The Crown of Dalemark (The Dalemark Quartet 4) - Page 92

1. The gods and closely related spirits of prehistoric Dalemark, whose images were kept in niches by the hearth and worshiped and placated daily.

2. The Elder Undying, who had the status of gods and whose souls were supposed to be enmeshed in the land. They were worshiped in numerous rituals throughout Dalemark which still remain as fragmentary customs and superstitions, particularly in the North. Though there never was any organized religion and only a few buildings were dedicated to the Undying, it is clear that everyone in early historic times, from the King downward, joined in rituals of worship or invocation to the Undying at certain times of the year. The Elder Undying can be distinguished by their ritualized names—e.g., the One, whose names are not to be spoken; the Weaver of Fates, et cetera.

3. People who live forever. There seems to be a gene of true immortality in the blood of Dalemark. Such people—for instance, Tanamoril or Manaliabrid—are born rarely, possibly one every three or four centuries, but do seem to exist. They nearly always possess unusual powers or abilities and often claim descent from the Elder Undying. It has been said that these immortals are the same as the Elder Undying, except that the Elder Undying unwisely allowed themselves to be bound into godhead by mortals wishing to worship them, but there is no proof of this theory.

“Undying at Midsummer,” a very ancient tune of invocation to the One at the time of his greatest power.

Updale, a small village in the center of the second Upland, north of Neathdale in South Dalemark.

Uplands, the most northerly section of South Dalemark. The land here rises in three steep escarpments to meet the mountains of the North.

Virtue, power, life force, or magic.

Wailers, mourners, women who traditionally sit over a dead person making sounds of grief. The sounds have strict rules, which have to be learned. Wailers are usually elderly women or those without children who have had time to learn the rules.

Wanderer, the one of the Undying who walks the green roads of North Dalemark, keeping them in good repair. He is the patron of all travelers and invoked even in the South at the start of a journey.

Warden of the Holy Islands, the title bestowed on Hildrida Navissdaughter by Amil the Great.

Warm Springs, mentioned in the spellcoats, halfway along the southern stretch of the great River and certainly of volcanic origin. Dalemark lies across two tectonic plates, and the land has always been prone to earthquakes and volcanic upheavals. Most historians believe that the shaking of the land by the One was in fact caused by the colliding of the two continental plates. There is evidence in Markind of a much earlier upheaval accompanied by massive volcanic activity.

Wars in Dalemark were frequent, but three only need concern us:

1. The prehistoric invasion by Heathens from Haligland.

2. The Adon’s wars when the Adon claimed the crown, one of the few civil conflicts in which earls from both North and South appeared on either side.

3. The Great Uprising, when Amil the Great took the crown, which ended in the establishment of modern Dalemark as one kingdom.

Watersmeet, in the prehistoric Riverlands, the junction where the Red River flowed into the great River.

Waystone, a flat, round stone with a hole in the middle, set up on its narrow edge to mark the start of a green road in North Dalemark. It was the custom to touch the waystone for luck at the start of a journey.

Waywold, the earldom next door to Holand on the south coast of South Dalemark.

Weaver, the lady of the Undying who weaves the fates and fortunes of mortals. She is said by some to be the same as the witch Cen

noreth.

“The Weaver’s Song,” a well-known nursery song that may originally have been an invocation to the Weaver.

Weaving was always to some extent a magical skill and not simply to do with making cloth. In early historical times each pattern woven was held to have significance. Note that Tanaqui takes it for granted that whatever she weaves will contain at least some words, usually at the hem or wrists of the garment, but quite often in bands throughout. See also Words.

“Welcome aboard, Old Ammet, sir!,” the traditional greeting from the crew that found Old Ammet floating in the sea, showing respect proper to one of the Undying.

Wend Orilson, assistant curator at the Tannoreth Palace in Kernsburgh, who claims to be one of the Undying.

West Pool, the second harbor of Holand in South Dalemark, shallower than the main harbor and protected by walls and gates, where the rich have always kept their pleasure boats. Harbor dues here are very high.

Wheatsheaf, the flagship of the Holy Islands fleet.

Wheatsheaf crest, the badge of Holand in South Dalemark, much feared in the time of Earl Hadd, when Harchad Haddsson gave each of his paid spies a small gold button stamped with this crest.

“Wider than the world, or small as in a nut,” a quotation from a song by the Adon, sung by Kialan on the road north. The song is called “Truth” and, at one level, describes the working of the cwidder bequeathed to Moril Clennensson.

Wind’s Road

1. An archaic term for the sea, used in spells and invocations.

Tags: Diana Wynne Jones The Dalemark Quartet Fantasy
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