Age of Swords (The Legends of the First Empire #2)

Avrlyn: “Land of Green,” the Fhrey frontier bordered on the north by Hentlyn, and by Belgreig to the south. Avrlyn is separated from Rhulyn by the east and south branches of the Bern River.

Balgargarath: A creature residing in Neith who prevents the Dherg people from returning to their home city.

Battle of Grandford: The first official battle in the war between the Rhunes and Fhrey.

Battle of Mador: During the Belgric War, the battle between the Fhrey and Dherg when Fenelyus first used the Art, crushing the Tenth and Twelfth Dherg legions under a pile of rock that subsequently formed Mount Mador. The battle turned the tide of the war by stopping the Dherg advance.

Belgreig: The continent to the far south of Elan where the Dherg people reside.

Belgriclungreians: The term Dherg use to refer to themselves and their kind in the years after settling in Belgreig.

Belgric War: A war between the Fhrey and Dherg. Also referred to as the Dherg War and the War of Elven Aggression.

Bern: A river that runs north–south and delineates the border between Rhulyn and Avrlyn. Rhunes are forbidden from crossing to the west side of this river.

Black bronze: A metal alloy whose recipe—known only to the Dherg—utilizes gold, silver, and copper. It’s especially important in the making of sculptures.

Blue Sea: The body of water due south of the known lands and east of Belgreig. It’s believed by some to be endless; others think it marks the boundary where the world ends.

Book of Brin: The first known written work chronicling the history of the Rhune people. It dates back to the time of the first war between the Rhunes and Fhrey.

Breckon mor: The feminine version of the leigh mor. A versatile piece of patterned cloth that can be wrapped in a number of ways.

Brin (Rhune, Rhen): The daughter of Sarah and Delwin, Keeper of Ways for Dahl Rhen, and author of the famed Book of Brin.

Brown, The: Known as Grin the Brown by Tura and Suri. A ferocious bear who terrorized residents of Dahl Rhen. She was responsible for the deaths of many residents, including Mahn, Persephone and Reglan’s eldest son; and Maeve, the dahl’s Keeper of Ways. The beast was eventually killed by Persephone.

Caratacus (Fhrey): The sage adviser who brought Ferrol’s horn to the first fane, Gylindora Fane. Creator of the Forest Throne.

Carding: The step that comes between shearing and spinning wool. Combs are used to detangle, clean, and intermix fibers, turning them into a continuous aligned web.

Carfreign Arena: A large open-air field in Estramnadon where contests and spectacles are held. It was there that Lothian defeated Zephyron in a particularly gruesome Uli Vermar challenge.

Caric: The Dherg port city across the straits of the Blue Sea from the Rhune village of Vernes. It was built just outside Neith, the Dherg home city.

Cenzlyor: In the Fhrey language, the term means “swift of mind.” A title of endearment bestowed by Fane Fenelyus upon Arion, indicating her proficiency in the Art.

Clempton: A small village of Dureya, home of Raithe (the God Killer).

Cleve: A simple and practical type of short sword, favored by the Instarya tribe of the Fhrey.

Cobb (Rhune, Rhen): A pig farmer and gatekeeper in Dahl Rhen.

Conservator of the Aquila: The keeper of the Horn of Gylindora and, along with the Curator, one of the two Fhrey most responsible for administering the process of succession. The Conservator is also responsible for picking a new Curator when needed.

Coppersword: A moniker for Herkimer (Raithe’s father). It was bestowed upon him by his enemy, the Gula-Rhunes, because of the unusual weapon he wielded.

Council of Tirre: A meeting called by Persephone to bring all the Rhulyn clan leaders together with the purpose of appointing a keenig to rule over all the Rhunes and lead the battle against the Fhrey.

Crescent Forest: A large forest that forms a half circle around Dahl Rhen.

Crimbal: A fairy creature that lives in the land of Nog. Crimbals travel to the world of Elan through doors in the trunks of trees. They are known to steal children.

Cul: A Rhunic profanity often used for a despicable person.

Curator: The vice fane who presides over the six councilors of the Aquila, elected by a vote of senior members. The Curator leads meetings of the Aquila in the absence of the fane, and chairs the Challenge Council, which decides who gets the right to blow the Horn of Gylindora. Together, the Conservator and the Curator are the Fhrey most responsible for determining the succession of power and administering the Uli Vermar challenge process.

Dahl (hill or mound): A Rhune settlement that is the capital city of a given clan and is characterized by its position on top of a man-made hill. Dahls are usually surrounded by some form of wall or fortification. Each has a central lodge where the clan’s chieftain lives, along with a series of roundhouses that provide shelter for the other villagers.

Deep Shaft: The passage in Neith that leads to the bottom of the city.

Delwin (Rhune, Rhen): A sheep farmer; husband of Sarah, father of Brin.

Dherg: One of the five humanoid races of Elan. Skilled craftsmen, they have been all but banned from most places except Belgreig. They are exceptional builders and weaponsmiths. The name is a pejorative Fhrey word meaning “vile mole.” The Dherg refer to themselves as Belgriclungreians.

Didan (Rhune, Dureya): One of Raithe’s brothers.

Door, the: A portal in the Garden of Estramnadon that legend holds is the gateway to where the First Tree grows.

Drome: The god of the Dherg.

Drumindor: A Dherg-built fortress located on an active volcano at the entrance to a large strategic bay on the Blue Sea. Two massive towers provide protection from any invasion by sea.

Dunn: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Erling and Strom.

Dureya: A barren highland in the north of Rhulyn, home to the Rhune clan of the same name. The entire region and all but two of the clan members were destroyed by Fhrey Instarya. Before their destruction, they were the most powerful warrior clan of the Rhulyn-Rhunes.

Dwarfs: Any flora or fauna of diminutive stature (as in dwarf wheat or dwarf rabbits). Also, the name Persephone gives to Belgriclungreians, as it is easier to pronounce than Belgriclungreians and not taken as an insult as Dherg is.

East Puddle: The less affluent area of the Rhen settlement in Tirre.

Eilywin: Fhrey architects and craftsmen who design and create buildings.

Elan: The Grand Mother of All. God of the land.

Elf: The Fhrey word for “nightmare” and a derogatory term used by the Dherg to insult the Fhrey people.

Eraphus: The sea god of Dahl Tirre.

Eres (Fhrey, Instarya): A member of Nyphron’s Galantians. His main prowess is with spears and javelins.

Erivan: Homeland of the Fhrey.

Erling: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Dunn and Strom.

Esbol Berg: The massive towers and gate at the entrance of Neith.

Estramnadon: The capital city of the Fhrey, located in the forests of Erivan.