Grym Prophet (Song of the Aura, Book Three) (27 page)

Avtar:
A silverguard of Ymeer, who accompanies Gribly and Lauro on their journey to the Inkwell. Presumably killed in a Sea Demon attack.

Bernarl:
A Zain ship’s captain and former pirate, once an ally of the mysterious King Gram, the Lord of Rogues. Possibly the only exception to the general lacking among the Zain of a Second Form. Commonly called “Berne” by his friends and allies. By all gathered accounts, there is more to this sailor than meets the eye.

Bonedale:
A dark falconhorse, raised in the pits of Blast, currently serving the Pit Strider Gramling.

Bwether:
Master of the Haedi working under Wanderwillow at the
Swaying Willow
inn.

Byornleo “Byorne” Hallifar:
One of the oldest and deadliest rangers, and a friend to Old Murie. He frequented the fight pits of Ymeer, where he was known as “Longstrider.” His fighting prowess put him at the top of the pack, and in a perfect position to spy for Vastion. He was killed by Gramling, the Pit Strider.

Calloway:
Also known as “Cal.” He is a young boy of the Grymclaw’s South Village, who gave vital aid to Gribly and Elia in their time of need.

Cramner:
A young boy of South Village, and friend of Calloway.

Creator, The:
The God of all worlds, Whom is responsible for the world of Sceptre and everything in it: Vast, Realm, Rune, Nation, and all the lands beyond.

Crutus:
A bouncer at the Old Pickpocket’s wine-shop, who also deals in the slave trade. He is the brother of Shele, a fight pit contestant.

Donovan:
An Elder of South Village.

Elia:
A Sea Nymph female of the Treele Tribe. She is an incredibly powerful Wave Strider; so much so that it is possible she has transcended Wave Striding and begun to master Sea Striding.

Golden One, The:
Master of Pit Striders. Possibly an escaped member of the Legion.

Gram:
Self-styled Pirate King of South Vast. Also known as the Lord of Rogues. He is the founder of the Alliance, a loosely-bound brotherhood of miscreants spread throughout Vast.

Gramling:
A Pit Strider, and brother to Gribly. His master, the mysterious Golden One, has tasked him with either converting or killing the young thief.

Gribly:
A street thief formerly of Ymeer. He has manifested extraordinary abilities in Sand Striding and Stone Striding, and is rumored to be the Prophet of the Aura. He is revealed to have originally been named Gramlen by his mother, Alwene, and his father, Gram.

Karmidigan:
A prodigiously powerful Reethe Frost Strider

Kell:
A silverguard of Ymeer, who accompanies Gribly and Lauro on their journey to the Inkwell. Presumably killed in a Sea Demon attack.

Larion Vale:
King of Vastion, the last surviving kingdom in Vast.

Lauro Vale:
Prince of Vastion, and Gribly’s uneasy friend. He is seemingly on the run from his own father.

Leafly:
A Haedus in Wanderwillow’s entourage at the
Swaying Willow
inn.

Legion, The:
Nine Archdemons bound in the underworld of Kerbus at the beginning of time. They were once Aura, but became corrupted with pride in their own power. They wished to rule the world, and were banished for it.

Lithric:
The nymph cleric of Mythigrad.

M’tant, The:
A mysterious tribe of Wood Nymphs residing in the Blackwood, Northeast of the Grymclaw.

Margry:
A female Elder of South Village.

Marmat:
A silverguard of Ymeer, who accompanies Gribly and Lauro on their journey to the Inkwell. Presumably killed in a Sea Demon attack.

Murie:
A Vastic Ranger stationed in Ymeer. Called “Old Murie” by most of the inhabitants, she disguised herself as a gypsy to blend in, allowing her to care for and protect Gribly as he grew older and learned to use his gift.

Old Pickpocket, The:
A former thief and black market trader specializing in strong drink. He is crippled from the waist down.

Patnel:
A Reethe nymph in charge of guarding Mythigrad’s armory. Secretly a Frost Strider.

Ranathin:
Also known as “Ran.” Grandson of Elder Donovan, and friend to Calloway and Cramner.

Reethe, The:
The northernmost of the three Sea Nymph tribes. Their Second Form resembles the icy snow they inhabit. It is stronger than the Second Form of the Treele, and most often used in combat or in the harsh winter storms that often lash the Inkwell.

Roko Smallword:
Head Cook in Vastion’s capital city.

Shele:
A mysterious woman living in the underbelly of Ymeer. Her brother Crutus pressured her to put her martial skills to use in the fight pits, which she reluctantly agreed to. Her recent losses have put the freedom of her only daughter at risk. She goes by the alias “Shadow.”

Sheolus:
The cursed name of the Golden One.

Steamclaw:
A pit draik of Blast. Called
Nebulekef
in the Nymphtongue.

Traveller:
One of the many names taken by the Gray Aura. Commonly called
Viator
among the Sea Nymphs of the Inkwell.

Treele, The:
The easternmost of the three Sea Nymph tribes. Their Second Form is watery and translucent, much like the waves they commonly inhabit.

Varstis:
Raitharch of Mythigrad, Lord of the Sanquegrad, King of the Reethe. He is a nymph of more than respectable reputation, though there are rumors he had dealt with pirates in his youth.

Wanderwillow:
The commonly used name for the Brown Aura, who is rumored to reside in the Grymclaw. He sometimes goes by the name Swaying Willow, identical to the name of the enchanted inn where he is innkeeper. He is the Nympharch, the patron of the Nymph race.

Windfellow:
A falconhorse under the service of Traveller, the Gray Aura.
Wendfilo
in the nymphtongue.

Yan:
A nymph, a friend of Captain Berne, and first mate on the
Suthway Cath
.

Ymorio Highfast:
Dunelord of Ymeer. Ruthless, intelligent and handsome, Ymorio kept himself in power far longer than any previous Dunelord; partially due to his more than competent Sand Striding abilities.

Zain, The:
The southernmost of the three Sea Nymph tribes. Unlike their brethren, they are restricted to a single mortal form. This may be due to the long periods of time spent on the land, or on the crafted wooden ships they use for trade.

STRIDING the ELEMENTS in
SONG OF THE AURA

In the land of Vast, it is commonly held that the physical world consists of Five Elements. Three are of the World, and Two are of the Otherworld. The three World Elements are
Sea, Sky,
and
Stone.
The two Otherworld Elements are
Spirit
and
Pit
.

Occasionally, a man or nymph will be born with the ability to manipulate part of an Element. Such a being is known as a
Strider
, and their ability is reffered to as
Striding
. Most Striders are born with the ability to Stride only part of a World Element. This ability usually manifests itself sometime in early adolescence.

The precepts and limits of Striding an Otherworld Element are unknown; however, it is generally accepted among scholarly circles that the so-called sorcerers and magicians are really just common men and women who have discovered some aspect of Pit Striding. The power of cleric “prayers” is sometimes attributed to Spirit Striding.

In ancient times, Striders could manipulate an entire World Element, and sometimes even combine their power with some part of an Otherworld Element. The abilities of Striding have genetically decreased over time, however, and Striding an entire element is now unheard of.

At the time of the events recorded in the
Song of the Aura
, some of the aforementioned facts have begun to be disputed. It is even prophesied by some of the less orthodox clerics in Vastion and beyond that there will soon arise those capable of surpassing even the most talented Striders of the past.

Whether or not this is true remains to be seen, though the actions and powers of Gribly Gramson, Lauro Vale, and Elia Treele certainly give credence to the theory…

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for
SONG OF THE AURA

Well, this book has been a journey. It began as a short book, which became a long book, which became another short book, which became a
very
long book, which was split into three parts. Eventually it was decided to be a nine-part series… and then, even that changed. What you’re reading is one of what is now six parts, and I have several special people to thank for helping it get to the point it's at.

Firstly, I thank God. He's given me my talent, and He's swept me off my feet with what He can do.

Secondly, through God, I've had the grace to work with some amazing people, who I'd like to thank individually.

My mom: for doing an incredible job refining and pruning my story to a readable point.

My brother: for being the first reader and the first fan.