abaya: long-sleeved robe worn by women, often with a headscarf or veil
açal: rattlewings, poisonous beetles
adichara: thorned trees that only spread their flowers in moonlight; their petals grant heightened awareness and strength
Adzin: a soothsayer, a “mouse of a man”
agal: circlet of black cord used to keep a ghutrah in place
Ahya (full name: Ahyanesh Ishaq’ava or Ahyanesh Allad’ava): Çeda’s mother
akhala: rare breed of very large horse, “widely considered the finest in the desert”; “giants of the desert”
Al’afwa Khadar: a/k/a the Moonless Host; men and women from Sharakhai or the desert wastes, sworn to fight the Kings
Alamante: Ramahd’s second after Dana’il
Al’Ambra: old set of laws the desert tribes had used for thousands of years; precedes the Kannan
alangual: half of a whole (couple), meant to “hold hands in the farther fields”
Alansal: Queen of Mirea
alchemyst: one who works in the ways of chemicals, agents, and reagents to produce magical elixirs
Aldouan shan Kalamir: king of Qaimir, Ramahd’s father-in-law
Alize: one of Okan’s riders in the Traverse
Almadan: capital city of Qaimir
Altan: a collegia student collecting the names of the thirteenth tribe, sent to his death by the blood magi, Nebahat
Amal: Çeda’s best dirt dog student
Amalos: a master of the collegium
the Amber City, Amber Jewel: where Çeda lives, a/k/a Sharakhai
amberlark: a pretty bird with a lonesome call
amphora/amphorae: narrow-necked bottle/bottles
Anila: a necromancer who gained her powers when Davud used her as the source of a spell that went out of control
Annam: one of the powerful elder gods who imprisoned Ashael
Annam’s Crook: a peak in the Shangazi
Annam’s Traverse: legendary horse race, held once every three years
araba: a horse-drawn carriage
araq: an intoxicating beverage with a strong smoky flavor
Aríz: shaikh of Tribe Kadri, cousin of Mihir
Armesh: husband of Şelal Ymine’ala al Rafik; “the man who’d done the most to shelter Leorah and Devorah after their parents had been killed”
Ashael: an elder god, abandoned in the world of mortals when the other elders left for the farther fields
ashwagandha: a healing herb
Ashwandi: beautiful, dark-skinned woman, sister of Kesaea
asir: individual asirim
the asirim: the cursed, undying warriors of the Kings of Sharakhai, members of the thirteenth tribe
Athel: carpetmonger, father of Havasham
Austral Sea: a large sea to the south of Qaimir
Avam: a cook with a food stall near the spice market
Bagra: physic of Tribe Rafik
Bakhi: god of harvest and death
Bahri Al’sir: a legendary adventurer, musician, and poet; a common figure in mythic tales of the desert
ballista/ballistae: a large crossbow for firing a spear
Behlosh: a male ehrekh, one of the first made by Goezhen
Beht Ihman: the night the Kings saved Sharakhai from the gathered tribes
Beht Revahl: the night the Kings defeated the last of the wandering tribes
Beht Tahlell: the holy day to commemorate when Nalamae created the River Haddah
Beht Zha’ir: the night of the asirim, a holy night that comes every six weeks. “The night the twin moons, Tulathan and her sister, Rhia, rose together and lit the desert floor.”
Bellu: one of the powerful elder gods who imprisoned Ashael
Benan: son of Shaikh Şelal
Bent Man Bridge: the oldest and bulkiest of Sharakhai’s bridges; crosses the dry remains of the River Haddah
Beyaz: a former King of Qaimir
Biting Shields: a nickname for the people of Tribe Rafik
Black Lion of Kundhun: Djaga Akoyo
black lotus: an addictive & debilitating narcotic
the Black Veils: of Tribe Salmük
the Black Wings: of Tribe Okan
Blackfire Gate: one of the largest gates into the old city; also the name of one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city
Blackthorn: Lord Blackthorn: pseudonym for Rümayesh as an opponent of Çeda’s in the pit
Blade Maidens: the Kings’ personal bodyguards
blazing blues: migratory birds that travel in great flocks, considered good luck
Blood of the Desert: bright red mites no larger than a speck of dust
Bloody Manes: a nickname for the people of Tribe Narazid
Bloody Passage: a massacre in the desert in which Ramahd Amansir’s wife and child were killed
the Blue Heron: Ramahd’s family yacht
bone crushers: the large, rangy hyenas of the desert
Brama Junayd’ava: a thief, Osman’s “second story man”
breathstone: one of the three types of diaphanous stones; it needs blood. When forced down the throat of the dead, they are brought back to life for a short time.
Brushing Wing: name of Kameyl’s sword
Burhan: a caravan master
the Burning Hands: a nickname for the people of Tribe Kadri
burnoose: a hooded mantle or cloak
burqa: loose garment covering the entire body, with a veiled opening for the eyes
caravanserai: a small village or trading post built on caravan routes; provides food, water, and rest for ships and their crews
caravel: sailing ship
Cassandra: a collegia student collecting the names of the thirteenth tribe in various records
Çeda (full name: Çedamihn Ahyanesh’ala): daughter of Ahyanesh, a fighter in the pits of Sharakhai, a member of the thirteenth tribe
Coffer Street: See: The Wheel
Corum: one of Ramahd’s men
cressetwing: beautiful moth; also known as irindai (See also, gallows moth)
Dana’il: first mate of Ramahd’s Blue Heron
Dardzada: Çeda’s foster father, an apothecary
Darius: one of the Moonless Host
dasheen: edible roots
Davud Mahzun’ava: one of Tehla’s (the baker’s) brothers
Dayan: shaikh of Tribe Halarijan
Derya Redknife: female rider for Tribe Rafik; “thrice Devorah’s age but also thrice the rider”
Desert’s Amber Jewel: a common name for Sharakhai
Devahndi: the fourth day of the week in the desert calendar
Devorah: Leorah’s sister
dhow: sailing vessel, generally lateen-rigged on two or three masts
Dilara: a blood mage and member of the Enclave, sister to Esmeray
dirt dog: someone who fights in the pits
Djaga Akoyo: Çeda’s mentor in the pits; known as the Lion of Kundhun
doudouk: musical instrument
Duke Hektor I: the brother of King Aldouan, slain by Queen Meryam for treason
Duke Hektor II: the son of Duke Hektor I and the rightful king of Qaimir
Duyal: the shaikh of Tribe Okan
Ebros: one of the tribes; a/k/a the Standing Stones
Ehmel: was to have competed in Annam’s Traverse but broke his leg
ehrekh: bestial creations of the god Goezhen
Emir: the king of Malasan, son of Surrahdi the Mad King
Emre Aykan’ava: Çeda’s roommate, her closest friend since childhood
Enasia: see: Lady Enasia
Esmeray: a blood mage who lost her ability to use magic when the Enclave’s inner circle burned it from her
Esrin: a blood mage and member o
f the Enclave, brother to Esmeray
falchion: short medieval sword
fekkas: a hard biscuit, can be sweet or savory
fetters: a length of tough, braided leather wrapped tightly around one of each fighter’s wrists, keeping them in close proximity
the Five Kingdoms: a name used to indicate Sharakhai and the four kingdoms that surround the desert
The Flame of Iri: a/k/a the Sunset Stone; a giant amethyst
Floret Row: Where Dardzada’s apothecary shop is
the Four Arrows: one of the oldest and most famous inns along the Trough
Frail Lemi: a giant of a man; suffered a bad head injury when he was young; is sometimes aggressive, sometimes childlike
Galadan: stone mason Emre sometimes works for
galangal: aromatic, medicinal rhizome of the ginger plant
gallows moth: beautiful moth; sign of imminent death but also, to those who know it as cressetwing or irindai, it is considered a sign of luck
Ganahil: capital city of Kundhun
Gelasira: Savior of Ishmantep; former wearer of Çeda’s sword
ghee: clarified liquid butter
Ghiza: elderly neighbor of Çeda & Emre
ghutrah: a veil-like headpiece worn by men; an agal keeps it in place
Goezhen the Wicked: god of chaos and vengeance, creator of the ehrekh and other dark creatures of the desert
golden chalice of Bahri Al’sir: from Tribe Narazid to the winner of Annam’s Traverse
Goldenhill: an affluent district of Sharakhai
Gravemaker: the name of King Külaşan’s morning star
greaves: plate armor for the leg, set between the knee and the ankle
Guhldrathen: name of the ehrekh Meryam consults
Haddad: a caravan owner from Malasan
Haddah: the river that runs through Sharakhai, dry for most of the year
Hajesh: Melis’s oldest sister
hajib: term of respect (not to be confused with hijab)
Halarijan: the tribe of Sim and Verda; a/k/a the White Trees
Halim: Lord of the Burning Hands (of Tribe Kadri); the tribe’s shaikh
Hall of Swords: where the Blade Maidens learn and train
Hallowsgate: one of the twelve towers spaced along the city’s outer wall; is “due west of Tauriyat and the House of Kings, at the terminus of the street known as the Spear”
Halond: a craftsman, wanders the desert looking for lightning strikes
Haluk Emet’ava: a captain of the Silver Spears, “a tower of a man” a/k/a “the Oak of the Guard”
Hamid Malahin’ava: one of Macide’s men and a childhood friend of Çeda & Emre
Hamzakiir: son of Külaşan, the Wandering King
a hand: a unit of five Blade Maidens
hangman’s vine: a distillation that can make one lose one’s memories
Hasenn: a Blade Maiden
Hathahn: Djaga’s final opponent in the fighting pits before she retired
hauberk: chainmail tunic
Havasham: handsome son of Athel the carpetmonger
Hazghad Road: See: The Wheel
Hefaz: a cobbler
Hefhi: carpet maker
Hidi: one twin fathered by the trickster god, Onondu; brother is Makuo. Hidi is “the angry one”
hijab: Islamic headscarf (not to be confused with hajib)
the Hill: where the Kings live; a/k/a Tauriyat
Hoav: driver who takes Ramahd to the inner docks
House of Kings: a collective name for the House of Maidens and the thirteen palaces on Tauriyat, the home of the Kings of Sharakhai
Hundi: the fifth day of the week in the desert calendar
Ibrahim: old storyteller
Ib’Saim: a stall owner from the bazaar
ifin: an eyeless, bat-like creature with two sets of wings, a creation of Goezhen
Irem: a spy for Hamid
Irhüd’s Finger: a desert landmark; a tall standing stone
Iri: an elder god, called three times before the sun awoke in the heavens
Iri’s Four Sacred Stones: a/k/a the Tears of Tulathan (Result of the breaking of the Sunset Stone)
irindai: beautiful moth; also known as a cressetwing, considered a sign of luck (But see also: gallows moth)
Ishaq Kirhan’ava: Macide’s father and Çeda’s grandfather, one-time leader of the Moonless Host, Shaikh of the newly formed thirteenth tribe
Ishmantep: a large caravanserai on the eastern route from Sharakhai to Malasan
Iyesa Külaşan’ava al Masal: Külaşan’s dead daughter
The Jackal’s Tail: smoke house known as a seedy place
jalabiya: a loose-fitting hooded gown or robe
Jalize: a Blade Maiden and one of Sümeya’s hand
Jein: Mala’s sister
Jenise: a Shieldwife
Jewel of the Desert: Sharakhai
Jherrok: shaikh of Tribe Narazid, a tall man
Juvaan Xin-Lei: albino from Mirea and Mirea’s ambassador to Sharakhai
Kadir: works for “a powerful woman,” i.e., Rümayesh
Kadri: See “Tribe Kadri”
kaftan: alternate spelling
kahve: a bean, a stimulant when ground and brewed to make a hot drink
Kameyl: a Blade Maiden and one of Sümeya’s hand
Kannan: laws written by the Kings and based on the much older Al’Ambra, the laws of the desert tribes
Kavi: a jeweler
keffiyeh: a cotton headdress
kefir: a milk drink
Kenan: one of the tribes
kenshar: a curved knife
Kesaea: a princess of the thousand tribes, sister of Ashwandi
ketch: small sailing ship
khalat: a long-sleeved, Mirean silk outer robe
khet: a copper coin
Khyrn: see “Old Khyrn”
kiai: a percussive sound used when striking an opponent
King Azad: King of Thorns; makes mysterious draughts, never sleeps
King Beşir: King of Shadows, can move between shadows
King Cahil: the Confessor King, the King of Truth; known to be cruel
King Husamettín: the King of Swords and Lord of the Blade Maidens
King Ihsan: the Honey-tongued King, serves as Sharakhai’s chief ambassador, known to be plotting and conniving
King Kiral: supreme among the Twelve Kings; “with burning eyes and pock-marked skin”
King Külaşan: the Wandering King, the The Lost King
King Mesut: the Jackal King, Lord of the Asirim
King Onur: once known as the King of Spears, more often referred to as the Feasting King or the King of Sloth
King Sukru: the Reaping King, controls the asirim through use of a magical whip
King Yusam: the Jade-Eyed King; sees visions in a magical mere granted by the gods
King Zeheb: the King of Whispers, rumored he can hear speech from far away, particularly when it relates to the Kings’ business
King of Glittering Stone: appears in the poem; a cipher
King’s Harbor: where Sharakhai’s war ships dock
Kirhan: Macide’s grandfather
the Knot: a district in Sharakhai; a “veritable maze of mudbrick”
kufi: a hat
Kundhun: a kingdom west of Sharakhai and the Shangazi Desert, a vast grassland
Kundhunese: a people, a language
Kundhuni: adjectival form
Kydze: (f) one of the best fighters to come out of Kundhun since Çeda’s own mentor, Djaga
Lady Enasia: Matron Zohra’s companion
Lady Kialiss of Almadan: a dirt dog, one of Djaga’s opponents
Lasdi: the sixth day of the week in the de
sert calendar
lassi: a yogurt drink
lateen: a rig with a triangular sail (lateen sail) bent to a yard hoisted to the head of a low mast
Leorah Mikel’ava al Rafik: Devorah’s sister, Ihsaq’s mother, Çeda’s great-grandmother
Lina: a girl in one of Çeda’s childhood memories
Lord Veşdi: King Külaşan’s eldest living son; Master of Coin
Macide Ishaq’ava: leader of the Moonless Host
Mae: a qirin warrior in service to Queen Alansal of Mirea
Makuo: one twin fathered by the trickster god, Onondu; brother is Hidi
Malahndi: the second day of the week in the desert calendar
Malasan: a kingdom east of Sharakhai and the Shangazi Desert
Malasani: inhabitant of Malasan
Masal: one of the tribes; a/k/a the Shining Spears
Master Nezahum: a woman on the faculty of the collegium
Matrons: healers and trainers from the House of Maidens
Matron Zohra: an aging woman, owner of an estate in Sharakhai
Mazandir: a large caravanserai on the southern route from Sharakhai to Qaimir
Meiying: a powerful Mirean blood mage, one of the Enclave’s inner circle
Melis: a Blade Maiden and one of Sümeya’s hand, daughter of King Yusam
Meliz: former dirt dog, Djaga’s mentor
Memma: like “mommy”
Meryam: Queen of Qaimir; sister of the murdered Yasmine, aunt of the murdered Rehann; a powerful blood mage
merlon: on a battlement, the solid part between two crenels
Mihir Halim’ava al Kadri: son of the desert shaikh of the Kadri, Halim
mind’s flight: one of the three types of diaphanous stones; is said to bestow the gift of mind-reading when swallowed, though the imbiber dies rather quickly
Mirea: a kingdom north of Sharakhai and the Shangazi Desert
Mirean: adjectival form
the Moonless Host: a/k/a Al’afwa Khadar; men and women of the twelve tribes that once ruled the entirety of the Shangazi Desert; sworn to fight the Kings
Mykal: Ramahd’s nephew and pageboy
nahcolite: a carbonate mineral, naturally occurring sodium bicarbonate
Nalamae: the goddess who created the River Haddah in the Great Shangazi desert, the youngest of the desert gods
Narazid: a desert tribe; a/k/a the Bloody Manes
Navakahm: captain of the Silver Spears, Lord of the Guard
Nayyan: First Warden before Sümeya, daughter of King Azad, Sümeya’s one-time lover
A Desert Torn Asunder Page 46