Kirith Kirin (The City Behind the Stars)

by Jim Grimsley

  We were quiet, wandering. Nothing to say, only a feeling of peace and completion that we could think of as something we had earned. By then we had been together a long time, and his thoughts were as comfortable to me as mine were to him.

  “I can begin to think it was worth it,” he said. “To feel how peaceful this night is.” He meant more, of course; he meant that the crops were growing, and the Vermish changes were being wiped slowly out of people, and sunlight was falling over grass as it used to, and there were only the usual problems to deal with, like the Charnos Guild and the troublesome new navy. He meant he was happy to see a sense of the ordinary restored to Aeryn, and now that he knew the work was well begun, he could feel a sense of normalcy himself.

  For me, standing there, I could agree with him, but I had nothing to add. To my family, for whom the beginning of my adventure marked the end of their lives, was our peace worth their suffering, their violent ends? One can’t weigh that kind of imbalance in a scale.

  We began in those years and after to celebrate Chanii, in memory of the Long War and all that we lost in it. Kirith Kirin began the ceremony quietly when he dedicated the site of Genfynnel as a perpetual park; and after that, each year, the remembrance continued there and spread to other places. People of a certain age make a pilgrimage to the Laeredon acropolis and sleep the night in the park. Kirith Kirin said we should never forget that war, and we never have, while he was with us or after. We celebrate on the darkest day of winter, knowing that the suns that shine on us will renew the year again, as we ourselves renewed our world after its longest winter.

  We have left the scar of Aerfax exactly as it was when Drudaen brought the fortress down. Of all the rooms in all the buildings in all the named places of Aeryn, I have never been back to that room, nameless, where I slept. Sometimes, even now, I dream I am still there, listening to the sea, and I am trying in the dream to wake myself, because the Wizard is still outside and I have to get rid of him, before he does any more harm. Finally I do wake up, into the real night, and if I’m in Inniscaudra I go to Ellebren Tower and sit on the High Place, and if I’m in Chalianthrothe I go to the room of the three circles. I listen to the music that is all there is, and I find peace again.

  Appendices

  1: Glossary

  Acht: (AHKT) A ritual poison used by the Svyssn in the ceremonial death of the Husband.

  Ae: (EYE) High; also, mountain; in some contexts, a people or nation

  Aediamysaar: (Eye-dee-AM-i-sar) Mt. Diamysaar, the Mount of God's Sisters, site of a device used in magic, in Arthen

  Aegul: (EYE-gul) The High Stair, linking Domren with the North Wall and the Deeps of Thenduril at Inniscaudra

  Aelaren: (Eye-LAR-en) The High Walk, a stone bridge linking Evaedren with Idren at Inniscaudra

  Aerfax: (AIR-fax) The fortress on the southern spur of the Black Spur Mountains; the High Place there is a Tower called Senecaur, but the name Aerfax is also often used for the Tower

  Aeryn: (AIR-in) The kingdom outside Arthen

  Ajnur, Battle of: (AJH-nur) The Battle fought between the Woodland Army and the Verm Army for control of and passage through Ajnur Gap; the story is told in Kirithmar

  Amataxa: (Am-a-TAX-a) A region near Cordyssa

  Amri: (AM-ree) The Venladrii girl who serves as kyyvi

  An: (An) The sea

  Aneseveroth: (An-e-SEH-ve-roth) The name given to Kinth's Farm after the long war

  Angoroe: (An-GOR-oh) The passage between Arthen and the western mountains

  Aniwetok: (An-i-we-TOK) The mayor of Charnos, one of the city burghers.

  Anrex Valley: (AN-rex)A valley in the central Fenax where Kiril Karsten led troops who, with the aid of an army from Drii, encircled the Southern forces and massacred them.

  Antelek River: (AN-te-lek)The river flowing between Lake Mur and Lake Dyvis, flowing beyond under the northern arm of Black Spur Mountains to become the Naug

  Anykos: (An-EE-kos) The last month of the year

  Anyn: (AN-in) The great bay in south Aeryn enclosed by the Black Spur Mountains and the Arossan Peninsula

  Arossan Peninsula: (Ah-ROS-ahn) The southern peninsula which forms the eastern shore of the Bay of Anyn; the name has fallen out of use in Jessex's day since Arossa is then largely occupied by New Ivyssa and the Isar delta

  Arroth: (AIR-oth) The City on Lake Mur, principal home of Kentha Nurysem; afterward, the City of the Verm, Vermhyloc

  Arsk: (Arsk) A village where the southern road forks, running south to Ivyssa and east to Fort Pemuntnir

  Artefax: (AR-te-fax)A daughter of the King Horse belonging to Kiril Karsten

  Arth Hills: (Arth) A region in Arthen south of Nevyssan. This is the oldest country in the Woodland, the home of the Eldest Tree.

  Arthen: (AR-then) The oldest of created places, a forest in the north of Aeryn.

  Asfer: (ASS-fer) A type of leaf dried and used as a painkiller

  Asfodel: (ASS-foh-del) A flowering grass whose purple blossoms sometimes grow so close together they form a lush carpet in hill country; the grass does not do well in hotter climates.

  Athryn Ardfalla: (ATH-rin Ard-FA-la)Queen of Aeryn

  Authralaren: (OUTH-ra-LA-ren)The processional walk to the Authra at Inniscaudra

  Bald Hills: (Bald) The hills at the northern end of Charnosdilimur

  Bremn: (BREM-neh) The fortress on Mount Bremn in Cordyssa, in which Queen Nauthren housed her garrison during the days of the Queen's Ban.

  Briidoc: (BREE-dok) A region of Turis, in the North

  Brisnumen: (Bris-NOO-menA fortress on the Fenax, close to Drii

  Bruinysk: (BROO-in-isk) A village at North Bridge, where the Queen kept many bridges and where much merchandise was shipped south from the Fenax

  Brun: (Broon) Lady of Ivyssa

  Calgiri: (Cal-GEE-ree)One of the two mountains within the walls of Cordyssa, on which many noble folk had estates. At the top of Calgiri is the house of Ren Villex, lord of the city.

  Casun: (Cass-OON) Cloak, robe without sleeves

  Chaenhalii: (Khayn-ha-LEE) Literally, “long march”, the name given to the march of Kirith Kirin's army from Genfynnel to Aerfax-upon-Kleeiom. The term's inclusion in the Kirithmar codifies the name. Called here An Chaenhalii, the Long March to the Sea.

  Chalianthrothe: (Cha-lee-an-THROW-th) A house and lands in the Onge forest, later, part of the holdings of Jessex Yron; a gift to Jurel Durassa from the Orloc, who built it; means, 'little jewel', in the language of the Orloc.

  Chanii: (Cha-NEE) Remembrance day for the Long War

  Charnos: (CHAR-nos) The military harbor and city between Karns and Cuthunre Shore on the Bay of Anyn

  Chasens, chasyns: (CHAY-sens) Tervan-devised columns which support tall buildings, especially well known in Inniscaudra; also used in the construction of magical structures like the Shenesoeniisae, the chasyns were reinforced with runes

  Chevondraen: (CHEH-von-drain) A Venladrii settlement on the shores of Lake Dyvys

  Chorval: (Chor-VAL) Lord Nivra, Nivri follower of Daerdruen, the husband of Lady Brun

  Choveniiz: (Choh-ve-NEEZ) The lifetime of God, eternity; also shoveniiz, choveniis, shoveniis

  Chulion: (CHOOL-yon)The stronghold of the YY-Sisters, the fortress and palace of the Diamysaar in the distant mountains

  Chunombrae: (Choo-nom-BRAY)One of the Naming Fields in Arthen; a variant, Jhunombrae, was taken by the Tervan as the name for their chief city under the mountains; later, the Anynae named the citadel of Charnos the same name.

  Chuvadrion: (Choo-VA-dree-on) Palace, citadel

  Cilidur: (Si-li-dur) A yellow flower growing on a stalk, the blossoms close and bunched together like a fringe

  Commiseth: (CO-mi-seth) Son of Dor, the neighboring farmer to Kinth's farm/

  Commyna: (Coe-mi-na) One of the Diamysaar

  Corduban: (Cor-doo-BAN) a figure in a drinking lay

  Cormes: (COR-mess) Follower of Daerdruen, acolyte in the study of Ildaruen, daughter of Dilithate


  Cothryn: (CO-thrin) Son of Duris, Lord in Cordyssa

  Cumbre: (COOM-bray) A Jisraegen traveling cordial that can substitute for food at need

  Cunavastar: (Coo-na-VASS-tar) The first priest of YY, the first male in Arthen; a fortress on the Fenax is named for him; also the name of the House of Falamar and Drudaen

  Cundruen: (Cun-DROO-en) A pass leading from Montajhena to Drii

  Cunevadrim: (Coo-ne-VAH-drim) The southern palace of Daerdruen, originally built by Cunavastar, one of the oldest structures in Aeryn

  Cunuduerum: (Cun-oo-DWER-oom) The Jisraegen city in Arthen, abandoned and under interdict since the fall of Falamar

  Cunue: (Cuh-noo) Lake or river

  Cunue Illyn: (ILL-in) The lake of the Diamysaar

  Curaeth: (Coo-RAY-eth) Kiril Karsten's fief on the Fenax, taken from her by the Blue Queen at the time of the Ban on Arthen

  Curaeth Curaesyn: (Coo-RAY-eth Coo-RAY-ee-sin) A prophet who wrote a book concerning the signs of the days before the Breaking of Worlds, though other events are mentioned in it as well. One of the twice-named.

  Cuthru: (COO-threw) Son of None, a member of Lady Brun's entourage

  Cuthunre: (Coo-THOON-ray) A valley in the South

  Dagorfast: (DAG-or-fast) A village where the Fenax road crosses River before swinging west toward Angoroe; the gold barges were unloaded there for the overland journey to Bruinysk, where they were loaded onto barges again for the journey south down the Isar

  Davii: (Da-VEE) King or Queen

  Daviir: (DAH-veer) Successor

  Deluna: (Day-LOO-na) The river that flows down from Montajhena in Vyddn country

  Denaezor: (De-NAY-zor) The name of the House of Julassa Kyminax

  Deniire: (De-NEAR) One of the three ritual lamps

  Dernhang: (DURN-hang) The Palace on Kmur island

  Diamysaar: (Dee-am-mee-SAR) Sisters to the YY

  Dilimur: (DI-li-mur) Ridge, series of hills

  Domren: (DOM-ren) The Tower of Guard, also called the White Tower, the citadel that guards the eastern approach to Inniscaudra

  Drii: (Dree) The city of the Venladrii in the mountains; the name is interchangeably used as the name of the people.

  Drusen: (DREW-sen) The Wife of the Svyssn, the ruler of that country, a religious as well as political post. The Svyssn Wife has many husbands all of whom accompany her everywhere, and one of whom is poisoned by acht each year at springtime.

  Dumas: (DOO-mas) A village on the North Road where the road branches, going north to Cordyssa and east to Svyssn

  Duraelaryn: (Doo-ray-LA-ren) One of the great trees or tree-complexes that grows only in Arthen

  Durassavariin: (Doo-RASS-ah-var-een) Durassa's Park, a valley between Vath Invaths, Immorthraegul and the Kellesar.

  Dure: (DOO-ray) Northern, north

  Duris: (Doo-RISS) A nut-bearing tree, deciduous, growing throughout Arthen and Aeryn

  Durme: (Durm) The coastal flatland between New Ivyssa and Novris on Keikilla Bay.

  Durud, durun: (Doo-ROOD) Black

  Duruth: (Doo-ROOTH) Blood feud, blood hatred.

  Duterian: (Doo-the-ree-an) son of Maegoth, a picked warrior, sent to Jessex's farm

  Duvettre: (Doo-VET-rah) Countess of Thynilex

  Duvis: (Doo-viss) A small, hardy tree that grows in the upper elevations of Arthen and Aeryn.

  Edenna Morthul: (E-DEN-a MOR-thul) Lady of Orelioth, Keeper of the Keys to Inniscaudra, who began Ellebren Tower and completed Laeredon, where she shut herself up and died at the end of the First War of the Sorcerers.

  Elgerath: (ELL-ger-ath) A family of flowering vines. In higher altitudes, the flowers of this vine are wildly colored, while in lower altitudes only the blue varieties thrive. Also, a pale blue flower with a purple heart, prized for its sweet smell, for honey made from its pollen and for oil extracted from its abundant petals, used in soaps and cleansing oils

  Ellebren: (ELL-e-bren) The High Place over Inniscaudra, the tower begun by Edenna Morthul and completed by Kentha Nurysem. One will stand on Ellebren, and only one, until the worlds are broken

  Ellesotur: (El-ESS-oh-tur) The Eye-Rock of Ellebren

  Erennor Vale: (Ehrr-EN-or)The walled plateau above Haldobran Gate where a wide meadow grows grass year round, where the horses of Inniscaudra graze in rotation

  Estobren Arches: (ESS-toh-bren) Magical entry arches on the Falkri Stairway below Thrath Gate in the precinct of Ellebren Tower at Inniscaudra

  Evaedren: (Ev-AY-dren) The Tower of Twelve in the Winter House

  Evaenym: (Ev-AY-nim) The Twelve, those Twice-Named who did not die from the first generation of Forty Thousand Jisraegen which YY created.

  Evlaen: (Ev-LANE) daughter of Mrothe, the doctor in Genfynnel

  Evynar Ydhiil: (EV-I-nar ID-hil) The King of Drii, father of Imral Ynuuvil

  Falamar Inuygen: (FA-la-mar In-WIJ-en) King of Aeryn and Arthen, King of Cunuduerum, the Misborn

  Falkri Stair: (Fall-KREE) The broad series of stairs and ramps leading from the Under House to the Tower March and the Domren underpass

  Falthe: (FAL-theh) A ride, a trip involving a ride

  Faris: (FAIR-iss) A tree like a pine

  Faristae: (Fair-ISS-tay) A deciduous tree that grows in the upper altitudes of Aeryn

  Felva: (FELL-vah) Bath coat

  Fenax: (FE-nax) The northern plain between Arthen and the mountains

  Fimbrel: (FIM-brel) The name of the Diamysaar Cloak

  Finru: (FIN-roo) The Lords of the Anynae

  Fornbren: (FORN-bren) The Royal Palace in Ivyssa, built by the City Burghers for the Queen Athryn I.

  Fortuinen: (For-TOO-in-en) The making of a Lore Word; literally, naming and deriving

  Fthuril: (Fe-THOO-ril)

  Fysyyn: (Fi-SIN) daughter of Donneril, Jessex's grandmother

  Gaelex: (GAY-lex) Marshal of the Ordinary to Kirith Kirin, daughter of Fioth

  General Nemort: (Neh-MORT) Governor of Novris and Nauthren's military second-in command, son of Idhrak, of Novris

  Genfynnel: (Gen-FIN-el) A city down-river from Arthen, the most northerly of the southern cities, built by the Jisraegen after Cunuduerum.

  Gnemorra: (Gneh-MOR-ah) A fortress on the Fenax that guarded the northern end of the Angoroe

  Goerast: (Ger-AST) One of the two High Places in Montajhena; the place were Kentha died. She had taken the High Place there from Drudaen; he used a gift she had given him to kill her. Goerast was built by Drudaen after YY brought the Law of Changes.

  Gruesid: (GROO-sid) The language spoken by the Svyssn

  Gul: (Gull) Stairway

  Haldobran Gate: (HAL-doh-bran) The Lower Gate into Inniscaudra, where the road plunges from the Syystren Gate down into Haldobran Gap

  Halobar: (HA-low-bar)The Hall of Meeting, the entry hall beyond the Syystren Gate

  Histel: (HISS-tel) Daughter of Sybil, Jessex's sister

  Hyvurgren Field: (High-VUR-gren) One of the Naming Fields, in Raelonyii

  Ibraxa: (Ib-RAX-a) The village where the Kellyxa Road forks southeast toward Fort Pemuntnir and Ivyssa and southwest toward Novris through the Onge Forest

  Ifnuelyn: (If-NEWEL-in)A powder used to start fire.

  Iire: (Eer) The eye of God ; also a stone used for the point of a ritual lamp, the deniire.

  Iitana: (Ee-TAH-na) Lineage, house, family, blood kin in the greater sense; similar to Clan, though Clan can be used more broadly.

  Ildaruen: (Ill-DA-roo-en) A language of Power derived by Cunavastar, used by him and his descendants. Unlike Wyyvisar, Ildaruen can be taught without any limitation on the teacher.

  Illaeryn: (Ill-AIR-in) The high country in Arthen around Inniscaudra

  Imar: (EE-mar) The river that waters the North Onge Forest, joining the Deluna

  Imhonyy: (Im-oh-NEE) Kirith Kirin, Jurel Durassa

  Immorthraegul: (Im-or-THRAY-gul) One of the hills that borders Durassavariin, adjacent to Vath Invaths, lying southwest of that hill

  Imral Ynuuvil: (IM-ral In-OO-vil) Princ
e of Drii and Chamberlain to Kirith Kirin

  Inemarra: (In-ih-MAR-a), the House of Ruen Villex

  Infith: (IN-fith) A sweet pitted fruit

  Inniscaudra: (In-iss-COW-dra) The House that No Man Built, the house built by YY, the Diamysaar, and the Tervan in the Illaeryn region of Arthen