Nightingale
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Cartouche: The device or coat of arms representing a warrior family. A warrior family that can create ranked members also known as seigneurs.
Cohort: A commerce enterprise that controls a particular industry or market in a geographical region or stellar system. Example: agri-cohorts dominate the agrarian enterprises in specific systems. No single agri-cohort controls sufficient systems to dominate the entire industry as would a cartel.
Consortium: An association of individuals or enterprises assembled for a specific commerce endeavor.
Crevasse (singular/plural): A deep fissure or canyon from which Vistrite is mined.
Crevasse-crawler: A terrier-sized rodent resident in the Crevasse.
Crevasse-wallower: A chemically addicted inhabitant of the Crevasse.
Crossed Sabers Academy: The premier warrior academy in the Third System.
~D~
Discipline Master: A prelate skilled in the martial discipline of a warrior sect.
Doxy: A sex worker (derogatory).
~F~
Final Draught: The lethal poison administered for the execution of criminals.
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) Fifth Warrior: See Standingbear, Sinead.
(The) First Warrior: See Omsted, Socraide.
(The) Fourth Warrior: See Metricelli, Jonathan.
~G~
Galactic Delights: Elaborate and vulgar indulgence that serves as Tiger Sylvester’s commerce headquarters.
(The) Golden Horizon Group: Luxury interstellar transport cohort with ambitions to achieve cartel status.
~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.
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, 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.
Omsted Conservatory for the Arts: The Twelve Systems’ oldest and highest-rated conservatory for advanced studies of the creative arts.
Order’s Citadel: The Twelve Systems’ premier military institute for advanced studies of combat and the martial arts.
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 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~
Sect: See Warrior Sect.
Sect Chapter: See Warrior Sect Chapter.
(The) Second Warrior: See Ben Claude, Rimon.
Seer: A seer of visions sent by one or more of the Shades.
Seigneur: The elite of the elite. A ranked warrior is part of the small group that controls the commercial interests that control the Twelve Systems.
Shade: A spirit or ghost (lowercase).
(The) Shades: The manifestations of the Five Warriors and Adelaide (uppercase).
Shade Prelate: The senior prelate for a warrior sect. Alternatively, Lord or Lady Prelate.
Sect Patron: The secular authority for a given sect. The office is determined by commercial rank. Alternatively, Lord or Lady Patron.
Shade-Ridden: Those who become deranged through service to the Shades of the Five Warriors and Adelaide.
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).
Shrine Patron: 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 Keeper: The senior prelate of a particular shrine.
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.
Sinead’s World: One of three habitual planets in the Third System, it was controlled by Sinead Standingbear, the Fifth Warrior.
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~
Universalist: A follower of the Universal Way.
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.
~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: The dominant class in the Twelve Systems. Its members can prove direct genetic descent from the Five Warriors and their retainers.
(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.
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 favored by Serengeti.
Warriors’ Respite: A fashionable warrior club favored by the younger crowd.
Warrior Ring: The arrangement of shrines in a ring that includes all Five Warriors. Beginning at the north and moving clockwise: 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 Adelaide’s Alcoves, which are positioned to face the First Warrior’s Shrines in recognition of her dual loyalties.
Warrior Sect: Short form, sect. A spiritual institution dedicated to one of the Five Warriors.
Warrior Sect Chapter: Short form, sect chapter or chapter. A subset of a warrior sect commonly defined by the system. Example: Socraide’s Third System Chapter.
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 f
or 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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Table of Contents
List of Characters
The Twelve Systems
1. Hostile Attention
2. Travel Plans
3. Planet Exit
4. Shimmering Horizon
5. Bright Dawn Horror
6. Settlement Day on Fortuna
7. Adelaide’s Wraith
8. Concerts and Receptions
9. Apollo’s Will
10. Hull Launch
11. The Nightingale
12. The Governor’s Gala
13. Villains and Penitence
14. Fire Sword
15. Sabers and Stimulants
16. Poison
17. Alcove Politics
18. Sinead’s Scourge
19. Flavia’s Contrition
The Apprentice Protocol
Devotional Litanies
Glossary of the Twelve Systems
Acknowledgements
About the Author