Window Wall (55 page)

“If only she knew what is in her own bloodlines, that we have reclaimed for your children.”

“And won’t it be interesting to see how those bloodlines play out! Do you need a hand, or can you stand up on your own?”

“Your Grace, I have never been so drunk that I could not preside over a ceremony of any kind—especially of
this
kind.”

(most of them, anyway)

Bellgloss, Master
purveyor of thorn

Blackpath

Alaen
lutenist

Briuly
Alaen’s cousin; lutenist

Bowbender

Airilie
Jeska’s daughter

Jeschenar
masquer, Touchstone

Challender, Mirko
tregetour, Crystal Sparks

Coldkettle, Lord
Prince Ashgar’s private secretary

Crowkeeper, Herris
fettler, Black Lightning

Czillag

Chattim
glisker, the Shadowshapers

Deshenanda
his wife

Daggering, Lederris
masquer, Crystal Sparks

Eastkeeping

Lord Kelinn
Vrennerie’s husband

Lady Vrennerie
lady-in-waiting to Princess Miriuzca

Emmot
Sagemaster; Cade’s teacher, now retired

Fairwalk, Lord Kearney
Touchstone’s manager

Fluter, Tobalt
reporter,
The Nayword

Goldbraider, Vered
tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers

Grainer

Chirene
Sakary’s wife

Sakary
fettler, the Shadowshapers

Henick, Cyed
Archduke

Panshilara
his wife, the Archduchess

Highcollar

Lord Isshak
Lady Jaspiela’s father

Lady Kiritin
Lady Jaspiela’s mother; born Blackswan

Kevelock, Rauel
tregetour and masquer, the Shadowshapers

Knottinger, Thierin
tregetour, Black Lightning

Longbranch, Trenal
tregetour, Hawk’s Claw

Mistress Caitiffer
Mieka’s mother-in-law

Mistress Gesha
Trollwife at Shellery House

Mistress Luta
Trollwife in Seekhaven

Mistress Mirdley
Trollwife at Redpebble Square

Mistress Tola
Trollwife; friend of Mistress Mirdley’s

Mistress Wingdove
innkeeper in Lilyleaf; “Croodle”

Needler, Romuald
the Shadowshapers’ manager

Oakapple, Lord
distant cousin of the Blackpaths

Piercehand, Lord Rolon
owner of Castle Eyot; compulsive collector

Robel
Yazz’s wife; part Giant

Seamark, Kaj
masquer, Black Lightning

Silversun

Cadriel
Zekien’s father; Master Fettler

Cayden
tregetour, Touchstone

Derien
Cade’s younger brother

Lady Jaspiela
Cade and Dery’s mother; born Highcollar

Zekien
their father

Spangler, Pirro
glisker, Black Lightning

Staindrop, Brishen
Mishia’s sister

Tawnymoor, Lord
Princess Iamina’s husband

Threadchaser

Crisiant
Rafe’s wife; born Bramblecotte

Rafcadion
fettler, Touchstone

Mistress
Rafe’s mother

Master
Rafe’s father; baker

Warringheath, Master
owner of the Kiral Kellari

Windthistle

Barsabias
Hadden’s great-uncle; “Uncle Breedbate”

Blye
Jed’s wife; born Cindercliff; glasscrafter

Cilka
Mieka’s sister

Hadden
Mieka’s father

Jedris
Jez’s twin brother

Jezael
Mieka’s brother

Jinsie
Mieka’s twin sister

Jindra
Mieka’s daughter

Jorie
Tavier’s twin sister

Mieka
glisker, Touchstone

Mishia
Mieka’s mother; born Staindrop

Mistress Windthistle
Mieka’s wife; born Caitiffer

Petrinka
Cilka’s twin sister

Sharadel
Hadden’s great-grandmother; born Snowminder

Tavier
Mieka’s youngest brother

Yazz
Touchstone’s coachman; part Giant

Ashgar
Prince; heir to the throne

Iamina
Princess; King Meredan’s younger sister

Meredan
King of Albeyn

Miriuzca
Princess; Ashgar’s wife

Roshien
Queen of Albeyn

aflunters
in a state of disorder; discombobulated

agroof
flat on your face

backspang
a tricky evasion

blodder
to flow with a gurgling sound

bonce
head

brach
a hound bitch

breedbate
someone who likes to start arguments or stir up quarrels

bully-rook
a bragging cheater

caitiff
witch

carkanet
necklace

chavish
the sound of many birds chirping or singing at once; the sound of many people chattering at once

clinquant
glittering

clumperton
clownish, clumsy lout

cogger
false flatterer; charming trickster

Consecreations, the
consecrate
collided with
creation;
the local holy book

crambazzle
worn-out, dissipated old man

cullion
rude, disagreeable, mean-spirited person

fliting
an exchange of invective, abuse, or mockery, especially one in verse set forth between two poets

frustle
to shake out and exhibit plumage

giddiot
“giddy” and “idiot”

ginnel
a narrow passage between buildings

glunsh
to devour food in hasty, noisy gulps; by extension, a glutton

grinagog
person with a stupid, gaping grin

grouk
become gradually enlivened after waking up

hindering
a warding put on an individual’s magic so it cannot be used

kagged
mutilated Elfen ears

naffter
stupid person

pantomancer
person who sees omens in all events

pillicock
idiot

poofter
silly, effeminate man

quakebuttock
(aw, come on—isn’t it obvious?)

quat
a pimple; used in contempt of a person

quod
jail

quoob
eccentric fool

stitch up
frame

tiring room
from
retire;
a private chamber

yark
vomit

M
elanie Rawn is the author of the bestselling Dragon Prince trilogy and of the Dragon Star trilogy. She graduated from Scripps College with a BA in history, and has worked as a teacher and editor. Rawn lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Everyone knows Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world’s preeminent dragon naturalist. Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, prospects, and her life to satisfy scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the mountains of Vystrana, where she made discoveries that would change the world…

A Natural History of Dragons
The Tropic of Serpents
Voyage of the Basilisk

“Her Ladyship is a determined and canny woman in search of dragons—I wholeheartedly approve!”
Melanie Rawn

“Fans of fantasy, science, and history will adore this rich and absorbing tale of discovery.”
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

Follow Magpie, Bear, Lena and friends as they face their demons and find their true strength on the road to becoming full Heralds, Bards and Healers of Valdemar.

Book One: Foundation
Book Two: Intrigues
Book Three: Changes
Book Four: Redoubt
Book Five: Bastion

“Lackey makes a real page-turner out of Mags’ and the collegia’s development… this book’s outstanding characters, especially Mags, will greatly please Valdemar fans.”
Booklist

“The tone, characterization, and rampant angst recall Lackey’s earliest Valdemar books… this is a worthy entry in the overall saga.”
Publishers Weekly

“Lackey’s Valdermar series is already a fantasy classic, and these newest adventures will generate even more acclaim for this fantasy superstar.”
Romantic Times

Mercedes Lackey’s bestselling fantasy series set in an alternative Edwardian Britain, where magic is real—and the Elemental Masters are in control.

The Serpent’s Shadow
The Gates of Sleep
Phoenix and Ashes
Wizard of London
Reserved for the Cat
Unnatural Issue
Home from the Sea
Steadfast
Blood Red

“Fantastic… this is Lackey at her best.”
Publishers Weekly

“Intriguing and compelling.”
Library Journal

“Colourful characters… great fun.”
Booklist

“Innovative historical fantasy.”
Romantic Times

In these classic coming-of-age fantasy omnibuses, spellbinding storyteller Mercedes Lackey chronicles the history of the magical kingdom of Valdemar.

The Heralds of Valdemar
Arrows of the Queen, Arrow’s Flight & Arrow’s Fall

The Mage Winds
Winds of Fate, Winds of Change & Winds of Fury

The Mage Storms
Storm Warning, Storm Rising & Storm Breaking

“She’ll keep you up long past your bedtime.”
Stephen King

“Lackey’s storytelling is impossible to resist.”
The British Fantasy Society

“Lackey is a spellbinding storyteller who keeps your heart in your mouth as she spins her intricate webs of magical adventure.”
Rave Reviews

The Empire has declared war on the were-ruled kingdom of Aydori, capturing five women of the Mage-Pack, including the wife of the Pack-leader. With the Pack off defending the border, it falls to Mirian Maylin and Tomas Hagen—she a low-level mage, he younger brother to the Pack-leader—to save them. But with every step into enemy territory, the odds against their survival grow steeper…