Aldania :- Mariedto the Duke of Kydor and has a son called Niallid after her brother, the murdered Drenai king. Was told that she would not be welcome back in Drenan by Karnak so she married Elphons.
Beric :- Eldicars alledged page Nephew. Everyone who sees him likes him believed to be Eldicar's "Loachai" (shield) Beric turns out to be the Ipsissimus and Deresh Karany, one of the leaders of the council of seven in Kuan Hador. Also is a meld-creature.
Captain Liu :- Comander of the soldiers escorting Matze Chai to Waylanders palace.
Eldicar Manushan :- A magician of great power thought initially to be the Ipsissimus ( a creature of great magical power) he is infact the Loachai (the shield for the actual caster ((it is the loachai that takes the punishment if something goes wrong with a spell.)))
Elphons :- The Duke of Kydor, father to Niallid
Keeva Taliana :- A woman who Waylander rescues from a group of raiders at the beginning of the novel. Becomes part of Waylanders household staff and works in the North Tower. Very good with weapons and when Waylander requests it she assists the priestess Ustarte to leave the palace.
Kysumu A Rajnee. A bodyguard from Chiatze who accompanied Matze Chai to Kydor after meditating and "listening" to his sword. The Rajnee are based on an old order known as Riaj-Nor. The original Qui Chong appears to Yu Yu.
Lord Aric :- Chief Magistrate to Kydor and allied to Kuan Hador. Lost part of his humanity when he regained his youth and then gained it back when the priest talked to him. He cuts his own throat when he learns what he has lost.
Matze Chai :- An old chiatze merchant who has worked for Waylander for years. Waylander surprises him when he tells him that he intends to leave the known world for a part where no one would know him and that he has left everything to Matze. Was tortured to discover who the mysterious Grey Man was revealing nothing until they gave him leperousy.
Mendyr Syn :- Chief Surgeon in Waylanders infirmary who waylander pays and gives funds to allow research. Very Skilled but is murdered when Ice Giants enter the Palace.
Niallad :- Son of the Duke of Kydor Elphon and Aldania. Last living descendent of Orien the Battle King, named after his Uncle whom Waylander slew in Waylander. Rescued from the massacre at the Palace when the rest of his family is slain he escapes with Waylander in the surrounding lands. He kills Waylander with his own crossbow when his horse is spooked by Ustarte. Waylander tells him to follow his heart and to trust his own judgements.
Ustarte :- Leader of the joined priests whom she aided to escape from Kuan Hador. They arrived at Waylanders Palace seeking a way to stop the gateway to Kuan Hador reopening but don’t manage to discover it in time. When Niallad kills Waylander she manages to keep him alive for some extra hours using her powers. Then sends him through to an alternate reality where he is able to save his family from the raiders.
Waylander The Slayer :- Known to the Nadir as "The Soul Stealer, is also gifted with the other name of Ox-Skull by an old chief. His real name is Dakeyras and he is the man who killed the Drenai King Niallad for Kaem. Known in this time as either the Grey Man or in company as the Gentleman he is unknown for his past deeds. He is killed by Niallad and survives long enough to end the life of Danesh and his family.
Yu Yu Liang :- A Ditch Digger who found a Rajnee sword and was selected to be the Pria-Shath and traveled to Kydor when he listened subconsiously to the sword.
My Views
Perhaps the best of the Waylander tales, exploring the psyche as well as delivering a brilliant conclussion to the Waylander trilogy. For some reason, Gemmells work seems to have taken a different direction, not just better conceived but also brilliantly written. His love for the Waylander character brings out the best in his descriptive and also shows that "no mountain is too big, no matter what the odds are". This for me is a definite must have book.
Others Views
