The Hidden Kingdom Read online

  The Hidden Kingdom

  Kingdom of the White Sea Book Three

  Sarah M. Cradit

  Contents

  Northerlands

  Southerlands

  Easterlands

  Westerlands

  Hinterlands

  Duncarrow

  Midnight Crest

  The Consortium of the Sepulchre in the Skies

  The Council of Universities

  Tenestela

  Wastelands

  Dedication

  Prologue

  They Will Not Be As You Remember Them

  1. Many Worlds

  2. Obligations

  3. Absence

  4. Malfenza

  5. If Not Land and Love

  6. A Promise Spent

  7. The Business of the Rents

  8. Oldcastle

  9. Life and Limb

  10. Magic of Need

  To Protect and Destroy

  11. Too Close to Home

  12. Failure to Serve

  13. Restitution

  14. Intrusa

  15. The Golden Castle

  16. The Warwick Burden

  17. The Light

  18. A Prophecy of Three

  19. Ever the Gap

  20. The Strange Matter of Time

  21. What Loyalty Looks Like

  22. The Truth of My Heart

  23. Mother

  Death Has Offered Me Life

  24. The Five Sacred Vows

  25. Midwinter Rest

  26. Trumpets

  27. The Only Path

  28. Oldwin’s Gift

  29. The Bench

  30. The Passing of Yseult

  31. The Light Ender

  32. Until the Very End

  33. Defenders

  34. You Came Back

  35. Son of Decima and Isdemus

  In This World or the Next

  36. The Vow

  37. What Was

  38. Monsters

  39. The Half-Bloods

  40. At Long, Long Last

  41. I Will See to It

  42. A Fighting Chance

  43. Awaken the Lion

  44. The Vespertine Twilight

  45. Mortar and Pestle

  46. The Light Wielder

  47. For the One Who Cannot Fly

  48. The Rot From Within

  49. All That Remains

  50. The Day

  Epilogue

  In Memoriam

  Also by Sarah M. Cradit

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2021 Sarah M. Cradit

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

  * * *

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Regina Wamba of ReginaWamba.com

  Map by The Illustrated Author Design Services

  Editing by Emily A. Lawrence of Lawrence Editing

  * * *

  Publisher Contact:

  [email protected]

  www.sarahmcradit.com

  Northerlands

  The Northern Reach

  Lord and Lady:

  Lord Christian Dereham and Lady Aylen Wynter Dereham

  * * *

  Lord Holden Dereham is believed dead

  Lady Gretchen Dereham is missing

  * * *

  Capital:

  Wulfsgate

  * * *

  Standard:

  The jagged mountaintop

  * * *

  Siblings:

  Drystan, 17 (deceased)

  Lisbet, 15

  Pieter, 14

  Nyssa and Torrin, 10 (twins)

  * * *

  Greater Families/Stewards:

  Aldenwood, Turick, Hardeham, Frost, Horne, Arranden, Wynter, Haddenfoot, Claybourne, Weatherford

  * * *

  Key Towns:

  Whitecap, Midwinter Rest, Westport, Eastport, Salthill, Darkwood Run, Witchwood Cross, Wulfshead Haven, Torrin’s Pass, Dunwoode

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  Northerland Range, Icebolt Mountain, Torrin’s Pass, Forest of Lycana, Frozen Vale

  * * *

  Notable Northerlanders:

  Alric Dereham & Earwyn Blackwood Dereham of Wulfsgate

  Anabella Weatherford Rhiagain of Whitecap (wife of Darrick)

  Wregan Weatherford, Steward of Whitecap

  Steward Frost and daughter Elena of Midwinter Rest

  Southerlands

  The Southern Reach

  Lord and Lady:

  Lord Khallum Warwick & Lady Gwyn Dereham Warwick

  Capital:

  Warwicktown

  * * *

  Standard:

  The crested wave

  * * *

  Children:

  Ransom, 19

  Esmerelda, 18

  Niall, 15

  Garrick, 13

  * * *

  Greater Families/Stewards:

  Strong, Rutland, Bradford, Clayton, Garrick, Holton, Leecaster, Law, Nye, Thorpe

  * * *

  Key Towns:

  Sandycove, Iron Hill, Sandymount, Whitecliffe, Stone Mawr, Blackpool, Leecaster Bay, Hornsea, Goldthorpe, Port Worthing

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  The Golden Coast, The Warwick Throne, Drummond’s Cock

  * * *

  Notable Southerlanders:

  Jesse Strong of Sandycove

  Ryan Strong of Sandycove

  Hamish and Andrija Strong, Steward and Stewardess of Sandycove

  Khoulter Warwick, prior Lord of the Southerlands (deceased)

  Lem Garrick, Steward of Iron Hill

  Barne Holton, Steward of Sandymount

  Samuel Law, Steward of Port Worthing, & son Nathenial

  Erran and Mariel Rutland, Steward and Stewardess of Whitecliffe, & daughters Agnes and Esther

  Odrahn Warwick, Great-Uncle to Lord Warwick

  Easterlands

  The Eastern Reach

  Lord and Lady:

  Lord Cian Quinlanden

  * * *

  Lord Aiden Quinlanden is deceased, and died a traitor

  Lady Maeryn Blackwood Quinlanden is being held as a traitor, awaiting trial

  * * *

  Capital:

  Whitechurch

  The Resplendent Reliquary of the Guardians is located in Riverchapel

  The Consortium of the Sepulchre in the Skies is located in Briarhaven

  The Council of Universities are in Oldcastle

  * * *

  Standard:

  The oaken tree

  * * *

  Siblings:

  Eavan, 19

  Assana, 17

  Cian, 16

  Breandan, 14

  Dorrin, 13

  * * *

  Greater Families/Stewards:

  Oakenwell, Sylvaine, Forrest, Skylark, Rowan, Rosewood, Waters, Edevane

  * * *

  Key Towns:

  Streamstowne, Rushwood, Riverchapel, Oldcastle, Everleigh Pike, Everhart Thicket, Greenfen, Briarhaven, Bythesea, Oak Hill

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  Fionn’s Pass, Gap of Ever, The Sparkling Beck

  * * *

  Notable Easterlanders:

  Lord Corin Quinlanden and Lady Yesenia Warwick of Whitechurch

  Chasten Quinlanden and Mariana Skylark Quinlanden, prior Lord and Lady (deceased)

  Drystan “Ash” Sylvaine of Rushwood

  Enchanter Joran Rosewood of Greenfen

  Mads Waters, Steward of Bythesea (deceased)

  Stirling Oakenwell, Steward of Oak Hill

  Wyat Edevane of Oldcastle

  Rolph Edevane of Oldcastle

  Drystan and Raychelle Sylvaine, Steward and Stewardess of Rushwood

  Barrie Sylvaine of Rushwood

  Mortain the Sorcerer

  Westerlands

  The Western Reach

  Lord and Lady:

  Lord Brandyn Blackwood (interim)

  * * *

  Lady Asherley Blackwood is away tending to a personal matter

  Capital:

  Longwood Rush

  * * *

  Standard:

  The providing mother

  * * *

  Siblings:

  Hollyn (deceased)

  Emberley, 16

  Gabrianna, 15

  Brandyn, 12

  * * *

  Greater Families/Stewards:

  Tyndall, Glenlannan, Ashenhurst, Bristol, Blakewell, James, Stanhope, Richland, Derry, Wakesell

  * * *

  Key Towns:

  Wildwood Falls, Pine Bluff, Windwatch Grove, Whispering Wood, Valleybrooke, Greencastle, East Derry, Greystone Abbey, Newcarrow, Whitewood

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  The Seven Sisters of the West, The River Rush, Whispering Wood, The Whitewood, The Hidden Cave, Halls of Longwood, Sky Dome

  * * *

  Notable Westerlanders:

  Easlan James, Steward of Greystone Abbey & son Kaslan

  Gr
iffath and Clarissant Tyndall, Steward and Stewardess of Wildwood Falls, & children Marsh, Jonah, and Lyria

  Glen and Fleur Ashenhurst, Steward and Stewardess of Windwatch Grove, & children Meadow and Brook

  Mason (deceased) and Jasmine Wakesell, Steward and Stewardess of Whitewood, & daughter Storm

  Arturo Blackfen, Rush Rider

  Grand Minister Rhydian Tyndall

  Hinterlands

  The Land of the Medvedev

  Chieftainesses:

  Yseult de Medvedev, Drumain Clahnn

  Ohsmha de Medvedev, Saleen Clahnn (deceased)

  * * *

  Clahnns:

  Drumain

  Asgill

  Mayke

  Saleen

  * * *

  Yseult’s Children:

  Kian, 17

  Kael, 15

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  Forest of All

  * * *

  Other Notable Medvedev:

  Yanna de Medvedev of Clahnn Drumain (sister of Yseult, deceased)

  Eithne of Clahnn Saleen

  Duncarrow

  Seat of the Rhiagains

  King:

  The crown is presently kingless

  Oldwin of Ilynglass has claimed power

  Standard:

  The crossed swords

  * * *

  Rhiagains:

  Eoghan- Last King (deceased)

  Khain- Father (deceased)

  Florian- Mother (deceased)

  Dain- Brother (deceased)

  Assyria- Sister (deceased)

  Correen- Sister (deceased)

  Darrick- Brother

  Anabella- Wife of Darrick

  Stefan- Son of Darrick

  * * *

  Notable Rhiagains of Past:

  King Carrow the Original

  King Carrick the Dreamer

  King Karsein

  King Fynne the Good

  * * *

  Known Rhiagain Sorcerers:

  Oldwin

  Mortain

  Lysanor

  Isdemus

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  The sky dungeon, Isle of Belcarrow

  Midnight Crest

  Haven of the Ravenwoods

  High Priestess & Priest:

  Adynora Ravenwood is interim High Priestess

  * * *

  Castle:

  The Rookery

  * * *

  Sigil:

  The raven

  * * *

  Grandchildren:

  Alasyr, 18

  Ravenna, 16

  Ryandyr, 13

  Ashara, 11

  Nyana & Nevyn, 8 (twins)

  * * *

  Landmarks:

  Courtyard of Regents, Hall of Hours

  * * *

  Notable Ravenwoods:

  Varinya and Argentyn (both deceased)

  Rillyn

  Ryessa

  Corridyn (deceased)

  Aryc

  Sandyr

  Ailyn

  Rhosyn (defected)

  The Consortium of the Sepulchre in the Skies

  The Academy of Magic and Ruling Council of Elders

  Head Magus:

  Head Magus Tymagen

  * * *

  Location:

  Briarhaven, in the Easterlands

  * * *

  Adherents- students

  Enchanters/Enchantresses- magic practitioners who have finished their studies and been assigned into the world. May also be called by their discipline (i.e. Healers, Seers, etc.)

  Magi- Instructors of magic at the Sepulchre

  Elder Magi- A position of tenure that allows access to the Sacred Halls

  Head Magus- The head of the Sepulchre

  * * *

  Notable Magi:

  Magi Christian Dereham (on banishment)

  Magi Aylen Wynter (on banishment)

  Elder Magi Rorric Dereham

  Elder Thorsen

  * * *

  Notable Adherents:

  Brandyn Blackwood (on leave)

  Esther Rutland

  The Council of Universities

  Location:

  Oldcastle

  * * *

  Universities:

  Onyxcastle

  Emeraldcastle

  Crimsoncastle

  Ambercastle

  Azurecastle

  * * *

  Pupils- students

  Masters- teachers

  Wardens- keepers of certain posts

  * * *

  Notable Masters & Wardens:

  Master Frost

  Master Dilliswhane

  Warden Liddle

  * * *

  Notable Pupils:

  Balfour Dereham

  Breandan Quinlanden

  Dorin Quinlanden

  Fairchild Bristol

  Firth Garrick

  Rolph Edevane

  * * *

  Oldcastle Landmarks: