Characters and Names

Ablemont	Friend and confidante of the King of Galle. Architect of the Gallish plan to take Alba, and betrayer of Arles as well. Uncle to Clarissa de Sartres.
Acon, Ser Galahad, d’	Also referred to as D’Acon. One of Queen Desiderata’s most loyal knights, a royal messenger (not an imperial messenger) and a rising star in Alba. Hopelessly in love with the Empress Blanche.
Adam, Ser Eustace l’Isle d’	A knight of Galle, friend of De Vrailly.
Aetius	Warlord and Emperor of Man in the very distant past.
Alamain Borders, the	The mountains and woods at the eastern edge of the “Antica Terra” (the lands commonly held to fall under the control of “man”). The limit of the conquests of Livia and Aetius. In fact, the Steppes run from the Alamain Borders to the Empire of Qin and are full of nomads of every culture, including irks.
Alcaeus, Syr	Gentleman of the Morean Empire, as well as one of the Red Knight’s most trusted lieutenants.
Almspend, Rebecca	Also known as Becca, Lady Almspend, Rebecca Lachlan, or Lady Lachlan. The queen’s confidante and friend. When necessary, also the Chancellor of the Realm and the Head of Military Logistics. Lover and eventual partner of Ranald Lachlan.
al-Raisouli, Salim	The greatest of the Ifriquy’an magisters after the death of Al Rashidi.
Al Rashidi	The greatest magister alive; one of the creators of “the plan.” Friend and teacher of Harmodius, and the founding intellect behind the great plot to win the gates. His full name is Abū l-Walīd Muhammad bin ‘Ahmad bin Rušd.
al-Shirazi, Magister Qatb al-Din	An astrologer and philosopher from the far eastern kingdom of Safir.
Amicia, Sister	Formerly the Red Knight’s love; a sister of the Order of Saint Thomas, and a living saint.
Angelo di Laternum, Ser	A knight of the company.
Anne, Sister	The Prioress of Abbington, second in command of the Order of Saint Thomas’s nuns.
Antonio, Father	One of the company’s chaplains.
Archbishop of Lorica, the	Lorica was the first diocese of Alba recognized by the Patriarch of Liviapolis, and the Archbishop of Lorica, not the Bishop of Harndon, is the religious head of the Alban church.
Ariosto	Gift of Ghause Muriens, the Red Knight’s difficult mother, and enamored of both Blanche and Amicia, the griffon is perhaps the most powerful of the Red Knight’s allies. Likes sheep.
Armring, Thorval	Nordikaan axe bearer.
Arnaud, Father	Former chaplain and knight of the company, a priest-knight of Saint Thomas.
Ash	The great dragon, the enemy.
Askepiles	The now dead (although his body is occupied by Harmodius) magister of Thrake.
Ataelus	The Red Knight’s black warhorse.
Atcourt, Francis	Friend of the Red Knight, an old, experienced knight who wants to live to retire.
Aubrichecourt, d’	A knight of Galle, friend of both De Vrailly and of Clarissa de Sartres and the Sieur du Corse.
Baillie, John le	Retired mercenary in Abbington, and baillie for the Order of Saint Thomas. Then knight of the company and eventually corporal before dying in the fighting in Thrake in The Fell Sword. Lover of Mag the Sorceress.
Barbara, Saint	Patroness of gonners and explosions.
Bateman, Mistress Anne	Lady Anne—one of the richest and most powerful people in Harndon.
Beatrice, Donna	The Empress Blanche’s “lady maid.”
Beause, Philip de	Veteran knight and master jouster of the company, whose magical resistance to death is now drained.
Benn, Mistress Aphra	Master ironworker, a leader of the crafts in Harndon, as well as an amateur poet and playwright; close friend of Rebecca Almspend, whose lover she may or may not have been at other times.
Bent	A veteran archer of the company.
Berengar, Ser	A veteran knight of the company, best friend of Ser Danved. Silent and cheerful.
Berrydrunk	A Golden Bear warrior.
Bess	Partner of Bill Redmede, a veteran Jack on her own, now pregnant.
Bicci, Lucius di	See Patriarch of Rhum, the.
Bin Maymum, Magister Yusuf	Yahudat philosopher and astrologer.
Black Drake	Another name for Ash.
Black Heron	A veteran Outwaller (Sossag) war leader and hunter, serving as a ranger with Aneas. Not to be confused with Heron, a Huran, serving with the company in the Antica Terra.
Blessed Virgin	The Virgin Mary from Christian mythos.
Blizzard, King of the Woods	A powerful albino Golden Bear Clan leader from the central Adnacrags.
Blue Berry	A young bear of growing power.
Born, Grand Seigneur Estaban du	A lord of Occitan.
Brewes, Ser George	Veteran knight of the company, formerly no friend of the Red Knight and now a senior leader.
Broadarrow, Ser Balin	Prior of Harndon. Second in command of the Knights of Saint Thomas.
Brown	An assassin.
Brunet, Ser Uc	An Occitan knight.
C.2	An imperial messenger bird. The birds are all known by a letter-number designation.
Carlos	A company archer and sometimes the company trumpeter.
Carter, Robin	A company archer. Also a great friend in real life, and the reviewer @ParmenionBooks.
Cat Evil	An Outwaller and a Jack officer. A master woodsman.
Caves, Jack	A Jack.
Cheney, Edmund	Also referred to as Chevins, Edmund and Allen. A journeyman Bladesmith and captain of the Harndoner militia.
Christos, Syr	A Morean knight, former captain of the army of Demetrius, now reconciled to the new emperor. Went sword to sword with Bad Tom and lived to tell of it.
Cigne	An Occitan ranger.
Clothyard, John	A royal forester officer.
Comnena, Syr George	The Caesar. Friend of Morgon Mortirmir and the Red Knight, from an ancient imperial family. He will become the next emperor should the Red Knight fall.
Comyne, Hamish	One of the Red Knight’s household pages.
Constantine III	Son of the former king and Queen Desiderata; King of Alba. Currently in diapers.
Corner, Matteo	Captain of the Venikan marines. Venike has a vast fleet and her marines are the toughest and most flexible troops in the old world.
Corse, Sieur Du	Formerly one of the Red Knight’s enemies. Now Regent of Galle.
Coucy, Haegert	Squire of Albinkirk.
Courtois, Giron le	A legendary knight.
Crabbe, Old Mother	A survivor in Lady Helewise’s manor house.
Crayford, Ser John	Formerly captain of Albinkirk and lover of Lady Helewise. A great knight.
Crom, Abby	A woman of the company.
Crowbeard, Ser Kit	Captain of the Earl of Trowbrey’s knights.
Cully	The Captain’s archer.
Cynthia	A ranger from northern Albin.
D.13	An imperial messenger bird. Imperial messengers are roughly the size of a golden eagle and are black on one half of their bodies and white on the other half.
Dar as Salaam	A great city in Ifriquy’a and also the name usually given to the sultanate that stretches all the way along the north coast of that continent and that held most of Hatti as well (since lost to armies of the Wild). The inveterate foe of the Necromancer and usual ally of Venike despite their religious differences. The people of Dar and parts of Occitan and Iberia do not follow Christianity and are pious followers of “Submission to God,” or Islam.
Dabbaj, King Rostan	The easternmost King of Man; King or Shah of the Safir.
Daispainsay, Ser Edward	Lord of Bain. A loyal officer of the Queen of Alba.
Daniel, Ser	A leader of the green, or scout, banda of the company; also called Daniel Favor.
Danved, Ser	Veteran knight of the company, a man who makes loud jokes, a master of the poleaxe.
Dariush of Thrake, Maria	Mother of Alcaeus, sometime mistress of emperors and a master of the game of power.
Daud the Red	Master scout for the company, green banda.
Davide, Father	Chaplain of the company and a friend of Sauce.
Deadlock	Veteran ranger of the Adnacrags, also an explorer. Will probably get his own stories in time.
Demetrios	Former Duke of Thrake and son of Antiginos, who tried to make himself emperor. Killed by the Red Knight.
Derkensun, Harald	Sword bearer (Spatharios) and captain of the Nordikaans. Friend of Morgon Mortirmir.
Desiderata	The Queen of Alba.
Dhu, Donald	Rival and friend of Tom Lachlan.
Diodora, Master Elena	A Morean paper-maker living in Harndon.
Doge Mikal Loredan	Husband of the Duchess Giselle, lord of Venike, friend of the Sultan of Dar.
Donne, Master	A master alchemist of Harndon.
Duke	Journeyman of Harndon, former street rat and now officer of the militia and a gonner.
Dvor, Mikal	Officer of the Vardariotes from the very farthest east of the Antica Terra Steppes. Well, almost. Klugthai has come from even farther. The Steppes are vast; yet another battleground between the Wild and man, separating the Empire of Qin from the Alamain Borders.
E.2	An imperial messenger bird.
E.34	The most famous imperial messenger bird, the “Savior of Arles.”
E.49	An imperial messenger bird.
Elaran	Irk and archer of the company.
Elder Flower	A Golden Bear.
Elisabeth, Sister	A sister in the Order of Saint Thomas.
Eu, Guillaume, Count of	De Vrailly’s right hand, his cousin and friend. A great knight, and a modest man undeceived by Ash.
Ewald, Ser Calvin von	Captain of the Alamain knights who go with the Great Crusade through the gates.
F.34	An imperial messenger bird.
53Exrech	Former chieftain of Ash’s bogglins.
Fitzalan, Ricar	Veteran ranger and Aneas Muriens’s lover.
Fitzroy, Ser Ricar	Bastard son of the “Old King” and captain of the royal household.
Flarch	Veteran archer of the company.
Flint	A Golden Bear so powerful that he is viewed as a “Power of the Wild.”
Françoise, Father	A chaplain of the company.
Gadgee	Veteran archer of the company and veteran complainer.
Gang, Jon	A page in the emperor’s household.
Gardunsag	A wyvern.
Gareth	Ser Gavin’s warhorse.
Garter, Quill	An Outwaller ranger.
Garth No Toes	A veteran Jack with no toes.
Gas-a-ho	An Outwaller sachem and philosopher.
Gentile, Ser Giovanni	A knight of the company.
Gilchrist	A Hillman, and senior ranger in the green banda of the company.
Giselle, Duchess	The Duchess of Venike, wife of the Doge, Mikal.
Gold, Empress Blanche	The Empress of Man; former laundress, lover of the Red Knight.
Goldsmith, Adrian	Artist and veteran mercenary.
Goody, Sarah	Woman of the company.
Gower, Master	Master craftsman of Harndon.
Gregario, Ser, Lord Weyland	A great knight and senior officer of the Alban Army of the North; commander of the knights of the alliance.
Grey Cat	Outwaller scout and sometime archer of the company.
Griatzas, Giannis	Ser Gavin’s Morean squire.
Gropf	Archer of the company and former master tailor. No one knows how he lost his business.
Guisarme, Ser Tancred	High constable of Galle.
Half Arse	An archer of the company.
Hamwise	A page of the company.
Hand, John	An officer of the royal foresters.
Harmodius, Magister	Now in the body of Askepiles. Probably the greatest living human magister.
Hartmut, Ser	The Black Knight.
Hasty, Robin	An archer.
Helen, Sister	A sister of the Order of Saint Thomas.
Helewise de Roen, Mistress	Also sometimes called Mistress Heloise. Lady of the Middle Hill manor, lover of Ser John Creyford. A survivor who leads a party of other survivors to reestablish her farm in the North Albin. Mother of Phillippa. Her back garden holds a terrible surprise.
Helli, Hukas	An irk who serves Ash as a volunteer.
Heron	An Outwaller ranger serving in the company as an archer.
Hewitt, Rob	An archer of the company.
Hoek, Conte de	The Count of Hoek. Ruler of the land of fens and marshes north of Galle, where wool is felted and knights are plentiful.
Hoek, Jamie Le	Former squire of Ser John Creyford, a brave young man for whom war is not the sole purpose of life.
I.31	An imperial messenger bird.
Irene of Liviapolis, Princess	Porphyrogenetrix, Heir of the Empire and former empress, now just nineteen years old. Probably killed her father.
Iris	An irk archer of the company.
Isabella, Novice	Member of the choir of Lissen Carak.
Jane, Lady	The old king’s mistress.
Jehan, Ser	A veteran mercenary, one of the Red Knight’s early instructors in the art of war. Dead since the events of The Red Knight, but still remembered.
Julia, Dame	A famous, perhaps mythological, astrologer from two or three centuries ago, who predicted the opening of the gates and the times and some of the places. A founding member of the conspiracy of mages that created “the plan.”
Julius, Master	Notary of the company and functioning Chancellor of the Empire. A very quiet, competent man.
Katheryn, Sister	Mistress and leader of the left choir of Lissen Carack, where the design of the ancient chapel allows two choirs to sing together, comparable to Saint Mark’s in Venice.
Kearny, Jeff	Knight and lance-leader of the green banda of the company.
Kerak, Lord	A Saurian (or warden or adversarious) magister, of enormous powerful. A “Lord of the Wild.”
Kessin	An archer of the company.
Klugthai	A Vardariote, the easternmost man in the company, and the only one who has seen the Empire of Qin, although no one thinks to ask him about it.
Kriax	Woman officer of the Vardariotes, one of the best warriors in the army.
Kronmir, Jules	The master assassin who narrowly misses killing the Red Knight and ends up running his intelligence service.
Kwoqwethogan	A Saurian mage, brother (egg brother, not gland brother) to the Duchess Mogon.
Lachlan, Hector	Bad Tom’s cousin, or perhaps brother; a hero of the men of the Green Hills and the Drover. The clan chief of the Lachlans, and a vassal of the Wyrm of Erch. Bad Tom has sworn to avenge his death on Ash.
Lachlan, Ranald	Master of the royal household. Cousin of both Hector and Bad Tom; a fearsome axe fighter and lover of Lady Rebecca.
Lachlan, Ser Thomas	Also known as Bad Tom, or the Drover. Primus Pilus of the company, friend of the Red Knight, and eventually Earl of Northwall, lover of Sukey. Well, and a few others, not to be named here. Afraid of nothing, but not altogether fond of worms.
Landry, Master	A master bronze caster and bell maker in Harndon.
Langtree	A Golden Bear, apprentice shaman, and warrior.
Lantorn, Ricar	Archer of the company, brother of Kaitlin, and bodyguard of Princess Irene.
Leary, Donald	Apprentice of Harndon and gonner in the militia.
LeFleur, Ser Shawn	The Grand Squire. Friend of Ser Gregario, formerly senior squire of the king, now Captain of Albinkirk.
Lessa, Mary Magdalene	An aristocratic young woman, Alban, and now a Jack.
Lewen	An irk ranger.
Lilly	A Golden Bear, companion of Berrydrunk.
Livia, Empress	The original conqueror, of almost unimaginable antiquity, who, according to legend, led the first armies of man to the world and founded the empire. Liviapolis was named after her, and she won many victories and built the wall. The irks claim she lost the battle of Dykesdale.
Long Paw	Also known as Ser Robert Caffelo. A former archer, now knight of the green banda of the company. The best swordsman of the company.
Long Peter	A ranger.
Long Sam	An archer of the company.
Long Tail	A veteran archer of the company.
Looks-at-Clouds	An ungendered or perhaps “all-gendered” individual (pronouns: s/he, hir). A powerful magister, a shaman of the Huran, although s/he hirself is thought to be from the far west. Author’s note: These books were written before the author was fully conversant with the current conventions for gender neutral pronouns and the initial “created” pronouns s/he and hir were kept for consistency. Second note: The Western Outwallers have a whole empire west of Occitan, which was originally going to be part of the books. Their capital is at Cahokia, and Looks-at-Clouds is a mico (noble) of that empire.
Lorenzo Tucchi, Captain	Ranger officer of the Venikan ranger regiment. Venike has a corps of rangers who guard the great woods of Dalma in the east so that Venike can harvest the old trees to build her ships.
Lostenferch	An albino warden, or adversarious, or daemon; Ash’s “White Captain” in the northern war against Mogon. Lostenferch’s egg was culled as defective but his mother defied Mogon, hatched the egg, and raised it to maturity. Lostenferch hates Mogon and intendeds to displace her entire lineage with his own. So many stories still to tell!
Lot	Master Smythe’s “dragon name.”
Lowper	An archer of the company.
Lucca, Master Fernando	Kronmir’s assistant and lieutenant.
M’bub Ali	A spy and warrior of the Sultan of Dar as Salaam.
MacGilly, Jock	A Hillman serving in the imperial household.
Macgitchie, Magdalene	Also known as Mag the Seamstress, Old Mag, or Mag. A former military camp follower and goodwife, small holder in Abbington, and one of the greatest latent talents of the era, Mag was the lover of John le Baillie, a knight of the company, the head woman of the company, and a self-taught sorceress powerful enough to face Ash. Mag is probably the daughter of Master Smythe and the once-famous witch Ninnie Macgitchie. Mag’s daughter is Sukey (Susan) Macgitchie.
Marche, Charles de la	A Gallish sea captain, who served under Ser Hartmut and was martyred by him for refusing to accept the massacre of Outwallers. Brother of Oliver de la Marche.
Marche, Oliver de la	A Gallish merchant and sea captain with wide-ranging experience with sea monsters.
Maria Magdalena, Novice	Novice in the Order of Saint Thomas.
Maria, Ser	An imperial messenger. The messenger corps incorporates not just the birds but also their handlers, who serve as heralds, ambassadors, and occasionally, assassins.
Mary, Lady, Hard Heart	Daughter of Count Gareth and lover of Ser Gavin, as well as one of the queen’s closest friends, exiled by the Galles but now returned to court.
Mary, Sister	One of the choir of Lissen Carak.
Matteos, Ser	A knight of the company.
Maymum, Magister Bin	A powerful magister and astrologer from Iberia, a Yahudat theologian and rabbi. Yahudat is the third major religion in the world of the Red Knight, a highly intellectual monotheism with complexities that form social conventions comparable to medieval Judaism.
Michael, Archangel	Also known as Saint Michael, Holy Saint Michael, Saint Michael the Commander of Paradise, and Taxiarchos. In the Christian mythos, he is the captain of the hosts of angels, the commander of the phalanx of God.
Milett, Ralph	Captain of the Redesdale militia of northern Albin.
Milus, Ser	Commander of the white banda of the company, originally the company standard bearer and sometime captain of Liviapolis. The company has three colors—red, white, and green—and three banda—the red and white, which form the main body, and the green, or scouting, banda. Each banda has at least a hundred lances and sometimes more; the company grows with success and is always recruiting. A lance is composed of a knight or senior unknighted man- or woman-at-arms, an armored squire, a half-armored page, and an archer.
Miriam, Abbess	Also known as Sister Miriam, the abbess. The head of the great fortress abbey of Lissen Carak. Of common birth, she rose to lead based purely on hermetical and administrative brilliance. A woman of great faith and uncommon sense.
Mitla, Duke of	The ruler of the great city-state of Mitla, one of the most powerful and richest states in Antica Terra.
Mogon Texetererch	Duchess of the West. An ancient Saurian, and a great power of the Wild, with hermetical skills and legendary fame as a warrior and politician, and bearer of the sword-axe “Stonekiller,” an artifact of the wars with the Rhank before the humans came.
Monteverdi, Alessio	Musician and trumpeter for the company.
Montjoy, Gareth	Count of the Borders, father of Lady Mary, commander of the Western Army of Alba, and faithful knight of the queen.
Monts, John de	A royal forester.
Mortirmir, Ser Morgon	A young prodigy of hermeticism. Mortirmir’s intellect brought him to the notice of the great Academy in Liviapolis; his power appeared late, and was only fully harnessed when Harmodius seized his body and reordered his memory palace, a crime according to some. Technically, a knight of the company.
Motte, de la	Galle and Alban ranger. One of the founders of the Outwaller and Gallish town of Kebec, but that’s another story…
Muiscant, Eufemmie	Initiate squire of the Order of Saint Thomas; on her way to be the first female Knight of the Order.
Muriens, Ghause	Mother of the Red Knight, Duchess of Westwall, sister of the former king and plotter extraordinaire as well as one of the great powers of the Wild and a master magister. A very powerful woman indeed.
Muriens, Ser Gabriel	Also known as the Red Knight, the Red Duke of Thrake, the Emperor of Man, the emperor. Son of Ghause and her brother the king, brother of Gavin, lover of Blanche. Intended to be the Dark Prince of the Wild by his mother, he rebelled and became the Red Knight.
Muriens, Ser Gavin	Earl of Westwall, the Green Earl. The Red Knight’s brother, also known as Hard Hands and the Green Knight, a captain of the alliance, one of the most feared knights in Alba, and lover of Lady Mary. Sometimes called Ser Gawain.
Musquogan	A powerful Saurian lord.
Necromancer, the	An amalgam of “taken” personalities and rebel Odine, sometimes called the Rebel, an ancient voice of dissent in the hive mind.
Nicodemus, Master	The steward of the imperial household, a Morean.
Nikos, Master	Master grammarian of the Imperial Academy. A Morean mage of great and precise skill, with less direct power than some but more precise control than any. Even Ash. That’s the importance of grammar…
No Head	An archer of the company and self-taught military engineer. A common-born man with a genius for design, the author of the fortifications at Gilson’s Hole, and also the architect of the new imperial palace.
Oak Pew	An archer of the company, formerly a great lady of Galle and somewhat given to drink. Her name on the roster is Sarah de Charny, and a few friends call her Sally.
1Exrech	Bogglin chieftain, sometimes known as a wight; a faithful member of the alliance and perhaps the only bogglin ever to achieve the rank of “Power of the Wild.”
Orcsbane, Ser Ricar	A junior knight of the Order of Saint Thomas, sometimes, but not always, silent. A friend of Pavalo Payam.
Orley, Kevin	Also known as Ota Qwan, the Black Captain, and by a variety of other fell names. The last survivor of the House of Orley, destroyed by the Muriens family in a feud.
Parcival, Ser	One of the captains of the Alamain knights from the eastern edge of Galle who joined the emperor’s crusade. Like the Empire of Cahokia, the Alamain Borders were originally an important part of the story, the land of a thousand princes and a thousand castles.
Parmenio, Captain	A Venikan merchant, sea captain, and adventurer. In no way related to the archer Robin Carter.
Patriarch of Liviapolis, the	The Christian polity is split between the Patriarch of Rhum, who controls, for the most part, the Antica Terra, at least for religious matters, and the Patriarch of Liviapolis, who claims universal control of the church but is recognized only in the empire and Alba and sometimes in Occitan. The principal difference is that the Patriarchate of Liviapolis practices in High Archaic and approves of the use of hermeticism, and the Patriarchate of Rhum practices in Low Archaic and has no toleration for any form of magic.
Patriarch of Rhum, the	Lucius di Bicci, the most senior religious leader of the Antica Terra.
Payam, Ser Pavalo	Also known as Ser Payamides. A Mamluk of the Sultan of Dar, friend of the Red Knight, admirer of the Empress Blanche, and commander of the armies of Dar; bearer of the last known Fell Sword from the First Making. Pavalo has known Harmodius since boyhood; was the military slave, servant, and friend of Al Rashidi; and led the expedition that brought back the information about the gates that allowed the creation of “the plan.”
Pearl, Master	A craft master of Harndon.
Petite Moulin	A page and later a squire of the company.
Petrarcha, Magister	The most powerful mage of the Antica Terra, a friend of both Harmodius and Al Rashidi; an architect of “the plan.”
Plangere, Richard	Also known as Thorn. Once the court mage of Alba; rival, with the king, for the favors of the king’s mistress; a brilliant, driven man who rose to high office by sheer talent and then turned to the Wild, betraying the cause of humanity—or perhaps realizing that humanity needed to be stopped to preserve balance. He is dead and subsumed inside Harmodius, yet perhaps not entirely gone…
Porte, Pierre La	Knight marshal of the Kingdom of Arles, captain of Arles (fortress) and hero of the siege, and a loyal supporter of Queen Clarissa.
Prudentia	The Red Knight’s tutor in the ars magika, murdered by the Red Knight’s mother, Ghause, and now a statue inside the emperor’s memory palace. Dead? More than dead? It’s hard to know, in the aethereal.
Pye, Master	A master craftsman of Harndon, whose craft work is so good that many of his creations seem to be magical; lately interested in large-scale bronze casting.
Qin	Another mostly human empire far across the world, of legendary wealth and power. There was originally an entire plotline in Qin, and maybe someday I’ll write the Qin version of the opening of the gates.
Qwan, Nita	Once the Ifriquy’an Salim, then the slave Peter, and finally the Outwaller war leader Nita Qwan. A survivor, a fine warrior, and an excellent cook.
Qwan, Ota	See Orley, Kevin.
Rafik, Ali-Mohamed el	The exiled Mamluk of Dar, now in service to the Patriarch of Rhum as a mercenary.
Random, Ser Gerald	One of the richest of the Harndoner merchants. Ser Gerald’s rise to great wealth and political power has been tied to daring guesses and a heavy investment in Morea and the fur trade. In effect, he has invested in the Red Knight and the company. Knighted for bravery at the first siege of Lissen Carak.
Rannulfson, Michael	A veteran mercenary, the commander of the paid military garrison at Lissen Carak.
Red Squirrel	An Outwaller ranger.
Redmede, Harald	Commander of the royal foresters, brother of Bill Redmede the Jack.
Redmede, William, Bill	Lover of Bess and the leader of the Jacks, a movement of escaped serfs and angry yeomen to overthrow the established order and eliminate ideas of aristocracy and vassalage. The Jacks began the Great War allied with Thorn, but the movement has become tangled in ideals and has split. Redmede leads the faction that believes the evil of Ash is greater than the evil of feudalism. For now.
Rhun	A dragon. The apparently taken or “not-dead” dragon in service to, or part of, the rebel Odine group called the Necromancer.
Rinir, Syr	A knight of faery. Despite massive differences between irk culture and human culture, the concept of knighthood seems comprehensible by both groups.
Roen, Phillippa de	Also known as Pippa, Prickly Pippa, or the queen of the field workers. Daughter of Helewise, a flirtatious young woman with a good head on her shoulders and too much experience of being a refugee and a poor relation.
Rohan, Guillaume, Sieur de	Courtier and knight of Galle, a royal favorite, a gossip, and a schemer.
Rose Drew	Phillippa de Roen’s best friend.
Sabina di Berona	Friend of Lady Sophia di Castelbarco, cook, and gunner, commander of the bronze gonne “Lord of Light.”
Sam	An out-of-work farm laborer who has joined Tyler’s faction of the Jacks.
Sarrissa, Andromeche	Morean student of the Academy; one of Master Nikos’s more promising talents.
Sartres, Lady Clarissa de	The acting Duchess of Arles, Queen of Arles, and quite possibly Queen of Galle. The De Sartres family, which included the Sieur d’Ablemont, the King of Galle’s favorite and adviser, were the hereditary rulers of the Kingdom of Arles before Ablemont and the King of Galle seized it and forced Clarissa’s father to accept demotion to a subordinate duchy. The King of Galle attempted to seize Arles Castle in a later coup and failed, largely because of the Red Knight and his fledgling company’s actions, but that’s another story…
	Lady Clarissa was sent to Galle as a sort of hostage for her father’s good behavior, and when her father died fighting the Wild and she narrowly escaped sexual harassment at court, she found herself commanding a desperate defense of her home. The Necromancer laid siege to Arles for months, without success, and Lady Clarissa’s defence of the city probably saved the world. She deserves her own novel.
Sauce	Also known as Ser Alison Audley, captain of the grande alliance, Marquesa of Albin. Sauce was born to a poor family and sold as a sex worker when she was eleven. She worked in brothels in Harndon and in Liviapolis until she was fourteen, when she killed a customer and escaped with the aid of the brothel’s bouncer, a former mercenary named Cully, who thought he was in retirement, and a young, broken man who had not yet begun to call himself the Red Knight… but that’s another story. Sauce, along with Tom Lachlan, is a pillar of the company, a brilliant fighter, and a dashing knight.
Scrant	An archer of the company.
Short Tooth	An archer of the company.
Sidenhir	An irk archer of the company.
Simkin	An archer of the company.
Simone, Conte of Berona	A benevolent tyrant of the De La Scala family, il Conte Simone is one of the most feared knights of the Antica Terra. Friend of Sauce, admirer of Blanche, and captain of the Crusade.
Skas-a-gao	A Sossag shaman and member of the Council of Dorling.
Slythenhag	An ancient and venerable wyvern brood mother, Slythenhag has served many lords of the Wild and is perfectly willing to serve the Red Knight as long as her brood is protected and enhanced.
Smoke	A master archer of the company.
Smythe, Master	The dragon Lot.
Snot	An archer of the company.
Sophia di Castelbarco	Lady of Ser Maurizio, the most beautiful woman in il Conte Simone’s brilliant court. Friend of Sabina di Berona.
Srylot, Syr	A faery knight.
Stare, Gwillam	A veteran Jack.
Stark, Captain George	An officer of the Albin militia.
Stefana, Novice	A junior member of the choir of Lissen Carak.
Stern Rachel	A veteran Jack.
Stone Axe	War chief of the Long Dam Clan bears.
Stouffy, Bill	Veteran of the royal foresters.
Sukey	Also known as Susan Macgitchie or Dama Souga, Imperial Countess of Osawa. Commands the company’s logistics effort; she is sometimes referred to as “head woman,” but by autumn, her duties encompass the whole imperial war effort. Lover of Tom Lachlan, daughter of Mag the Sorceress, granddaughter of Master Smythe.
Swynford, Hawissa	An officer of the royal foresters.
Swynford, Master	A master craftsman of Harndon.
Sym	Also known as Low Sym. A street brat, would-be rapist, and general ne’er-do-well junior archer of the company, typical of the bad men and women who end up as mercenaries. Died heroically and was eaten by bogglins. “Evil is a choice” is the theme of these books, and Sym was the first target of those words.
Tamsin, Queen	Also known as Lady Tamsin, Faery Queen, Lady of Faeries, or the Lady of Illusions. A Great Power of the Wild, Tamsin is among the oldest of the powers and can remember past ages and wars for the gates. Apparently an irk, although some believe that she, like Lot, is actually a dragon. Lover of Tapio, the Faery Knight.
Tancred of Occitan, Prince	Also known as Tancred Poictiers. Poet, warrior, minstrel, and prince. Again, a hero in his own right who deserves his own story.
Tancreda, Magistera	Another of the incredible crop of talented young magisters produced by the university; in this case, of imperial descent, Tancreda, a serious intellectual, throws aside her plans for a convent to be the lover and partner of Morgon Mortirmir.
Tapio	The Faery Knight. One of the oldest and most powerful irks, and generally accorded the rank of “king” of the irks, although most irks are far too independent to have a king. Sometimes an ally of men and sometimes an enemy. A true protector of the Wild.
Tar, Lady	Probably a dragon. And then again, perhaps something even more powerful. In the north of Alba and the Hills, often confused or conflated with the Virgin Mary.
Tas-a-gao	Old Sossag hunter and veteran ranger.
Teskanotokex	A young warden, kin of Mogon and in her warband.
Tessen	An irk ranger.
Theodora	A brave novice of the Order of Saint Thomas.
Thomas, Saint	One of the military legates of the legions of Livia. According to legend, after years of leading the war against the irks, he learned the irk language and went west as an ambassador to make peace with the Wild, learned to practice green magic, and achieved some sort of apotheosis.
Ticondonaga	A massive and ancient fortress on the wall, built by Livia and improved by successive generations of legates and lords, currently the hold of the Muriens family, the lords of the western wall and most of the north and the Adnacrags.
Tippit, Tip	Master archer of the company.
Tobias, Ser, Toby	First a page and then a squire of the Red Knight, Toby started as a street urchin in Harndon and may yet end up as a great captain.
Towbray, Earl of	Richard de Burgh. The most powerful nonroyal lord in Alba, De Burgh holds most of the great estates in Jarsay, the southern, richest half of the kingdom, and the Burgh estates in the heartland run almost from the gates of Harndon to the border of Occitan. Through his grandmother, Towbray has a claim on the throne.
Towbray, Kaitlin de	Kaitlin de Burgh. Wife of Michael de Burgh, daughter-in-law of the Earl of Towbray, eventually the Duchess of Towbray. Kaitlin herself is a Lantorn of Abbington and Kentmere, a family best known for near-criminal behavior and laziness; curiously, Kaitlin and her brother Ricar seem immune to the family curse. Likable, and also a former laundress, like the empress. It’s been a good year for laundresses.
Towbray, Ser Michael de	Ser Michael de Burgh. Son of the great Earl of Towbray, Michael ran away from his pampered life as a very young man to learn to be a “real” knight alongside veteran mercenaries. He very quickly ended up in the company and became the Red Knight’s squire, and Kaitlin Lantorn’s husband. One of the “initiates” of “the plan” and also one of the best knights, the Red Knight made him his military heir.
Turell, Cat	An apprentice of Harndon and gonner in the Harndoner militia.
Tyler, Nat	Leader of a faction of the Jacks that favors the violent extermination of the aristocracy and alliance with Ash, or any other power that will help overthrow the hated aristos. He killed the king. One of the best archers in the world.
Urk of Mogon	A bogglin of the wild Adnacrag mounds, a master archer of the company. Formerly served Thorn but was scent-marked by Duchess Mogon as a member of her own clan, a high honor, unheard of for a mere bogglin.
Vizirt, Syr	An irk knight.
Vrailly, Jean de	The self-styled “best knight in the world.” A great knight, misled by Ash in the guise of an angel.
Wart	A veteran Jack and ranger.
Waster, Dick	Former archer of the company, and now Ser Milus’s squire.
Wha’hae	A veteran scout and ranger, member of the green banda of the company.
Wilful Murder	Dead, but somehow still present in the company, Willful Murder was an evil, lecherous, and dangerous master archer whose pronouncements were rarely correct while he was alive, even when he was sober. But as the company seems to gather some sort of supernatural power of the Wild to itself, it seems to have been focused on his legacy and memory.
Wilsit, Tom	Scout of the green banda.
Wimarc, Lord Roger	A lord of Jarsay in his own right, Wimarc volunteered as a squire with the Order of Saint Thomas to escape abuse at home, and is now a knight of the company. Almost silent.
Wishart, Grand Prior John	John Wishart was born to a powerful Jarsay family heavily intermarried with the Gallish nobility. He was the third son, and his father placed him with the Order, which he has risen to command. A great knight, a modest hermeticist, and a good leader, he is adored by his men and women.
Woodstock, Squire Anne	The Red Knight’s third squire, Anne Woodstock is from a knightly family in the Brogat, and is used to hard work.
Ydrik, Syr	Captain of the Faery Knight’s bodyguard of irk knights.
Zachariah (Zakje) Ulk	Also known as Count Zac. Commander of the Imperial Vardariotes, one of the four elite regiments of the empire. The four are, in order of precedence: the Nordikaans, the Vardariotes, the Scholae, and the Athanatoi, who are also called the “company.” Sometimes Sauce’s lover. From Moska, far east of Galle and even the Alamain Border.