The Book of Magic (19 page)

Year 842:

In the remote realm of Woodroot, the old teacher Hanwan Belamir gains renown for his bold new ideas about agriculture and craftsmanship, which lead to more productive farms as well as more comfort and leisure for villagers. Some even begin to call him Olo Belamir—the first person to be hailed in that way since the birth of Avalon, when Merlin was proclaimed Olo Eopia. While the man himself humbly scoffs at such praise, his Academy of Prosperity thrives.

Year 894:

In Shadowroot, civil war erupts among the dark elves. When the fighting ends, most—if not all—of the dark elves are dead, the City of Light is destroyed, and Shadowroot's only portal to other realms is closed. What really happened remains a mystery that only the museos may fully comprehend.

Year 900:

Belamir's teachings continue to spread. Although wood elves and others resent his theories about humanity's "special role" in Avalon, more and more humans support him. As Belamir's following grows, his fame reaches into other realms.

Year 985:

As the Dark Prophecy predicted, a creeping eclipse slowly covers the stars of Avalon. So begins the much-feared Year of Darkness. Every realm (except the flamelon stronghold of Fireroot) declares a ban against having any new children during this time, out of fear that one of them could be the child of the Dark Prophecy. Some peoples, such as dwarves and water dragons, take the further step of killing any offspring born this year. Throughout the Seven Realms, Drumadian followers seek to find the dreaded child—as well as the true heir of Merlin.

Year 985:

Despite the pervasive darkness, Krystallus continues his explorations. He voyages to the realm of the flamelons, even though outsiders—especially those with human blood—have never been welcome there. Soon after he arrives, his party is attacked, and the survivors are captured. Somehow Krystallus escapes, with the help of an unidentified friend. (According to one rumor, that friend is Halona, princess of the flamelons; according to another, it is an eaglewoman.) Ignoring the danger of the Dark Prophecy, Krystallus and his rescuer are wed and conceive a child. Just after the birth, however, the mother and newborn son disappear.

Year 987:

Beset with grief over the loss of his wife and child, Krystallus sets out on another journey, his most ambitious quest ever: to find a route upward into the very trunk and limbs of the Great Tree. Some believe, however, that his true goal is something even more perilous—to solve at last the great mystery of Avalon's stars. Or is he really just fleeing from his grief? No one knows whether he ultimately reaches the stars. All that is certain is that Krystallus never returns.

Year 1002:

Seventeen years have now passed since the Year of Darkness. Troubles are mounting across the Seven Realms: fights between humans and other kinds of creatures; severe drought—and a strange graying of colors—in the upper reaches of Stoneroot, Waterroot, and Woodroot; attacks by nearly invisible killer birds called ghoulacas; and a vague sense of growing evil. Many people believe that all this proves that the dreaded child of the Dark Prophecy is alive and coming into power. They pray openly for the true heir of Merlin—or the long-departed wizard himself—to appear at last and save Avalon.

Year 1002:

Late in the year, as the drought worsens, the stars of a major constellation—the Wizard's Staff—begin to go out. This has happened only once before, other than in the Year of Darkness: at the start of the Age of Storms in the Year of Avalon 284. No one knows why this is happening, or how to stop it. But most people fear that the vanishing of the Wizard's Staff can mean only one thing: the final ruin of Avalon.

The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific entry, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

Strange Characters and Magical Terms

Arbassa 7

Aylah, the Wind Sister 8

Ballymag 9

Bumbelwy 9

Cairpré 11

Cwen 11

Dinatius 12

Domnu 13

Elen of the Sapphire Eyes 14

Eremon 15

Galator 16

Gobsken 17

Grand Elusa 18

Gwri of the Golden Hair 19

Gwynnia 20

Hallia (Eo-Lahallia) 21

Kreelixes 22

Light Flyers 23

Living Stones 24

Lleu of the One Ear 25

Lost Wings 26

Lost Years 26

Merlin (Olo Eopia) 27

Nimue 29

Ohnyalei, the staff of Merlin 30

Olwen 31

Pluton 31

Rhiannon (Rhia) 32

Seven Songs of Wizardry 34

Shim 35

Stangmar 36

Sword Arms 37

T'eilean and Garlatha 38

Treasures of Fincayra 39

Trouble 40

Tuatha 41

Urnalda 42

Valdearg, Wings of Fire 43

Wondrous Places

Crystal Cave 44

Dance of the Giants 45

Druma Wood 46

Fincayra (Lost Fincayra) 46

Forgotten Island 50

Haunted Marsh 51

Shore of the Speaking Shells 53

Shrouded Castle 53

Smoking Cliffs 54

Varigal 55

Strange Characters and Magical Terms

Abcahn 57

Abelawn 58

Aelonnia of Isenwy 59

Ahearna, the Star Galloper 59

Aileen 60

Angus Oge 60

Arc-kaya 61

Ayanowyn (Fire Angels) 61

Babd Catha, the Ogres' Bane 63

Basilgarrad, Wings of Peace 64

Batty Lad 66

Bonlog Mountain-Mouth 66

Brionna 67

Catha 68

Ciann 68

Coerria (High Priestess Coerria) 69

Cuttayka 69

Deth Macoll 70

Doomraga 71

Drumalings 71

Edan 72

Élano 72

Elements (Seven Sacred Elements) 73

Elliryanna Lailoken (Elli) 73

Ethaun 75

Faeries 76

Fairlyn 77

Fraitha 78

Ghoulacas 78

Grikkolo 79

Gwirion 80

Hac Yarrow 81

Halaad 82 Halona 82

Hanwan Belamir (Olo Belamir) 83

Hargol 85

Harlech 86

Harshna 86

Hawkeen 87

Helvin 87

Henni Hoolah 88

Hywel 89

Ilyakk 90

Imbolca 90

Kerwin 91

Kree-ella 91

Krystallus Eopia 92

Kulwych (White Hands) 93

Lady of the Lake 94

Le-fen-flaith 96

Lleu 96

Llynia el Mari 97

Lott (Master Lott) 98

Mananaun 98

Marnya 99

Maryths 99

Maulkee 100

Morrigon 101

Museo 101

Neh Gawthrech 102

Nuic 102

Obba and Ossyn 103

Ogallad the Worthy 104

Olewyn the Bard 104

Palimyst 105

Pwyll the Younger 106

Quenaykha (Queen) 107

Ruthyn 108

Scree 108

Serella 110

Society of the Whole 111

Tamwyn Eopia 113

Thule Ultima 115

Tressimir 115

Tulchinne 116

Uzzzula 117

Willenia 118

Wondrous Places

Avalon (The Great Tree of Avalon) 119

Brynchilla (Waterroot) 126

EL Urien (Woodroot) 127

Holosarr 127

Lastrael (Shadowroot) 128

Malóch (Mudroot) 129

Merlin's Knothole 130

Middle Realm 130

Olanabram (Stoneroot) 131

Portals 132

Rahnawyn (Fireroot) 133

River of Time 134

Spiral Cascades 134

Stars of Avalon 135

Y Swylarna (Airroot) 135

Strange Characters and Magical Terms

Dagda 137

Lorilanda 138

Rhita Gawr 139

Wondrous Places

Otherworld of the Spirits 140

Strange Characters and Magical Terms

Arthur (King Arthur) 143

Excalibur 144

Wondrous Places

Camelot 145

Earth 146