Blood of Jackals (Lords of Legan Book 2)

by Todd Marcelas Moreno

  Her thoughts overrun, in the end, the young woman’s mind simply ceased being her own. Huddled in some remote recess of her awareness, the last pearl of her consciousness perceived a growing pressure from every side, until finally the boundary between who and what she was, and what she had become, collapsed, with the shards of her essence dissolving into nothingness.

  Through the young woman’s eyes, the crone looked down at her old dead body, backing away from the life-support machines sounding their alarms for the medical staff, and affixing an appropriate expression on her face for when they arrived.

  Vela Possór was dead.

  Vela Lupa was reborn.

  - - -

  Appendix

  Cast of Characters

  ARCHEL, Lena (Possór-Carland): Mother of Vialette Carland. Remarried.

  BARELL, Cathena: Soror and truthseer of the Holy Miran Church.

  BIAM, Allenford: Former senior advisor to the Count-Grandee.

  CARREL, Fratér: Brother in the Holy Orders at Ferramond University.

  CARLAND, Vialette: Niece and godchild of Viscountess Morays.

  CHEREK, Husan Shuli: Mama Cherek. A major local crime boss on Legan.

  CRISPIRÓN, Ansel: Acolyte under Ashincor Linse. Brother of Annis.

  CURRECK, Marcea: Housekeeper of Pablen Palace and former HOPIS agent.

  CURROTTI, Sophia: A soror of the Holy Church specializing in healing.

  DELMON, Volienna: Country witch in the Afskagg Mountains.

  DEPRÉ, Lenalt: Rebel leader. Deceased.

  DOLFINI, Cohn: A patér of the Holy Church.

  FISKIN, Petraik: Older brother of Hern and Nave and head of rancher family.

  GARDET, Lancet: Senior representative of the New Dawn Believers.

  GARDET, Avid: NDB representative. Younger brother of Lancet.

  HANSODIAN, Lan: Lord Chamberlain of the Count-Grandee of Legan.

  HANSODIAN, Maura: Wife of the Lord Chamberlain.

  HESTORI: Dark Witch. Senior member of Lilth Morays’ coven.

  JAMES, Roen: Ranch-hand of the Fiskin Brothers.

  JAYSON: An inborn, one born to psychic abilities without training.

  JOHENSON, Charid: A member of the NDB Church.

  KAMARIN, Taniell: Rebel leader. Mother of Rachel Kamarin.

  KARRIS, Torrik: Major domo of Ossidel Castle.

  KETRICK, Vaid: Regional lord and ranking DuCideon on Legan.

  LERRERO, Arle: Special Commander in the House Guard.

  LINSE, Ashincor: Maternal grandfather of Derrick. A patér in Holy Orders.

  LINSE, Monika: Young sister of Ashincor.

  LUPA, Vela: Great-grandmother of Derrick. Former Countess-Grandia.

  MARSKAMOTH, Becil: Retired trial judge.

  MERES, Agnes: Mother of Jair, Kaelan and Gawin Meres.

  MERES, Jair: HOPIS field agent, older brother of Kaelan and Gawin.

  MORAYS, Cary: Lilth Morays’ oldest son of and paternal twin of Curin.

  MORAYS, Curin: Lilth Morays’ youngest son and paternal twin of Cary.

  MORAYS, Lilth (Possór): Viscountess of Voxny and cousiné to Derrick.

  MORAYS, Melvinor: Cousin of Cary and Curin. Ward of Lena Archel.

  MUERRAN, Charene: Head of House Possór Internal Security (HOPIS).

  MUFFY: Furred serpent pet of Lilth Morays.

  NEIDER, Eniel: Ranch-hand of the Fiskin Brothers.

  ORQUÉ, Thadam: Fratér of the Holy Church contracted to the House Guard.

  POOTHE, Baulios: Retainer of Ashincor Linse.

  POSSÓR, Astov: Grandfather of Derrick Possór. Former Count-Grandee.

  POSSÓR, Cassand Iowynne (Linse): Mother of Derrick Possór. Deceased.

  POSSÓR, Derrick: The Count-Grandee of Legan. Lord Legan.

  POSSÓR, Guishaun: Youngest son of Seonas Possór and cousiné to Derrick.

  POSSÓR, Jordan: Younger brother of Viscountess Lilth Morays.

  POSSÓR, Seffan: Father of Derrick and former Count-Grandee. Deceased.

  POSSÓR, Seonas: Uncle of Seffan Possór and brother-in-law by marriage.

  POSSÓR, Torran: First planetary grandee of Legan. (Historical)

  POSSÓR, Varian: Oldest son of Seonas Possór and cousiné to Derrick Possór.

  SEAN, Angren: A cousiné claimed by Jair Meres.

  STEUBEN, Henrald: Colonel in the House Possór Armed Forces and HOPIS.

  SUKAIN, Carole-Jeanne: First Advisor to Derrick Possór.

  TEHASING, Delanna: Princess and heiress presumptive to House Tehasing.

  TENATTE, Anios: Planetary representative from the Consortium.

  TILLIC, Manus: Guard Commander and friend of Derrick Possór. (Deceased)

  TOUSAN, Agnetha: Younger sister of Dorian Tousan.

  TOUSAN, Dorian: Close friend of Guishaun Possór.

  ULANE, Alfren: Assistant at a private research facility. Brother of Wren.

  VALMONT, Couri: Courell Wyren, son of Chais Wyren and rebel leader.

  WAREK, Patér Rector: Archchancellor of Ferramond University.

  WEHRING, Rachel: Former HOPIS agent. Deceased.

  WYREN, Chais: NDB bishop and Patriarch of Legan.

  WYREN, Helena: Wife of the NDB Patriarch of Legan.

  YESKIN: Son of a psychic researcher.

  Places of Relevance

  AFSKAGG MOUNTAINS: Part of a protected wilderness area on Legan.

  BENEFORD CATHEDRAL: Seat of the Prelate of Legan.

  CARRAN: Former regional capital. Site of the largest NDB temple on Legan.

  CRUCIDEL: Residence of the Viscountess Morays.

  ESTAFIELD: A city in the Faredin county on Legan.

  FERRAMOND: City and site of a small private Miran university.

  GALLESTON: A Crown barony on Legan. Also a historical battle-site.

  LANDOVER: Barony on Legan.

  LANDSIG: City in the Voxny viscounty.

  LEGAN: Planetary fief and homeworld of House Possór.

  LINSEA: Former duchy of House Linse, merged into the crown of Legan.

  LINSE CASTLE: Former seat of House Linse. Now a Possór residence.

  NEUTRAL ZONE, THE: A less-reputable area near downtown Estafield.

  NOBILI HALL: Residence of the patér’s of Ferramond University.

  OSSIDEL CASTLE: Residence of Seonas, Varian and Guishaun Possór.

  PABLEN: Capitol city of the planet Legan.

  PABLEN PALACE: Official residence of the Count-Grandee of Legan.

  QUETANA: Frontier area on Legan, which includes the Afskagg Mountains.

  SLIGHOLE, THE: A tavern in Estafield.

  SALICEA: City in the Veron duchy on Legan.

  STEERBACK: A small town in the Quetana region.

  TEVISTON: Planetary fief of House Tehasing.

  VALIER: Home planet of Soror Cathena Barell.

  VOXNY: Viscounty of House Morays.