Joanne Harris
Runemarks
© 2007
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My heartfelt thanks go to the faithful warriors who stood by my side throughout all the adventures and misadventures that have befallen this book. To Jennifer and Penny Luithlen; to Peter Robinson; to Christian, who read it first; to Philippa Dickinson; to my fantastic editors, Nancy Siscoe and Sue Cook; to Melissa Nelson for the jacket design; and to Judith Haut and Noreen Marchisi for publicity. To my P.A., Anne, who runs my life; to Mark, who runs the Web site; and to Kevin, who runs everything else. Most of all, I am grateful to my daughter, Anouchka, who pestered me constantly for four years until I finished this story to her complete satisfaction…
CHARACTERS
VILLAGERS
Maddy Smith, a village witch
Jed Smith, a smith
Mae Smith, a brainless beauty
Adam Scattergood, a bully
Mrs. Scattergood, an innkeeper
Dorian Scattergood, the black sheep of the family
Crazy Nan Fey, a midwife; reputed to be imaginative
Nat Parson, a parson
Ethelberta Parson, his wife
Torval Bishop, his immediate superior
Matt Law, a lawman
DEVOTEES OF THE ORDER
Examiner Number 4421974, Examiner of the Order
Magister Number 73838, Magister of the Order
Magister Number 369, Magister Emeritus of the Order
Magister Number 262, Magister of the Order
Magister Number 23, Magister of the Order
GODS (VANIR)
Skadi, of the Ice People, bride of Njord, the Huntress; goddess of destruction; principal enemy of Loki
Bragi, god of poetry and song; has no reason to love Loki
Idun, his wife, goddess of youth and plenty; was once abducted by Loki and handed over to the Ice People
Freyja, goddess of desire; once mortally insulted by Loki
Frey, the Reaper, her brother; no friend to Loki
Heimdall, golden-toothed sentinel of the gods; hates Loki
Njord, sea god, once married to Skadi but now separated due to irreconcilable differences; agrees with her on a single subject-dislike of Loki
GODS (?SIR – SEER-FOLK)
Odin, chief of the ?sir, blood brother of-and ultimately betrayed by-Loki
Frigg, his wife; lost her son because of Loki
Thor, the Thunderer, son of Odin; has more than one bone to pick with Loki
Sif, his wife; once went bald because of Loki
Tyr, god of war; lost his hand because of Loki
Balder, son of Frigg; died because of Loki
Loki
OTHERS
Sugar-and-Sack, a goblin
Hel, Mistress of the Underworld
Surt, ruler of World Beyond, Guardian of the Black Fortress
Jormungand, the World Serpent
Fat Lizzy, a potbellied sow
The Nameless
RUNES OF THE ELDER SCRIPT
Fe: Wealth, cattle, property, success
