Ratchet, a cat found by the children of Closti the Clam on their journey up the great River, named from the sound of her purring.
Rath Clan, sometimes called the Sons of Rath, the royal clan of primitive Haligland into which Kars Adon and Ked were born. The clan colors, which appeared on banners and in clothing, were red and blue.
Rattles, rotating wooden rattles, where the noise is produced by a wooden flange meeting a ratchet, which are traditional at the drowning of Old Ammet in the Holand Sea Festival. The rattle users are always small boys dressed half in red and half in yellow.
A Reader for the Poor, a book designed to teach working people to read. It was written by a clerk in Carrowmark who had little imagination. A typical page begins, “Ham beats the cask. He knocks in five nails. Will that make it hold water?”
Red One, one of the names for Tanamil the Piper.
Riss, a seaman aboard the flagship Wheatsheaf in the Holy Islands.
Rith, a boy’s name, fairly common in North Dalemark.
River, the mighty prehistoric watercourse which flowed north through Dalemark from a source somewhere near Hannart. It was said that the One made the River, and that the River was both the One and the soul of the land, and that it was the path of souls on their way to the sea. The River was destroyed by the One when he shook the land to rid it of the evil mage Kankredin. It only remains nowadays as two small rivers, the Ath and the Aden, and in the belief that the souls of the dead travel down the constellation of the River to oblivion in the sea of the universe.
Riverbed, the spirit land behind the great River, otherwise called the River of Souls.
Riverlands, the correct name for the prehistoric kingdom of Dalemark.
Rivermouth, the place where the great prehistoric River of Dalemark ran out into the sea in the north, through a delta of marsh, quicksand, and changing tides and currents. Its remains can be seen today in the bay between Aberath and Adenmouth, where there are still treacherous currents and constantly changing shoals.
Robin, the eldest child of Closti the Clam and Anoreth of the Undying, whose birthright was knowledge. Unlike her brothers and sisters, Robin passes clean out of all history and legend after the narrative of the spellcoats. It is possible that stories about her have been lost or attributed to her more spirited sister, Tanaqui.
Royal road, the green roads of North Dalemark between Adenmouth and Kernsburgh. Tradition said that each new monarch should make this journey on the old roads before claiming crown and kingstone at Kernsburgh.
Rugcoats, the poncholike garments of woven wool worn by men and women over their other clothing in prehistoric Dalemark.
Rugcoats for weddings were presented by a girl’s family in prehistoric Dalemark to a husband-to-be as a sign that the t
wo were officially betrothed; the groom then wore the rugcoat at the wedding. These rugcoats were always of specially fine weaving, usually with words all over. It was believed that the coat brought luck to the wedding, and possibly children, too. If the bridegroom did not wear the coat at the wedding, it was a sign that the bride would soon be either deceived or a widow. If the groom gave the coat back before the wedding, the betrothal was broken off.
Rushing people, the souls of the dead that hurry along the Riverbed toward the sea.
Rush mat, woven by Mage Mallard to deceive the King of the Riverlands. Weaving in any form is a potent spell.
Rusty, a ginger tomcat found by the children of Closti the Clam on the journey up the great River.
Sailing in grybo, Lawschool slang for being in the clear, without black marks.
Sard, a trusted soldier of the King of the Riverlands—trusted because he enjoyed killing.
Scap, Lawschool slang for the spring solstice.
Scarnel, a pipe made of pea or bean stalks, hollowed and varnished, traditionally played at the Sea Festival in Holand in South Dalemark by any number of amateur players. The sound is indescribably horrible.
Sea Festival, celebrated in autumn and called the Autumn Festival or Harvest elsewhere in Dalemark and peculiar to Holand in the South. Two images, one of straw and one of fruit, are carried down to the harbor in a procession of men clothed in red and yellow, draped with garlands and wearing traditional hats, accompanied by music from traditional instruments and by other lesser images; at the harbor with solemn words the two greater images are thrown into the sea. This is followed by feasting.
“The Second March,” one of seven tunes used by soldiers to march to all over Dalemark. “The Second March” has a jaunty tune and is generally more in favor in the North.
Sein right, Lawschool slang for the right to start grittling. The team with sein right could choose weapons and set up the first move.
Sending Day, at the Lawschool, the day on which pupils returned home for the summer. Pupils’ families were asked to attend the closing ceremony before they removed the pupils.
Sessioning, the Lawschool word for school term.
Sevenfold, a merchant ship based in Holand in South Dalemark which had the good luck to pull Poor Old Ammet out of the sea. Every man aboard was said to have made his fortune subsequently. Sevenfold herself was sold when she became old to a merchant in Waywold who renamed her Fair Enblith and was not particularly lucky with her.
Sevenfold II, a merchant ship sailing out of Holand in South Dalemark, so called when the first ship of that name was sold. Her cockboat was found by the yacht Wind’s Road. Like most Holand shipping, both Sevenfolds were named from the Sea Festival.