(Shadowmarch #2) Shadowplay (80 page)

Staring up and then down made him dizzy. Vansen almost fell, but caught himself. Where was he? Was this some deep place in the earth beneath the demigod’s mine? He had fallen through the god’s open gateway—was this the heart of the god’s sanctuary? But it seemed too…ordinary, somehow. The carving was beautiful, the statue of Kernios awe-inspiring, but they did not seem otherworldly.

He caught himself when he almost toppled again, forced himself to breathe. He was weary beyond belief. He was alive. The one was proof of the other, and the solid room around him was more proof that he had survived, no matter where he might be. Across from him was a massive doorway. He went to it and tested it. Despite its heaviness, it swung open at a touch.

The room on the other side was full of small figures—waiting for him, Vansen thought at first, but when he saw the startled look on the little men’s faces he knew that was not true. Servants of Kernios, perhaps? But there had also been tiny men like this in Jikuyin’s mines. Vansen held up his hands, wondering if they could speak any language he knew. “Can…you…understand…me?”

“What in the name of the Earth Elders were you doing in the Council Chamber, stranger?” one of the little men asked him, frowning. “You’re not allowed in there.” His eyes grew wide with alarm and he turned and scuttled out the far door. The rest of the little men followed him, looking back fearfully as they fled, as though Vansen were some kind of dangerous beast.

He stared after them and a chill traversed his spine from tailbone to skull and back. Not only was it his tongue the little man had spoken, it had been a perfect Southmarch accent. What was happening? What kind of trick was being played on him?

Vansen stood for a long time letting his heart slow, staring around the wide room and trying to make sense of what had happened to him, but almost afraid to find out. At last the door of the large chamber opened and a group of the little men, this time carrying shovels and picks and other weapons, came cautiously toward him across the shiny stone floor. Vansen lifted his hands to show he was unarmed, but his attention was caught by the stout man who came with them—a normal man, someone Vansen’s own height. There was something oddly familiar about his face…

“I know you, sir,” he said as the big man and his child-sized army approached. “You are…gods save me, you are Chaven, the royal family’s physician.”

“So you say,” the man said. He did not look the type to be leading any armed band, even one this size. “But I do not admit it. You are trespassing here, you know. What are you doing in the Funderling’s guildhall?”

“Funderlings? Guildhall?” Vansen could only stare at the man. “What madness is this? Where am I?”

“By all the gods,” Chaven said, and stopped. He put out his arms to hold back the nearest Funderlings, or perhaps to support himself—he looked as though he had been struck a blow. “I know this man, but he was lost in the battle against the Twilight People. Are you not Captain Vansen, sir? Are you not the captain of the royal guard?”

“I am. But where am I?”

“Don’t you know?” The physician shook his head slowly. “You are in Funderling Town, of course, underneath Southmarch Castle.”

“Southmarch…?” Ferras Vansen looked around the chamber again in stunned amazement, then took a staggering step toward Chaven and the Funderlings, causing some of the little men to raise their weapons in alarm. Vansen fell to his knees, raising his arms in the air to praise all the gods, then the crowd of Funderlings watched with worried faces him as he threw himself down on the floor, laughing and weeping, and pressed his face against the blessed solidity of the stone.

PEOPLE

Aduan—former king of March Kingdoms, husband of Ealga, and builder of M’Helan’s Rock lodge

Aesi’uah—Yasammez’ chief eremite, of Dreamless blood

Aislin—a Skimmer tanglewife

Alessandros—Anissa’s father, grand viscount of Devonis

Ananka—baroness, former mistress of King Hespter, now Enander’s.

Angelos—an envoy from Jellon to Southmarch

Anglin—Connordic chieftain, awarded March Kingdom after Coldgray Moor

Anglin III—king of Southmarch, great-grandfather of Briony and Barrick

Anissa—queen of Southmarch, Olin’s second wife

Annon—a demigod, son of Kernios, killed by Jikuyin

Argal—Xandian name for Perin

Argal the Dark One—Xixian god, enemy of Nushash

Arimone—the autarch’s paramount wife

Arjamele—one of Qinnitan’s neighbors at her childhood home

Ashretan—Qinnitan’s sister

Autarch—Sulepis Bishakh am-Xis III, monarch of Xis, most powerful nation on the southern continent of Xand

Avin Brone—count of Landsend, the castle’s lord constable

Axamis Dorza—a Xixian ship’s captain

Ayona, Countess—wife of Perivos Akuanis

Azinor of the Onyenai—a god, one of Zmeos’ sons by Zuriyal

Baddara—an innkeeper in Lander’s Port

Barrick Eddon—a prince of Southmarch

Barrow—a royal guard

Barumbanogatir—a demigod, child of Sveros

Baz’u Jev—a Zandian poet

Bazilis, Favored—envoy for autarch

Beetledown—a Rooftopper

Berkan Hood—the Tollys’ lord constable

Birin, Lord of the Evening Mist—a god, one of Perin’s sons, killed in the God War

Bloodstone Smoke Quartz—magister of Smoke Quartz family

Brabinayos Boots-of-Stone—Hierosoline name for Barumbanogatir

Brigid—a serving woman at the Quiller’s Mint

Briony Eddon—a princess of Southmarch

Brother Lysas—Pelaya’s and Teloni’s tutor

Caprock Gneiss, Highwarden—important Funderling of the Fire Stone House

Captrosophist Order—school of mirror-lore, founded in Tessis

Caradon Tolly, Duke of Summerfield—second oldest Tolly brother

Caylor—a legendary knight and prince

Celebrants of Mother Night—Qar order/subspecies/cult

Chakkai—a people of the southern Perikalese mountains

Chaven—physician and astrologer to the Eddon family

Chert Blue Quartz—a Funderling, Opal’s husband

Cheryazi—Qinnitan’s sister

Children of the Emerald Fire—a Qar tribe

Cinnabar—a Funderling magister

Collum Dyer—one of Vansen’s soldiers

Conary—proprietor of the Quiller’s Mint

Conoric, Sivonnic, and Iellic tribes—“primitive” tribes who lived on Eion before conquest by the southern continent of Xand Crooked—Qar name for Kupilas

Daikonas Vo—a Perikalese White Hound

Dandelon—a character in Hewney’s
King Nikolos

Dawet dan-Faar—envoy from Hierosol

Dawtrey—a legendary knight, sometimes called “Elf-spelled”

Devona—a goddess, aka “Devona of the Harp”

Devonai kings—ancient line of Hiersoline royalty

Dimakos Heavyhand—one of the last chieftains of the Gray Companies

Doirrean—young Prince Olin’s nursemaid

Donal Murroy—onetime captain of the Southmarch royal guard

Dowan Birch—a player in Makewell’s Men

Dreamless—also known as “Night Men”

Drows—a race behind the Shadowline, related to Funderlings

Durstin Crowel—baron of Graylock

Ealga Flaxen-Hair—former queen of March Kingdoms, wife of King Aduan

Earth Elders—Funderling guardian spirits

Effir dan-Mozan—a Tuani merchant

Eilis—Merolanna’s maid

Elan M’Cory—sister-in-law of Caradon Tolly

Ena—a young Skimmer girl, Back-on-Sunset-Tide clan

Enander II—king of Syan

Eneas—son of Enander, prince of Syan and heir to throne

Erasmios Jino—Marquis of Athnia, aide to King Enander of Syan

Eri—Chaven’s oldest brother

Eril—an Akuanis family servant

Erilo—god of harvest

Erivor—god of waters

Erlon Meaher—a court poet in Southmarch, rival of Tinwright

Eshervat—Xixian name for Erivor

Estir Makewell—sister of Pedder Makewell

Fanu—a relative of Idite

Febis—cousin of the autarch

Feival Ulian—a player in Makewell’s Men

Ferras Vansen—captain of the Southmarch royal guard Finn Teodoros—a writer

Four Sunsets—the fairy who owned Dragonfly

Funderlings—sometimes known as “delvers,” small people who specialize in stonecraft

Gailon Tolly, Duke of Summerfield—an Eddon family cousin

Geral Kelty—one of the Southmarch guards lost behind the Shadowline

Gil—a potboy at the Quiller’s Mint

Grandfather Sulfur—a Funderling elder of the Metamorphic Brothers

Gray Companies—mercenaries and landless men turned bandits in wake of the Great Death

Great Mother—goddess worshipped in Tuan

Gregor—a laundry worker

Gregor of Syan—a famous bard

Guard of Elementals—a tribe of the Qar

Gyir—a Qar, Yasammez’ captain, aka “Gyir the Storm Lantern”

Habbili—a god, the crippled son of Nushash

Harsar—Ynnir’s counselor

Hendon Tolly—youngest of the Tolly brothers, Guardian of Southmarch

Hesper—King of Jellon, betrayer of King Olin

Hijam Marukh, aka “Stoneheart”—captain of the autarch’s Leopard guards

Hiliometes—a legendary demigod and hero

Idite—Effir dan-Mozan’s wife

Ikelis Johar—High Polemarch (chief general) of Xis

Iomer M’Sivon—Baron of Landers Port

Irinnis—foreman of military engineers, Hierosol

Jacinth Malachite—a female magister

Jeddin—chief of the autarch’s Leopard guards

Karal—king of Syan killed by Qar at Coldgray Moor Kaspar Dyelos—Chaven’s mentor, aka “Warlock of Krace” Kayyin—“real” name of Gil the potboy

Kearn Tinwright—Matt Tinwright’s father, a tutor

Kellick Eddon—great-grandnephew of Anglin, first of Eddon family

March Kings

Kelofas—a Hierosoline noble

Kendrick Eddon—prince regent of Southmarch, eldest son of King Olin Kernios—god of earth and death, one of the Trigon brothers King Nikolos—Syan monarch who moved the Trigon out of Hierosol Kiril—Pelaya’s brother

Krisanthe—Queen Meriel’s mother, the twins’ grandmother Kupilas—god of healing, also known as “Habbili” and “Crooked” Lady Simeon—a lady-in-waiting during the twins’ youth Lander III—son of Karal, king of Syan, aka “Lander the Good,” “Lander

Elfbane”

Lawren—the old Earl of Marrinscrest

Lida—Elan M’Cory’s maid

Lisiya Melana of the Silver Glade—demigoddess, one of the nine daughters of Birgya and Volios

Lord of the Peak—a Rooftopper deity

Lorick Eddon—Olin’s older brother, who died young Losa—a laundry worker

Ludis Drakava—Lord Protector of Hierosol

Madi Surazem—goddess of childbirth

Magister Scoria of the Gneiss family

Makaros (“the Makari”)—Chaven’s family name

Matthias Tinwright—a poet, aka “Matty”

Meriel—Olin’s first wife, daughter of “a powerful Brennish duke” Merolanna—the twins’ great-aunt, originally of Fael, widow of Daman

Eddon

Mesiya—moon goddess

Metamorphic Brothers—a Funderling religious order Milios, Bandit-King of Torvio—character from a play Moina Hartsbrook—a young Helmingsea noblewoman, one of Briony’s ladies-in-waiting

Mokori—one of the autarch’s stranglers

Muziren Chah—the autarch’s regent in Xis

Nenizu—Xandian name for Mesiya the moon goddess Nevin Hewney—a playwright and player in Makewell’s Men Nikos—Dorza’s Hierosoline son

Niram—Chaven’s older brother

Nodule—Chert’s brother, aka “Magister Blue Quartz” Nushash—Xixian god of fire and chief god of Xis, patron god of the autarchs, Xandian name for Zmeos

Nynor—Steffens Nynor, Count of Redtree, lord castellan of Southmarch Castle

Okros Dioketian—Brother Okros’ full name

Olin Alessandros Benediktos Eddon—son of King Olin and Queen Anissa On. Iaris—an oracle of the Trigonate Church

On. Zakkas (known as “the Ragged”)—an oracle of the Trigonate

Church

Onir Kyma—an oracle with a temple in Southmarch Onir Soteros—“Dreamer Soteros,” an oracle of the Trigonate Church Opal—A funderling, Chert’s wife

Palakastros—neighbors of the Akuanis family

Pale Daughter—Qar name for Zoria

Panhyssir—Xixian high priest of Nushash

Parnad—father of current autarch, Sulepis, sometimes known as “the

Unsleeping”

Pedar Vansen—Ferras Vansen’s father

Pedder Makewell—actor, sponsor, of troop of players Pelaya—daughter of Count Perivos

Perin—sky god, called “Thane of Lightnings”

Perivos Akuanis, Count—steward of the Hierosoline citadel Petris Kopayis—famous Kracian siege tactician

Phelsas—Hierosoline philosopher, founder of School of Phelsas, postulator of Many Worlds idea

Pilney—a young player

Pinimmon Vash—Paramount Minister of Xis

Prusus—scotarch of Xis, sometimes called “Prusus the Cripple” Puzzle—court jester to the Eddon family

Pyarin Ky’vos—Skimmer name for Perin

Qar—race of nonhumans who once occupied much of Eion Qinnitan—an acolyte of the Hive in Xis, later a bride in the autarch’s

Seclusion

Quicklime Pewter, Highwarden—important Funderling of the Metal

House

Quicksilver—important Funderling family

Rabbit—a laundry worker

Rafe—Ena’s friend, Hull-Scraped-the-Sand clan

Red Stag—the Qar name for the god Honnos

Robben Hulligan—a musician, friend of Puzzle

Rooftoppers—little-known residents of Southmarch Castle Rorick Longarren, Earl of Daler’s Troth—an Eddon cousin of Brennish ancestry, related to Meriel

Rose Trelling—one of Briony’s ladies-in-waiting, a niece of Avin Brone Rud—a god, son of Zo and Sva, aka “Golden Arrow” Rugan—the high priestess of the Hive

Salamandros—one of Zosim’s holy names

Sanasu—widow of Kellick Eddon, known as “Weeping Queen” Saqri (of the Ancient Song)—queen of the People, Ynnir’s wife, aka

“The Sleeping Queen”

Sard Smaragdine, Highwarden—important Funderling of the Crystal

House

Sawamat—Xixian name for Great Mother, a goddess

Selia—Anissa’s maid, also from Devonis

Shaso dan-Heza—Southmarch master of arms

Shoshem—Xandian name for Zosim

Shusayem—Xandian name for Madi Surazem

Silas of Perikal—semilegendary knight

Sisel—Hierarch of Southmarch, chief religious figure in March Kingdoms

Sister (or “Sor”), Lyris—Pelaya’s tutor

Siveda—goddess of night

Skimmers—a people who make their living on and around water Soryaza—mistress of the laundry, former Hive acolyte Surigali—Xixian goddess

Suya—Xandian name for Zoria

Sveros—old god of the night sky, father of Trigon gods Talibo—Effir’s nephew

Tane, King—ancient Vuttish king known as Tane the White and T’chayan

Redhand

Tedora—Axamis Dorza’s Hierosoline wife

Teloni—Pelaya’s sister

Thallo—a Heiosoline queen from the imperial period Timoid, Father—Eddon family mantis (priest)

Tirnan, Havemore—Brone’s former factor, later castellan of Southmarch Travertine, Highwarden—important Funderling of Water Stone House Trigon—priesthoods of Perin, Erivor, and Kernios acting in concert Trigonarch—Head of Trigonate Church, chief religious figure in Eion Turley Longfingers—a Skimmer fisherman, Back-on-Sunset-Tide clan Twelve Families—governing body of old Hierosol

Twilight People—another name for the Qar

Tyne Aldritch, Earl of Blueshore—an ally of Southmarch, killed by Qar Ueni’ssoh—Jikuyin’s adviser, one of the Dreamless

Umdi Onajena—the Xixian name for Madi Onyena

Upsteeplebat, Queen—monarch of the Rooftoppers

Urekh—a god, wore wolf-armor

Urrigijag the Thousand-Eyed—Funderling name for Immon

Ustin—King Olin’s father

Utta—aka “Sister Utta” or “
Sor
Utta,” a priestess of Zoria and Briony’s tutor—full name: Utta Fornsdodir

Uvis White-Hand—a god, wounded by Kernios

Vanderin—a Syannese poet

Vermilion Cinnabar—wife of Quicksilver magister

Volios of the Measureless Grip—a son of Perin, god of war Waterman—a player

Whispering Mothers—a Qar tribe

White Daughter—a name for Zoria

Widowmakers—Jikuyin’s troop in ancient days

Willow—a young woman

Xarpedon—name of several autarchs of Xand

Xergal—Xandian name for Kernios

Ximander—a mantis, “writer” of a famous book

Xosh—Xandian name for Khors

Yaridoras—a Perikalese White Hound

Yarnos of the Snows—a god

Yasammez—Qar noblewoman, aka “Lady Porcupine” Yazi—a laundry girl from Ellamish border country

Yirrud—a god, son of Rud and Onyena

Yisti—Sanian metalworkers of Funderling blood

Ynnir the Blind King—lord of the Qar, “Ynnir din’at sen-Qin,

Guardian of the Fireflower, Lord of Winds and Thought,” aka “Son of the First Stone”

Zamira—Chaven’s sister

Zmeos—a god, Perin’s nemesis

Zoria—goddess of wisdom

Zosim—son of Erilo, god of playwrights and drunkards Zsan-san-sis—chieftain of the Children of the Emerald Glow

PLACES

Akaris—an island between Xand and Eion

Aldritch Stead—castle of Tyne Aldritch, late earl of Blueshore

Ardos Perinous—a mountain town in Syan

Badger’s Boots—a Southmarch inn

Basilisk Gate—main gate of Southmarch Castle

Blessed Lady of Night—a temple of Siveda, in Tessis

Brenland—small country south of the March Kingdoms

Brenn’s Bay—named after legendary hero

Cat’s Eye Street—a street in Xis

Chakki’s Hole—a district in the northestern corner of central Tessis Citadel Hill—small palatine hill of Hierosol

Coast Road—a road in Marrinswalk