Page 30 of War Mage (The War Brides of Adrik #4)
Characters
Humans
Adara Flameborn: The female main character of War Mage. One of the most talented mages of her generation. She and her friends were conscripted into the war against Orik and she was the only one who survived. After this, Adara tried to kill Adalind and Rognar in revenge but failed. She succeeded in her mission with Urim to attack Grazrath and make him vulnerable and mated Urim for the sake of the mission, but they eventually grew to love each other. She is currently in Briacor.
Queen Adalind ka Woreki, née Cutter: The female main character of War Queen . She was originally born the peasant daughter of a woodcutter before two fairies blessed her with beauty and the love of a great king, which led her to be forcibly married to the evil king Yorian. She outlived him and is married and mated to Rognar, King of the Orcs. This makes her the queen of both Adrik and Orik. She is currently pregnant with the heir to both countries.
Pellia ka Roknir, née Santir: The female main character of War Mistress . The daughter of a duke. Pellia was forced to be the mistress of King Yorian when she turned twenty and was his mistress until he died, some twelve years later. She was appointed the Regent of Adrik. She is mated to Verrick ka Roknir, the orcish Regent of Adrik. Last seen in War Maiden.
Sir Marvik ka Woreki née Grimble: The male main character of War Maiden . The only son of House Grimble and the adoptive brother of Queen Adalind. He was presumed dead, but actually survived the war thanks to Dura. He was the only one to be kind to Adalind as she was growing up as a ward of House Grimble and is extremely dutiful and honorable, something that separated him from his parents and strained their relationship. He rose through the ranks to become Captain of the Blue Guard, the king’s personal guard, and is the most skilled swordsman in Adrik. He is the newly minted Duke Woreki. Last seen in War Maiden.
Ursa Mallay: The daughter of a lesser noble house, Ursa is the Head Lady-in-Waiting to Adalind. She’s quiet and not much is known about her personal life, but she was engaged to one of King Yorian’s personal guards who died in the war. She is now in charge of Garden Manor and the Bride Pool the orcs can pick volunteer mates from. Last seen in War Queen .
Dame Zera Orden: The only daughter of Count Orden and the only female knight in Adrik. Her appointment was only approved because King Yorian wanted to make sure that Adalind’s closest knight couldn’t have a bastard with her, which he was always paranoid about. Zera is extremely skilled but has a lot of doubts and insecurities. She was assigned to find the remaining Cabal members with Urim.
Orcs
Urim ka Churnok: The male main character of War Mage . The left hand of the king, known as the King’s Shield. His father was a human and his mother was an orcress. He has dark green skin, tusks, a scar on his cheek, and is a little over six and a half feet tall. He is quiet and crafty and the leader of Orik’s spies. He worked with Dame Zera to uncover the rest of the Cabal, before going with Adara on her mission to attack Grazrath. He is mated to Adara and is currently in Briacor.
Rognar ka Woreki: The male main character of War Queen . The king of the orc kingdom of Orik. His father was an orc and his mother is a troll. He has pine green skin, double tusks, ram’s horns, and is almost seven feet tall. He is very skilled in battle and rules well. His voice was ruined as a baby, so he has no sibilance . He is mated to Adalind.
Dura Ka Woreki: The female main character of War Maiden . An orcress shieldmaiden and Rognar’s cousin. She was presumed dead but actually deserted in order to save Marvik. She was the Keeper of the King and the General of the Southern Horde, but lost those titles. Her father is an orc and her mother is an elf and they are still together. She has lighter green skin, fangs, pointed ears, and is six feet tall. She has a weak healing gift, but it has grown stronger because of her constant use of it to save Marvik’s life. She is the newly minted Duchess Woreki. Last Seen in War Maiden.
Verrick ka Roknir: The male main character of War Mistress . The leader of the largest clan in Orik and also the leader of the largest contingent of the Horde. His father was an orc and his mother was a siren. He has gray-green skin, tusks, tattoos on his face and chest, and is almost seven feet tall. His sibilance is very strong, and he can use a siren’s death scream under dire circumstances. He is mated to Pellia. Last seen in War Maiden.
Gunag ka Strock: The right hand of the king, known as the King’s Axe. His father was an orc and his mother was a wood elf. He has lighter green skin, pointed ears, fangs as opposed to tusks, and is about six and a half feet tall. Considered pretty for an orc, Gunag is very insecure about being considered weaker than other orcs and this makes him hot-headed. He claims Dame Zera is his Ash’ka , but she does not return his interest. Last seen in War Maiden .
Friza ka Roknir: Verrick’s second-in-command. Her mother was an orcress and her father was a troll. She has forest-green skin with double tusks and two small horns and is around six feet tall. She is extremely accomplished as a warrior, having worked her way up to being second in the Roknir clan with not only her skills on the battlefield but with her reputation for loyalty and forthrightness. Last seen in War Mistress .
Korovi ka Roknir: The most skilled fighter in the Roknir clan. His mother was an orcress and his father was human. He has lighter green skin with one set of tusks and fangs and is a little under six and a half feet tall. He has no interest in leading and has never challenged for warchief, a fact that Verrick acknowledges that if Korovi did, it isn’t clear who would win. His valor in defending Pellia sees him granted leave to go to Garden Manor to find a bride at the end of War Mistress . Last seen in War Mistress .
Larek ka Lowek: A member of the Horde who Pledged himself to Adalind’s service. His father is a troll and his mother is an orcress and they are still together. He has pine green skin, double tusks, ram’s horns, and is seven feet tall. He is a little na?ve and dreams of glory. Turnog is his identical twin.
Turnog Ka Lowek: A member of the Horde that Pledged himself to Adalind’s service. His father is a troll and his mother is an orcress and they are still together. He has pine green skin, double tusks, ram’s horns, and is seven feet tall. He is an outstanding warrior but prefers books to fighting. Larek is his identical twin.
Misc.
Melelea Shadowsdottir: Rognar’s mother and Adalind’s friend, confidant, and lady-in-waiting. She is a troll and has gray skin, dark purple hair, small horns, and double tusks. She was mated to Rognar’s father, who was abusive, and escaped his plot to murder her when she was of no further use to him. She is adept at illusion magic and reads tarot cards along with the stars to see the future.
Orikesh Words and Terms
The King’s Axe: The king’s right hand, leader of his armies, and his personal bodyguard and occasional executioner. The advisor that carries out all open, above-board actions of the king.
The King’s Shield: The king’s left hand, leader of his spies, information network, and occasionally his assassin. The advisor that carries out all the shadowy dark deeds commanded by the king.
Keeper of the King: A ceremonial role of the king’s bodyguard and that of the king’s family. It is largely redundant because of the King’s Axe, but exists as a position of honor.
The Horde: The fighting force of Orik. Almost every adult citizen in Orik is a part of it, trained from childhood to fight. There are the Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, Southern, Southwestern, and Western contingents of the Horde.
Sibilance: An orc’s ability to spur arousal with their voices. It involves thrumming (a purring hum) that causes arousal, increases climatic pleasure when used during sex, and causes orc sex organs to vibrate. It also causes orc voices to be very smooth and pleasing to the ear.
Ka: Means “of Clan” i.e. Rognar ka Woreki is Rognar of Clan Woreki.
Garoth ya. Larok ta. Perthik o kari. Garoth ya : The traditional chant done during the Bride Chase to increase the libido and arousal of those involved. Seen in War Queen . Roughly translated, it means: Come to me. I wait for you. We shall be as one. Come to me.
Lir : Queen
Lor : King
Kor: Warchief
Mar: General/Leader
Stratkthri:
A type of undead that spreads curses through its bite. Very dangerous. Can be killed by removing its head and burning it so that it can’t come back.
Jarthaki : The Orikesh name for The Deep Wood. Translates literally to “Endless Trees.”
Killikar : The desert in the south of Orik. It is made up of sand dunes and little else. Going there without water is a death sentence. Translates literally to “Fire Sands.”
Adrikian High Noble Houses (Members With Council Seats)
Grimble Woreki: A newly revived house with a new name. A duchy. With the reappearance of Marvik, this house is now active again, with a seat on the Council. It is newly dubbed House Woreki, taking Dura’s family name because Marvik didn’t want his parent’s legacy to continue.
Kimber: A duchy. Headed by Stella Kimber, an accomplished, if not well-liked, politician.
Lentley: A duchy. Members of the house were found to be a part of the Cabal and so the house lost social standing and had to pay a steep fine.
Wilton : A duchy. Members of the house were found to be a part of the Cabal and so the house lost social standing and had to pay a steep fine.
Santir: A duchy. Pellia’s House.
Mallay: A new duchy. Was a barony. Newly appointed to the Council to replace House Howser. Lady Ursa’s House, which is run by her amiable brother. Most of House Strand’s holdings were given to House Malloy, in recognition of Ursa’s service.
Xerix: A duchy.
Dadrom: A countdom.
Zaimar: A countdom.
Bellmar: A countdom. Members of the house were found to be a part of the Cabal and so the house lost social standing and had to pay a steep fine.
Orden: A countdom. Dame Zera’s House, which is run by her strict father.
Fristly: A countdom.
Kopex: A countdom: Newly appointed to the Council to replace House Strand. It is run by Lady Wothea Kopex, a seventy-year-old woman who holds the title while her young grandson grows to adulthood. The rest of House Strand’s holdings were appointed to this House.