Aken—the honorific used for the Prime of the Void Ray.
Amas—a Hunter-trainee at Silverfire; eleven years old, and a year-mate of Indera. Doppelganger of Hoseki.
Anness—a child of two years; doppelganger of Chanka.
Arinei—a witch; Prime of the Fire Ray.
Ashin—a witch; the Key of the Air Hand; mother of Indera and Sharyo.
Atami—a witch; Key of the Water Hand.
Avannans—members of a religious sect that honors the Dance as the highest form of adoration to the Goddess.
Bansu—a witch; named interim Key of the Fire Hand.
Barani—a witch who became a Cousin.
Briar—a Hunter of Silverfire; stablemaster at the school.
Bride—the second Aspect of the Goddess, associated with marriage and the Element of Air.
Chaha—the Lady of Kalistyi; adherent of the Nalochkan sect.
Chai—the honorific used for an unranked witch of the Earth Ray.
Chaiban—a witch-student with a doppelganger.
Chakoa—the honorific used for a Key of the Earth Ray.
Chanka—a witch-student; two years old; witch-half of Anness.
Chashi—the honorific used for the Prime of the Earth Ray.
Chime—a division of the clock developed in Insebrar; each lasts three hours. In order, they are Low, Dark, First, Mid, High, Light, Late, and Last.
Churicho—a witch, named interim Key of the Fire Heart.
Cloudhawk—one of the Hunter schools, training bonded spies, who are often employed by Lords or other powerful figures.
Cousin—term used for the servants of the witches, descended from witches who failed their final tests.
Crone—the eldest Aspect of the Goddess, associated with wisdom and the Element of Earth.
Dance—an art practiced in some temples (especially Avannan temples) to honor the Goddess.
Dark—the second chime of the clock, corresponding to 3 A.M.
Domain—the primary political unit. Formerly the fifteen domains were subsets of three large kingdoms, but those realms fractured centuries ago.
Earth—one of the five Elements. Earth is associated with the Crone. Among the witches, the Earth Ray serves the land itself, working to prevent droughts and other natural disasters.
Eclipse—a Hunter of Silverfire; twenty-five years old; year-mate of Mirage.
Edame—a witch of the Fire Hand; serves Lord Iseman and Lady Terica of Haira as the domain adviser.
Eikyo—a witch-student at Starfall; twenty-five years old, and a friend of Miryo’s.
Elements—the substances that make up the world. Each has a variety of symbolic associations. The five Elements are Fire, Air, Water, Earth, and Void.
Falya—a child of nine years; doppelganger of Yimoe.
Fire—one of the five Elements. Fire is associated with the Maiden. Among the witches, the Fire Ray serves the rulers of the land as advisers.
First—the third chime of the clock, corresponding to 6 A.M.
Gichara—a witch of the Water Hand; stationed in central Miest.
Goyoi—a witch; Key of the Earth Hand.
Hand—one of the three Paths. Witches of the Hand carry out the work of their Ray, usually in other domains.
Hassei—a witch; Key of the Air Head.
Head—one of the three Paths. Witches of the Head conduct the research and recordkeeping of their Ray, often in Starfall or one of the domain halls.
Heart—one of the three Paths. Witches of the Heart are the organizational and administrative structure of their Ray, and often live in Starfall.
High—the fifth chime of the clock, corresponding to noon.
Hoseki—a witch-student, eleven years old; witch-half of Amas.
Hunter—an individual trained by one of the Hunter schools. Hunters may be trained in a specialty, such as spying, assassination, bodyguarding, or mercenary soldiering, or they may generalize. Some are bonded; others are freelance. All Hunters are highly skilled at individual combat. Their training lasts for ten years, ending at the age of twenty.
Hyoka—a witch; Key of the Void Head.
Ice—a Hunter of Thornblood, twenty-seven years old. A long-standing enemy of Mirage, she sold information on Miryo and Mirage to the Primes.
Indera—a Hunter-trainee at Silverfire; eleven years old, and a year-mate of Amas. Doppelganger of Sharyo, and daughter of Ashin.
Iseman—the Lord of Haira, and husband of Terica; like his wife, a devout Avannan.
Itsumen—a witch; Key of the Void Hand.
Jaguar—the Grandmaster of Silverfire.
Kai—the honorific used for an unranked witch of the Air Ray.
Kane—the honorific used for the Prime of the Air Ray.
Kasane—a witch of the Air Heart; mother of Miryo.
Kasora—the honorific used for a Key of the Air Ray.
Katsu—the honorific used for a witch of unknown or undecided affiliation.
Kekkai—a witch; Key of the Fire Heart; succeeded Tari after her death.
Key—a witch who leads a Path. A new Prime is selected from among the Keys of the appropriate Ray.
Kimeko—a witch; Key of the Void Heart.
Koika—a witch; Prime of the Earth Ray.
Kyou—the Cousin name given to Eikyo.
Lady—the ruler of a domain, if female; the highest political rank.
Last—the eighth chime of the clock, corresponding to 9 P.M.
Late—the seventh chime of the clock, corresponding to 6 P.M.
Lehant—a Hunter-trainee at Thornblood; twelve years old; doppelganger of Owairi.
Light—the sixth chime of the clock, corresponding to 3 P.M.
Linea—the Lady of Abern.
Lord—the ruler of a domain, if male; the highest political rank.
Low—the first chime of the clock, corresponding to midnight.
Mai—the honorific used for an unranked witch of the Water Ray.
Maiden—the youngest Aspect of the Goddess, associated with youth and the Element of Fire.
Makiza—the honorific used for a Key of the Water Ray.
Mari—the honorific used for the Prime of the Water Ray.
Mejiki—a witch; Key of the Fire Hand.
Menukyo—a witch; eldest daughter of Monisuko, and granddaughter of Misetsu. She was the first to kill her doppelganger.
Mid—the fourth chime of the clock, corresponding to 9 A.M.
Mirage—a Hunter of Silverfire; the doppelganger-half of the woman now known as Mirei.
Miryo—a witch of Starfall; the witch-half of the woman now known as Mirei.
Misetsu—the first witch; a holy woman who received the gift of magic for her piety. Had three daughters: Monisuko, Machayu, and Maiyaki, all of whom died from uncontrolled magic. Her granddaughter Menukyo was the first to successfully control her gift.
Mother—the third Aspect of the Goddess, associated with family and the Element of Water.
Nae—a Cousin; leader of the Cousins who dwell permanently at Starfall, who takes into custody any witch who fails.
Nai—the honorific used for an unranked witch of the Fire Ray.
Nakana—the honorific used for a Key of the Fire Ray.
Nalochkans—members of a religious sect that denies the Warrior Aspect of the Goddess.
Naji—a witch, Key of the Air Heart.
Naspeth—a Hunter-trainee of Windblade, eleven years old; doppelganger of Urishin.
Nayo—the honorific used for the Prime of the Fire Ray.
Nenikune—a witch in charge of the Starfall infirmary.
Obura—a witch of the Water Head; pregnant with her third daughter.
Ometrice—a doppelganger; age seven.
Onomita—a witch; Key of the Fire Head.
Orezha—Satomi’s doppelganger.
Owairi—a witch-student, twelve years old; witch-half of Lehant.
Palend—the former Lord of Abern; predecessor to his daughter Linea.
Path—one
of the three divisions of a Ray, each dedicated to a different function. The three Paths are the Hand, the Head, and the Heart. A Path is led by a Key.
Prime—a witch who leads a Ray. Together, the five Primes rule the domain of Starfall, and the witches who serve in other domains.
Rana—a witch; Prime of the Water Ray.
Ranell—a doppelganger; age six.
Ray—one of the five divisions used among the witches, corresponding to the Elements. Each Ray serves a different subset of the world. A Ray is led by a Prime.
Rin—leader of the eastern Cousins.
Rigai—a witch of the Void Head; part of Hyoka’s research group of theorists.
Rinshu—a witch; Key of the Water Head.
Ruriko—a witch of the Void Heart; secretary to Satomi.
Satomi—a witch; Prime of the Void Ray; killed her doppelganger, Orezha.
Seniade—the childhood name of Mirage.
Sharyo—a witch-student, eleven years old; witch-half of Indera; daughter of Ashin.
Shimi—a witch; Prime of the Air Ray.
Silverfire—one of the Hunter schools, training freelancers who do a variety of work. Their school is located a short distance away from Elensk in Miest. They have a longstanding rivalry with Thornblood.
Slip—a Hunter of Silverfire, retired from active work; twin of Wisp; Jaguar’s secretary.
Snowspear—a Hunter school founded as an offshoot of Wildmoon over a hundred years ago.
Stoneshadow—one of the Hunter schools, training bonded assassins, who are often employed by Lords or other powerful figures.
Tajio—a witch of the Void Head; part of Hyoka’s research group of theorists.
Tari—a witch; the Key of the Fire Heart Path; now deceased; assassinated by Wraith on the orders of the Primes, for her part in helping doppelgangers survive.
Terica—the Lady of Haira, and wife of Iseman; like her husband, a devout Avannan.
Thornblood—one of the Hunter schools, training freelancers who do a variety of work. Their school is located north of Angrim in Abern. They have a longstanding rivalry with Silverfire.
Tokaga—a witch; Void Prime when Satomi became a witch.
Tserenar—one of the three Old Kingdoms, encompassing land now divided into the domains of Miest, Liak, Askavya, and Kalistyi.
Ueda—a witch; Key of the Earth Heart.
Ukotto—a witch of the Fire Head.
Urishin—a witch-student, eleven years old; witch-half of Naspeth.
Viper—a Hunter of Silverfire.
Void—one of the five Elements. Void is associated with the Warrior. Among the witches, the Void Ray serves the witches themselves, handling the internal affairs of Starfall and its people. Alone among the Elements, Void does not make up a part of the physical world, but rather represents that which is not the world.
Wall—the Grandmaster of Windblade.
Warrior—the fifth Aspect of the Goddess, associated with death, warfare, and the element of the Void. Alone among the Aspects, she does not stand for a stage in the cycle of life, but rather for the end of that life.
Water—one of the five Elements. Water is associated with the Mother. Among the witches, the Water Ray serves the common people of the land, often living in the larger villages and towns to heal diseases and handle other problems.
Wheel—a silver coin used in Abern and neighboring domains.
Wildmoon—a Hunter school, from which Snowspear split off.
Wisp—a Hunter of Silverfire, retired from active work; twin of Slip; stationed as an agent in Angrim.
Yimoe—a witch-student, nine years old; witch-half of Falya.
Extras
Meet the Author
MARIE BRENNAN holds an undergraduate degree in archaeology and folklore from Harvard and is now pursuing a PhD in anthropology and folklore at Indiana University. Find out more about Marie Brennan at www.marie brennan.net.
Introducing
If you enjoyed WITCH, look out for
MIDNIGHT NEVER COME
by Marie Brennan
England flourishes under the hand of its Virgin Queen: Elizabeth, Gloriana, last and most powerful of the Tudor monarchs.
But a great light casts a great shadow.
In hidden catacombs beneath London, a second queen holds court: Invidiana, ruler of faerie England, and a dark mirror to the glory above. In the thirty years since Elizabeth ascended to her throne, fae and mortal politics have become inextricably entwined, in secret alliances and ruthless betrayals whose existence is suspected only by a few.
The Tower of London: March 1554
Fitful drafts of chill air blew in through the cruciform windows of the Bell Tower, and the fire did little to combat them. The chamber was ill-lit, just the wan sunlight that filtered in from the alcoves and the flickering light from the hearth, giving a dreary, despairing cast to the stone walls and meager furnishings. A cheerless place—but the Tower of London was not intended for cheer.
The young woman who sat on the floor by the fire, knees drawn up to her chin, was pale with winter and recent illness. The blanket over her shoulders was too thin to keep her warm, but she seemed not to notice; her dark eyes were fixed on the dancing flames, morbidly entranced, as if imagining their touch. She would not be burned, of course; burning was for common heretics. Decapitation, most likely. Perhaps, like her mother, she would be permitted a French executioner, whose sword would do the work cleanly.
Presuming the queen’s mercy permitted her that consideration. Presuming the queen had mercy for her at all.
The few servants she kept were not there; in a rage she had sent them away, arguing with the guards until she won these private moments for herself. As much as solitude oppressed her, she could not bear the thought of companionship in this dark moment, the risk of showing her weakness to others. And so when she waked from her reverie to sense another in the room, her anger rose again. Shedding the blanket, the young woman whirled to her feet, ready to confront the intruder.
Her words died, unspoken, and behind her the fire dipped low.
The woman she saw was no serving maid, no lady attendant. No one she had ever seen before. A mere silhouette, barely visible in the shadows—but she stood in one of the alcoves, where a blanket had been tacked up to cover the arrow-slit window.
Not by the door. And she had entered without a sound.
“You are the princess Elizabeth,” the woman said. Her voice was a cool ghost, melodious, soft, and dark.
Tall she was, taller than Elizabeth herself, and more slender. She wore a sleek black gown, close-fitting through the body but flaring outward into a full skirt and a high standing collar that gave her presence weight. Jewels glimmered with dark color here and there, touching the fabric with elegance.
“I am,” Elizabeth said, drawing herself up to the dignity of her full height. “I have given no orders to accept visitors.” Nor was she permitted any, but in prison as in court, bravado could be all.
The stranger’s voice answered levelly. “I am not a visitor. Do you think this solitude your own doing? The guards allowed it because I arranged that they should. My words are for your ears alone.”
Elizabeth stiffened. “And who are you, that you presume to order my life in such fashion?”
“A friend.” The word carried no warmth. “Your sister means to execute you. She cannot risk your survival; you are a focal point for every Protestant rebellion, every disaffected nobleman who hates her Spanish husband. She must dispose of you, and soon.”
No more than Elizabeth herself had already calculated. To be here, in the stark confines of the Bell Tower, was an insult to her rank. Prisoner though she was, she should have received more comfortable lodgings. “No doubt you come to offer me some escape from this. I do not, however, converse with strangers who intrude on me without warning, let alone make alliances with them. Your purpose might be to lure me into some indiscretion my enemies could exploit.”
“You do not believe that.”
The stranger came forward one step, into a patch of thin gray light. A cruciform arrow-slit haloed her as if in painful mimicry of heaven’s blessing. “Your sister and her Catholic allies would not treat with one such as I.”
Slender as a breath, she should have been skeletal, grotesque, but far from it; her face and body bore the stamp of unearthly perfection, a flawless symmetry and grace that unnerved as much as it entranced. Elizabeth had spent her childhood with scholars for her tutors, reading classical authors, but she knew the stories of her own land, too: the beautiful ones, the Fair Folk, the Good People, whose many epithets were chosen to mollify their capricious natures.
The faerie was a sight to send grown women to their knees, and Elizabeth was only twenty-one. Since childhood, though, the princess had survived the tempests of political unrest, riding from her mother’s inglorious downfall to her own elevation at her brother’s hands, only to plummet again when their Catholic sister took the throne. She was intelligent enough to be afraid, but stubborn enough to defy that fear, to cling to pride when nothing else remained.
“Do you think me easier to cozen than my sister? Some say your kind are fallen angels, or in league with the devil himself.”
The woman’s laugh echoed from the chamber walls like shattering crystal. “I do not serve the devil. I offer you a bond of mutual aid. With my help, you may be freed from the tower and raised to your sister’s throne. Your father’s throne. Without it, your life will surely end soon.”
Elizabeth knew too much of politics to even consider an offer without hearing it in full. “And in return? What gift—no doubt a minor, insignificant trifle—would you require from me?”
“Oh, ’tis not minor.” The faintest of smiles touched the stranger’s lips. “As I will raise you to your throne, you will raise me to mine. And when we both achieve power, perhaps we will be of use to each other again.”
Every shrewd instinct and fiber of caution in Elizabeth warned her against this pact. Yet over her hovered the specter of death, the growing certainty of her sister’s bitterness and hatred. She had her allies, surely enough, but they were not here. Could they be relied upon to save her from the headsman?
To cover her thoughts, she said, “You have not yet told me your name.”
Witch Page 36