Braster – King of Helveth, wounded in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.
Lothar – battlechief of Helveth.
Ventos – a travelling merchant-trader.
ISILTIR
Eboric – warrior, Gerda’s huntsman.
Gerda – estranged wife of King Romar, lady of Dun Kellen, mother of Haelan.
Gramm – horse-trader and timber merchant, lord of a hold in the north of Isiltir. Father of Orgull and Wulf.
Jael – warrior of Isiltir, nephew of King Romar and cousin of Kastell. Allied to Nathair of Tenebral.
Kastell – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai. Nephew of King Romar and cousin of Jael.
Maquin – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai, shieldman of Kastell.
Orgull – warrior of Isiltir, captain of the elite Gadrai. Son of Gramm.
Romar – King of Isiltir, slain in the battle against the Hunen at Haldis.
Tahir – warrior of Isiltir and the elite Gadrai.
Thoris – warrior, battlechief of Gerda at Dun Kellen.
Ulfilas – warrior, shieldman of Jael.
Varick – Lord of Dun Kellen, brother of Gerda and uncle of Haelan.
Wulf – warrior, son of Gramm and brother of Orgull.
NARVON
Camlin – outlaw of the Darkwood. Recently allied to King Brenin and Edana of Ardan.
Drust – warrior, shieldman of Owain.
Owain – King of Narvon. Conqueror of Ardan with the aid of Nathair, King of Tenebral.
Uthan – Prince of Narvon, Owain’s son. Murdered by Evnis on Rhin’s orders.
TARBESH
Akar – captain of the Jehar holy warrior order travelling with Veradis.
Enkara – warrior of the Jehar holy order. One of the Hundred travelling with Tukul.
Javed – slave and pit-fighter of the Vin Thalun.
Sumur – lord of the Jehar holy warrior order.
Tukul – warrior of the Jehar holy order, leader of the Hundred.
TENEBRAL
Aquilus – murdered King of Tenebral.
Armatus – warrior, former first-sword of King Aquilus.
Bos – warrior of the eagle-guard and expert in the shield wall, friend of Veradis.
Ektor – son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Krelis and Veradis.
Fidele – widow of Aquilus, now Queen Regent of Tenebral, mother of Nathair.
Krelis – warrior, son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Veradis.
Lamar – Baron of Ripa, father of Krelis, Ektor and Veradis.
Marcellin – Baron of Ultas.
Meical – counsellor to Aquilus, King of Tenebral.
Nathair – King of Tenebral, son of Aquilus and Fidele. In league with Queen Rhin of Cambren.
Orcus – warrior of the eagle-guard, shieldman of Fidele.
Peritus – battlechief of Tenebral.
Rauca – warrior, a captain of the eagle-guard and friend of Veradis. Slain by Gar in the sack of Dun Carreg.
Veradis – first-sword and friend to King Nathair. Son of Lamar of Ripa and brother of Ektor and Krelis.
THE THREE ISLANDS
Alazon – shipwright.
Calidus – spymaster of Lykos, Lord of the Vin Thalun, and later counsellor to Nathair, King of Tenebral.
Deinon – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Thaan.
Emad – shieldman of Herak. Guard and trainer of pit-fighters.
Herak – pit-trainer.
Jace – member of Lykos’ ship’s crew.
Lykos – Lord of the Vin Thalun, the pirate nation that inhabits the Three Islands of Panos, Pelset and Nerin.
Thaan – warrior, shieldman of Lykos and brother of Deinon.
War eternal between the Faithful and the Fallen, infinite wrath come to the world of men.
Lightbearer seeking flesh from the cauldron, to break his chains and wage the war again.
Two born of blood, dust and ashes shall champion the Choices, the Darkness and Light.
Black Sun will drown the earth in bloodshed, Bright Star with the Treasures must unite.
By their names you shall know them –
Kin-Slayer, Kin-Avenger, Giant-Friend, Draig-Rider, Dark Power ’gainst Lightbringer.
One shall be the Tide, one the Rock in the swirling sea.
Before one, storm and shield shall stand, before the other, True-Heart and Black-Heart.
Beside one rides the Beloved, beside the other, the Avenging Hand.
Behind one, the Sons of the Mighty, the fair Ben-Elim, gathered ’neath the Great Tree.
Behind the other, the Unholy, dread Kadoshim who seek to cross the bridge, force the world to bended knee.
Look for them when the high king calls, when the shadow warriors ride forth, when white-walled Telassar is emptied, when the book is found in the north.
When the white wyrms spread from their nest, when the Firstborn take back what was lost, and the Treasures stir from their rest.
Both earth and sky shall cry warning, shall herald this War of Sorrows.
Tears of blood spilt from the earth’s bones, and at Midwinter’s height, bright day shall become full night.
CHAPTER ONE
UTHAS
The Year 1142 of the Age of Exiles, Birth Moon