister of the Pledge, sometimes the Pledge Child; formerly Allister Seagleam. Son of Tavis Seagleam (B.B.) and Caryl Eagle (H.H.); spouse of Pearl Oyster; father of Shad, Tavis, Anemone, and Minnow.

Alt Rosen
: (Opulence, Waterland) ambassador to Bright Bay.

Amery Pelican
: (King, B.B.) Spouse of Gustin II; father of Basil, Seastar, and Tavis Seagleam. Deceased.

Amiri
: city-state of Gak; aridisdu.

Anemone
: (Princess, B.B.) formerly Anemone Oyster. Daughter of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; sister of Shad and Tavis; twin of Minnow.

Apheros
: (Dragon Speaker, N.K.) long-time elected official of New Kelvin, effectively head of government.

Aurella Wellward
: (Lady, H.H.) confidante of Queen Elexa; spouse of Ivon Archer; mother of Elise Archer.

Barden Eagle
: (Prince, H.H.) third son of Tedric I and Elexa Wellward. Disowned. Spouse of Eirene Norwood; father of Blysse Eagle. Presumed deceased.

Barnet Lobster:
(Isles) sailor on the
Explorer
.

Basil Seagleam:
see Gustin III.

Baxter Trueheart
: (Earl, H.H.) infant son of Grace Trueheart and Alin Brave. Technically not a title holder until he has safely survived his first two years.

Beachcomber:
a Wise Wolf.

Bee Biter
. Royal Kestrel; guide and messenger.

Bevan Seal
: see Calico.

Bibimalenu
: (L.) member of u-Liall, representative for Air.

Bitter
: a Wise Raven.

Blind Seer
. Royal Wolf; companion to Firekeeper.

Blysse Eagle
: (Lady, H.H.) daughter of Prince Barden and Eirene Kestrel.

Blysse Kestrel
: see Firekeeper.

Bold
: Royal Crow; eastern agent; sometime companion to Firekeeper.

Bright-Eyes-Fast-Paws:
a Wise Jaguar.

Brina Dolphin:
(Lady or Queen, B.B.) first spouse of Gustin III, divorced as barren.

Brock Carter
: (H.H.) son of Colby and Vernita Carter; brother of Derian and Damita Carter.

Brotius
: (N.K., Captain) soldier in New Kelvin.

Calico
: (B.B.) proper name, Bevan Seal. Confidential secretary to Allister I. Member of a cadet branch of House Seal.

Caryl Eagle:
(Princess, H.H.) daughter of King Chalmer I; married to Prince Tavis Seagleam; mother of Allister Seagleam. Deceased.

Ceece Dolphin
: (Lady, B.B.) sister to current Duke Dolphin.

Chalmer I
: (King, H.H.) born Chalmer Elkwood; son of Queen Zorana the Great; spouse of Rose Rosewood; father of Marras, Tedric, Caryl Gadman, and Rosene Eagle. Deceased.

Chalmer Eagle
: (Crown Prince, H.H.) son of Tedric Eagle and Elexa Wellward. Deceased.

Chutia
: (N.K.)
Illuminator
. Wife of Grateful Peace. Deceased.

Cishanol:
(L.) assistant to Meiyal, disdu in training.

Citrine Shield
: (H.H.) daughter of Melina Shield and Rolfston Redbriar; sister of Sapphire, Jet, Opal, and Ruby Shield; adopted daughter of Grateful Peace.

Colby Carter
. (H.H.) livery stable owner and carter; spouse of Vernita Carter; father of Derian, Damita, and Brock.

Columi
: (N.K.) retired Prime of the Sodality of Lapidaries.

Comb Ripper
. a Wise Bear cub.

Cricket
: a Wise Wolf.

Culver Pelican:
(Lord, B.B.) son of Seastar Seagleam; brother of Dillon Pelican. Merchant ship captain.

Daisy
: (H.H.) steward of West Keep, in employ of Earl Kestrel.

Damita Carter
: (H.H.) daughter of Colby and Vernita Carter; sister of Derian and Brock Carter.

Dantarahma
: (L.) member of u-Liall, representative for Water. Deceased.

Dark Death
: a Wise Wolf.

Dawn Brooks
: (H.H.) wife of Ewen Brooks, mother of several small children. Deceased.

Dayle
: (H.H.) steward for the Archer Manse in Eagle’s Nest.

Derian Carter
: (H.H.) also called Derian Counselor; son of Colby and Vernita Carter; brother of Damita and Brock Carter.

Deste Trueheart
: (H.H.) daughter of Aksel Trueheart and Zorana Archer; sister of Purcel, Nydia, and Kenre Trueheart.

Dia Trueheart
: see Nydia Trueheart.

Dillon Pelican
: (Lord, B.B.) son of Seastar Seagleam; brother of Culver Pelican.

Dimiria
: (N.K.) Prime, Sodality of Stargazers.

Dirkin Eastbranch
: (knight, H.H.) King Tedric’s personal bodyguard.

Donal Hunter
: (H.H.) member of Barden Eagle’s expedition; spouse of Sarena; father of Tamara. Deceased.

Edlin Norwood:
(Lord, H.H.) son of Norvin Norwood and Luella Kite; brother of Tait, Lillis, and Agneta Norwood; adopted brother of Blysse Kestrel (Firekeeper).

Eirene Norwood:
(Lady, H.H.) spouse of Barden Eagle; mother of Blysse Eagle; sister of Norvin Norwood. Presumed deceased.

Elation
: Royal Falcon, companion to Firekeeper.

Elexa Wellward:
(Queen, H.H.) spouse of Tedric I; mother of Chalmer, Lovella, and Barden.

Elise Archer
. (Lady, H.H.) daughter of Ivon Archer and Aurella Wellward; heir to Archer Grant.

Elwyn:
(Isles) also called “Lucky Elwyn”; a sailor on the
Explorer
.

Enigma:
a Wise Puma.

Eshinarvash:
a Wise Horse.

Evaglayn:
(N.K.) senior apprentice in the Beast Lore sodality.

Evie Cook
: (H.H.) servant in the Carter household.

Ewen Brooks:
(N.K.) spouse of Dawn Brooks, father of several children.

Faelene Lobster.
(Duchess, B.B.) head of House Lobster; sister of Marek, duke of Half-Moon Island; aunt of King Harwill.

Fairwind Sailor
. (B.B.) ambassador to Liglim from Bright Haven.

Farand Briarcott:
(Lady, H.H.) assistant to Tedric I, former military, commander.

Feeshaguyu:
(L.) member of u-Liall; representative for Earth.

Fess Bones
: a pirate with some medical skills.

Firekeeper.
(Lady, H.H.) feral child raised by wolves, adopted by Norvin Norwood and given the name Blysse Kestrel.

Fleet Herald
: a pirate messenger.

Fox Driver
. (H.H.) given name, Orin. Skilled driver in the employ of Waln Endbrook. Deceased.

Freckles
: a Wise Wolf.

Gadman Eagle
: (Grand Duke, H.H.) fourth child of King Chalmer and Queen Rose; brother to Marras, Caryl, Tedric, Rosene; spouse of Riki Redbriar; father of Rolfston and Nydia.

Garrik Carpenter:
(H.H.) a skilled woodworker. Deceased.

Gayl Minter.
see Gayl Seagleam.

Gayl Seagleam
: (Queen, B.B.) spouse of Gustin I; first queen of Bright Bay; mother of Gustin, Merry (later Gustin II), and Lyra. Note: Gayl was the only queen to assume the name “Seagleam.” Later tradition paralleled that of Hawk Haven where the name of the birth house was retained even after marriage to the monarch. Deceased.

Glynn
: (H.H.) a soldier.