Credin, the tidal wave which, at certain seasons, runs up the river Aden from the sea. A lesser wave usually runs up the river Ath at the same time. It is thought the name derives from memories of the mage Kankredin.
Cressing Harbor, a small fishing port to the northeast of the Point of Hark. It was the nearest landing for ships from South Dalemark and much involved in smuggling goods and people from both sides.
Cruddle, one of the traditional instruments played at the Holand Sea Festival, a sort of triangular fiddle with three gut strings. The player held the cruddle under his chin and scraped the strings with a loose horsehair bow. Cruddlers were seldom musicians. Their sole aim was to make as much noise as possible.
“Cuckoo Song,” a comic song with rather indecent words composed by Clennen the Singer.
Cwidder, a musical instrument rather like a lute but with some of the properties of an acoustic guitar. Cwidders are found in all sizes, from small trebles through medium-sized altos and tenors to large bass and deep bass. Moril’s cwidder was a large bass, but it could be used as a tenor. Cwidders were much used by Singers because they were both versatile and easy to carry.
Dagner, the elder son of Clennen the Singer and a noted composer. Dagner became Earl of the South Dales very early in his life but was so reluctant to leave his life as a traveling Singer that he only took up his earldom after fifteen years, at the urgent request of Amil the Great.
Dalemark, the fifteen earldoms of Aberath, Loviath, Hannart, Gardale, Dropwater, Kannarth, the North Dales, the South Dales, Fenmark, Carrowmark, Andmark, Canderack, Waywold, Holand, and Dermath, with the so-called King’s Lands (the Holy Islands, the Marshes, and the Shield of Oreth), that, together with their peoples and history, make up historic Dalemark. For prehistoric Dalemark, see Riverlands.
Dapple, the mottled gray horse belonging to Hestefan the Singer. It was blind in one eye. There was usually something amiss with Singers’ horses because they could only afford to buy them cheap.
Dark Land, the place where the souls of the newly dead gather before they make their way to the constellation of the River and on to oblivion.
Dastgandlen Handagner, the full name of Dagner Clennensson, who was named for the twin brothers of the Undying encountered by the witch Cennoreth. It was said that Clennen could not resist long names.
Derent, a prosperous town in the northeast of the earldom of Waywold in South Dalemark.
Dermath, the earldom in the extreme southeast of South Dalemark.
Diddersay, one of the Holy Islands.
Dideo, a fisherman of Holand in South Dalemark, one of the older members of the Free Holanders, who knew how to make bombs. Dideo put this knowledge to use for Mitt, and again in the Great Uprising, when he had a hand blown off by one of his own bombs, but he survived this and ended his days on the City Council of Holand.
Dike End, the birthplace of Mitt, farmed by his parents for the first six years of Mitt’s life. The name comes from the situation of the farm and the nearby village at the end of the great Flate Dike, quite near where it runs into the sea about ten miles west of the port of Holand.
Doen, one of the Holy Islands.
Doggers, Lawschool slang for top of the game league.
Doreth, second daughter of Alk and the Countess of Aberath.
Dropthwaite, a secluded valley at the source of the river Dropwater where the Adon is said to have hidden as an outlaw. A center of tourism in modern Dalemark.
Dropwater, after Hannart, the richest and most influential earldom of North Dalemark, situated facing southwest astride a wide fjord that is ideal for shipping, and sheltered by the mountains from the normal harsh weather of the North. The chief riches of Dropwater come from wool and leather goods, but it was mostly famous for its strong plum brandy and, above all, for the spectacular giant waterfall at the head of its dale.
Duck, the pet name of the youngest son of Closti the Clam, who later became famous as Mage Mallard.
Duke of Kernsburgh, a new title created by Amil the Great and bestowed upon Navis Haddsson. It was designed to ensure that Navis outranked all the earls.
Earl
1. The aristocratic ruler of one large segment of Dalemark. In the old days, prior to the reign of the Adon, earls held their places as officers of the King but, when Dalemark ceased to have kings, each earl became a small king in his own right, with absolute authority over everything in his earldom. Many misused this power, some brutally, and all went to great lengths to keep it.
2. The title of a clan chief among the Heathens of Haligland. This later became the modern title.
Earldom, a division of Dalemark ruled by an earl. It was said that earldoms came into being when King Hern divided his kingdom into nine and set nine men in charge, whom he called earls after the name of the clan chiefs, to govern under him. These divisions he called marks. Later six more marks were added in the South when Hern’s conquests had reached that far. The system worked well, provided the King was strong. The common people traditionally regarded the earls as only the officers of the King and continued to think this way even after there were no kings.
Earth Shaker, the title of Alhammitt, one of the elder Undying, who had become the god of corn and of the sea. The title might describe the sea, but it possibly also refers to what happens if any o
f the Earth Shaker’s secret names are spoken.
Edril, the younger grandson of Amil the Great and one of Maewen’s ancestors.
Egil, a hearthman in the service of Earl Keril of Hannart.