by Sarah Zettel
A shadow crossed the entrance of the tent. Medeoan glanced back and saw Captain Peshek waiting to be acknowledged.
“Come in, Peshek.”
Peshek entered and knelt. She nodded and waved him to a chair, which he did not accept as she still stood.
“Majesty, I do not mean to question your judgment, but was that …”
“Wise?” she finished for him. “Perhaps not, but it will do. They will spend this night trying to understand what has happened to the Firebird and how we came to possess any fragment of it. When they understand that their guardian is no longer free to protect their borders, they will withdraw, and we will have peace.” She sat, slumping as far into her chair as her layers of clothing permitted. She closed her eyes briefly. “That is enough.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
She heard movement and looked to see Prathad setting a tray with wine and dainties beside her. The lady poured two goblets full, handing one to Medeoan and one to Peshek.
Medeoan did not drink. She just looked at the dark depths of the wine. “Lien said Ingrid arrived safely home.”
“Yes, Majesty,” replied Peshek.
“She is carrying Avanasy’s child, Peshek.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
She swirled her cup gently. “I want to send for her, when we know we have found all the real traitors and that our borders are safe. Avanasy’s child should be raised in Isavalta. He should be given the honors due to him as the Avanasyn.”
Peshek was silent for a moment. Then, he said, “I miss him too, Majesty.”
She looked up at him then, and saw how bright his blue eyes were. Lien’s healing had worked well, and his scars were almost completely gone. He was again the handsome, loyal soldier who had taken her to safety when she was so beset.
“His life is part of Isavalta now,” she said. “It is because of him that we have a chance to be safe in our borders. Our task is to see that what he has begun is completed.”
Peshek laid his hand over his heart, his blue eyes sparkling. “I live to serve, Majesty.”
She lifted the wine cup to him and smiled, feeling a thread of warmth working its way through the chill of her soul. “As do we all, Peshek. Isavalta will in truth be the Eternal.”
But even as she spoke those words, Medeoan knew the Firebird, away in its cage, locked in the cells of Vaknevos, heard, and cried out its defiance.
The empress of Isavalta shivered and turned her face away.
Main Characters
Avanasy Finorasyn Goriainavin (AHV-ahn-AH-see FIN-OR-ah-sin GOR-ee-ahn-ay-AH-veen): A sorcerer of Isavalta. Tutor to High Princess Medeoan.
Baba Yaga (BAH-bah YAH-gah): The Old Witch, the Witch with the Iron Teeth.
Bakhar (BAHK-har): Keeper of the Imperial God House.
Black Night: One of Baba Yaga’s mystical servants. Only seen after sunset.
Bright Day: One of Baba Yaga’s mystical servants. Only seen during daylight.
Cai Yun Shen (KAI YUN shen): Niece of Lien Jinn.
Chandra tya Achin Ireshpad (CHAN-drah TEE-yah AHCH-een AY-RESH-pahd): Oldest son of the ruling family of Hastinapura, former Emperor.
Dieu Han: (DYOO HAN) Dowager Empress of Hung Tse.
Edemsko (EH-DEM-skoh): Emperor of Isavalta, father of Medeoan.
Eliisa Hahl (EH-lee-EE-sah HAHL): Serving girl in the Isavaltan imperial household.
Everett Lederle: Friend and suitor of Ingrid Loftfield.
Grace Hulda Loftfield: Younger sister of Ingrid Loftfield.
Girilal (GEER-ee-lahl): Ambassador from Hastinapura to Isavalta.
Hajek Ragdoksyn Kraichinivin (HAH-jayk RAHG-dohk-sin KRAI-cheen-EE-veen): Keeper of the God House for Demska of the Tears.
Hamsa (HAHM-sah): Bound-sorcerer to Emperor Samudra of Hastinapura.
Harshul (HAHR-shool): Deceased bound-sorcerer to Prince Kacha of Hastinapura.
Iakush Vtoroisyn Gabravin (EE-ah-kush VEET-or-OY-sin GAHB-rah-veen): Lord Sorcerer of Isavalta.
Imperial Voice: Speaker for the Emperor of Hung Tse.
Ingrid Anna Loftfield: A young woman from Sand Island, Wisconsin.
Kacha tya Achin Ejulinjapad (KAH-chah TEE-yah AHCH-een E-jool-EEn-jah-pahd): Prince of Hastinapura, son of Chandra and husband of Medeoan.
Kseniia (KAH-sen-EE-ee-ah): Empress of Isavalta, mother of Medeoan.
Leonard Loftfield: A young man from Sand Island, Wisconsin, brother of Ingrid.
Lien Jinn (LEE-en JEEN): A sorcerer and pirate of Hung Tse.
lokai (LOW-keye): The fox spirits.
Malan’ia (MAHL-ahn-EE-ah): A fisherwoman of Isavalta.
Medeoan Edemskoidoch Nacheradovosh (MEH-deh-OH-ahn EH-DEM-skoh-EE-doch NAH-cher-AH-DOH-vawsh): High Princess of Isavalta, wife of Prince Kacha.
Minister of Air: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Lok (LAWK).
Minister of Earth: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: En Lai (EHN LAI).
Minister of the East: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Nha My (NAH Mai).
Minister of Fire: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Xuan (JOO-ahn).
Minister of Metal: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Shaiming (shy-MING).
Minister of the North: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Ahn Thao (AHN T-h-AH-oh).
Minister of the South: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Quan (KWAHN).
Minister of Water: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Chi Tahn (CHEE t-AHN).
Minister of the West: One of the Nine Elders of Hung Tse. Personal name: Minh (MIN).
Nanabush (NAHN-ah-boosh): A trickster god in Wisconsin, often taking the form of a rabbit.
Ofka (OFF-kah): Lady-in-waiting to Medeoan.
Pa K’un (PAH k-UN): Emperor of Hung Tse.
Peshek Pachalkasyn Ursulvin (PEH-shek PAHCH-ahl-KAH-sin UR-sul-veen): Captain of the Imperial House Guard of Isavalta.
Prathad (PRAH-thahd): Head lady-in-waiting to Medeoan.
Prithu (PREE-thoo): Head gentleman-in-waiting to Kacha.
Ragneda (RAHG-neh-DA): Lady-in-waiting to Medeoan.
Red Sun: One of Baba Yaga’s mystical servants. Only seen at twilight or in the Land of Death and Spirit.
Samudra tya Achin Ireshpad Hariamnapad (SAHM-oo-drah TEE-yah ACHA-een HAHR-ee-AHM-nah-pahd): Emperor of Hastinapura, father of Kacha, younger brother of Chandra.
Valin Kalami (VAHL-in KAH-LAH-mi): A sorcerer from the island of Tuukos.
Vixen, The: Queen of the lokai.
Vladka (VLAHD-kah): Second lady-in-waiting to Medeoan.
Yamuna dva Ikshu Chitranipad (YAH-MOON-ah DEE-vah AIK-shoo CHEET-rahn-EE-pahd): Bound-sorcerer to Chandra.
Place Names
Apostle Islands, The: A chain of islands in Lake Superior off the coast of northern Wisconsin.
Bayfield: A town in northern Wisconsin on the east coast of Lake Superior.
Camaracost (KAHM-ah-rah-KOST): A port town on the southeastern coast of Isavalta.
Dalemar (DAY-leh-MAHR): A coastal fortress in Isavalta.
Devang (DEH-vang): A temple complex in Hastinapura dedicated to the Seven Mothers.
Durah (DUR-ah): An ancient and abandoned temple city in Hastinapura.
Eastbay: The settlement on Sand Island.
Erh Han (ER-hahn): A peninsula between Isavalta and Hung Tse. Called Miateshcha in Isavalta.
Hastinapura (HAHS-teen-ah-POOR-ah): A southern empire sharing a continent with Isavalta.
Heart of the World: Home of the Emperor of Hung Tse. A complex of palaces and official buildings.
Hung Tse (HOONG-SAY): The central empire between Isavalta and Hastinapura.
Isavalta (IS-ah-VAHL-tah): A northern empire sharing a continent with the empires of Hung Tse and Hastinapura.
Ishbushka (ISH-bush-KAH): The hut belonging to Baba Yaga.
Land of Death and Spirit, The: The space between worlds inhabited by ghosts, demons, fairies, gods and spirit powers.
Also called the Silent Lands and the Shifting Lands.
Makashev: City near Vyshtavos.
Miateshcha (MEE-ah-TEHSH-chah): See Erh Han.
Padinogen Passage (PAHD-een-oh-gehn): Passage through the mountains leading to Miateshcha.
oblast (OH-blast): An Isavaltan word meaning ‘province.’
Palace of Autumn, The: The women’s palace in the Heart of the World.
Palace of the Pearl Throne, The: Imperial seat of Hastinapura.
Sand Island: One of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. Home to Ingrid Loftfield.
Shifting Lands, The: See Land of Death and Spirit.
Silent Lands, The: See Land of Death and Spirit.
Sol’uyche oblast (SOL-oo-EECH OH-blast): A southern province in Isavalta.
Sze-Leng (ZEH LENG) River: A major river in Hung Tse.
T’ien (T-YEN): The city surrounding the Heart of the World.
Tuukos (TOO-kohs): An island which is the northernmost province of Isavalta.
Vaknevos (VAHK-neh-VOS): The summer palace of the Isavaltan imperial family.
Vyshtavos (VIESH-tah-vohs): The winter palace of the Isavaltan imperial family.
Vaceta (VAH-say-TAH): A town near Vaknevos.
About the Author
SARAH ZETTEL is the author of two other Isavalta novels, A Sorcerer’s Treason and The Firebird’s Vengeance, and has also written numerous science fiction novels, including Reclamation, winner of the Locus Award for best first SF novel, Fool’s War, runner–up for the Philip K. Dick Award for best paperback original SF novel, and Kingdom of Cages. She lives in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
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Copyright © 2003 by Sarah Zettel
Cover images ©123rf.com/Anna Yakimova, Evgeny Lazarev
All rights reserved.
Published in association with Athans & Associates Creative Consulting
Names, characters, corporations, institutions, organizations, events, or locales in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously. The resemblance of any character to actual persons (living or dead) is entirely coincidental.
ISBN 10: 1-4405-4864-1
ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4864-2
eISBN 10: 1-4405-4375-5
eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-4375-3