Kings of the North - Elizabeth Moon [1]
About the Author
Dramatis Personae
Fox Company (was Kieri Phelan’s mercenary company)
Jandelir Arcolin, commander, Lord of the North Marches
Burek, junior captain of first cohort
Stammel, senior sergeant of first cohort
Devlin, junior sergeant of first cohort
Arñe, corporal of first cohort
Selfer, captain of second (short-sword) cohort
Tsaia: senior noble families
Mikeli Vostan Kieriel Mahieran, king of Tsaia
Camwyn, his younger brother
Sonder Mahieran, Duke Mahieran, king’s uncle
Beclan, a younger son and Duke Verrakia’s squire
Selis Marrakai, Duke Marrakai
Gwennothlin, his daughter and Duke Verrakai’s squire
Galyan Serrostin, Duke Serrostin
Daryan, youngest son and Duke Verrakai’s squire
Dorrin Verrakai, Duke Verrakai, formerly a senior captain in Phelan’s company, now Constable for kingdom
Oktar, new Marshal-Judicar of Tsaia (interprets Code of Gird for Tsaia)
Arianya, Marshal-General of Gird (commands entire Company of Gird)
Lyonya
Kieri Phelan, king, former mercenary commander and duke in Tsaia
Sier Halveric, Aliam Halveric’s older brother, vocal member of Council
Aliam Halveric, commands Halveric Company, Kieri Phelan’s mentor and friend
Estil Halveric, his wife
Garris, senior King’s Squire
Arian, half-elf King’s Squire
elves
Orlith, Kieri Phelan’s tutor in elven magic
Flessinathlin, the Lady of the Ladysforest, elven ruler of this elvenhome kingdom, Kieri’s grandmother
Dameroth, Arian’s father
Pargun
Torfinn, king
Elis, his daughter
Iolin, younger son
Einar, king’s brother, traitor
Aarenis
Jeddrin, Count of Andressat
Alured the Black, former pirate, self-styled Duke of Immer, taking new name “Visla Vaskronin”
Fenin Kavarthin, Arcolin’s banker in Valdaire
Adventurers
Arvid Semminson, Vérella Thieves’ Guild
Dattur, kteknik gnome and Arvid’s companion
Chaya, Midsummer Feast
Falkieri Artfielan Phelan, King of Lyonya, waited with barely concealed impatience for his grandmother, the elven queen of the Ladysforest, to appear for the Midsummer ritual. Under his bare feet, the moss of the King’s Grove felt cool and welcoming; the fragrance of the summer night, flowers that bloomed at no other time, filled his nostrils. Yet he could not take full pleasure in the soft breeze, the cool moss, the sweet scents. Where was she?
He had spent the entire short night on the central mound near the Oathstone, expecting the Lady to appear, but she had neither granted his request to come early nor sent a clear refusal. He had hoped to use this auspicious day to ask her once again for help with his continuing effort to reconcile the two peoples, elves and humans … but since his coronation she had come seldom, and never for long. The whole night she had been elsewhere, and not even his growing taig-sense could find the direction.
He looked again at the stars overhead; the ritual must begin when the Summerstar touched the oldest blackoak’s crown—and as he watched, the star slid that last short distance.
“Grandson,” the Lady said. “It is time.” She was there, where she had not been an instant before, and already she had begun the chant. No time now to remonstrate. He raised his arms high and sang as the sky brightened overhead. Across the Oathstone, she also sang, the two of them—so the tradition went—singing the sun over its midsummer peak. The Lady’s hands drew patterns in the air, coils of silvery light, a net to capture the first rays of the sun’s gold.
Kieri suspected she would withdraw into her elvenhome kingdom as soon as it was done, but as her enchantment wrapped around him, his irritation subsided. Her song, her power, held him fast. His mind soared: he knew he was in the place he belonged, performing the rituals he needed to perform. The taig responded to both of them; he felt it in his whole body, a tingling awareness of life that both nourished him and needed him. This was how it should be. But the dawn song and the Lady left him at the same time; her enchantment no longer clouded his awareness, and his resentment