Writing to engage the mind and stir the heart.
Muninn's Keep Trade Paper (Word Alive, 2010) ISBN 978-1-926676-66-1
Pronounciation Guide
Characters Glossary
Characters Glossary
KEY CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
With literal meaning of name and age at first appearance in story.
Bertrm Bur-trum (glorious raven) 48 years old. Twisted and crippled from being thrown by a horse. Highly skilled with horses, Bertrm is Theodoric’s instructor with horses.
Dierdre Dir-drē (sorrow, wanderer) 15 years old. The young ‘wench’ of Mr. Gerhardt’s household, pregnant when Theodoric first becomes aware of her. A hard worker resigned to her lot in life.
Erhard Er-härd (strong resolution) Early 60’s make him a great age. White streaks the little hair he has left. A self-taught scrivener, (scribe) he has skills his master needs, but despises.
Holt Gerhardt Hōlt Gur-härd (from the forest / spearhard) 42 years old. Theodoric’s master. A harsh, powerful man with hands seemingly made to clutch a sword.
Theodoric Thorvæld Thē-ō-dō-rik Thȯr-vald (powerful people / ruler of the people) 15 years old. Disjointed memories, yet skilled in languages and with weapons. No beard when first introduced. Scarred from a flogging and a brand.
OTHER CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
With literal meaning of name and age at first appearance in story.
Æthëlrd Eth-ël-red (foolish one) 35 years old. Deceptive in size, in appearance much like Mr. Gerhardt. A cruel man with too much love for beer and ale. He has a deep, slow voice.
Burleigh Bur-lē (a field with knotted tree trunks) 26 years old. Idle drinker who later becomes a skilled blacksmith.
Cameron Kam-ur-un (Hooked nose) 68 years old. A wise old man Theodoric finds himself drawn to.
Chapman Chap-man (Merchant) 25 years old. One of Theodoric’s men-at-arms.
Chester Tnsmith Chest-ur Ten-smith (from the fortified camp / Tinsmith) 31 years old. A tinsmith.
Durward Morton Dur-wurd Mōr-tun (gatekeeper / from the town near the moor) 18 years old. A young, highly skilled warrior.
Erskine Er-skīn (from the height of the cliff) 26 years old. One of Mr. Gerhardt’s Men-at-arms. A completely loyal man, strong and skillful with arms, courageous in battle. He has a strangely broken voice.
Finlay Fin-lā (light-haired soldier) Dark-haired with a ruddy complexion—in marked contrast with his name. Finlay is the “watcher” who knows something of Theodoric’s past.
Glenine Glen-nīn (from the valley or glen) 22 years old. Wife of Burleigh. Timid, starved, afraid, grieving the loss of an infant daughter.
Guinevére Gwen-a-vēr (white wave) Infant daughter of Burleigh and Glenine—died within hours of birth.
Hamil Ham-ill (from the proud estate) One of the prisoners in lockup the night of Theodoric’s confrontation with Æthëlred.
Harlan Här-lan (from the long field) 28 years old. Runaway slave. Physically frail. A poet whose verses do not celebrate battle and warfare.
Ilsa Ill-sa (noble) Dierdre’s infant daughter.
Kenyon Ken-yun (white-haired, blond) 26 years old. One of Mr. Gerhardt’s Men-at-Arms.
Kïncaid ap Tïrrèll Kin-kād ep Tir-ell (battle chief / belonging to Thor) 28 years old. Leader of the Pict army.
Oöna Oo-na (united one) Relina’s nurse/teacher and Mr. Gerhardt’s whore, though only rarely summoned to his bed.
Pollard Pull-lärd (cropped hair) 24 years old. Runaway slave. A blacksmith with great muscled arms, a deep chest and broad shoulders.
Ralina Ra-lē-na (doe) 8 years old. The daughter of Mr. Gerhardt. Her mother died in childbirth.
Sheridan Shār-i-dan (wild man) 70+ years old. A bard and harpist. A man of great age and great wisdom.
Spittin’ Sheffield Spit-tin Shef-fēld (from the crooked field) 16 years old. Tall, gangly and arrogant.
With literal meaning of name and age at first appearance in story.
Bertrm Bur-trum (glorious raven) 48 years old. Twisted and crippled from being thrown by a horse. Highly skilled with horses, Bertrm is Theodoric’s instructor with horses.
Dierdre Dir-drē (sorrow, wanderer) 15 years old. The young ‘wench’ of Mr. Gerhardt’s household, pregnant when Theodoric first becomes aware of her. A hard worker resigned to her lot in life.
Erhard Er-härd (strong resolution) Early 60’s make him a great age. White streaks the little hair he has left. A self-taught scrivener, (scribe) he has skills his master needs, but despises.
Holt Gerhardt Hōlt Gur-härd (from the forest / spearhard) 42 years old. Theodoric’s master. A harsh, powerful man with hands seemingly made to clutch a sword.
Theodoric Thorvæld Thē-ō-dō-rik Thȯr-vald (powerful people / ruler of the people) 15 years old. Disjointed memories, yet skilled in languages and with weapons. No beard when first introduced. Scarred from a flogging and a brand.
OTHER CHARACTERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
With literal meaning of name and age at first appearance in story.
Æthëlrd Eth-ël-red (foolish one) 35 years old. Deceptive in size, in appearance much like Mr. Gerhardt. A cruel man with too much love for beer and ale. He has a deep, slow voice.
Burleigh Bur-lē (a field with knotted tree trunks) 26 years old. Idle drinker who later becomes a skilled blacksmith.
Cameron Kam-ur-un (Hooked nose) 68 years old. A wise old man Theodoric finds himself drawn to.
Chapman Chap-man (Merchant) 25 years old. One of Theodoric’s men-at-arms.
Chester Tnsmith Chest-ur Ten-smith (from the fortified camp / Tinsmith) 31 years old. A tinsmith.
Durward Morton Dur-wurd Mōr-tun (gatekeeper / from the town near the moor) 18 years old. A young, highly skilled warrior.
Erskine Er-skīn (from the height of the cliff) 26 years old. One of Mr. Gerhardt’s Men-at-arms. A completely loyal man, strong and skillful with arms, courageous in battle. He has a strangely broken voice.
Finlay Fin-lā (light-haired soldier) Dark-haired with a ruddy complexion—in marked contrast with his name. Finlay is the “watcher” who knows something of Theodoric’s past.
Glenine Glen-nīn (from the valley or glen) 22 years old. Wife of Burleigh. Timid, starved, afraid, grieving the loss of an infant daughter.
Guinevére Gwen-a-vēr (white wave) Infant daughter of Burleigh and Glenine—died within hours of birth.
Hamil Ham-ill (from the proud estate) One of the prisoners in lockup the night of Theodoric’s confrontation with Æthëlred.
Harlan Här-lan (from the long field) 28 years old. Runaway slave. Physically frail. A poet whose verses do not celebrate battle and warfare.
Ilsa Ill-sa (noble) Dierdre’s infant daughter.
Kenyon Ken-yun (white-haired, blond) 26 years old. One of Mr. Gerhardt’s Men-at-Arms.
Kïncaid ap Tïrrèll Kin-kād ep Tir-ell (battle chief / belonging to Thor) 28 years old. Leader of the Pict army.
Oöna Oo-na (united one) Relina’s nurse/teacher and Mr. Gerhardt’s whore, though only rarely summoned to his bed.
Pollard Pull-lärd (cropped hair) 24 years old. Runaway slave. A blacksmith with great muscled arms, a deep chest and broad shoulders.
Ralina Ra-lē-na (doe) 8 years old. The daughter of Mr. Gerhardt. Her mother died in childbirth.
Sheridan Shār-i-dan (wild man) 70+ years old. A bard and harpist. A man of great age and great wisdom.
Spittin’ Sheffield Spit-tin Shef-fēld (from the crooked field) 16 years old. Tall, gangly and arrogant.
