Recared Lieutenant in Sulingen

Sadoc Irregular fighter west of Herborn; would-be mage

Swemmel King of Unkerlant

Tantris Soldier contacting irregulars in Grelz

Vatran General in southern Unkerlant

Werbel Soldier in Sulingen

Ysolt Cook in Durrwangen

Valmiera

Amatu Noble returned from Valmiera

Bauska Krasta's maidservant in Priekule

Gainibu King of Valmiera

Gedominu Skarnu and Merkela's son

Krasta* Marchioness in Priekule; Skarnu's sister

Lauzdonu Noble returned from Valmiera

Merkela Underground fighter; Skarnu's wife

Palasta Mage in Erzvilkas

Raunu Sergeant and irregular near Pavilosta

Skarnu* Marquis; fighter in Ventspils; Krasta's brother

Terbatu Marquis in Priekule

Valnu Viscount in Priekule

Zarasai Underground fighter; a nom de guerre

Yanina

Iskakis Yaninan minister to Zuwayza

Zuwayza

Hajjaj* Foreign minister of Zuwayza

Ikhshid General in Bishah

Kolthoum Hajjaj's senior wife

Qutuz Hajjaj's secretary in Bishah

Shazli King of Zuwayza

Tewfik Hajjaj's majordomo

Qutuz Hajjaj's secretary in Bishah

One

Leudast looked across the snow-covered ruins of Sulingen. The silence seemed unnatural. After two spells of fighting in the city, he associated it with the horrible din of battle: bursting eggs, the hiss of beams as they turned snow to sudden steam, fire crackling beyond hope of control, masonry falling in on itself, wounded behemoths bawling, wounded horses and unicorns screaming, wounded men shrieking.

None of that now. Everything was silent, eerily so. Young Lieutenant Recared nudged Leudast and pointed. "Look, Sergeant," Recared said, his unlined face glowing with excitement, almost with awe. "Here come the captives."