Roots of Darkness

• Berskium- powder mined near Reykfjord; taken by the Klaernar to maintain their large stature and strength

• Bjáni- fool; an insult

• Brennsa- fire whiskey

• Dúlla– ‘doll’- term of endearment amongst women

• Eisa Volsik- former princess of Íseldur; was murdered by King Ivar—her body impaled upon a pillar in the pits of Askaborg

• Eystri- the eastern-most territory of Íseldur

• Flíta- phoenix-like butterflies whose wings light up when they fly. In their old age, they burst into flames, a caterpillar emerging from the ashes

• Galdra- magic-wielding person; also called Ashen; outlawed by King Ivar

• Galdur- magic itself

• Gothi- a priest of the Ursinian religion

• Hábrók- god of battle, honor, luck and weather; one of the old gods of Íseldur

• Hevrít- an Íseldurian long-bladed dagger

• Hindrium- specialized metal that inhibits magical abilities of the Galdra

• Hóra- whore

• Illmarr- scaled vampire of the sea; can be lured by eel blood and felled by rowan arrows

• Íseldur- kingdom of Ice and Fire; the island nation where this book takes place

• Ivar Ironheart- the new king of Íseldur who seized the crown from King Kjartan Volsik seventeen years ago

• Kalasgarde- a town in the north of Íseldur, located in Nordur lands

• Karthia- an isle to the south of Íseldur

• Kjartan Volsik- former king of Íseldur; murdered by King Ivar using the blood-eagle method in the pits of Askaborg

• Klaernar– King Ivar’s specialized soldiers. Also known as the King’s Claws

• Kopa- large stone city in the northern parts of Eystri territory

• Kunta- cunt; an insult

• Lébrynja- specialized, lightweight armor made of tiny leather-like scales. Worn by the Bloodaxe Crew

• Malla- goddess of love, war and death; name of one of the moons; one of the old gods of Íseldur

• Marra- goddess of knowledge, healing and peace; name of one of the moons; one of the old gods of Íseldur

• Medovukha- a Zagadkian alcoholic beverage; similar to mead and made from fermented honey

• Myrkur- god of chaos and darkness; one of the old gods of Íseldur

• Nordur- the northernmost territory of Íseldur

• Norvaland- isle northeast of Íseldur; was overthrown by Ivar’s father Harald, who now sits on the throne

• Róa- a hot beverage served in Íseldur, made from the bark of the róabush

• Saga Volsik- former princess of Íseldur; was seized by King Ivar and raised as his ward; is betrothed to his son Prince Bjorn

• Skald– a poet who composes a type of Urkan poetry, often exaggerating the deeds of kings past and present

• Skarpling- a small, mouse-sized creature with quills on its back

• Skjöld– a dried leaf taken to treat headaches

• Skógungar– a forest walker; a peaceful tree-like creature who lives in the Western Woods

• Slátrari- ‘the butcher’; a murderer who burns people from the inside out

• Sólas- Íseldurian coin currency

• Svalla Volsik- former queen of Íseldur; was murdered by King Ivar—her body impaled upon a pillar in the pits of Askaborg

• Stjarna- ‘mother of stars’; Sunnvald’s wife; goddess of weaving, fertility, guidance; one of the old gods of Íseldur 

• Sudur- the southernmost territory of Íseldur; houses the capital city

• Sunnavík- capital city of Íseldur where Askaborg is found

• Sunnvald- the Sun God—king of the old gods of Íseldur; god of fire and might

• Thrall- enslaved person; in the kingdom of Íseldur they are most often brought in from Norvaland and marked on their inner wrist

• Urka- a large nation to the east of Íseldur; where the line of Urkan Kings, including Ivar Ironheart, originated

• Ursir- the Bear God worshiped by King Ivar and fellow Urkans; belief imposed upon Íseldurians

• Vampire deer- carnivorous deer who hunt mammals and drain their blood

• Vestir- the western-most territory of Íseldur; houses the Western Woods

• Wolfspider- large spider covered in shaggy gray fur

• Zagadka- mysterious island nation to the south of Íseldur