Hillcross: a small town in the hills of eastern Northwoods Province. It is the beginning point of hiking trails through the hills, and its shops and inns cater to hikers. Later Gifted make pilgrimages there to visit the shrine of Lady Kyla, located in the hills near Hillcross.
Kannia: The capital city of Delta Province, located on the Tiros River, south of Tirbat, the national capital, also in Delta Province. Kannia boasts a fine university and architectural school.
Lines End: Lines End is a small town in North Woods Province. Its importance lies in its being the northwestern terminal of the railroad, and therefore important out of proportion to its size as the point from which lumber and ore are shipped by rail to points east and south. Though it has some factories and ore-processing plants, Lines End is primarily a receiving station for the lumber and ore produced in the northern mountains, brought by mule and river barge to the town, and packed into box cars or on flat cars to be sent out by rail. Most of the train traffic to and from Lines End is freight, but there is usually at least one passenger car, very spartan in style and comfort, to carry passengers to and from other cities in North Woods and to connecting lines that go cross-country.
Port-of-Lords: Port-of-Lords gets its name from the shipping lords, heads of the big corporations that control the sea routes and international commerce. The capital of Port Province, Port-of-Lords is the center of the shipping industry on the west coast, which is the most important coast in terms of trans-oceanic trade. The "lords" are conservative and jealous of any power that competes with theirs.
Riverview: Capital of Crescent Province and a river port, it is an old city with stately homes. It prides itself on gracious living and is noted for its cuisine, especially of seafood dishes. It is a favored vacation spot.
Sharpness: A farming town and commercial center on the Plains River in Plains Province.
Southport: a city on the southernmost point of Southpoint Province and an important port for commerce with the nations of the southern continent. A ferry transports tourists and residents from Southport to the Timeless Isle, a popular tourist destination for its fine beaches, the elaborate mansions of the wealthy residents who live on its hills and the simple, seemingly unchanging ways of the residents of its single village, nestled at the foot of those hills.
Stansbury: The largest and wealthiest city on the east coast of Arucadi, it is an ocean port with a fine harbor. The city is old, with a rich history. Its fine old houses are showplaces, known throughout the nation for their splendor.
Tirbat: The nation's capital, a city on the Tiros River, Tirbat is located in Delta Province. It is well designed and beautiful, built in seven tiers with the majestic and imposing government buildings on its higher tiers, along with the splendid Temple to the Great Gods, the only such temple in all Arucadi. The temple is an architectural marvel, a major tourist attraction, and a repository of great art and sculpture. The top tier holds the Palace of Government, where the ruling Triumvirate live, have their offices, and hold court hearings.
Arucadian Calendar And Clock
The planet’s year is 361 1/6 days long. Arucadi’s calendar has 20 18-day months (360 days) plus one extra day, the Day of the New Year. On this day a celebration is held honoring Dor and Dora. Every six years there are two extra days instead of only one. In this case the second extra day at the end of the year celebrates the history of Arucadi.
The months are divided into three six-day weeks, five workdays and one free day. The days are called, unimaginatively: Oneday, Twoday, Threeday, Fourday, Fiveday, Freeday. There are a total of 54 weeks in the year. The extra day or days are not part of any month or week.
The day is divided into 18 80-minute hours. (The days are longer than earth days—the minutes are not the same length as earth minutes.) The day begins the hour before dawn.
Flora and Fauna
In addition to the familiar domestic animals, such as cows, horses, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats, and the wild animals, such as wolves, bears, panthers, coyotes, and owls, there are animals exclusive to Arucadi. Noster Valley has several species of animals unknown elsewhere, but there are also plants and animals throughout Arucadi that are not known in our world.
PLANTS
Babwood — a tree grown for lumber. Its hard wood is used in building and especially prized for furniture making.
Caronut trees — tall trees that produce nuts much favored for use in baking, cooking, roasting, and eating as snacks right off the tree. Animals love these nuts, so trees may attract bears and smaller mammals.
Chirberry bush — a shrub with tasty berries that ripen throughout the summer and into the early fall.
Conellum — a large tree with wide-spreading branches, popular for the shade it provides.
Fimble — a wild herb used in baking in former times, believed to have magical properties.
Saddleberry bushes — low shrubs with berries loved by animals, both wild and domestic, but not used as food by people.
Tormand plant — a large-leafed shrub, the leaves and stems of which can be pressed to produce a thick oil used in waterproofing materials.
Wistweed — a weed that grows along river banks and in marshland throughout northern Arucadi. Its small, delicate yellow flowers are sometimes gathered and used in making a tea believed by some to have medicinal powers.
ANIMALS
Arborbird – a small, long-tailed bird with a high, melodious song. Found in thick shrubs and low branches of trees.
Fellcats – large cats similar to the saber-toothed tigers of our Pleistocene. Nocturnal.
Ferebeast – antelopelike herd animals. The males stand as tall as a person at their heavily muscled shoulders. Their horns are powerful weapons, as are the formidable jaws with large grinding teeth. The smaller females have straighter horns and lack the barbed tails, but they, like the males, can deliver deadly kicks with their cloven hooves, and they have the same crushing jaws. Herds occasionally stampede, causing great destruction of anything in their path.
Graufish — A freshwater game fish, abundant in the streams and rivers throughout Arucadi and often fished for with hand-thrown cast nets.
Shalkors – large predatory birds that can prey on small or newborn livestock as well as on wild creatures
Woolerees – burrow-dwelling mammals the size of a badger. Shy and non-aggressive, they do not hesitate to use their long claws and dorsal spines to protect their dens and their young against invaders. They’ve been known to disembowel large predators and walk away unharmed.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
E. Rose Sabin lives in Pinellas County, Florida, where for many years she taught Spanish and English to middle school students. During those years she used her summer vacations to travel extensively in Mexico, Spain, and other Spanish-speaking countries, but since retiring from teaching to become a professional writer of fantasy and science fiction, her travels are limited mainly to science fiction and fantasy conventions. She has had many short stories published, and her writing has won several awards, including, in 1992, Andre Norton’s Gryphon Award for the unpublished manuscript of A School for Sorcery, a novel inspired by her teaching career.
In addition to the Arucadi series of books, her published works include the science fiction Terrano Trilogy novels Shadow of a Demon, The Gift of the Trinde Tree, and Touch of Death, and stand-alone fantasy novels Seduction of the Scepter, Were House, A House Full of Dreams, Deathright, and The Twisted Towers, as well as a fantasy novel for young teens, To the Far Side of the Forest, and a children’s chapter book, Grandy’s Grand Inventions.
As the Arucadi books were originally published by different publishers and not in chronological order, they are currently being revised and reissued in chronological order under the Arucadi Enterprises imprint, with new volumes, never before published, being added to the series.
Those series novels issued previous to this one are Mistress of the Wind, Bringers of Magic, and A Mix of Magics.
To learn when new volumes
appear, why not visit Ms. Sabin’s web site: http://www.erosesabin.com/ and sign up there to receive her newsletter? You can also read about her books on her Facebook author page.
And if you have enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on Ms. Sabin’s page on Amazon.
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