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Syndikat A cartel or mafia family

Sjef Head of a specific Syndikat

Rodegiver Third-in-command of a Syndikat; Master of Coin

Suen The magical substance inside the yolk of a dragon egg that gives humans (and some animals) special powers when ingested

The Black Guard The military of Esland

The Freelanders Exiles from Esland who live in freedom in The Banished Land

The Daughters of Silence A convent

The Reckoning of Flames The prophecy in which the world will return to the dragons

The Power Players

House Kolbeck of Norland Norland is a rainy, mountainous (Pacific Northwest–type) land and is divided into five relatively peaceful kingdoms, with House Kolbeck servicing each one in the dragon trade.

Kolbeck is run by the powerful and cold Torsten Kolbeck, along with his shifty brother and his studious eldest son.

The hero of Realm of Thieves —Andor Kolbeck—is the black sheep of the family.

He desires more power within the syndikat but is constantly blocked by his disdaining uncle, while his own father sees Andor’s hotheadedness and disorganized personality as a fatal flaw.

House Dalgaard of Sorland Bitter rivals of the Kolbecks.

House Dalgaard is a vicious syndikat that is partially controlled by the Kingdom of Sorland, which is the oldest Kingdom in the world.

Dalgaard is comprised of three brothers who run the syndikat—a set of twins and an older brother—and they aren’t afraid to get violent to get what they want.

House Haugen of Vesland Though not as powerful as the other two syndikats, House Haugen has still amassed great power and controls the suen trade in the West. This family is controlled by women, and the land of Vesland itself is a fertile, tropical climate that supplies food to the other realms year-round.

The Saints of Fire The dragon-worshipping religious cult that controls the eastern realm of Esland.

Followers believe that in the Reckoning of Flames the wards will fall and the dragons will spare them thanks to their sacrificial offerings (human and otherwise)—while incinerating the rest of humanity.

They believe the Saints of Fire will rule the world at the dragons’ side.

The derogatory term “Soffer” (Saints of Fire follower) is often used to refer to members.

The Dragons Trapped on the Midlands, a narrow, volcanic island in the middle of the ocean, the dragons are contained by magical wards…

for now. Their eggs imbue humans with magical powers, but only the most reckless—or desperate—dare to make the journey through the spooky, unforgivable terrain to steal eggs on behalf of the syndikats.

Sycledrage Clever and cunning dragons, sycledrages have no wings and are similar in size to an ostrich, with sickle claws on their feet that can slice a human in half. They lay ostrich-egg sized eggs.

Elderdrage These are the second-largest dragons—about the size of a T. rex with a 30-foot wingspan. Their eggs are also large: at least 2–3 feet tall.

Blooddrage Fast and winged, these cat-sized dragons drink blood. Their eggs are not much larger than a chicken egg.

Deathdrage At 40 feet long, these are the largest type of dragon, with the largest eggs (3–4 feet tall). Deathdrages are very rare.

Slangedrage Only rumored to exist, these 2-headed dragons measure up to 20 feet long and are said to lay eggs similar in size to sycledrages’.