Elizabeth Moon - Oath of Fealty

Kieri Phelans mercenary company

Jandelir Arcolin, senior captain of first cohort (short sword)
Stammel, senior sergeant of Arcolins cohort
Devlin, junior sergeant of Arcolins cohort
Are, corporal in Arcolins cohort
Dorrin Verrakai, senior captain of second cohort (short sword)
Selfer, junior captain of second cohort
Cracolnya, senior captain of third cohort (mixed: sword/crossbow)
Valichi, captain of recruit cohort

Tsaian Court: senior noble families

Mikeli Vostan Keriel Mahieran, crown prince of Tsaia
Camwyn, his younger brother
Beclan Mahieran, Knight-Commander of the Bells (order of Girdish knights)
Sonder Mahieran, Duke Mahieran
Rothlin, his heir and the princes friend
Selis Marrakai, Duke Marrakai
Juris, his heir and the princes friend
Galyan Serrostin, Duke Serrostin
Rolyan, the princes friend
Haron Verrakai, Duke Verrakai, Dorrin Verrakais uncle
Konhalt (loyal to Verrakai)
Kostvan (loyal to Crown)

Donag Veragsson, Marshal-Judicar of Tsaia (interprets Code of Gird in Tsaia)
Arianya, Marshal-General (commands entire Company of Gird)

Lyonya

Sier Halveric, Aliams older brother, inherited the title, vocal member of Council
Sier Belvarin, vocal member of Council, often disagreeing with Sier Halveric
Sier Galvary, vocal member of Council, in charge of treasury
Aliam Halveric, commands Halveric Company, Kieri Phelans mentor and friend
Estil Halveric, his wife

Orlith, elf instructing Kieri Phelan in taig-magic
Flessinathlin, the Lady of the Ladysforest, elven ruler of that elvenhome kingdom
Amrothlin, Kieri Phelans maternal uncle, elf

Carlion, armsmaster at Kings Salle

Aarenis

Aesil Mdierra, commander of Golden Company (mercenaries)
Jeddrin, Count of Andressat
Alured the Black, former pirate, self-styled Duke of Immer
Arneson, one-eyed captain hired by Arcolin as recruit captain
Versin, captain hired by Arcolin as junior to Cracolnya
Burek, captain hired by Arcolin as his own junior captain
Fenin Kavarthin, Kieris banker in Valdaire
Paltis, Kieris factor in Valdaire

What Has Gone Before

W hen Paksenarrion rode off into the fictional sunset twenty-odd years ago at the close of Oath of Gold, I knew I would want to return to her world someday and write more about the other characters there: Kieri Phelan, his captains Arcolin and Dorrin, Sergeant Stammel, and the rest. They had stories of their own waiting to be told. I never thought it would take this long to return but finally I was able to find the door and here we are, this time seeing the world through other eyes than Pakss.

The Eight Kingdoms north of the Dwarfmounts, and the land of Aarenis, south of those mountains, have had a seemingly stable relationship for generations. Northern mercenaries fought southern wars; southern merchants kept trade flowing over the mountains along the Merchants Guild routes and controlled most of the southern cities. The Elder Raceselves, dwarves, gnomeskept their distance from humans for the most part, except that elves and humans mingled in Lyonya, the oddest of the Eight Kingdoms.

But change is upon them, brought by hidden forces and their instrument, the paladin Paksenarrion, whose story is detailed in The Deed of Paksenarrion.

Briefly, Paks ran away from her familys sheep farm to become a soldier, joining Duke Kieri Phelans mercenary company in Tsaia. After three years of service in Tsaia and Aarenis, during which she matured from raw recruit to skilled veteran, she left to adventure on her own. Through many trials, she became a paladin of Gird, a holy warrior, and felt a call to return to the Dukes Company. There, the powers granted paladins led her to the discovery that her former commander was not a bastard duke, as most thought, but half-elven, and the true heir of the throne of Lyonya, next kingdom to the east.

Immediately, forces of evil tried to prevent Kieri Phelans travel to Lyonya, capturing him and his companions. Paks pledged to exchange herself and endure five days and nights of torment for his freedom. She endured and survived, to be healed by the gods she served. She followed Kieri east, knowing he would be attacked again, and arrived with additional troops in time to save him.

Thanks to Paks, Kieri Phelan becomes king in Lyonya, a role he could not have expected. He must leave behind those he ruled, led in battle, and cared for so long, and that parting is wrenching. In a widening ripple, everyone Paksenarrion met or came near is thrust into change, from the powerfulthe crown prince of Tsaia, the Marshal-General of Girdto the powerless, including a ragged, starving, one-eyed former mercenary in Aarenis.

As this is a new group of stories, Oath of Fealty is an alternate entry point to the story-universe. No one needs to read the earlier books before reading this one. However, if youre so inclined, all the earlier books are in print, and the Paksworld website, www.paksworld.com, has a complete list.

A small boy clambered from a cellar wall into an alley. He picked his way through the trash along the wall to a nearby street, walked quickly to the next turning, went left, then right. The street widened a little; the people he passed wore warmer clothes. He ducked into an alcove and pulled off the ragged jacket that had concealed his own unpatched shirt and tunic, folded the ragged one into a tidy bundle, and tucked it under his arm. Now he moved at a steady jog into the wealthier part of the city, nearer the palace. Finally he turned in to a gap between buildings, found the trapdoor he sought, and went belowground again.