‘I have not forgotten our pact,’ he said to Drutheira.
‘Nor I, my love,’ she purred, uncoiling to reveal the curves of her sinuous body.
‘We will still kill him, and the dragon rider?’
‘Why else do you think Lord Malekith has brought us to this place?’
‘I honestly don’t know.’
‘Yes,’ said Drutheira, slithering to her feet. She padded over to touch Sevekai’s arm, sliding her hand behind his back and whispering in his ear. ‘We shall kill them both. Soon, my love. Very soon.’
CHARACTERS
The Dwarfs
Karaz-a-Karak
Gotrek Starbreaker – High King
Snorri Lunngrin ‘Halfhand’ – Prince
Morgrim Bargrum – Thane and Snorri Lunngrin’s cousin
Ranuld Silverthumb – Runelord and one of the Burudin
Morek Furrowbrow – Runesmith and Ranuld Silverthumb’s apprentice
Elmendrin Grimbok – High Priestess of Valaya
Forek Grimbok – Reckoner
Thurbad Shieldbearer – Captain of the Hearthguard
Furgil – Pathfinder and Chief of Rangers
Barak Varr
Brynnoth – King of Barak Varr
Nadri Gildtongue – Merchant Guildmaster
Burgrik Strombak – Engineer Guildmaster
Heglan Copperfist – Engineer
Nugdrinn Hammerfoot – Sea Captain of Barak Varr
Northern kings
Grundin – King of Karak Kadrin
Thagdor – King of Zhufbar
Luftvarr – King of Kraka Drak
Bagrik Boarbrow – King of Karak Ungor
Hrekki Ironhandson – King of Karak Varn
Southern kings
Varnuf – King of Karak Eight Peaks
Aflegard – King of Karak Izril
Brugandar – King of Karak Drazh
Hrallson – King of Karak Azul
Lesser dwarf lords
Valarik – King of Karak Hirn
Drong – King of Krag Bryn
Borri Silverfoot – Lord of Karaz Bryn
Drogor Zarrdum – Thane of the Lost Hold of Karak Zorn
Runelords
Feldhar Crageye – Runelord of the Burudin
Negdrik Irontooth – Runelord of the Burudin
Durgnun Goldbrow – Runelord of the Burudin
Agrin Fireheart – Runelord of Barak Varr and
one of the Burudin
Ungrinn Lighthand – Runelord of the Burudin
Jordrikk Forgefist – Runelord of the Burudin
Kruzkull Stormfinger – Runelord of the Burudin
Hill dwarfs
Skarnag Grum – ‘High King’ of Kazad Kro
Rundin Torbansonn – Champion of the Skarrenawi
Kruk – King of Kagaz Thar
Orrik – King of Kazad Mingol
The Elves
The Asur
Caledor II – Phoenix King
Imladrik – Prince of Caledor
Liandra – Princess of Caledor
Hulviar – King Caledor’s seneschal
The Druchii
Sevekai – Shade
Kaitar – Shade
Verigoth – Shade
Numenos – Shade
Hreth – Shade
Latharek – Shade
Drutheira – High Sorceress
Malchior – Sorcerer
Ashniel – Sorceress
Dragons
Draukhain
Vranesh
KHAZALID
The Language of the Dwarfs
Az – Axe
Az un klad – Donning one’s weapons and armour, readying for battle
Bar – A fortified gateway or door
Bozdok – Unhinged as a result of constantly banging one’s head on low roofs and pit-props; ‘cross eyed’
Brodag – A festival of worship to honour Grungni and the art of brew-making
Brodunk – A festival of worship to honour Grimnir and the art of battle
Brozan – A festival of worship to honour Valaya and the bonds of brotherhood between the clans
Bugrit – An invocation against ill-luck uttered by a dwarf who has banged his head, hit his thumb, stubbed his toe or some other minor misfortune; usually repeated three times for luck
Bruz – Gold that has a purplish tinge only visible by twilight
Bryn – Gold that shines strikingly in the sunlight; anything shiny or brilliant
Brynduraz – Rare mineral, a stone that glows in darkness
Burudin – The sacred order of runelords of the dwarfs
Chuf – Also ‘chuff’; a very old piece of cheese a miner keeps under his hat for emergencies; a declaration of exasperation, usually in response to foolish, stupid or remarkable behaviour
Dammaz kron – The Great Book of Grudges
Dawi – Dwarfs
Dawi zharr – Fire dwarfs
Dokbar – Gate of ‘seeing’; a runic artefact of the elder ages used to commune with dwarfs from distant kingdoms
Dongliz – Nethers; the parts of a dwarf’s body impossible for him to scratch
Drakzharr – A potent dwarf beer, a special reserve
Drek – Wastrels or bandits; also far, a great distance; great ambition or enterprise
Dreng tromm – A lament, usually in response to some terrible act or misadventure; literally ‘slay beard’ in that it refers to the act of a dwarf pulling out the hairs of his own beard
Drengudrakk – Dragon slayer or honoured title bestowed of any dwarf who has killed a dragon
Dunkin – Annual bath traditionally taken whether needed or not
Elgi – Elves
Elgongi – Elf friend; a mild insult
Frorl – Dusty gold with a farinaceous layer obscuring its brilliance
Galaz – Gold of particular ornamental value
Geln – ‘Get gold’ that is borrowed from others but not returned
Ghazan-harbark – Paddle-driven dwarf sea vessel
Ghuzakk! – Imperative shouted to mules, goats or beardlings to get them to move faster
Gorl – Gold that is especially soft and yellow; the colour yellow
Gorlm – ‘Green’ gold, which has achieved a patina of age
Glam – Especially shiny or silven gold whose appearance belies its actual meagre worth
Gronti-duraz – The stone giants, runic golems of the dwarfs; literally meaning ‘enduring stone’
Grunti’s – Dwarf undergarments (usually soiled)
Grobi – Goblins
Grongaz – Runic forge
Gronti – Giant
Grubark – Oar-driven dwarf sea vessel
Hnon – ‘Rainbow gold’; in certain subterranean light this gold captures a myriad of hues
Hruk – Breed of dwarf mountain goat
Kalans – Clans
Karadurak – Enduring stone through which the most potent of runes can be crafted
Karaz Ankor – Mountain Realm, the lands of the dwarfs
Karinunkarak – Gesture of protection and farewell, usually invoked when a dwarf is about to go to war
Klad – Armour
Klinkerhun – Common runes or ‘chisel runes’
Khazuk! – War cry of the dwarfs, ‘the dwarfs are going to war, the dwarfs are on the warpath’
Konk – Gold that is ruddy in colour; a large and bulbous nose
Krut – A discomforting disease contracted from mountain goats
Kruti flu – A discomforting disease contracted from mountain goats
Krutting – A ‘practice’ frowned upon by all dwarfs
Kurz – Pitted gold, very dark in colour
Ngardruk – A heinous beast of dwarf legend
Rhun – Rune, word of power
Renk – Gritty gold, often veined with lesser minerals
Ril – Gold ore that shines brightly in rock
Rinkkaz – Gathering of dwarf kings at the behest of the High King
Rinn – A lady dwarf or king’s consort
Runk – A one-sided fight; a sound thrashing!
Skarrenawi – Hill dwarfs; literally dwarfs of the sky
Skaz – Thief
Skryzan-harbark – Dwarf
