Bond Proof

by E G Manetti

  Final Draught: The lethal poison administered for the execution of criminals.

  (The) First Warrior: See Omsted, Socraide.

  (The) Five Warriors: The deities of the Twelve Systems, five warlords who rose to prominence in the final years of the Anarchy and established Order. See Order of the Five Warriors.

  (The) Fourth Warrior: See Metricelli, Jonathan.

  ~J~

  Jonathan Metricelli: See Metricelli, Jonathan.

  ~K~

  Keeper: See Shrine Keeper.

  ~M~

  Metricelli, Jonathan: The Fourth Warrior. His dominion was Metricelli Prime and Deuce in the Third System, also known as the Vistrite worlds. After the Order of the Five Warriors was established, Jonathan added Desperation in the Sixth System to his holdings. It is the only other Vistrite world in the Twelve Systems.

  (The) Mitchell Cooperative: Name for its founder, Zebadiah Mitchell, the Free-Trader cooperative settled the Twelfth System.

  Monsignor: The dominant seigneur of a cartouche. The monsignor controls and directs the cartouche. Only the monsignor can license a new seigneur.

  Mulan Tsao: See Tsao, Mulan.

  ~O~

  Omsted Conservatory for the Arts: The Twelve Systems’ oldest and highest-rated conservatory for advanced studies of the creative arts.

  Omsted, Socraide: The First Warrior. His dominion was three of the four habitable planets in the First System. His obsession with Adelaide Warleader turned the Three Systems from Anarchy to Order.

  (The) Order of the Five Warriors: The Twelve Systems’ structure of law and custom. It is based on the Code of Engagement and Governing Protocols as established by the Five Warriors in the final years of the Anarchy.

  Order’s Citadel: The Twelve Systems’ premier military institute for advanced studies of combat and the martial arts.

  Order’s Pinnacle: The most exclusive warrior club in the Third System, and among the most exclusive in the Twelve Systems. Located in the Mercio Tower, its only governor is Lucius Mercio. It is also known as Signet Citadel, owing to the entrance requirement of a signet.

  ~R~

  Rimon Ben Claude: See Ben Claude, Rimon.

  ~S~

  (The) Second Warrior: See Ben Claude, Rimon.

  Sect Chapter: See Warrior Sect Chapter.

  Sect Patron: The secular authority for a given sect. The office is determined by commercial rank. Alternatively, Lord or Lady Patron.

  Sect: See Warrior Sect.

  Seer: A seer of visions sent by one or more of the Shades.

  Seigneur: The elite of the elite. A ranked warrior who is part of the small group that controls the commercial interests that control the Twelve Systems.

  Shade Prelate: The senior prelate for a warrior sect. Alternatively, Lord or Lady Prelate.

  Shade-Ridden: Those who become deranged through service to the Shades of the Five Warriors and Adelaide.

  Shade: A spirit or ghost (lowercase).

  (The) Shades: The manifestations of the Five Warriors and Adelaide (uppercase).

  Shrine Keeper: The senior prelate of a particular shrine.

  Shrine Patron: One who is a source of significant financial support to a shrine or group of shrines. The highest-ranked and most generous contributor to a group of shrines may be designated Lord or Lady Patron of a planet’s or system’s shrines within a sect.

  Shrine: A place of worship dedicated to one of the Five Warriors (lowercase).

  (The) Shrines: The collective power and superstructure of the shrines of the Five Warriors in the Twelve Systems (uppercase).

  Signet: A symbol of rank. A seigneur’s signet is a gold oval the size of an adult thumb. It is incised or inlaid with the symbol of the seigneur’s cartouche. A monsignor’s signet is platinum, indicating the ability to create or destroy seigneurs.

  Socraide Omsted: See Omsted, Socraide.

  Standingbear, Sinead: The Fifth Warrior. Her dominion was the one non-Vistrite world in the Third System.

  ~T~

  (The) Third Warrior: See Tsao, Mulan.

  Tsao, Mulan: The Third Warrior. Her dominion was Artesia, a planet in the First System.

  (The) Twelve Systems: A technologically advanced society dominated by powerful commercial interests.

  ~V~

  Vistrite: A naturally occurring semi-liquid crystal that is essential to all advanced technology in the Twelve Systems.

  ~U~

  Universal Way: A remnant of the spiritual discipline of the enlightened society that preceded the Anarchy. A minor segment of Twelve Systems society, the Universalists challenge many warrior beliefs.

  Universalist: A follower of the Universal Way.

  ~W~

  Warleader, Adelaide: An ancient hero. During the Anarchy, she was Jonathan Metricelli’s chief retainer and possible consort. During the early years of the Order of the Five Warriors, she was Socraide Omsted’s consort and possible spouse.

  Warrior Ring: The arrangement of shrines in a ring that includes all Five Warriors. The arrangement begins at the north and moves clockwise in the following order: The First Warrior, Socraide Omsted; The Third Warrior, Mulan Tsao; The Second Warrior, Rimon Ben Claude; The Fifth Warrior, Sinead Standingbear; and The Fourth Warrior, Jonathan Metricelli. The shrines of the Fourth Warrior contain the Adelaide Alcoves, positioned to face the First Warrior’s Shrines in recognition of her dual loyalties.

  Warrior Sect Chapter: A subset of a warrior sect, commonly defined by the system (short form, sect chapter or chapter). Example: Socraide’s Third System Chapter.

  Warrior Sect: A spiritual institution dedicated to one of the Five Warriors (short form, sect).

  Warrior: The dominant class in the Twelve Systems. Its members can prove direct genetic descent from the Five Warriors and their retainers.

  Warrior’s Queue: A hairstyle in which the hair is worn long, pulled tight to the scalp, and braided. The severe style is favored by warriors for martial training and combat.

  (The) Warrior’s Summit: The oldest warrior club in Crevasse City and the one favored by Serengeti.

  (The) Warriors’ Litany: A popular prayer commonly considered to have its origin in Jonathan Metricelli’s Warrior Code. The sect of Sinead Standingbear contends that the origin is with the Fifth Warrior, due to its references to “ancestors.” Sinead was the only one of the Five Warriors descended from the pre-Anarchy rulers of the Three Systems.

  Warriors’ Respite: A fashionable warrior club favored by the younger crowd.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you to Karin Nootebloom and Celestine Sisk for their support and suggestions; to Jim at Jim O’Connor Photography for the cover photo and design; to Elle at EJR Digital Art for all the pretty fonts; TJ McKay at InD’Tale for all her encouragement; to Elizabeth Nover at Razor Sharp Editing for putting the commas where they belong; and to Mike for being there.

  About the Author

  EG works in IT and writes as often as possible. When neither goes well, she cooks exceptionally and gardens adequately. E.G. resides on the East Coast of the USA with her beloved (and often confounded) husband and their severely OCD Jack Russell Terrier.

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