The Wizard Knight Companion Read online

  Onomastics: (Hebrew) “expert.” There is also a Turkish author of this name, famous for advocating hedonism (wine and women).

  Baldig one of the peasants who used to live in Griffinsford, where his house was across from Uld’s (I, chap. 3, 34). Schildstarr picked him up and ripped his arms off (I, chap. 2, 29).

  Onomastics: (German) “early” or “quick, speedy.”

  Balye a Redhall man-at-arms who bested Able with quarterstaff (II, chap. 27, 338).

  Myth: (Norse) close to Baleyg, meaning “flame-eye,” a name for Odin.

  barons the lowest level of nobility, the ruler of a barony. From the French title meaning “military leader.” Barons in the text include Beel, Colle, Dandum, Leifr (?), Obr, Olof, and Thunrolf.

  Battle of Five Fates the battle of King Arnthor versus the Osterlings (II, chap. 11, 127; II, chap. 37, 442–43). Woddet was present. The Golden Caan was also present, with his elephants. The old Caan had six heirs: the Red Tijanamir, the Brown Tijanamir, the White Tijanamir, the Gold Tijanamir, the Blue Tijanamir, and the Black Tijanamir. The old Caan died, and so did the first five heirs, leaving the last one to become the Black Caan.

  Battle Witch Garvaon’s sword (I, chap. 55, 341).

  Battlemaid Ravd’s sword (I, chap. 4, 42). Broken Battlemaid turns up at the outlaw cave (I, chap. 14, 100).

  Beaw one of Garvaon’s men-at-arms (I, chap. 58, 357).

  Onomastics: Beaw or Beow, a name occurring in the genealogies of Anglo-Saxon kings, thought by some to be a pagan fertility god (Beow = Old English “barley”).

  Beel the baron Arnthor sent to Jotunland (I, chap. 47, 294). Able meets him, finding him to be a middle-aged man so short one notices even when he is seated (I, chap. 48, 296). He spent his boyhood in a peasant’s house, his nurse’s, outside Coldcliff castle (I, chap. 48, 301). His arms are quartered lamiae and lilacs (II, chap. 12, 138). This design suggests a merger of two houses, one previously possessing an emblem of a lamia and the other with that of a lilac. (Note that the Lady is associated with lilacs.) He has served the throne for 25 years (I, chap. 54, 338). His daughter is Idnn. He is something of a magic user, casting a spell of divination at the mountain pass.

  Onomastics: Aramaic name Be’el, related to the Hebrew Ba’al, meaning “lord, master.” Beelzebub means “lord of the house.”

  Commentary: Baron Beel is the grandson of King Pholsung and the cousin of King Arnthor. His desire to achieve higher status, if only through his daughter Idnn, is such that he is willing to marry her off to Gilling, King of the Giants.

  Belos one of two Sea Aelf who come to Able after the halbert contest, trying to bring him to the princess Morcaine (II, chap. 30, 370).

  Onomastics: Wistan translates it as “warlike” (which may mean it derives from Latin bello, to wage war).

  Myth: (Greek) grandson of Epaphos, father of Danaos and Aigyptos.

  Ben the narrator’s brother back in America (I, glossary) whom he sees sitting by the campfire after battle (I, chap. 1, 19), on the day of the River Battle. Sometimes he writes directly to Ben: “The truth, Ben, is that I had already decided” (II, chap. 37, 448); “You know what I was tempted to say, Ben” (II, chap. 38, 452); “Far less than you, Ben” (II, chap. 38, 457).

  Some statements to Ben are more ambiguous, for example, “Where you are, people kill people all the time just like they do here” (I, chap. 14, 96). At first this seems to be comparing America to Mythgarthr, but later revelations make it more likely that it is comparing Mythgarthr (where Ben is) to Aelfrice (where Able is).

  After Able heals Bold Berthold’s eyes, when he looks through the magic helm, he sees that Berthold is Ben. And thus Ben is in Mythgarthr (II, chap. 40, 476).

  Still, the question remains as to the location of Ben when he receives the letter from Art. If Ben were really in Mythgarthr, then it would not make sense for Art to write the following lines: “What was hard was making you see them. Remember that the Osterlings had long teeth and starved faces, and the Angrborn stunk. Remember that Disiri was a shapechanger, and all her shapes were beautiful” (I, glossary end). Since Able watches Bold Berthold’s later career as a giant slayer, he would not have to fret about describing giants to him unless Ben was not there for long. That is, Ben is not Bold Berthold. This builds a strong case that Ben snapped back to America after Able left Mythgarthr for Aelfrice, so that Ben only experienced a strange “dream” of being by the campfire with knights and his brother.

  Onomastics: Hebrew word for “son.”

  Bergelmir one of Ymir’s body parts that lived after he was dismembered by the Overcyns (II, chap. 17, 188); the first king of Jotunland, ancestor of Gilling (II, chap. 14, 156). The kings of the giants descend from him.

  Myth: (Norse) the giant who survived the flood of blood from slaughtered Ymir.

  Berthold for Berthold the Black, see black berthold. For Berthold the Bold, see bold berthold.

  Bitergarm a giant randomly selected to fight the knights in Gilling’s hall (II, chap. 12, 137). (The other was Skoel.) He later saw the party of humans again, just after they had buried Garvaon (II, chap. 27, 329).

  Onomastics: bitr means bitter, and Garm is the name of a famous hell hound, so perhaps “bitter hellhound.”

  Black Berthold father of Bold Berthold and the real Able. The leader of Griffinsford, he was noted for his great strength. Mag tells Able she once saw him wrestle a bull and hold it down (II, chap. 38, 458). When the village was under attack by forces from lower levels, Black Berthold built an altar to the Overcyns, which makes him a religious figure or perhaps a prophet whose teachings didn’t take (II, chap. 22, 264).

  Mag uses the form Berthold the Black (II, chap. 22, 263), whereas Bold Berthold uses Black Berthold (II, chap. 38, 458).

  Commentary: it seems likely Black Berthold was a smith. There is the name Black, which can signify swarthy skin and/or black hair, but is also part of blacksmith. There is his great strength—he could wrestle a bull down. Though strength alone may not be sufficient evidence in another book, the text makes it particularly clear that smiths are very strong.

  There is evidence of a basic mirroring between Art in America and the real Able in Celidon, such that if Mr. Ormsby was in “hardware,” then Black Berthold must be in the local equivalent, which would be village blacksmith.

  Finally, Black Berthold was the leader of his village. It would be very significant if he were also a blacksmith, because Aelfrice has a very special esteem for blacksmith leaders. This would tie into the whole Weland complex: it makes sense that the wizard knight Sir Able would be the son of a smith.

  Black Caan the Caan seeking vengeance for the raids from Celidon (II, chap. 35, 413), the raids that Woddet took part in (II, chap. 11, 126). So presumably the Black Caan hopes to avenge the looting of Khazneh and the killing of his brothers at the Battle of Five Fates. He is the heir of the old Caan who was killed in the surprise attack (launched when Celidon’s north border with the giants was secured, so that all forces could sweep east). The Osterlings rally around the Black Caan and take the passes (413).

  The prophecy at his birth was that he would reign but die young, slain by the Aelf sword that his father the old Caan wore that day. So the old Caan gave the boy the sword, and the Black Tijanamir locked it away in a trunk in a sealed vault.

  Black Knight the third knight (after Leort and Woddet) to challenge Able at the pass (II, chap. 13, 152). His device is a skull. Beneath this disguise he is Duke Marder of Sheerwall, which is why Woddet tried to kill Able before the Black Knight came.

  Blackmane Ravd’s charger (I, chap. 4, 41).

  Blood of the Dragon Smiler’s royal ancestor, whose spirit returns to engender heirs (II, chap. 38, 452). Grengarm is the dragon.

  Blue Tijanamir the old Caan’s fifth-born son, whose fate foretold that he would reign but drown young. Shortly after he became caan, “The dagger of a man-at-arms pierced his lungs, so that he drowned in his own blood” (II, chap. 37, 443).

  Bluestone Castle In
dign’s castle on Bluestone Island, wrecked by Osterling pirates (I, chap. 2, 25).

  Bluestone Island a high, rocky island about a quarter of a mile from the mainland near Irringsmouth (I, chap. 2, 24).

  Bodachan Earth Aelf (I, chap. 3, 35). The Bodachan are one of the small clans. The “brown girl,” a woman-deer Able sees twice (I, chap. 9, 73; I, chap. 10, 77), is probably one of the couple who give him Gylf (I, chap. 10, 79–81). Since the male is probably King Brunman himself, “brown girl” is probably his wife and queen of the clan.

  Bold Berthold the peasant, originally from Griffinsford, who takes in Able, believing him to be his long lost brother, the real Able (I, chap. 2, 27; 29). He is the first-born child of Black Berthold and Mag. He fought against the raiding giants who destroyed his village. His brains were addled by a head wound and the torture of the giants. He was subsequently persecuted by Fire Aelf (I, chap. 38, 239). Bold Berthold seems 30 or 40 years older than Able (I, chap. 25, 162). He disappears at around the time when Disira is killed (I, chap. 10, 76). Able then assumes he is dead, but it turns out he is enslaved by Seaxneat’s outlaws and sold to giants (II, chap. 13, 150). Met again in Jotunland where, although blinded, he has found Gerda (I, chap. 65, 401). He fights at the River Battle and receives a spear wound in his abdomen (II, chap. 40, 473). Able breaks his oath by healing him (474), then through the magic helm, Able sees him as Ben (476). Later he slays King Schildstarr (477).

  Onomastics: (German) “bright ruler.”

  Borda a giantess, the captain of Queen Idnn’s bodyguard (II, chap. 27, 335). She liked the way that Able deflected questions of Duke Marder. Uri says she is the one who gave Able the gift of the magic helm (II, chap. 30, 365).

  Borgalmir the right head of a two-headed giant, friend of Schildstarr (II, chap. 21, 253).

  Myth: (Norse) “Mountain Yeller” or “Bear Yeller,” a frost giant, grandson of Ymir.

  bowstring spirits the string that Parka gives Able is one she has spun of severed lives, “of lives cut short . . . Maybe only because a woman cut them with her teeth for me. She may have ended the lives by that act” (II, chap. 19, 225). These many lives color Able’s dreams when he sleeps: As he puts it, “I was somebody, then somebody different, and then somebody new” (I, chap. 45, 279). Among them are:

  • A woman in labor (I, chap. 41, 257).

  • A drowning rescuer drowned (257).

  • A blind man dying in the snow, likely a slave of the giants (I, chap. 62, 381).

  • A boy who falls into the cook fire and dies (I, chap. 68, 417).

  • A spirit whom he can hear while awake, one who says a few words and sobs (II, chap. 19, 228)

  Branne of Broadford the first knight whom Able bests at halberts. Branne had been the victor the year before (II, chap. 30, 369).

  Onomastics: close to the Irish names Brann (raven) and Brianne (strong).

  Brega a peasant woman who lives in Glennidam (I, chap. 6, 52). She tells Ravd about Seaxneat. Egil had knocked her down before.

  Onomastics: close to the Welsh female name Bregus (meaning “frail”).

  Myth: (Irish) a mythological site, also known as Bregia, that is a great central plain.

  Bridge of Swords “Modgud guards the Bridge of Swords. If it were destroyed, no ghost could visit us, and there are those who would destroy it” (II, chap. 24, 294). The bridge to Hel’s common realm of Death, as opposed to the heaven for heroes in Skai for those chosen by the Valkyries. Able seems to have visited it, which in Norse mythology was a rare thing done only by Hermod.

  Brighthills Escan’s fine-wine producing manor (II, chap. 31, 377).

  Brown Tijanamir the old Caan’s second born son. The prophecy at his birth was that he would become caan but die young, trodden into the mire. Shortly after he became caan, he was trampled to death by Celidon horses (II, chap. 37, 443).

  Brunman King of the Bodachan (II, chap. 33, 396).

  Burning Mountain another name for mountain of fire (II, chap. 37, 441).

  Bymir the first Angrborn seen by Able (I, chap. 10, 75), spotted near the Irring River, upstream from Glennidam (I, chap. 12, 87). Bymir bought Bold Berthold as a slave shortly after Disira was killed by Seaxneat (I, chap. 66, 405). Met again in the giant’s barn (I, chap. 67, 409). Able kills him with a spit in the kitchen.

  Myth: close to the Norse Brimir, another name for Ymir, the first giant.

  caan the title of the Osterling king.

  Onomastics: From the Latin form of Khan, Mongolian word for king.

  calendar see history.

  Caradoc see names on the wind.

  Caspar the chief warder at Sheerwall Castle (I, chap. 42, 261). He is under Master Agr (first mentioned in I, chap. 41, 257). He had been branded on his forehead for some offense (I, chap. 41, 262).

  Onomastics: a Persian name meaning “treasure,” it is also traditionally the name of the magus who brings the gift of gold to the Christ child.

  Celidon a big country, longer than it is wide, on the west coast of the continent (I, chap. 2, 29). Irringsmouth, Forcetti, and Kingsdoom are all towns in Celidon. The flag of Celidon is sea-blue, with the royal Nykr embroidered in gold (II, chap. 32, 388).

  Ice forms in the harbor at Forcetti, suggesting it is located to the north of N40° latitude. Mangoes grow near the Mountain of Fire, suggesting a latitude of N20°. Sandhill is in a desert south of the Mountain of Fire.

  Uri says “males claim the throne first in this Celidon” (II, chap. 34, 409), providing a dizzying hint of multiple Celidons.

  Arthuriana: one of the twelve legendary battlegrounds of King Arthur. It is associated with the Caledonian Forest in Scotland.

  Chaus one of Gaynor’s titles: “Countess of Chaus.” There is also a Lamwell of Chaus. The word means “jungle cat,” so presumably the arms would show cats.

  Children of the Dragon the Lothurlings’ name for themselves (II, chap. 38, 452). Grengarm is the dragon.

  Cli a villager of Griffinsford whom Mag remembers as having joined Black Berthold in singing to the Overcyns during the bad times before Mag was taken from the village (II, chap. 22, 264).

  Onomastics: (Greek) cli-, used in such names as Clio, Cliantha, Cliara. Probably from Kleos (glory), such as Kleio, muse of historical poetry.

  Cloud the mount Able rides after visiting Skai, a gift of the Valfather (II, chap. 3, 35). Her horn is sprouting (II, chap. 28, 346), so she is a juvenile flying unicorn. She leaves Able after he first breaks his oath by calling in a storm to help his smaller force break through the Osterling siege of Redhall (II, chap. 36, 432). She comes back to save him in his contest against Smiler (II, chap. 38, 455).

  Cohn, Ms. Able’s teacher in America, mentioned for her dog, Ming Toy (I, chap. 63, 392).

  Coldcliff Beel’s father’s castle (I, chap. 48, 301) , which now belongs to Beel’s brother (I, chap. 54, 337). This is where Idnn’s little pony was impregnated by a knight’s charger. After they returned home to Kingsdoom, the pony died giving birth.

  Colle a baron of Celidon, freed by Able from the dungeon at Thortower (II, chap. 35, 412).

  Onomastics: Gaelic name meaning “dwells at the woodland.”

  Collins Arthur’s English teacher in America (I, chap. 24, 156).

  Onomastics: an Irish/Gaelic name, Colin/Coilin/Collin, meaning “virile.”

  cosmology the universe of The Wizard Knight is made up of seven levels or worlds arranged in a stack, from highest to lowest:

  1. Elysion—world of the Highest God.

  2. Kleos—world of the angels.

  3. Skai—world of the Overcyns, where twenty years of time are just a few days on Mythgarthr.

  4. Mythgarthr—world of humankind, where time flows at the same rate as on Earth.

  5. Aelfrice—world of the Aelf, where in one case six hours of time are a few days on Mythgarthr. But the ratios are not stable: at one point Disiri meets Able and assumes a year has passed for him, but it has only been a day; Toug’s time in Aelfrice seems close to this ratio, since yea
rs go by in Mythgarthr for his few days in Aelfrice.

  6. Muspel—world of dragons, including Grengarm and Setr.

  7. Niflheim—world of the Lowest God.

  Escan says that the worlds grow smaller from top to bottom.

  Most levels have more than one world, as Able tells Toug, “The highest level, and the lowest, have only got one [world]. The rest have several. This is Dream. It’s on the midmost level, with Mythgarthr” (II, chap. 5, 53). It seems likely that Earth is also on the fourth level, and possibly Hel’s realm of death as well.

  Myth: Norse myth has “nine worlds” arranged on Yggsdragil, the giant ash tree of the universe. Midgard is in the middle, with Asgard above it, and Niflheim below it in the roots. The names and locations of the other six worlds are more sketchy: Muspell (with two Ls, the world of primordial fire and fire giants), Vanaheim, Jotunheim, Alfheim (home of the light elves), Svartalfaheim (home of the dark elves), and Hel.

  Coth duke who was second to Arnthor until he was killed, two days before Able and his ragtag group arrived at the Mountain of Fire (II, chap. 37, 441).

  Onomastics: Old Cornish word for “old.” There is also a German word, köth, for a day laborer, a cottager who owned no farmland.

  count a noble rank between baron and duke, the only example in the text being the Countess of Chaus (one of Gaynor’s titles).

  Crol Beel’s herald, who helps Able when he meets Beel’s party (I, chap. 47, 292). His beard is black, but his face is so old that Able wonders if the beard is dyed (294). Crol has many cats (I, chap. 48, 297). Gilling kills him in a fit of pique (II, chap. 12, 138).