Crystal Dragon

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Crystal Dragon Page 43

by Sharon Lee


  "Tell me, my friend," the scholar whispered. "Is it a fine world, and green? Will people prosper and do well?"

  "It is the very finest world possible, Grandfather," the dramliza answered, his voice steady. "The land is rich and bountiful; its star is stable and gracious. Here, the tree will grow to its full height, honoring M. Jela. Here, may people prosper, do well, and be happy in their lives. You have given us a great gift, and we shall evermore be your children in gratitude."

  The scholar smiled. "That is well, then," he said softly, and sighed.

  In Cantra's head, the white dragon was lost in the brilliant sky, or maybe it was only that she couldn't see him through the tears.

  Thirty-Seven

  Quick Passage

  CANTRA LOOKED DOWN-BOARD to Tor An, who smiled at her encouragingly, and touched the in-ship stud.

  "This is Captain yos'Phelium to all passengers. As you know, we've established orbit around an uninhabited world, and deployed probes to the surface. I'm pleased to say that the analysis has now been completed—and to our benefit. Wake-up protocols for passengers in slow-sleep will begin within this ship's hour, in rotation. Off-loading will commence within the next ship's day. Schedules will be on every public screen." She paused and looked again to the boy, who moved his fingers: Captain's privilege.

  Right. She took a breath and bent again to the mic.

  "Welcome to Liad, gentles. The pilots trust you'll enjoy your stay."

  Cast of Characters

  Soldiers

  Bicra

  Corporal

  Contado

  Chief Pilot

  Harrib

  Commandant

  Kinto

  Corporal

  Loriton

  Commander

  M. Jela Granthor's Guard

  Generalist

  Muran

  Pilot

  Ragil

  Ro Gayda

  Commander

  Tetran

  Junior Pilot

  Thilrok

  Corporal

  Vondahl

  Under Sergeant

  Batchers

  Arin

  Chebei

  Dulsey

  Fenek

  Karmin

  Ocho

  Seatay

  Uno

  Dark Traders

  Rint dea'Sord

  Efron

  Qualee

  Cantra yos'Phelium Clan Torvin

  Garen yos'Phelium Clan Torvin

  Ships

  Spiral Dance, a.k.a. Dancer

  Pretty Parcil

  Others

  Danby

  Liad dea'Syl

  Ilan

  Keon

  Malis

  Instructor

  Pliny

  Timoli

  Planets

  Ardega

  Borgen

  Chelbayne

  Daelmere

  Faldaiza

  Gimlins

  Horetide

  Kizimi

  Landomist

  Phairlind

  Scohecan

  Solcintra

  Taliofi

  Cosmography

  Bubble, The

  Deeps,

  a.k.a. the Beyond, also Outspace or Out-and-Away

  Far Edge

  In-Rim

  Inside

  Out-Rim

  Outer Edge

  Rim, The

  Shallows, The

  Spiral Arm,

  a.k.a. the Arm

  Tearin Sector

  Glossary

  aelantaza

  A specially-bred human

  Batch

  humans made to order

  Batcher

  an individual grown as part of a Batch

  bounty hunters

  hunters, also charity agents

  candesa

  a vapor which, enclosed and compressed, emits a cloudy white light, at once too bright and hard to see by

  carolis

  next coin down from qwint

  coderoy

  tough fabric from which soldier kit packs are constructed

  demi-qwint

  small change

  dramliz

  an enchantment of wizards

  dramliza

  a single wizard

  dueling stick

  a cross between a cattle prod and a stave

  fastflame

  chemical fire that dies out after it consumes its own fuel

  flan

  next coin up from qwint

  galunus, two-headed

  a mythic creature of loathsome aspect and third-rate thought process

  jumping-jack(s) also 'jack(s)

  cheap rooms for rent

  Level One shielding

  lowest level energy shield

  logic tile

  the smallest component of a computational device

  lumenpaint

  paint that lights itself up

  OS-633

  Overhead Shields Series 633

  phantom lover

  a punishment device

  Pilot's Undernet

  pilot information network

  pin-laser

  sneak weapon

  Pod

  a Batch

  qwint

  coin

  sadiline

  a gemstone

  SATA

  Spiral Arm Trade Association

  Ser

  "Sir" "Mr."

  sheriekas

  the Enemy

  skileti

  naturally occurring lycra 'skins' protective suit for pilot wear on-planet

  smartstrands

  computational media

  smartwire

  binding wire

  starsilk

  expensive fabric

  Tanjalyre Institute

  a school for aelantaza

  telomite

  rock, for carving

  Tempo

  a drug that increases mental acuity and reduces the need to sleep. For a while.

  undertrade

  black market, specifically trade with the sheriekas

  viezy hide

  tanned hide of an extremely rare and poisonous reptile

  world-eaters

  sheriekas doomsday machines

  THE END

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