Fortress of Dragons

  “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