The Killing Moon (Dreamblood)

by N. K. Jemisin

  “The Broken Kingdoms had everything I loved about the first book in this trilogy—an absorbing story, an intriguing setting and world mythology, and a likable narrator with a compelling voice. The next book cannot come out soon enough.”

  —fantasybookcafe.com

  “The Broken Kingdoms is an excellent sequel to The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms because it expands the universe of the series geographically, historically, magically and in the range of characters, while keeping the same superb prose and gripping narrative that made the first one such a memorable debut.”

  —fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com

  “Wild and sharp… an engrossing, magic-filled thriller.”

  —Newark Star-Ledger

  By N. K. Jemisin

  The Inheritance Trilogy

  The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

  The Broken Kingdoms

  The Kingdom of Gods

  Dreamblood

  The Killing Moon

  The Shadowed Sun

  Glossary

  Abeyance: A formal delay, pending further investigation, of any Hetawa-issued order. May be invoked by any Servant of Hananja sworn to a path, though the abeyance must be justified before the Council of Paths or the Superior.

  Acolytes: Boys of between twelve and sixteen floods who have elected to pursue the Service of Hananja, but who have not yet sworn themselves to one of the four paths.

  Age of adulthood: In Gujaareh and Kisua, four times four, or sixteen floods of age. The age at which young citizens are granted legal and all other rights of majority, and may be confirmed in their choice of vocation.

  Age of choice: In Gujaareh and Kisua, three times four, or twelve floods of age. The age at which young citizens are counted old enough to pursue a chosen vocation, court a spouse, or undertake many other significant decisions.

  Age of eldership: In Gujaareh, four times four times four, or sixty-four floods of age. The age at which citizens are counted old enough to hold positions of leadership or esteem. In Kisua, citizens are deemed elders at fifty-two years of age.

  Apprentices: Youths who have passed the age of adulthood and begun higher training in an adult vocation.

  Assay of Truth: The procedures required to determine whether and when a Gatherer’s aid is required. Usually performed by the Council of Paths, although any Gatherer has discretion to perform an assessment in the field.

  Aureole of the Setting Sun: Symbol of the authority and divinity of the Sunset Lineage. An emblem consisting of alternating plates of red and gold amber arranged in a sunburst pattern around a central gold semicircle, which sits atop a staff carved from white nhefti.

  Banbarra: A desert tribe, enemies of Gujaareh.

  Body wrap: A garment worn around the torso or waist by men and women in Kisua. A woman’s wrap is usually ankle-length; a man’s wrap may be knee-length or shorter and accented by a shoulder-drape.

  Bromarte clans: A cluster of northern tribes whose territories lie just across the Sea of Glory from Gujaareh.

  Caste: The social/vocational classes of Gujaareh and Kisua, ascribed at birth. An individual may transcend his or her assigned caste only by entering public service (such as in the Hetawa or the military).

  Charad-dinh: A small nation to the southeast of Kisua, at the edge of the High Green Forest.

  City of Dreams: Colloquial name for the capital of Gujaareh. Also known as Hananja’s City. Officially, the city’s name is simply “Gujaareh.”

  Collar: Decorative item worn in Gujaareh and occasionally in Kisua. Consists of a band around the neck and dangling ornaments that drape the chest and shoulders.

  Commission: Official request for a Gatherer’s service. Commissions are usually submitted by family members of the one to be Gathered.

  Council of Paths: With the Superior, the governing body of the Hetawa. Includes senior members of the Sentinels, Teachers, and Sharers, as well as one (non-voting) liaison from the Sisters. Out of courtesy, Gatherers operate under the authority of this body, although they are officially autonomous.

  Dane-inge: One of the divine children of Dreaming Moon and Sun. A goddess of the dance.

  Donation: The monthly offering of dreams required of all citizens of Gujaareh.

  Dreambile: One of the four dream-humors that form the basis of Gujaareen magic. Culled from nightmares, it is useful for discouraging harmful growth and destroying unnecessary tissue in the body.

  Dreamblood: One of the four dream-humors that form the basis of Gujaareen magic. Culled from the final dream that occurs at the moment of death, it is useful for bringing peace.

  Dream-humors: The magical energies culled from dreams.

  Dreamichor: One of the four dream-humors that form the basis of Gujaareen magic. Culled from ordinary “nonsense” dreams, it is useful for repairing damage in the body.

  Dreaming Moon: The mother of all gods and goddesses save Sun and Waking Moon, and mistress of the sky. Also called “the Dreamer.”

  Dreamseed: One of the four dream-humors that form the basis of Gujaareen magic. Culled from erotic dreams, it is useful for stimulating growth that ordinarily occurs only in the womb (e.g., new limbs).

  Easternese: Collective term for people from lands far to the east of the Sea of Glory.

  Ehiru: A Gatherer of Hananja; the black oasis rose. Once a son of the Sunset Lineage.

  Empty Thousand: The desert that stretches from the southernmost edge of the Gujaareen Territories to the northernmost reaches of the Kisuati Protectorate.

  Endless, The: The great ocean to the west of the Sea of Glory.

  False-seeing: A dream that appears to be a vision of the future or past, but is too distorted for interpretation or is simply inaccurate.

  Final Tithe: A Servant of Hananja’s offering of all his remaining dreamblood to the Goddess, at the end of his service.

  Flood: An annual event in which the Goddess’s Blood river overflows its banks and fills the Blood river valley, renewing the fertility of the soil. Also: the marker by which valley-dwellers count perennial changes, such as age.

  Founding Sages: The founders of Gujaareh, including Inunru.

  Four: The number of bands on the face of Dreaming Moon. A holy number, as are its multiples.

  Four-of-four: Four by four by four by four, or two hundred and fifty-six. A holy number.

  Gatherers: Those in one of the four paths to the Service of Hananja, responsible for enforcing Hananja’s Law.

  Goddess, The: In Gujaareh, an alternative term for Hananja. In Kisua, may refer to any female deity.

  Goddess’s Blood: A river whose source is in the mountains of Kisua. Its mouth is along the Sea of Glory in northern Gujaareh.

  Gualoh: Bromarte word for a demon.

  Gujaareh: A city-state whose capital (also called Gujaareh, or the City of Dreams, or Hananja’s City) lies at the mouth of the Goddess’s Blood along the Sea of Glory.

  Hamyan Night: The shortest night of the year, when dreams become so sparse that the Goddess Hananja starves. Treated as a celebration of the summer solstice in Gujaareh.

  Hananja: One of the divine children of Dreaming Moon and Sun. The goddess of dreams, also associated with death and the afterlife.

  Hananja’s City: Alternate name for Gujaareh’s capital.

  Hananja’s Law: The body of law that governs Gujaareh. Its principal tenet is peace.

  Hananja’s Wisdom: A collection of proverbs, prophecies, and other lore that faithful Hananjans must learn.

  Healing: Any non-magical healing art, including herbalism and surgery.

  Hekeh: A fibrous plant native to the Blood river valley, cultivated in Gujaareh and other river nations. Useful in making cloth, rope, and many other products.

  Hetawa: The central temple of the Hananjan faith, and physical center of spiritual life in Gujaareh. The Hetawa oversees education, law, and public health.

  Hieratics: A shorthand or “cursive” form of the Gujaareen written language.

  Highcaste: The Gujaareen royal f
amily, shunha, and zhinha; in Kisua, highcastes include the sonha and hunters.

  Hipstraps: Straps used to hold loindrapes in place. Often decorated with clasps and used to carry wallets or tools.

  Hona-Karekh: The realm of wakefulness.

  Ina-Karekh: The land of dreams. The living may visit this land for short periods during sleep. The dead dwell here in perpetuity.

  Indethe: Sua word for attention/honor/love.

  Inim-teh: A plant grown in the Blood river valley. The seeds are harvested and ground to make a pungent spice useful in pickling and flavoring.

  Inunru: A great and honored figure in the history of the Hananjan faith.

  Jellevy: A small island nation in the Eastern Ocean near Kisua.

  Jungissa: A rare stone that resonates in response to stimuli. Skilled narcomancers use it to induce and control sleep. All jungissa are fragments of the Sun’s seed, fallen to earth from the stars.

  Ketuyae: A small village in the southern Gujaareen Territories.

  King: In Gujaareh, the most recently deceased Prince (may he dwell in Her peace forever).

  Kisua: A city-state in the mideastern region of the continent, motherland of Gujaareh.

  Kite-iyan: The Prince’s alternate palace, home of his wives and children.

  Loindrapes: A garment worn primarily by men in Gujaareh, consisting of two long panels of cloth (knee-length or ankle-length) linked about the hips by straps of leather or metal chain.

  Loinskirt: A garment worn primarily by men in Gujaareh, consisting of a knee-length wrap of hekeh or a pleated drape of linen.

  Lowcaste: A member of any of the castes at the bottom of the Gujaareen social hierarchy. Includes farmers and servants.

  Magic: The power of healing and dreams.

  Manuflection: A gesture of respect offered only to those who bear the gods’ favor. The supplicant drops to one knee, crossing forearms (palms outward) before the face. A lesser version of this (arms held parallel before the chest, palms down, with an included bow depending on the depth of respect shown) is offered as a routine greeting or gesture of apology in Gujaareh.

  Merik: One of the divine children of Dreaming Moon and Sun. Grinds down mountains and fills valleys.

  Midcaste: A member of any of the castes in the middle of the Gujaareen social hierarchy. Includes merchants and artisans.

  Military: Like the Servants of Hananja, a branch of public service in Gujaareh, and a caste into which one may be born or inducted.

  Mnedza: One of the divine children of Dreaming Moon and Sun. Brings pleasure to women.

  Moontear: A flower found along the Goddess’s Blood that blooms only by the light of the Dreaming Moon. Sacred to the Hananjan faith.

  Narcomancy: The Gujaareen skills of sleepcasting, dream control, and the use of dream-humors. Colloquially called dream magic.

  Nhefti: A hardy, thick-trunked tree that grows near the mountains of the Blood river valley. Its wood is amber-white and has a naturally pearlescent patina when polished. Used only for holy objects.

  Nijiri: An apprentice of the Gatherer path; the blue lotus. His mentor is Ehiru.

  Northerners: Collective term for members of the various tribes north of the Sea of Glory. Polite term for barbarians.

  Numeratics: Graphical/symbolic depictions used in mathematics, said to have their own magic.

  Physical humors: Blood, bile, ichor (plasma), and seed.

  Pictorals: The glyphic/symbolic written form of the Gujaareen language, based on written Sua. Used for formal requests, poetry, historical annotations, and religious writings.

  Pranje: Ritual undertaken by narcomancers in order to test their self-control.

  Prince/Lord of the Sunset/Avatar of Hananja: The ruler of Gujaareh in the waking realm. Upon death he is elevated to the throne of Ina-Karekh, where he rules at Hananja’s side until a new King comes (may he dwell in Her peace forever).

  Protectors: The council of elders that rules Kisua.

  Rabbaneh: A Gatherer of Hananja; the red poppy.

  Reaper: A myth. Abomination.

  Rogue: A Gatherer or Sharer who has failed the pranje and refused the Final Tithe. Corruption.

  Sentinels: Those in one of the four paths to the Service of Hananja. They guard the Hetawa and all works of the Goddess.

  Servant: In Gujaareh, a member of the lowest caste. Servants are not permitted to accumulate wealth and may select their own masters.

  Servants of Hananja: Priests sworn to the service of the Goddess.

  Shadoun: A desert tribe, once enemies of Gujaareh, now tributaries. Allied to the Kisuati.

  Shadowlands: The place in Ina-Karekh that is created by the nightmares of all dreamers. Those who die in distress are drawn here to dwell for eternity.

  Sharers: Those in one of the four paths to the Service of Hananja, responsible for the health of the city. They use narcomancy and occasionally surgery and herbalism.

  Shunha: One of the two branches of Gujaareen nobility, whose members claim to be descended from liaisons between mortals and Dreaming Moon’s children. Shunha maintain the customs and traditions of the motherland (Kisua).

  Sisters of Hananja: An order (independent of the Hetawa) consisting predominantly of women, who serve Hananja by collecting dreamseed in the city.

  Skyrer: Nocturnal birds of prey who hunt the Empty Thousand. It is an ill omen to see skyrers by day, or away from the desert outside of the rainy season.

  Slave: In Kisua, captive enemies, debtors, the indigent, undesirable foreigners, and criminals sentenced to involuntary servitude for a period of years. Slavery is illegal in Gujaareh.

  Sonha: Kisuati nobility, who claim to be descended from liaisons between mortals and Dreaming Moon’s children.

  Sonta-i: A Gatherer of Hananja; the indigo nightshade.

  Soulname: Names given to Gujaareen children for protection in Ina-Karekh.

  Southlands: Collective name for the various tribes beyond the source of the Goddess’ Blood river, many of which are vassal-states of Kisua.

  Stone Garden: A meditation-space in the inner Hetawa.

  Sunandi Jeh Kalawe: A maiden of the Kisuati sonha, assigned to Gujaareh as Voice of the Protectorate.

  Sunset Lineage: The royal family of Gujaareh, said to be descendants of the Sun.

  Superior: The administrative head of the Hetawa, whose decisions are made in conjunction with the Council of Paths and the Gatherers.

  Taffur: A small canid found in the Blood valley and Empty Thousand, sometimes kept as a pet in Gujaareh and Kisua.

  Teachers: Those in one of the four paths to the Service of Hananja, responsible for education and the pursuit of knowledge.

  Territories, The: Collective name for the towns and tribes that have pledged allegiance to Gujaareh. Often referred to as simply “Gujaareh.”

  Tesa: An oasis in the Empty Thousand, around which a thriving trade-center has developed.

  Timbalin: A popular narcotic in Gujaareh. Allows uncontrolled dreaming.

  Tithe: A Gujaareen citizen’s due offering to Hananja.

  Tithebearer: One designated by the Hetawa to receive Hananja’s blessing, in return for a tithe of dream-humors.

  True-seeing: A dream-vision of the future or past.

  Umblikeh: The tether that binds soul to flesh and permits travel out of the body into other realms. When severed, death follows instantaneously.

  Una-une: A Gatherer of Hananja, recently deceased. Ehiru’s mentor.

  Voice of Kisua: An ambassador of Kisua, who speaks for the Protectors. The proper title for a Voice is “Speaker.”

  Waking Moon: Younger sister of the Dreaming Moon. Visible only shortly before sunrise.

  Water Garden: A meditation-space in the inner Hetawa.

  Wind Garden: A meditation-space in the inner Hetawa.

  Wood Garden: A meditation-space in the inner Hetawa.

  Yanya-iyan: The Prince’s main palace in the capital city, seat of Gujaareh’s government.

  Zhinha: One of
the two branches of nobility in Gujaareh, whose members claim to be descended from liaisons between mortals and Dreaming Moon’s children. Zhinha believe Gujaareh’s strength lies in its ability to adapt and change.

  Contents

  Welcome

  Author’s Note

  Epigraph