The Sorcerer's Conspectus:

A comprehensive view of Andre Norton's Witch World

by Lotsawatts


When Were the Tregarth Children Born?

 

The birth of the Tregarth triplets shortly after the end of Web of the Witch World could have happened at the turning of the Year of the Leopard and here's why:
On p70 of The Crystal Gryphon Kerovan narrates, 'It would seem, though, that their supply of such fearsome weapons as they used in the first assaults—those metal monsters—was limited.' 'We took prisoners, and from some of those learned that the weapons we had come to fear the most were not truly of Alizon at all, but had been supplied by another people no engaged in war on the eastern continent where Alizon lay. And the reason for the invasion here was to prepare the way in time for these mightier strangers. The men of Alizon, for all their arrogance, seemed fearful of these others whose weapons they had early used, and they theatened us with some terrible vengeance when the strangers had finished their own present struggle and turned their full attention on us.'
It must take weeks (at least!) to cross the ocean from the eastern to western continents by ship. In fact Joisan narrates in The Crystal Gryphon, p45: 'News from overseas is long old before it reaches us. But we had heard many times that the eastern lands were locked in a struggle for power between nation and nation. Now and then there was mention of a country, a city, or even some warlord or leader whose deeds reached us in such a garbled form they were already well on the way to becoming a tale more fancy than fact.' It is likely the grunt troops of Alizon captured by the Dalesmen would not have the cutting edge latest news either. It is possible the Kolder Gate might even have been destroyed in the Year of the Fire Troll and that this information is due to a combination of the delay in receiving the latest news and propaganda to keep up the Alizonder troops' morale.
Joisan then goes on to inform us 'The Sulcarmen had suffered some grievous defeat of their own two years since in the eastern waters.' The only thing this can possibly refer to is the Fall of Sulcarkeep. Really, that's the only thing that could affect the entire Sulcar race to keep them from their usual trading with High Hallack.
In the Annals of the Witch World omnibus it mentions in (Web of the Witch World) that "Simon knew again the doubts which had moved him months earlier when he had stood before the Council of Guardians and had given the opinion they had asked for: leave the things found at Gorm alone…" This is obviously a reference to the events at the end of Witch World
In chapter VII, p. 245 of the same book it seems that Jaelithe and Simon have been married less than half a year: "Could he blame Koris for this present single-mindedness which was like to imperil their whole cause? Objectively, yes. A half year ago Simon would have witnessed but not understood the torment which tore the younger man now." Since the events of Web of the Witch World result in the Kolder Gate being closed the triplets aren't going to be born at this time since their parents have had a relationship barely six months. It's unlikely Jaelith is even pregnant at this time, unless she has just conceived. There's certainly nothing in the book to indicate she's approaching her second trimester. Because of this it can be inferred that the events of Web of the Witch World take place about half a year after the end events of Witch World.
In the hardback edition of The Jargoon Pard there seems to be a reference to the Turning on page 57: "There has been a great warring throughout our world. The Dales have battled ruthless invaders and, after a long term of years, driven them forth again. Overseas those of our cousinhood have also been embroiled in a struggle that has left them near beaten into the ground. This war they won, but in the winning, they made such an effort with the Power that for generations they will not be able to summon much to their service again." The Jargoon Pard seems to take place entirely within the Year of the Werewolf, when Kethan is 14. It is impossible to know how long ago the Turning happened at this point but in any case it would place the Year of the Kobald before the Year of the Werewolf.
The Tregarth Triplets are at least 21 by the time of the Turning. Chapter II, Lost Lands of the Witch World omnibus page 31: (Three Against the Witch World) "He [Pagar] met defeat in the spring of the year we counted seventeen winters behind us" it is that year that Kaththea is taken by the Witches and Koris is so wounded he can no longer wield the Axe of Volt (pp. 32 -33). Pg 37: "It was the beginning of the second year after Kaththea was taken that the road to Lormt opened for Kemoc, but not in a fashion we would have wished." Thus the three would be 19. In chapter III (pg. 38) "But it would seem Pagar had no wish to drink cup-brotherhood with Facellian of Alizon". "However, it was that very act [putting the Power to concentrated use] which they determined upon the second year after Kemoc left us." This would mean the three are now 21. The Turning takes place that summer. If the news of the Turning spread relatively quickly (and it's entirely likely it would) those of Arvon could have heard of it by the end of the year or beginning of the next (and since they are Power-adept themselves they could even have sensed it).

 

Kyllan1, Kemoc, Kaththea

Kethan, Aylinn, Hyana

Eydryth, Alon

Firdun

Eastern continent Event

1010

Year of the  Serpent King

1011

Year of the Ringed Dove

1012

Year of the Bicorn

1013

Year of the Salamander

Something prompts Truan and Almondia to flee Estcarp

1014

Year of the Sea Serpent

1015

Year of the Pronghorn

1016

Year of the Kestral

1017

Year of the Pard

1018

Year of the Yellow Dwarf

1019

Year of the Mandrake

1020

Year of the Spitting Toad

1021

Year of the Winged Bull

1022

Year of the Horned Worm

According to The Magestone the Kolder invade Gorm (p.154)

1023

Year of the Gorgon

1024

Year of the Barrow-Wight

Simon Tregarth may enter the Witch World

1025

Year of the Cameoleopard

Sulcarkeep may fall, the Horning may take place late this year or early the next

1026

Year of the Crowned Swan

1027

Year of the Moss Wife

1028

Year of the Fire Troll

The events of Web of the Witch World probably take place late this year.

1029

Year of the Leopard

0

1030

Year of the Sword Smith

1

1031

Year of the Raven

2

1032

Year of the Night Hound

3

1033

Year of the Gryphon

4

1034

Year of the Fire Drake

5

1035

Year of the Hornet

6

1036

Year of the Unicorn

7

1037

Year of the Red Boar

8

0

1038

Year of the Hippogriff

9

1

0

1039

Year of the Roc

10

2

1

1040

Year of the Basilisk

11

3

2

1041

Year of the Black Adder

12

4

3

1042

Year of the Frost Giant

13

5

4

1043

Year of the Fox Maiden

14

6

5

0

Simon Tregarth disappears while investigating some suspicious islands. Jaelithe follows after him a few months later.

1044

Year of the Snow Cat

15

7

6

1

1045

Year of the Horned Hunter

16

8

7

2

1046

Year of the Lamia

17

9

8

3

Kaththea taken by the Witches.

1047

Year of the Chimera

18

10

9

4

1048

Year of the Harpy

19

11

10

5

Kemoc wounded and goes to Lormt

1049

Year of the Orc

20

12

11

6

1050

Year of the Kobald

21

13

12

7

The Turning occurs; much of Three Against the Witch World after the Turning likely takes place.

1051

Year of the Werewolf

22

14

13

8

The events of Warlock of the Witch World likely take place

1052

Year of the Horned Cat

23

15

14

9

The early events of Sorceress of the Witch World likely take place.

1053

Year of the Manticore

24

16

15

10

Most of the main events of The Magestone take place. In the book it is the Year of the Lamia, but this does not mesh well with the age of the Tregarth triplets at the time of the Turning and the events leading to the closing of the Kolder Gate; The end events of Sorceress of the Witch World likely take place.

1054

Year of the Weld

25

17

16

11

1055

Year of the Hydra

26

18

17

12

1056

Year of the Triton

27

19

18

13

1057

Year of the Centaur

28

20

19

14

1058

Year of the Opinicus

29

21

20

15

1059

Year of the Sumurgh

30

22

21

16

1060

Year of the Remorhaz

31

23

22

17

1061

Year of the Elder Tree

32

24

23

18

1062

Year of the Wild Hunt

33

25

24

19

1063

Year of the Troll-Dame

34

26

25

20

1064

Year of the Silversmith

35

27

26

21

1065

Year of the Bitter Herb

36

28

27

22

1066

Year of the Alfar

37

29

28

23

 

Sorcerer's Notes:

Andre doesn't go into detail about how long it takes to travel across the Witch World by walking, by horse or by ship. There must be weeks of time, months even between the events in Witch World and Web of the Witch World even though the narrative flow makes it seem like they all just take place within a short time. However, in Falcon Hope there is a reference that it takes at least two months to travel from Lormt to High Hallack.
Even with that said, the placement of the destruction of the Kolder Gate in the Year of the Leopard is to make the shortest amount of time between the fall of Sulcarkeep (the year before Crowned Swan) and the point where the Hounds run out of Kolder weapons.
We learn in Gryphon in Glory that Galkur was the reason the Kolder sent the Hounds into High Hallack in the first place. Even after their Gate was destroyed, other sources imply that there were still Kolder surviving in Alizon after that. With their Gate destroyed, they were no longer able to supply the Hounds with weapons, ammunition and supplies but the Kolder were still a power to be reckoned with. Also, Galkur was manipulating the Hounds with his dark powers which kept them heading for the Waste up until the Year of the Gryphon when he was defeated by Kerovan, Joisan, Neevor, etc. After that, the Hounds were driven out of High Hallack with the help of the Were-Riders.
Actually, in Three Against the Witch World chapter 15 Kyllan says, "I had hopes only of the Old Race uprooted in the south. A few, very few, of the refugees from Karsten had been absorbed into Estcarp. The rest roved restlessly along the border, taking grim vengeance for the massacre of their blood. It had been close to twenty-five years since that happening, yet they would not forget nor really make one with Estcarp dwellers." which places The Turning 24 years (and some months?) after The Horning. Which means they were born 3 years (and a few months?) after the Horning if they were 21 the year of the Turning. -MD


 Footnotes:
1. Kyllan is born at the last day of the year and thus, technically, a year older than Kemoc and Kaththea. For sake of simplicity they are listed as the same age in the table.


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Formatted and Edited by Jay Watts ~ May, 2022

Copyright ~ Andre-Norton.com

 

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