Wolf Hunting (81 page)

Rook
: (H.H.) servant to Newell Shield.

Rory Seal
: (Lord, B.B.) holds the title Royal Physician.

Rose Rosewood
: (Queen, H.H.) common-born wife of Chalmer I; also called Rose Dawn; his marriage to her was the reason Hawk Haven Great Houses received what Queen Zorana the Great would doubtless have seen as unnecessary and frivolous titles. Deceased.

Rosene
: (Grand Duchess, H.H.) fifth child of King Chalmer and Queen Rose; spouse of Purcel Archer; mother of Ivon and Zorana Archer.

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

Saedee Norwood
: (Duchess Kestrel, H.H.) mother of Norvin and Eirene Norwood.

Sapphire
: (Crown Princess, H.H.) adopted daughter of Tedric I; birth daughter of Melina Shield and Rolfston Redbriar, sister of Jet, Opal, Ruby, and Citrine Shield; spouse of Shad.

Sarena Gardener.
(H.H.) member of Prince Barden’s expedition; spouse of Donal Hunter; mother of Tamara. Deceased.

Seastar Seagleam
: (Grand Duchess, B.B.) sister of Gustin III; mother of Culver and Dillon Pelican.

Shad
: (Crown Prince, B.B.) son of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; brother of Tavis, Anemone, and Minnow Oyster; spouse of Sapphire.

Sharp Fang:
a common name among the Royal Wolves; see Northwest and Whiner.

Shelby:
a sailor on the Explorer. Deceased.

Shivadtmon
: (L.) an aridisdu.

Siyago
: (Dragon’s Fire, N.K.) a prominent member of the Sodality of Artificers.

Skea
: Nexus Islands; a Twice Dead; spouse of Ynamynet; father of Sunshine.

Sky
: also Sky-Dreaming-Earth-Bound, a maimalodalu. Deceased

Steady Runner
: a Royal Elk.

Steward Silver
. (H.H.) long-time steward of Eagle’s Nest Castle. Her birth-name and origin have been forgotten as no one, not even Silver herself, thinks of herself as anything but the steward.

Sun of Bright Haven
: first born of Sapphire and Shad.

Sunshine
: Nexus Islands; daughter of Skea and Ynamynet.

Tab Shield
: (Duke Gyrfalcon, H.H.) brother of Rein, Newell, Polr, and Melina.

Tait Norwood
: (H.H.) son of Norvin Norwood and Luella

Stanbrook; brother of Edlin, Lillis, and Agneta Norwood.

Tallus
: (Prime, N.K.) member of the Sodality of Alchemists.

Tangler
: a Wise Wolf.

Tavis Oyster
. (Prince, B.B.) son of Allister I and Pearl Oyster; brother of Shad, Anemone, and Minnow Oyster.

Tavis Seagleam
: (Prince, B.B.) third child of Gustin II and Amery Pelican; spouse of Caryl Eagle; father of Allister Seagleam.

Tedgewinn
: a sailor on the
Explorer.

Tedric I:
(King, H.H.) third king of Hawk Haven; son of King Chalmer and Queen Rose; spouse of Elexa Wellward; father of Chalmer, Lovella, and Barden; adopted father of Sapphire.

Tenacity
: a Wise Wolf.

Tench
: (Lord, B.B.) born Tench Clark; right hand to Queen Gustin IV; knighted for his services; later made Lord of the Pen. Deceased.

Thyme
: (H.H.) a scout in the service of Hawk Haven.

Timin Gardener
: (H.H.) Master Gardener for Eagle’s Nest Castle, possessor of the Green Thumb, a talent involving the growing of plants; son of Holly Gardener; brother of Sarena; father of Dan and Robyn.

Tiniel
: a man from Gak; twin brother of Isende.

Tipi
: (N.K.) slave, born in Stonehold.

Tiridanti
: (L.) member of u-Liall; representative for Fire.

Toad
: (H.H.) pensioner of the Carter family.

Tollius
: (N.K.) member of the Sodality of Smiths.

Toriovico
: (Healed One, N.K.) hereditary ruler of New Kelvin; spouse of Melina; brother to Vanviko (deceased) and several sisters.

Tris Stone
: a pirate.

Truth
: a Wise Jaguar.

Tymia
: (N.K.) a guard.

Ulia
: (N.K.) a judge.

Urgana:
Nexus Islands; Never Lived.

Valet
: (H.H.) eponymous servant of Norvin Norwood; known for his fidelity and surprising wealth of useful skills.

Valora I
: (Queen, the Isles) born Valora Seagleam, assumed the name Gustin upon her coronation as fourth monarch of Bright Bay. Resigned her position to Allister I and became queen of the Isles. Spouse of Harwill Lobster.

Valora Seagleam
: see Valora I.

Vanviko
: (heir to the Healed One, N.K.) elder brother of Toriovico; killed in avalanche.

Varcasiol
: (N.K.) nephew of Grateful Peace; son of Idalia and Pichero; brother of Kistlio, Linatha, and others.

Varjuna
: (L.) ikidisdu of the Horse; husband of Zira; father of Poshtuvanu and others.

Vernita Carter
. (H.H.) born Vernita Painter, an acknowledged beauty of her day, Vernita became associated with the business she and her husband, Colby, transformed from a simple carting business to a group of associated livery stables and carting service; spouse of Colby Carter; mother of Derian, Damita, and Brock Carter.

Verul
: Nexus Islands; a Twice Dead.

Violet Redbriar
: (Ambassador, H.H.) ambassador from Hawk Haven to New Kelvin; translator and author, with great interest in New Kelvinese culture.

Viona Seal:
(Queen, B.B.) second wife of King Gustin III; mother of Valora, later Gustin IV.

Wain
Cutter
: (H.H.) skilled lapidary and gem cutter working out of the town of Hope.

Waln Endbrook
: (the Isles) formerly Baron Endbrook; also, Walnut Endbrook. A prosperous merchant, Wain found rapid promotion in the service of Valora I. Spouse of Oralia, father of two daughters and a son. Deceased.

Wendee Jay:
(H.H.) retainer in service of Duchess Kestrel. Lady’s maid to Firekeeper. Divorced. Mother of two daughters.

Wheeler
: (H.H.) scout captain.

Whiner.
a wolf of Blind Seer and Firekeeper’s pack, later named Sharp Fang.

Whyte Steel:
(knight, B.B.) captain of the guard for Allister I.

Wiatt
: a sailor on the
Explorer.

Wind Whisper.
Royal Wolf, formerly of Firekeeper’s pack, now member of another pack.

Wort
: Nexus Islands; a Twice Dead.

Xarxius:
(Dragon’s Claw, N.K.) member of the Dragon’s Three, former Stargazer.

Yaree Yuci:
(General, Stonehold) commander of Stonehold troops.

Ynamynet
: Nexus Islands; Once Dead; spouse of Skea; mother of Sunshine.

Zahlia
: (N.K.) member of the Sodality of Smiths. Specialist in silver.

Zebel
: Nexus Islands; a Twice Dead; a doctor.

Zira
: (L.) kidisdu of the Horse; wife of Varjuna; mother of Poshtuvanu and others.

Zorana I
: (Queen, H.H.) also called Zorana the Great, born Zorana Shield. First monarch of Hawk Haven; responsible for a reduction of titles—so associated with this program that overemphasis of titles is considered “unzoranic.” Spouse of Clive Elkwood; mother of Chalmer I.

Zorana Archer.
(Lady, H.H.) daughter of Rosene Eagle and Purcel Archer; sister of Ivon Archer; spouse of Aksel Trueheart; mother of Purcel, Nydia, Deste, and Kenre Trueheart.

Look for
WOLF’S BLOOD

(0-765-31480-0)

by JANE LINDSKOLD

Available in Hardcover in March 2007 from Tom Doherty Associates

“BLIND SEER, HOW MANY YEARS have gone by since you and I crossed the Iron Mountains into the east?”

Firekeeper spoke a language most humans would not have even realized was being spoken, much less understood, and the one to whom she spoke was no human but rather a grey wolf the size of a small pony, albeit much leaner in build. Blind Seer did not look at Firekeeper when she spoke, his piercingly blue eyes focused, as were her own, on some middle distance.

“Six springs into spring again,” came the wolf’s reply, “six rounding of does’ sides and budding of new antlers on proud bucks, six springs where fat puppies stumbled from the dens in which their mothers had hidden them to face the proud inspection of their packs. Six, if you count this spring, and this I do most sincerely.”

Firekeeper huffed agreement through her nose, a movement of air that spoke volumes to the wolf.

“Is it spring, then, that makes me restless?”

“Don’t blame spring, sweet Firekeeper. Spring has done nothing but be spring. You know who is to blame, who has been whispering in your ear. I have heard what you say in your dreams, and although you have not told me, I know who has returned to haunt you.”

“I have always had nightmares,” Firekeeper replied, not quite admitting to the truth of the wolf’s statement.

“Always,” Blind Seer agreed. “As long as I have known you, as long as any of my pack have known you—and we took you in and made your our own when you were but a small child—as long ago as that and maybe before, you have had nightmares, but this is something different, and you know it and I know it. Will you deny what is as plain as sunlight on a cloudless day?”

Firekeeper sighed and buried her hand in the thick fur of Blind Seer’s scruff. “I cannot, nor will I, at least not to you. Three nights running and three more before that, the Meddler has come into my dreams. He talks most seriously, and the matters he raises are grave and seem to make sense, but I fear to be guided by him.”

Blind Seer’s hackles rose. Firekeeper felt the stiff guard hairs of his coat prickle against her skin.

“The Meddler earned that name for a reason, dear heart,” the wolf said in a rumbling growl. “He also earned the ill reputation that goes with that name, as we know all too well. His meddling has caused trouble for generations so long past that even their bones have returned to the soil.”

Firekeeper nodded agreement that held the faintest trace of reluctance. The wolf tilted back his head to gaze upon her face.

“Will you tell me what the Meddler has said when he comes into your dreams?”

Firekeeper hesitated, knowing her delay was a trifle longer than would be polite. Had she been speaking with a human, her delay might have been taken as weighing the wisdom of speaking seriously about dreams. However, the wolf—who knew her mood from her scent—was not to be so easily fooled. She felt her skin heat with a blush.

In response to that blush, Firekeeper was aware of the rumble of Blind Seer’s growl, inaudible to her ears but felt though her fingertips. Blind Seer had heard the sweet edge of the Meddler’s tongue, and he knew the Meddler had an intense interest in Firekeeper.

“I will tell you,” Firekeeper said at last, “but dreams are strange, and sometimes I have trouble recalling their logic.”

“Some trouble,” Blind Seer agreed, “but not too much trouble, else you would not be so restless. Tell what you can. I will listen.”

Firekeeper sat next to the wolf, flinging her arm over his shoulders. He, in turn, settled onto his haunches. Blind Seer was large enough that in this attitude Firekeeper’s head now leaned against his own. She sat this way for several long breaths, taking comfort from their proximity.

“The Meddler says,” she began, the words tumbling out like water spilling over a beaver’s dam, “at great length, supporting his case with many cogent arguments, that I must seek the source of the Fire Plague.”

“The source of the Fire Plague?” Blind Seer asked. “What purpose would be served in finding the source of the Fire Plague?”

“Not just the source,” Firekeeper amended. “The source and, with the source, the cure.”