I drew back from him and looked up into his face. ‘This is no dream, my love. I am real. We are linked whether we are together or apart. I am here because of that link. Only if you die will the link be severed. Live, for me, my love. Draw on that which binds us, and live. For if you live, I can endure, I can do what I must do no matter where it leads me. Because I will know you are in the world.’

‘Elspeth, you are fading,’ Rushton said urgently. His face grew grim and desperate. ‘I will not let you go again.’

‘Then hold to life, my ravek,’ I sent, even as I slipped from his grasp into the darkness. Then I was lost in the shadow sea, and once again I felt the inexorable hand pressing me down ever deeper, but I fought it for the sake of the quest I must complete and for the sake of all I loved.

And I rose.

Characters of the Obernewtyn Chronicles

Characters of the Obernewtyn Chronicles

Ahmedri: Sadorian, brother of Straaka

Alad: Beastspeaking guildmaster, highlander

Alden: highlander, coercer

Analivia: daughter of Radost, sister of Moss and Bergold

Angina: Empath guilden and enhancer, twin brother of Miky

Ariel: distorted Talent, abilities unknown

Ari-Noor, Ari-Roth: shipfish

Atthis: Agyllian or Guanette bird or oldOne, Elder of the eldar, survivor of the Great White

Avra: Gahltha’s mate, leader of Beastguild at Obernewtyn

Bergold: son of deposed head Councilman Radost

Blyss: empath healer, heartfasted to Merret

Brildane: mountain wolf pack

Brocade: rebel leader in Sawlney

Bruna: Sadorian, daughter of Jakoby, bondmate of High Chieftain Dardelan

Caldeko: halfbreed gypsy bondmate of Iriny, executed by Herders

Cassy Duprey: Beforetimer

Catrin: coercer

Ceirwan: Farseeker guilden

Christa: Futureteller

Cinda: Norseland shadow

Daffyd: highlander, former guardsman of Henry Druid, brother to Jow, beloved of Gilaine

Dameon: blind Empath guildmaster

Dardelan: rebel son of Bodera, High Chieftain of the Land east of the Suggredoon

Darga: Herder-bred dog of Jik

Darius: Twentyf amilies gypsy, beasthealer

Declyn: coercer

Dell: Futuretell guilden

Descantra: she-wolf of the Brildane

Doktaruth: Beforetime scientist at Inva complex

Domick: once Coercer guilden, spy and bondmate of Kella

Dragon: empath-coercer, daughter of the Red Queen

Druid, Henry: renegade Herder priest and charismatic leader of secret community, father of Gilaine and Erin

Edric: coercer and farseeker

Elii: rebel leader in Kinraide

Elkar: Herder novice, bondmate of Cinda

Elspeth: Farseeker guildmistress, powerful coercer-farseeker- beastspeaker, known as ElspethInnle and the Seeker by beasts and as Elaria in gypsy disguise

Enoch: coachman loyal to Misfits

Erlinder: Beforetime scientist

Evander: son of Cassandra

Falada: Sadorian horse

Faraf: pony ridden by Elspeth in Sadorian Battlegames

Fedan: teknoguilder

Fell: teknoguilder

Fian: Teknoguild ward, highlander

Freya: empath-enhancer

Gahltha: guardian of Elspeth, known as Daywatcher, Avra’s mate

Garth: Teknoguildmaster

Gavyn: boy with unknown Talents

Gevan: Coercer guildmaster, leader of Magi performers

Gilaine: mute farseeker, daughter of Henry Druid, twin sister to Erin

Gobor One Ear: wolf of the Brildane

Grufyyd: father to Brydda Llewellyn, bondmate of Katlyn