but his body felt so weak. So heavy. The air smelled of rot and ice and the sea. He shook himself, trying to bring his mind to bear, and reared up on his haunches. Every muscle in his body was stiff, slow, and unresponsive. The sense that something was wrong grew.
“Where is Erex?” he asked. “And Drakkis? What’s become of Drakkis Stormcrow?”
“Well,” the slave said. “I may have some bad news about that.”
Dramatis Personae
Persons of interest and import in The Tyrant’s Law
IN SUDDAPAL
The Medean bank in Suddapal
Magistra Isadau, voice of the Medean bank in Suddapal
Kani, her sister
Jurin, her brother
Salan, his son
Merid Addanos, her cousin, and
Maha, her daughter
various cousins and servants of the house
Cithrin bel Sarcour, apprentice to Magistra Isadau
Yardem Hane, personal guard to Cithrin, also Enen
Roach (Halvill)
Kilik rol Keston, a merchant
Samish, a rival of the bank
Karol Dannien, a mercenary captain
Epetchi, a cook
IN IMPERIAL ANTEA
The Royal Family
Aster, prince and heir to the empire
House Palliako
Geder Palliako, Regent of Antea and Baron of Ebbingbaugh
Lehrer Palliako, Viscount of Rivenhalm and his father
House Kalliam
Clara Kalliam, formerly Baroness of Osterling Fells
Barriath
Vicarian, and
Jorey; her sons
also Sabiha, wife to Jorey, and
Pindan, her illegitimate son
and various former servants and slaves, including
Andrash rol Estalan, door slave to House Kalliam
Benet, a gardener
Alston, a guardsman
Steen, a guardsman
Vincen Coe, huntsman formerly in the service of House Kalliam Abatha
Coe, his cousin
House Skestinin
Lord Skestinin, master of the Imperial Navy
Lady Skestinin, his wife
House Annerin
Elisia Annerin (formerly Kalliam), daughter of Clara and Dawson
Gorman Annerin, son and heir of Lord Annerin and husband of Elisia
Corl, their son
House Daskellin
Canl Daskellin, Baron of Watermarch and Ambassador to Northcoast
Sanna, his eldest daughter
Also, various lords and members of the court, including
Sir Namen Flor
Sir Noyel Flor
Cyr Emming, Baron of Suderland Fells
Sir Ernst Mecilli
Lord Ternigan, Lord Marshal to Regent Palliako
Sodai Carvenallin, his secretary
Sir Curtin Issandrian
Sir Gospey Allintot
Fallon Broot, Baron of Suderling Heights
and also Houses Veren, Essian, Ischian, Bannien, Estinford, Faskellan, Tilliakin, Mastellin, Caot, and Pyrellin, among others
Basraship, minister of the spider goddess and counselor to Geder Palliako
also some dozen priests
And also various thugs, workers, tradesmen, and thieves, including
Aly Koutunin, mother to
Mihal, a criminal, and also
Sarai, a recent bride
Ossit, a thug with three friends
IN SARAKAL
Mesach Sau, representative of the traditional families in Nus
Abden Shadra, head of a traditional family
Silan Junnit, member of a traditional family
Sohen Bais, member of a traditional family
IN BIRANCOUR
The Medean bank in Porte Oliva
Pyk Usterhall, notary
Maestro Asanpur, a café owner
IN NORTHCOAST
The Medean bank in Carse
Komme Medean, head of the Medean bank
Paerin Clark, bank auditor and son-in-law of Komme
IN HALLSKAR
Milo of Order Murro, a young man
Kirot of Order Murro, an old fisherman and keeper of secrets
Ama of Order Murro, keeper of the lodge house
THROUGHOUT THE GREATER WORLD
Marcus Wester, mercenary captain
Kitap rol Keshmat, former actor and apostate of the spider goddess
The Players
Cary
Hornet
Smit
Charlit Soon
Mikel
Sandr
Dar Cinlama, a hunter of ancient treasures and seeker of lost places
also his lieutenants, Korl Essian
Emmun Siu
Merrisen Koke, a mercenary captain
also, his men
Callon Cane, a convenient fiction
THE DEAD
King Simeon, Emperor of Antea, dead from a defect of the flesh
King Lechan of Asterilhold, executed in war
Feldin Maas, formerly Baron of Ebbingbaugh, killed for treason
Phelia Maas, his wife dead at her husband’s hand
Dawson Kalliam, formerly Baron of Osterling Fells, executed for treason
Alan Klin, executed for treason
Mirkus Shoat, executed for treason
Estin Cersillian, Earl of Masonhalm, killed in an insurrection
Magister Imaniel, voice of the Medean bank in Vanai and protector of Cithrin
also Cam, a housekeeper, and
Besel, a man of convenience, burned in the razing of Vanai
Alys, wife of Marcus Wester
also Merian, their daughter, burned to death as a tactic of intrigue
Lord Springmere, the Mayfly King, killed in vengeance
Akad Silas, adventurer, lost with his expedition
Assian Bey, collector of secrets and builder of traps, whose death is not recorded
Morade, the last Dragon Emperor, said to have died from wounds
Inys, clutch-mate of Morade, whose manner of death is not recorded
Asteril, clutch-mate of Morade, maker of the Timzinae, dead of poison
Drakkis Stormcrow, great human general of the last war of the dragons, dead of age
An Introduction to the Taxonomy of Races
(From a manuscript attributed to Malasin Calvah, Taxonomist to Kleron Nuasti Cau, fifth of his name)
The ordering and arrangements of the thirteen races of humanity by blood, order of precedence, mating combination, or purpose is, by necessity, the study of a lifetime. It should occasion no concern that the finer points of the great and complex creation should seem sometimes confused and obscure. It is the intent of this essay to introduce the layman to the beautiful and fulfilling path which is taxonomy.
I shall begin with a brief guide to which the reader may refer.