The Eighth Power: Book I: The Book of the Living

by Paul Lytle

  All of which just confused the issue further.

  Near the beginning of the Jonat Dynasty, Tianist monks began an intensive study of the calender, and discovered that, by the reckoning of the pre-Wars world, they were in the middle of the year 4896. To simplify matters all over the world, they planned to return the people to that calendar, but the Kings were hesitant. They had their own months, with their own names upon them, and had no interest in changing everything just for monks.

  And so the Tianist decided that it was more important to establish a unified calendar than revive the old one completely, and so they went to the powerful Kings, which were six in number, and declared that they would name a month after each of them. And since this calendar would be permanent, a new King would not simply take the names of these men off at a later date.

  This appealed greatly to the Kings, who unanimously agreed to use the calendar. The other six months would be named for a great Prophet from each of the six Gods.

  The year began with Morilyr, and though Morilyr was known to be a King, it is forgotten what kingdom he ruled, only that it was north of what became Norser. Trel was named for Trel Jonat of Aeresan, and Farselar was a King in Fahl, which eventually became Fahlin. Of the Summer months, Mar ruled, according to legend, Ilespin, which is noted for its heat and humidity, but there is no historical record of what he ruled, and more than likely the rumor was begun because of the month Mar’s tendency to be humid. Apir lead a kingdom called Laringar, which would be conquered only three years later by Fahl. Jenta was a tribal leader who had united the mountain people, and though it was no kingdom, but rather a loose alliance between families, his power was enough that he was added to the calender.

  The three months of Autumn and those of Winter were named for Prophets. Sepilar was the Tianist who supervised the construction of the Tower, while Osilar created the fountains inside the walls with his Flaran powers. They were the latest Prophets on the list, for Eith and Tunar, the next two, held their positions very soon after the Death Wars, and what they had done to make them worthy of such an honor is long forgotten. One was a Prophet of Serren, and the other or Ignar, though even that is only known because the other four Gods are represented by other names, and so these two must represent the others. Caras was a Prophet of the Whesler who began construction of an academy in Teddyn, a Castle in Fahl. Both the castle and the school were razed in 5705. Lastly, the Tarist Falinar was a Prophet who sacrificed himself to hold an army of ern away from a settlement on the west bank of Fahl. He lasted so long against them that the women and children had enough time to get away, but the men were slain when they went to reinforce the Mage.

  Since the year ran 360 days, and the week was eight days, the calendar fit evenly within the weeks, and therefore would the first day of Morilyr, which was the first day of Spring and the first day of the year, always fall on a Sun Day. Mar first, which began the hot Summer months, fell upon Ignar’s Day, for the flame was the symbol of the season; Sepilar first, the start of a cooler Autumn, was represented by the sea, and was always on Flarow’s Day. Finally Tarite’s Day, Death’s Day, began Winter on the first day of Tunar.

  The calendar is maintained for no other reason than that the Tianist monks like it. Since they are the primary record-keepers of the world, nearly all histories use the months and years described here. But still only scholars really have need of such a calendar, for the peasants still mark passing time by the seasons rather than numbered days.

  Appendix C – A Glossary of Names and Places

  Aeresan (AIR-ih-sahn): The easternmost kingdom in the known world, also the castle that controls the kingdom.

  Asylin (AS-ih-lihn): One of the three castles of the Last Stand.

  Ayrim Iylin: see Iylin, Ayrim.

  Cerinal Sea (SEHR-ih-nahl): The western sea that divides the human lands and the ern lands.

  Draffor (DRAHF-for): Current Lord of Lanshire, Aeresan.

  Drins (drihns): A family in Lanshire, Ignists.

  Drynor, Santon (DRY-nor, SAN-ton): Current Prophet of the Earth.

  Ern: Evil creatures thought to have been created by the Absence. They seem human except for their pale skin, lack of hair, and sharp claws and teeth.

  Eysentgath, Larras (EYES-ihn-gahth, LARE-rehs): Current Prophet of the Wind.

  Fahlin (FAH-lihn): A nation on the southern side of the continent, west of Aeresan. Its citizens are Fahlians (FAH-lee-ihns).

  Finea (fih-NAY-ah): A city in the Saparen Barony of Aeresan.

  Flarow (FLAH-row): The Goddess of the Sea, created by Tarite before the world began. She is depicted as a blue woman with flowing hair carrying a mirror. Her Virtue is her strong Moral Sense, her Vice Vanity. Ignar is her opposite. Her followers are known as Flarans (FLARE-ihns), and are recognized for their constant self-examination.

  Garrenmore (GAIR-ihn-more): A castle in Aeresan.

  Gerill Hyte: see Hyte, Gerill.

  Halin (HALE-ihn): A figure in mythology who went into the Otherworld to plead from Serren the life of his lover, a wish that was granted.

  Hyte, Gerill (HITE, JARE-ihl): A Thane of Saparen, Aeresan, teaches swordplay. A Flaran.

  Ignar (IHG-NAHR): The God of the Flame, created by Serren before the world began. He is depicted as a large and red man carrying the Sword of Justice. His Virtue is Justice, his Vice Extremism. Flarow is his opposite. His followers are known as Ignists (IHG-NIHSTS), and are recognized for their sense of Righteous anger.

  Iylin, Ayrim (eye-IHL-ihn, EYE-rihm): Born of Barrin and Josette Iylin in Lanshire, Aeresan, on 8 Osilar 8704. His name means “Someone who sacrifices.”

  Iylin, Barrin (eye-IHL-ihn, BARE-ihn): A farmer from Lanshire, Aeresan. Husband of Josette Iylin, father of Ayrim Iylin. A Serrenite.

  Iylin, Josette (eye-IHL-ihn, JOE-SEHT): Wife of Barrin Iylin, mother of Ayrim Iylin.

  Jeslin (JES-lihn): A servant of Gerill Hyte.

  Josite, Rignslin (JOE-SITE, RINES-lihn): A Priest of Serren at the Temple in Saparen, Aeresan.

  Kert (kurt): A city in the Saparen Barony of Aeresan.

  Lanshire (LAN-shur): A village in the Saparen Barony of Aeresan.

  Last Stand, The: A series of three castles on the Teriam River, built so close together as to control all traffic over the river.

  Morylin (MORE-ih-lihn): One of the three castles of the Last Stand.

  Mute: The nickname given to a shrouded figure, seemingly aligned with the ern.

  Rignslin Josite: see Josite, Rignslin.

  Saparen (SAH-pah-rihn): A castle in Aeresan, also the barony surrounding the castle. People from Saparen are “Saparians” (sah-PAIR-ee-ihns).

  Sarn: The second King in the Arinsore dynasty, killed in an early battle against the ern.

  Satyrin (SAHT-ih-rihn): One of the three castles of the Last Stand.

  Serren (SAIR-rihn): The Goddess of the Living and Spiritual elements, she was neither born nor created, but always was. She is depicted as a common woman with light hair and skin, or as the sun itself. Her Virtue is Faith, her Vice Complacency. Tarite is her opposite. Her followers are known as Serrenites (SAIR-ihn-ites), and are recognized for their absolute trust in the Six.

  Tarite (TAIR-ITE): The God of the Dead and Physical elements, he was neither born nor created, but always was. He is depicted as an ugly man, dressed in black, with a hood commonly over his face, or as the moon itself. Her Virtue is Self-Reliance, his Vice Skepticism. Serren is his opposite. His followers are known as Tarist (TAIR-ihsts), and are recognized for their work ethic.

  Tarrit Lake (TAIR-iht): A lake that borders Saparen.

  Teriam River (TAIR-ee-um): The river that divides Aeresan and Fahlin, upon which is the Last Stand castles.

  Tianon (TEE-ah-nahn): The God of the Earth, created by Tarite before the world began. He is depicted as a huge and slow man or dark skin with either a hammer or a book. His Virtue is Knowledge, his Vice Greed. Whesler is his opposite. His followers are known as Tianans (TEE
-ah-nahns), and are recognized for their desire to learn.

  Trosalan, Regis (TROS-ah-lin, REE-jis): Current King of Aeresan. An Ignist.

  Tsantle, Baret (SANT’l, BARE-eht): Current Prophet of the Flame.

  Verios, Dravor (VARE-ee-ose, DRAHV-or): Current Baron over Saparen, Aeresan. An Ignist.

  Vid (VIHD): The Absence. Created by an absence of the Gods. He is everywhere the Six are not, and works against them to destroy the world.

  Whesler (WHEEZ-lehr): The Goddess of the Wind, created by Serren before the world began. She is depicted as a whispy figure, unsubstantial in every way. Her hands are either outstretched or carrying a bow. Her Virtue is Charity, her Vice Ignorance. Tianon is her opposite. Her followers are known as Wheslerans (WHEEZ-lehr-ans), and are recognized for their generous spirit.

  Wyred (WIE-rehd): Current Lord of Kert, Aeresan.

  Xyn, Draughton (ZINE, DRAH-ton): Current Prophet of the Absence.