by Karen Myers
Capital city, founded by Kigali, on Pago Bay on the east coast near the Kigali border, at the mouth of the Harin River. Also known as Zudiqazd mar-Sarq, the Winter Camp of the Nation.
(Hilj) Wandat (heelj wahn-DAHT) - Enclosed Sea
Very large almost landlocked sea in the far west, bordered also by Rasesdad.
Sarq-Zannib (SAHRK-zahn-NEEB)
The Zannib nation. It occupies the bottom of the southern hemisphere and is neighbored on the north by both Rasesdad and Kigali. The western third concentrates on fishing and small farm agriculture, while the remainder is steppe and grasslands.
Zudiqazd mar-Sarq (zoo-dee-KAHZD mar-SAHRK) - Winter Camp of the nation
See Mard Ussha.
WORDS & PHRASES - ELLECH
Bendu (BEN-doo) - Device
A device for performing raunarys, usually made of wood.
Beolrys (BAYOL-rewss) - Mind-skill
The wizardly skill of mental-magic, things of the mind such as mind-speech.
Bilappa (BILL-ap-pa) - Father of learning
Mentor, patron.
Drepfarar (DREP-fahr-ar) - Lost souls
Spirits, haunts, ghosts.
Ellechen guma (ELL-ekh-en GOO-mah) - Ellechen language
The language of Ellech.
Emkenrys (EHM-ken-rewss) - Moving
One of the aspects of Raunarys.
Felkenrys (FEHL-ken-rewss) - Binding
One of the aspects of Raunarys.
Hakkengenni (HAHK-kehn-gen-nee) - One who knows
An archaic term for a wizard with unusual strength in mind-skill and thing-skill both. Usually translated as “Adept.”
Raegar, Raegrar (RA-gar, -grar) - Master, Masters
A senior scholar in the teaching/research system, often a teacher of others.
Raunarys (ROW-na-rewss) - Thing-skill
The wizardly skill of physical-magic, things of the real world, such as moving, binding, and destroying.
Redenrolek (REH-den-roh-lek) - Straight learning
Teachings that are considered orthodox or correct.
Rysefeol (REW-seh-fayol) - Device framework
A composite framework, usually made of wood, a level of complexity greater than a bendu.
Sennevi (SEHN-neh-vee)
“It is done.” The customary final phrase that marks the end of a traditional tale, often accompanied by the slash of a hand.
Strekenrys (STRECK-en-rewss) - Destroying
One of the aspects of Raunarys.
Thennur holi! (THEH-noor HOH-lee) - Wasted sweat!
An exasperated curse.
Yrmkenrolek (EWERM-ken-roh-lek) - Crooked learning
Teachings that are considered corrupt or immoral, sometimes on insufficient grounds.
Yrmur! (EWER-moor) - Broken, Wrong!
A curse.
WORDS & PHRASES - KIGALI
Binochi(-wen) (bee-NOH-chee) - Sir, Sirs
An honorific.
Chirmurno (cheer-MOOR-noh) - Fish catcher
The nickname for the person in charge of new members of an organization or family, a recruit master.
Duimur(-wen) (DOOY-moor(-wen)) - Fish in a school (singular, plural)
A nickname for ordinary civilians.
Gap kwosum (GAHP KWOH-soom) - Taking the yellow thread
The legitimization of imperial bastards, giving the same standing as a true heir. It joins them to the imperial genealogy, the sumkui, the thread book. Clothing all in yellow is the prerogative of the emperor and his legitimate family. Recognized bastards dress in amber.
Gepten (GHEP-tehn) - Market Fair
A seasonal market place serviced by traveling traders.
Gewengep (Hoikensuika Gewengep) (hoy-ken-SOOEY-kah geh-WEN-ghep) - Brotherhood of the Harmonious Mind
Any voluntary association of people united by a common cause, often sharing a meeting or dwelling place.
Gwatenno (gwah-TEN-noh) - Traveling traders
Merchants who make their living on the gepten circuit.
Katsom (KAHT-som) - Head servant
The majordomo or other top servant in a household.
Kigalino (kih-GAH-lee-noh) - A Kigali person
An individual citizen of Kigali.
Kigaliwen (kih-GAH-lee-wehn) - Kigali people
A group of Kigali people, or the collective citizens of Kigali.
Kigali yat (kih-GAH-lee-yaht) - Kigali speech
The language spoken in Kigali.
Lenju ka Yukmat (LEN-joo kah YOOK-mat) - Festival of Lights
A seasonal celebration which includes a play about the victory of good over evil and a fireworks display.
Leipum (LAY-poom) - Silk petal (branch)
An artificial version of the branch-in-leaf that is used to symbolize a truce.
Liju (LEE-joo) - Country Master, Emperor
The title of the Emperor of Kigali.
Likatchok (lee-KAHT-chok) - Face of the nation (to others)
Ambassador.
Lirshik (LEER-shik) - The sword decides
A formal trial by combat.
Lup (LOOP) - Magic
Magic, the art of wizards..
Lupchit (LOOP-chit) - Magic blood
A reference to the bloodline that produces wizards.
Lupju(-wen) (LOOP-joo(-wen)) - Magic master(s)
The term for wizards.
Minochi(-wen) (mee-NOH-chee(-wen)) - Madam, Ladies
An honorific.
Nanglik chok, nangchok (NAHNG-leek CHOHK) - Going-up wagon
The term for the cages that are hoisted up and down the cliff of Tegong Him. There are two on each connected loop, for weight balance.
Notju (NOTE-joo) - Master of secrets
A military title roughly equivalent to Intelligence Master. Usually this is an imperial representative.
Posom (POH-som)
A deprecatory reference to self when addressing someone of higher status — “your servant”, “your slave.”
Samkatju (sahm-KAHT-joo) - Family master
The patriarch of a family, its leader.
Samke (SAHM-keh) - Kin home
A multi-generation compound for a large family. In some regions, it is combined with buildings that are part of the family business.
Shaibo(-wen) (SHY-boh(-wen)) - Brown clothing (singular, plural)
Brown-robe, a nickname for the members of Imperial Security.
Sumkui (SOOM-kooey) - Thread book
A document, typically in scroll form, that records the genealogy for a family over many generations.
Tekenga Lupju(-wen) (LOOP-joo(-wen)) - Chained Magic master(s)
The term for chained wizards. Nickname Teken.
Togebi (toh-GEH-bee) - Big brother
Also used as a nickname for a captain within an organization, as in togebi-chi.
Wanbum (WAHN-boom)
The small gong that hangs on the wall next to a door, intended to be struck with a knuckle.
Wo (WOH) - Father
Also used as a nickname for the leader of an organization, as in wo-chi.
Yankat, Yankatmi (YAHN-kaht, yahn-KAHT-mee) - Headman, -woman
The person who leads a village.
WORDS & PHRASES - NDANT
Mbaewe (m-ba-EH-weh)
The leader of a group of wizards.
Munduo (mun-DOO-oh) - West Wind
The god of the indigenous people of Ndant, used metaphorically as the title of a second-in-command, typically paired with a shimawe.
Ndano (n-DAH-noh)
A Ndant man.
Ndanum (n-DAH-noom)
The Ndant people.
Shimawe (shih-MAH-weh) - East Wind
The goddess of the invaders who came from the eastern sea and settled Ndant, used metaphorically as the title of a second-in-command, typically paired with a munduo.
WORDS & PHRASES - RASESNI
Brudigdo (BROO-dig-doh) - Mage
The standard title for a male wizard (mage).
Brudigna (BROO-dig-nah) - Mage
/> The standard title for a female wizard (mage).
Sedchabke (SEHD-chahb-keh) - Mind stop
A drug that both paralyzes the body and inhibits all use of magic. A tool of discipline for errant mages.
WORDS & PHRASES - ZANNIB
Anah im-ghabr (ah-NAH im-GAHB-er) - Flower of the head
The turban, common but not universal headgear among the Zannib.
Baijuk (bye-JOOK)
Mead, a drink fermented from honey.
Bikraj, Bikrajti (beek-RAHJ(-tee)) - Wizard, wizardress
The common title for a wizard.
Biziz (bee-ZEEZ)
A merchant caravan.
Biziz Rahr (bee-ZEEZ RAH-er) - Big caravan
The Grand Caravan that runs three seasons of the year from Qawrash im-Dhal through eastern Kigali and sarq-Zannib.
Bunnas (boon-NAHSS)
A low wild shrub native to sarq-Zannib whose berries are collected and dried as part of the taridiqa, the annual migration. The infusion of ground, dried, berries in hot water is high in caffeine. Popular throughout the southern countries and a significant trade item for sarq-Zannib.
Dirum (dee-ROOM) - Herd-mistress
The senior woman responsible for all the clan’s herds while on taridiqa.
Dirum-malb (dee-ROOM-mahlb) - Apprentice to the Herd-mistress
A younger woman learning the position of dirum.
Ghuzl mar-Tawirqaj (GOOZ-el mar tah-weer-KAHJ) - Circle of Speakers
The national tribal assembly in Ussha.
Jarghal, Jarghalti (jar-GAHL(-tee))
The title for a master wizard (wizardress).
Kassa (KAHS-sah)
A bushy plant grown on mountain slopes, the leaves of which are used, dried, for a stimulating infusion.
Kazr, Kazrab (KAH-zer, kahz-RAHB) - Yurt, Yurts
A structure similar to a yurt, made of a wooden framework encased in felt.
Khash, Kashab (KHASH, khash-AHB) - Sword, Swords
The curved sword that is the typical weapon of the nomadic Zannib.
Khijr-Zannib (KHEE-jer zahn-NEEB) - The grasslands of sarq-Zannib
The steppe terrain that dominates the northern territories of sarq-Zannib.
Khimar (khee-MAR) - Honey
Honey is a special substance, favored by the lud for its unusual locations and properties, and for its use in fermenting mead.
Lij, Lijti (LEEJ, LEEJ-tee) - Sir, Lady
A term of respect. Lij-mar-lij — Master of masters. Derived from Kigali li and ju — Country-king.
Lud (LOOD)
Numinous objects or locations, often referred to as “little gods.”
Nal-Jarghal (nahl-jar-GHAHL)
The title for an apprentice wizard.
Nurti, Nurtin (NOOR-tee, noor-TEEN)
Younger sister, youngest sister.
Qahulaj (kah-hoo-LAHJ) - Taboo
Wizard-tyrant, one who does taboo things.
Sarq-Zannib (SAHRK-zahn-NEEB)
The Zannib nation.
Tawirqaj (tah-weer-KAHJ) - One who speaks for others
Representative, ambassador.
Tigha (TEE-gah)
Older brother.
Wirqiqa-Zannib (weer-KEE-kah-zahn-NEEB)
The Zannib language.
Zamjilah (zahm-jee-LAH) - Eye of heaven
The central crown at the top of the kazr that holds the rafters together and lets the smoke escape.
Zan (ZAHN)
An individual member of the Zannib nation.
Zannib-hubr (zahn-NEEB HOOB-er) - Free or Swift Zannib
The Zannib who continue a nomadic tradition of annual migration.
Zannib-taghr (zahn-NEEB TAHG-er) - Slow Zannib
The Zannib who live a settled life.
Zarawinnaj (zah-rah-wee-NAHJ) - One who rides in front
The leader of the taridiqa.
Zudiqazd (zoo-dee-KAHZD)
The winter camp, from which the taridiqa begins and ends. It houses those who do not go on the migration.
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CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
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ALSO BY KAREN MYERS
The Hounds of Annwn
To Carry the Horn
The Ways of Winter
King of the May
Bound into the Blood
Story Collections
Tales of Annwn
Short Stories
The Call
Under the Bough
Night Hunt
Cariad
The Empty Hills
The Chained Adept
The Chained Adept
Mistress of Animals
Broken Devices
On a Crooked Track
EXCERPT FROM ON A CROOKED TRACK
The Chained Adept: 4
Coming Soon from Perkunas Press
Wood everywhere—the solid pier on which Penrys was trying to find her land legs, the ship moving gently beside it in the harbor at Ellech after almost two months at sea, and the entire forest of a city spread out before her, topped by the clusters of signal towers like groves of mountain spruce trees.
It smelled like home, all that wood—weathering away in the buildings, or freshly cut in the long arm of the hoist that was even now swinging cargo off the ship, or burning as firewood and flavoring the crisp spring breeze.
Home was in the woolens everyone wore, retentive of the odor of hard work and dinners long past. It was in the hair and beard dressings of the dock workers, leavened by the exotic aromas of some of the southern cargo, destined for the perfume manufactories.
Penrys inhaled deeply, feeling the rightness of the environment deep inside her. She hoped they’d have a day or two to spend in the harbor cities at the base of the two rivers before moving upriver to Tavnastok, but that would depend on her mentor, Vylkar, visible on the wharf at the end of the pier making arrangements for their cargo.
Najud and Munraz were having troubles of their own adjusting to an unmoving surface. “Come on,” she said, picking up her pack. “The sooner you start walking, the easier it will get.”
“Does it work that way for you?” Munraz asked, gamely picking up his own gear.
“Don’t know—I’ve only read about it.” She chuckled at his outraged expression. “I’ve never been on a ship before, not at sea. Never been in Stokemmi, either.”
Striding off down the pier, she called over her shoulder, “Let’s go explore.”
She made a game of anticipating exactly where her feet would meet the planks until her body adjusted to the change of terrain and she stopped stumbling. Her footing wasn’t improved by her hard-soled boots, donned for the first time in a while after the bare feet or soft shoes of shipboard life.
The three of them clattered to a stop behind Vylkar. Two piles were accumulating before him as they came off of the hoists. The larger one, goods destined for trade here in the city, were to be stored in the warehouse used by the Collegium for its own supplies. Cargo handlers were stowing the horse packs onto two wagons to move them there, and the draft horses waited patiently, their breath visible in the chilled air.
The laborers joked with each other as they worked, swapping insults that would bring a blush to a hardened campaigner. Many ships were in harbor, and this wharf, one of several, was busy, filled with people earning a living and working up a sweat doing it.
; It was noisier, smellier, and far more vivid than the river harbor at Yenit Ping, and Penrys wondered what Najud and Munraz made of it. Except for the sea at their back and the size of the city, it could almost be Tavnastok, two hundred and fifty miles upstream from the mouth of the Lodentaf, just visible as a gap in the wharves far to the west along the shoreline. She’d seen sights like these there, running errands for the Collegium.
Their personal bags went into a hired two-wheeled pony cart. They would walk alongside it toward the center of Stokemmi to wherever they took rooms.
“We’ve fallen into the hands of talking bears,” Najud muttered. “Loud, smelly bears. Great big tall ones.”
“I warned you about the beards.” Penrys surveyed the wharves with a stranger’s eye and noted how many people were clearly natives (most of them), male (most of those), and bearded (all but the children). The few men of other nations, mostly officers from some of the ships in harbor, looked astonishingly youthful with their shaven faces.
“You’ll find plenty of foreigners here, and they shave,” she said. “I was never sure if that was out of fastidiousness, or because they couldn’t raise a competitive beard and were afraid to try.”
Some wore their beards in braids, or loose down their chest. Others had neatly trimmed, no-nonsense specimens. And here and there, especially for the citizens who’d come down from the city on business, elaborate grooming and stiffening fashions were on display.
“Do they breed for it?” Munraz asked, in a hushed tone that said he wouldn’t be surprised by an affirmative answer.
“Hard to say. The boys compete with pride to see who can sprout first, and survey their fathers and older brothers with envy. Maybe the less hairy ones have had a harder time finding a bride, and so they’re all bearded now.”
She smiled at the open alarm on his face. “Don’t worry, you can keep a beardless face and foreign clothing—no one will think it strange. Foreigners mean money, here—trade and business and interesting foods.”
Najud looked unconvinced. She wondered if he thought he had to cultivate a beard to measure up, and then she wondered if he could. She’d seen him in stubble, but she’d never seen a bearded Zan, just the somewhat patchy results of a couple of months of neglect. That would never work here, in Ellech, and they didn’t expect to be here any longer than that. Better to choose a different display of manhood.