“What should I do?” Cefwyn repeated. “If you have any notion, crow, out with it.”
“Demand,” Idrys said. “Impose. Insist, my lord king. You owe the kingdom that.”
“The kingdom.” The ache had settled hard into his body. Even drawing a deep breath hurt, and he swept a glance about him, at those who had been faithful, whatever their reasons…some even for love of him. He looked at that, rather than the betrayals, but not wholly successfully. “He has the knack of gaining love. That’s to envy.”
“My lord king has those who love him.”
He glanced at Idrys, catching something perhaps by surprise. He did not know why, after all else, he was embarrassed to catch Idrys thus unaware. But he pretended to have looked elsewhere, for both their sakes, and folded his arms. “Horses.”
“My lord king,” Idrys said, and relayed the order to a page, who called a groom, who called his assistants, for where the king of Ylesuin went was no small number.
Riven trees marked the battle in the elements, a trail of splintered trunks and wrecked limbs, bright wood through the leafless forest; so Tristen saw as they rode. The limbs were bare as those in Marna’s depths, where the wood wound around the end of the ridge.
But there color bloomed, the bright red Marhanen banner, and the Tower and Checker of the Lady Regent, and so they came within sight one of the other.
Tristen set Dys to a faster pace, and rode ahead of his banners and those who chased after him; so did the king of Ylesuin, and they met under the afternoon shadow of the ridge, slid down from their horses and embraced as friends too long parted.
“High King, is it?” Cefwyn asked, setting Tristen at arm’s length.
And it was a question Tristen had to answer, but not in few words.
Ninévrisë had come with Emuin: he knew that while he rode. It was brave of them, but arrive they had, by the old mews, and Tarien with them, for Ninévrisë would not leave Tarien or the baby behind in Henas’amef. There was one Aswydd who ruled there, and it was neither of them.
“Emuin’s come,” Tristen did say. “And Her Grace. Not by the road, by the old mews. And Crissand’s the aetheling, which I don’t want to be.”
“What do you wish?” Cefwyn asked him, and he knew the seriousness of that question, as he knew the significance of the banner he could not set aside.
“To ride with my friends and see the summer again,” he said, which was indeed the best thing in the world to him. In the gray space Emuin might say the banner had to fly, and Owl was surly and insistent, winging constantly toward Ynefel, but he was determined not to stay there, nor at Althalen, where the frail wooden tower still stood.
“Come to Ilefínian,” he asked Cefwyn. “Owl wants me to come with him, but I won’t, yet. There are things I don’t know yet. There are things I haven’t seen.” A crown and the duties of a king were not at all within his longing: rather escape from both was what he plotted, escape for him, and the freedom of the kingdoms and the kings and lords to live in peace. A king over all could be a king in name, but the rulers of the lands had to live there.
A bough had broken its buds, the least small hint of gold and green, recalling whole forests that sighed and moved with the breezes.
Spring and promises: everything was new and old at once. Tristen saw it with wonder and saw the pledge of the summer to come, green grass and gentle winds.
A child danced before them, as they rode back to Ilefínian. Cefwyn and Uwen neither one could see her, but Tristen and Crissand did.
LEXICON
Concordance for the Fortress Books
YLESUIN
AMEFEL—southern province;
banner: black Eagle on red field
Royalty / Lords
Aswydd Household
HERYN ASWYDD—Duke of Amefel, the aetheling
His twin sisters:
ORIEN ASWYDD—Duchess of Amefel;
TARIEN ASWYDD—Secondborn
THEWYDD—Heryn Aswydd’s man
Tristen’s Household
TRISTEN—Marshal of Althalen, Lord Warden of Ynefel
UWEN—Lewen’s-son, Tristen’s man, sergeant of Cefwyn’s Dragon Guard, captain of Tristen’s guard
Tristen’s Guard
LUSIN—Captain of Tristen’s bodyguard
SYLLAN—one of Tristen’s guards
ARAN—one of Tristen’s guards
TAWWYS—one of Tristen’s guards
ASWYS—groom
CASSAM, CASS—Uwen’s warhorse, bow-nosed, blue roan gelding
DYS, DYSARYS—Tristen’s warhose, black, full brother to Aryny and Kanwy
GERY—Tristen’s light horse, red mare
GIA—Uwen’s light horse, bay mare
LISS—Uwen’s horse, chestnut mare
PETELLY—Tristen’s cross-country horse, a bay of no breeding
Amefin Earls and Their Households
EDWYLL ADIRAN—earl of Meiden, remotely related to Aswydds; banner: gold sun
CRISSAND ADIRAN—son of and successor to Edwyll
AZANT—lord of Dor Elen province, which borders the ver orchard district
A daughter: widowed twice, once when married only seven days
BRESTANDIN—Amefin earl
CEDRIG—elderly Amefin earl living in retirement, owner of room Tristen lodges in, then where Ninévrisë lodges in Henas’samef
CIVAS—Amefin earl
CUTHAN—earl of Bryn, distant relative of Aswydds
DRUMMAN—lord of Baradden, youngest of earls except for Crissand; his elder sister is Edwyll’s wife, Crissand’s mother
DRUSALLYN—elderly lord, married local gentry in Amefel
DRUSENAN—earl of Bryn, successor to Cuthan; wife: Ynesyne, an Elwynim
DURELL—Amefin earl
EDRACHT—Amefin earl
ESRYDD—Amefin earl
LUND—Amefin earl
MARMASCHEN—Amefin earl
MORIDEDD—Amefin earl
MURRAS—Amefin earl
PRUSHAN—Amefin earl
PURELL—Amefin earl
TARAS—earl of Bru Marden
ZERESHADD—Amefin earl
Other Persons
Clergy / Clerics
CADELL—Bryaltine abbot in Henas’amef
FAISETH—Bryaltine nun
EMUIN UDAMAN—wizard/tutor/priest, Teranthine, tutored Cefwyn and Efanor
DEL’REZAN—Bryaltine nun
PACHYLL—priest, Teranthine patriarch in Henas’samef
Military
COSSUN—armorer
ENNYN—Guelen Guard second in Command
GEDD—sergeant in Tristen’s guard
AMAN—gate-guard
NEDRAS—gate-guard
NESS—gate-guard
SELMWY—cousin of Ness at town gate
WYNEDD—Guelen Guard commander
Minor Officials
TASSAND—started as Cefwun’s servant, now Tristen’s chief of household
HAMAN—stablemaster at Henas’samef
Local Gentry
ARDWYS—thane of Sagany, leader of the peasant contingent from Sagany and Pacewys
Miscellaneous
AULD SYES— witch, in Emwyn village, near Althalen
PAISI—street urchin
SEDDIWY—Shadow, Auld Syes’s child
WYDNIN—former junior archivist
Places, Titles, et cetera
AETHELING, ATHELING—title, used instead of king in Amefel; royal in their province
ALTHALEN—old Sihhë capita, where last of Sihhë died, now Tristen’s in ruins, banner is silver Star and Tower on black
AMEFIN—of Amefel province
ANAS MALLORN—Amefin village, on riverside
ARDENBROOK—brook after Maudbrook on way to Henas’amef
ARREYBURN—camping spot of Emuin on the way back to Henas’amef from retreat
AVERYNE CROSSING—crossing to Guelessar from Amefel on the way out of Henas’samef
ARYS—district/town, Arys Emwy
, Emwy village: destroyed when Ináreddrin was killed; district contains Althalen and Lewen field
ARYS BRIDGE—bridge near Emwy to west,where Elwynor rebels could enter Amefel
ARYS DISTRICT—near Heans’amef, contains villages of Emwy and Malitarin
ASFIAD—old name for Aswyth
ASMADDION—place in the province
ASSURN FORD—river border of the province
ASSURNBROOK—river
ASWYDD, ASWYDDS—surname, Heryn’s house, also Orien’s, Tarien’s; there is Sihhë blood in this line
ASWYDDIN—of the Aswydds
ASWYTH—a village
ATHEL—Amefin district bordering Mediden’s land
BARADDAN—Drumman’s district, contains orchards
BRU MARDAN—Taras district
BRYN—Cuthan’s estate
CEYL, TRYS—TRYS CEYL—Amefin village south of Henas’samef
DOR ELEN—Anzant’s district, orchard district
DRUN, TRYS DRUN—next to Trys Ceyl, village south of Henas’amef
EALDORMAN, EALDORMEN—council of Henas’amef
EDLINNADD—old name for Ellinan
ELLINAN—a village
EMWY—village/district, see: Arys, Arys Emwy, Emwy village
EMWYSBROOK—brook near Emwy
FOREST OF AMEFEL—near Althalen
GRAYFROCK, GRAYROBE—nickname for Emuin
HAWWYVALE—village
HEN AMAS—old name for Henas’amef
HENAS’AMEF—capital of the province
KATHSEIDE—old name of Zeide, fortress in Henas’amef
LEVEY—Amefin village, part orchard, part pastrurage for flocks
LEWEN—brook giving its name to area of battle
LEWEN FIELD, LEWEN PLAIN—near Althalen, battlefield where Hausfin was destroyed
LEWENBROOK—brook
LEWENFORD—area of battle, see Lewen field
LEWENSIDE—area of battle, see Lewen field
LYSALIN—Amefin village
MALDY VILLAGE—Amefin village with crossing to Elwynor
MALITARIN—Amefin village two hours from Henas’samef
MALLORN, ANAS, ANAS MALLORN—Amefin village on riverside
MARGREIS—ruined village, haunt of outlaws, near Emwy
MARNA, MARNA WOOD—haunted forest
MARSHAL OF ALTHALEN—Tristen’s title, bestowed by Cefwyn
MASSITBROOK—camping spot on way to Lewen field for Cefwyn and troops
MASTER GRAYROBE, GRAYFROCK—nickname, refers to Emuin, wizard/tutor/priest, Teranthine
MAUDBROOK—on the way to Henas’amef
MAUDBROOK BRIDGE—bridge on the way to Henas’amef
MEIDEN—sheep district; banner: blue with gold sun
PACEWYS—Amefin village, sent troops to Lewen field, commanded by Lord Ardwys, thane of Sagany
PADYS SPRING—one hour south of Henas’amef, once called Batherys
RAGISAR—Amefin village
RAVEN’S KNOB—past Emwy on way to Lewen field, Lewenbrook near Althalen
SAGANY—Amefin village on way to Althalen and Lewen field, sent troop to Lewen field commanded by Lord Ardwys, thane of Sagany
SAGANY ROAD—on way to Althalen and Lewen field
TAS ADEN—town in Meiden
TRYS, TRYS CEYL—Amefin town near Trys Drun
ZEIDE—shortened name for Kathseide fortress in Henas’amef
CARYS—northern province
GUELESSAR—north-central province; banner: quartered, gold Dragon on red, gold Quinalt sigil on black
Royalty
SELWYN MARHANEN—Cefwyn’s grandfather, king of Ylesuin; banner: gold dragon on red
INÁREDDRIN MARHANEN—king of Ylesuin, father of Cefwyn and Efanor
CEFWYN MARHANEN—third king of the Marhanen dynasty, brother of Efanor
IDRYS—Lord Commander of the Dragon Guard
ANNAS—Cefwyn’s chief of household in both Amefel and Guelessar. Later Lord Chamberlain
LASIEN—senior page at Henas’amef
EFANOR MARHANEN—His Royal Highness, Duke of Guelessar, Prince of Ylesuin
GWYWYN—soldier, Ináreddrin’s captain at Althalen, made captain of Efanor’s guard at Guelemara
Lesser Royalty / Household
ALWY—Ninévrisë’s maid and one of Cefwyn’s former lovers
BRYSAULIN—Lord Chancellor after Cefwyn is crowned
CRESSEN—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers
FISYLLE—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers
TRALLYNDE—Lady, one of Cefwyn’s former lovers
PARSYNAN—Guelen gentry, Cefwyn’s viceroy at Amefel until Tristen’s appointment as lord of Amefel
Horses
ARYNY—heavy, warhorse, full sister to Dys and Kanwy
DANVY—Cefwyn’s light horse
DRUGYN—Idrys’ warhorse, black stablemate of Cass, Kanwy, and Dys
KANWY—Cefwyn’s warhorse, black
SYNANNA—blaze-faced black, usually Efanor’s horse
Clergy/Clerics
PATRIARCH—priest, absolute head of Quinalt sect
JORMYS—Quinaltine priest, serves Efanor
BENWYN—Bryalt sect, assigned as Ninévrisë’s priest
BAREN—Quinaltine doctrinist
NEISWYN—doctrinist among the Quinaltines
UDRYN—Quinaltine doctrinist
Military
ANWYLL—captain of the guard, assigned to Amefel under Uwen
KERDIN QWYLL’S-SON—Kerdin, second-in-command under Idrys, captain of Guelen Guard, died at Lewen field
ESSAN—captain of Guelen Guard in Guelessar
ANDAS—soldier, eleven years in Dragon Guard; Andas’ son, Tristen’s banner-bearer, was killed at Lewen field
BROGI—soldier
BRYS—soldier in Anwyll’s company
COSSELL—soldier in Anwyll’s company
HAWITH—soldier killed at Emwy, one of Cefwyn’s men
JEONY—soldier, killed at Emwy
LEFHWYN—soldier, rode with Cefwyn at Emwy
NYDAS—soldier, rode with Cefwyn at Emwy
PELANNY—soldier, Guelen scout, presumed dead or taken by Aseynéddin at Lewen field
PEYGAN—armorer for Cefwyn at Henas’amef, old friend of Uwen’s, married to Margolis
PRYAS—King Cefwyn’s messenger
Minor officials / Household
MARGOLIS—wife of Peygan the armorer. One of Ninévrisë’s ladies
MESINIS—slightly deaf clerk
TAMURIN—Cefwyn’s accountant
Other Persons
ROSYN—Cefwyn’s tailor in both Henas’amef and Guelemara
Places, Titles, et cetera
AMYNYS—river, old boundary of Guelemara
AN’S-FORD—town, on road between Guelemara and Henas’amef
ANWYFAR—Teranthine retreat near Arreyburn
BLUE HALL—place, in Guelemara, in palace
CLUSYN, CLUSYN MONASTERY—Quinaltine religious house in Guelessar
CRESSITBROOK—town near Guelemara
CROWN WALL—Guelenfort’s official limit
DARY—Guelen village at first ring road outside Guelemara
DRYSHAM—Guelen village
DURY—Guelen village
GUELEN—of Guelessar
GUELENFOLK—people of Guelessar
GUELENISH—of Guelessar
GUELENMEN—people of Guelessar
GUELESFORT—citadel in Guelemara
GUELEMARA—capital of Guelessar; banner: red with gold Castle
HIS HIGHNESS—Efanor
HOLY FATHER, HIS HOLINESS—title, highest Patriarch in Quinalt sect
LYN—soldier, messenger sent from Tristen to Idrys with Ryssand’s treasonous letter
MARHANEN—surname, Cefwyn’s house: Gold Dragon, surname of Cefwyn, Selwyn, Efanor, Ináreddrin
MASTER CROW, RAVEN—nickname, refers to Idrys
RED CHRONICLE—Marhanen history book
“THE MERRY LASS FROM E
LDERMAY”—country song played at Cefwyn’s harvesttide festival
WYS-ON-WYETLAN—Guelen village
IMOR—southern province; banner: Wheel
Ruler
UMANON—lord of Imor Lenúalim, Quinaltine
Places, Titles, et cetera
HEDYRIN—river south of Imor
IMORIM—of Imor
ISIN—northern province
IVANOR—southern province; banner: White Horse
Ruler
CEVULIRN—lord of Ivanor, southern baron, Teranthine
GEISLEYN—Cevulirn’s man, captain of light horse, from Toj Embrel, Ivanim
ERION NETHA—friend of Cevulirn, Lord of Tas Arin in Ivanor, wounded at Lewen field
Places, Titles, et cetera
CRYSIN—horse breed of Ivanim
EMBREL, TOJ—Toj Embrel, Cevulirn’s summer palace
IVANIM—of Ivanor
IVOR—district
IVORIM—of Ivor
TAS ARIN—town
TOJ EMBREL—Toj Embrel, Cevulirn’s summer palace
LANFARNESSE—southern province; banner: Heron
Ruler
PELUMER—duke of Lanfarnesse
FELEYN, FELEYN’s—a Lanfarnesseman
Places, Titles, et cetera
LANFARNESSEMEN—people of Lanfarnesse
LLYMARIN—central province; banner: Red Rose on green background
Ruler
SULRIGGAN—lord of Llymarin, cousin to the Quinaltine Patriarch
EDWYN—nephew of Sulriggan, attends Efanor
Places, Titles, et cetera
LLYMARISH—of Llymarin
MARISAL—southern province; banner: gold Sheaf with bend and crescent