Alfar Axeblade

Sothoii armsman/horse herder from the holding of Warm Springs.

Balcartha Evahnalfressa

Commander of Five Hundred; the senior officer of the Kalatha town guard.

Brother Relath

an acolyte in the Balthar Temple of Tomanak.

Cassan Axehammer

Baron Toramos, Lord Warden of the South Riding. Baron Tellian’s most powerful political enemy, and someone who does not believe that it is possible or desirable to coexist with hradani.

Cathman the Peddler

an alias of Varnaythus.

Dahlaha Farrier

Triahm Pickaxe’s mistress and a worshiper of Shigu.

Dalthys Hallafressa

the town administrator of Kalatha.

Darhal Pickaxe

previous Lord Warden of Lorham. Trisu Pickaxe’s deceased father.

Darnas Warshoe

a trusted spy and agent of Baron Cassan.

Dathgar

Baron Tellian’s bonded courser. The name means “Thunder Grass.”

Edinghas Bardiche

One of Baron Tellian’s vassals; Lord Warden of Warm Springs.

Eramis Yohlahnafressa

a war maid; one of Saretha’s partisans.

Erathian Halberd

Lord Warden of the Fens one of Baron Tellian’s vassals plotting with Duke Cassan against him.

Erlis Rahnafressa

Commander of One Hundred; the war maid officer in charge of training at Kalatha.

Ermath Balcarafressa

The head of Housekeeping for Kalatha.

Festian Wrathson

Lord Warden of Glanharrow. Baron Tellian’s choice to replace the traitor Mathian Redhelm at Glanharrow.

Forhada Helmcleaver

A wind rider who joins Bahzell’s attack on Krahana’s servants. His courser is named Konhandro, or “Mist Born.”

Gharnal Uthmagson

Bahzell’s foster brother; a member of the Order Tomanak.

Garlahna Lorhanalfressa

a young war maid assigned by Erlis as Leeana’s mentor.

Garthan Warbridle

Lord Warden of Hollow Cave. One of Baron Cassan’s vassals.

Gayrfressa

the courser filly Bahzell heals at Warm Springs. The name means “Daughter of the Wind” or “Wind Daughter.”

Gayrhalan

Hathan’s bonded courser. The name means “Storm Souled.”

Gurlahn Morakson

the Horse Stealer warrior commanding the guard assigned to Bahzell in Balthar by his father.

Hahnal Bardiche

the eldest son of Lord Warden Edinghas.

Halahk Arrowsmith

one of Baron Cassan’s vassals.

Haliku Koharth

a Servant of Krahana, under the orders of Jerghar.

Tarith Shieldarm

Leeana’s personal armsman.

Tarlan Swordsmith

Lord Warden of High Tranith. One of Baron Cassan’s vassals.

Tellian Bowmaster

Baron of Balthar, Lord Warden of the West Riding.

Thalgahr Rarikson

one of the hradani warriors assigned to Bahzell’s bodyguard by his father.

Tharnha Garhlanfressa

a war maid; one of Saretha Keralinfressa’s partisans.

Theretha Maglahnfressa

a war maid artist (glassblower) from Kalatha.

Trebdor Horsemaster

one of Baron Cassan’s vassals.

Treharm Haltharu

a Servant of Krahana, under the orders of Jerghar.

Triahm Pickaxe

Lord Warden Trisu’s cousin, a bitter enemy of all war maids.

Trisu Pickaxe

Lord Warden of Lorham.

Varnaythus

Master Varnaythus; a black sorceror and priest of Carnadosa.

Walasfro

Sir Kelthys Lancebearer’s courser. The name means “Son of Battle.”

Walsharno

Gayrfressa’s older brother, the courser who bonds with Bahzell. His name means “Battle Dawn” (it could also be translated “Dawn of Battle” or “Battle Sun”).

Welthan Handaxe

Lord Warden of Dronhar, one of Baron Cassan’s vassals.

Yalith Tamalithfressa

Mayor of Kalatha.

Thunder rumbled overhead like a distant battering ram, pounding at the hasp of heaven. The harsh grumble was muted in the stone-walled room, but the waterfall sound of pounding rain came through the single open window on the windy breath of the chilly spring night. Half a dozen richly dressed men sat around the large wooden table’s polished surface. Three of them nursed ruby-hearted wineglasses. Two more quaffed beer from elaborately ornamented tankards. The sixth leaned back in the larger, more heavily ornamented chair at the head of the table. A small glass of Dwarvenhame whiskey sat before him, warm amber in the light of the oil lamps, and he squinted through a cloud of fragrant smoke as he used a flaring splinter to relight his pipe from the lamp at his end of the table.

He waved out the flaming splinter and replaced the lamp chimney. His pipe hissed softly as he drew upon it, then exhaled a single, perfectly formed ring of smoke. More thunder rumbled, a little closer this time, and the darkness outside the window flickered to the distant dance of lightning, far away on the edge of the rainy world.

“I agree that the situation is intolerable, Milord,” one of the beer-drinking men said into the calm stillness created by the comfort of a fire on a night of storm and wind. His hair was the golden red often seen among the oldest of Sothoii noble families, and his expression was unhappy, to say the least. He took another swallow from his tankard, raised hand flickering with the dance of golden rings and reflecting gems. Then he set the tankard back down and shrugged. “Still, we seem to have no option but to accept it.”