Acorna's Triumph

by Anne McCaffrey

  Aarlii—a Linyaari survey team member, firstborn daughter of Captain Yaniriin.

  Aarkiiyi—member of the Linyaari survey team on Vhiliinyar.

  abaanye—a Linyaari sleeping potion that can be fatal in large doses.

  Acorna—a unicorn-like humanoid discovered as an infant by three human miners—Calum, Gill, and Rafik. She has the power to heal and purify with her horn. Her uniqueness has already shaken up the human galaxy, especially the planet Kezdet. She’s now fully grown and changing the lives of her own people, as well. Among her own people, she is known as Kornya.

  Ali Baba—Aziza’s ship.

  Ancestors—unicorn-like sentient species, precursor race to the Linyaari. Also known as ki-lin.

  Ancestral Friends—an ancient shape-changing and space-faring race responsible for saving the unicorns (or Ancestors) from Old Terra, and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.

  Ancestral Hosts—see Ancestral Friends.

  Andina—owner of the cleaning concession on MOO, and sometimes lady companion to Captain Becker.

  Aridimi Desert—a vast, barren desert on the Makahomian planet, site of a hidden Temple and a sacred lake.

  Aridimis—people from the Makahomian Aridimi Desert.

  Arkansas Traveler—freight hauling spaceship piloted by Scaradine MacDonald.

  Attendant—Linyaari who have been selected for the task of caring for the Ancestors.

  avvi—Linyaari word for “daddy.”

  Aziza Amunpul—head of a troop of dancers and thieves, who, after being reformed, becomes Hafiz’s chief security officer on MOO.

  Balakiire—the Linyaari spaceship commanded by Acorna’s aunt Neeva.

  Basic—shorthand for Standard Galactic, the language used throughout human-settled space.

  Becker—see Jonas Becker.

  Bulaybub Felidar sach Pilau ardo Agorah—a Makahomian Temple priest, better known by his real name—Tagoth. A priest who supports modernizing the Makahomian way of life, he was a favorite of Nadhari Kando, before her departure from the planet. He has a close relationship in his young relative, Miw-Sher.

  Calum Baird—one of three miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.

  chrysoberyl—a precious catseye gemstone available in large supply and great size on the planet of Makahomia, but also, very rarely and in smaller sizes, throughout the known universe. The stones are considered sacred on Makahomia, and are guarded by the priest class and the Temples. Throughout the rest of the universe, they are used in the mining and terraforming industries across the universe.

  Condor—Jonas Becker’s salvage ship, heavily modified to incorporate various “found” items Becker has come across in his space voyages.

  Crow—Becker’s shuttle, used to go between the Con-dor and places in which the Condor is unable to land.

  Declan “Gill” Giloglie—one of three human miners who discovered Acorna and raised her.

  Delszaki Li—once the richest man on Kezdet, opposed to child exploitation, made many political enemies. He lived his life paralyzed, floating in an antigravity chair. Clever and devious, he both hijacked and rescued Acorna and gave her a cause—saving the children of Kezdet. He became her adopted father. Li’s death was a source of tremendous sadness to all but his enemies.

  Dinan—Temple priest and doctor in Hissim.

  Domestic Goddess—Andina’s spaceship.

  Dsu Macostut—Federation officer, Lieutenant Commander of the Federation base on Makahomia.

  Edacki Ganoosh—corrupt Kezdet count, uncle of Kisla Manjari.

  Egstynkeraht—A planet supporting several forms of sulfur-based sentient life.

  Elviiz—Mac’s son, a Linyaari childlike android, given as a wedding/birth gift to Acorna and Aari. The android is named for an ancient Terran king, and is often called Viiz for short.

  enye-ghanyii—Linyaari time unit, small portion of ghaanye.

  Fagad—Temple priest in the Aridimi desert, who spied for Mulzar Edu Kando.

  Felihari—one of the Makavitian Rain Forest tribes on Makahomia.

  Feriila—Acorna’s mother.

  Fiicki—Linyaari communications officer on Vhiliinyar expedition.

  Fiirki Miilkar—a Linyaari animal specialist.

  Fiiryi—a Linyaari.

  fraaki—Linyaari word for fish.

  Friends—also known as Ancestral Friends. A shape-changing and space-faring race responsible for saving the unicorns from Old Terra and using them to create the Linyaari race on Vhiliinyar.

  Gaali—highest peak on Vhiliinyar, never scaled by the Linyaari people. The official marker for Vhiliinyar’s date line, anchoring the meridian line that sets the end of the old day and the beginning of the new day across the planet as it rotates Our Star at the center of the solar system. With nearby peaks Zaami and Kaahi, the high mountains are a mystical place for most Linyaari.

  ghaanye (pl.ghaanyi)—a Linyaari year.

  gheraalye malivii—Linyaari for navigation officer.

  gheraalye ve-khanyii—Linyaari for senior communications officer.

  giirange—office of toastmaster in a Linyaari social organization.

  GSS—Gravitation Stabilization System.

  haarha liirni—Linyaari term for advanced education, usually pursued during adulthood while on sabbatical from a previous calling.

  Hafiz Harakamian—Rafik’s uncle, head of the inter-stellar financial empire of House Harakamian, a passionate collector of rarities from throughout the galaxy, and a devotee of the old-fashioned sport of horseracing. Although basically crooked enough to hide behind a spiral staircase, he is genuinely fond of Rafik and Acorna.

  Heloise—Andina’s spaceship.

  Highmagister HaGurdy—the Ancestral Friend in charge of the Hosts on old Vhiliinyar.

  Hissim—the biggest city on Makahomia, home of the largest Temple.

  Hraaya—an Ancestor.

  Hrronye—Melireenya’s lifemate.

  Hrunvrun—the first Linyaari Ancestral attendant.

  Iiiliira—a Linyaari ship.

  Iirtyi—chief aagroni for narhii-Vhillinyar. Ikwaskwan—self-styled leader of the Kilumbembese Red Bracelets. Depending on circumstances and who he is trying to impress, he is known as either “General Ikwaskwan” or “Admiral Ikwaskwan,” though both ranks are self-assigned. Entered into devious dealings with Edacki Ganoosh that led to his downfall.

  Johnny Greene—an old friend of Calum, Rafik, and Gill; joined the Starfarers when he was fired after Amalgamated Mining’s takeover of MME.

  Jonas Becker—interplanetary salvage artist; alias space junkman. Captain of the Condor. CEO of Becker Interplanetary Recycling and Salvage Enterprises, Ltd.—a one-man, one-cat salvage firm Jonas inherited from his adopted father. Jonas spent his early youth on a labor farm on the planet Kezdet before he was adopted.

  Judit Kendoro—assistant to psychiatrist Alton Forelle at Amalgamated Mining, saved Acorna from certain death. Later fell in love with Gill and joined with him to help care for the children employed in Delszaki Li’s Maganos mining operation.

  Kaahi—a high mountain peak on Vhiliinyar.

  Kaalmi Vroniiyi—leader of the Linyaari Council, which made the decision to restore the ruined planet Vhiliinyar, with Hafiz’s help and support, to a state that would once again support the Linyaari and all the life-forms native to the planet.

  Kaarlye—the father of Aari, Maati, and Laarye. A member of the Nyaarya clan, and life-bonded to Miiri.

  ka-Linyaari—something against all Linyaari beliefs, something not Linyaari.

  Karina—a plumply beautiful wanna-be psychic with a small shred of actual talent and a large fondness for profit. Married to Hafiz Harakamian. This is her first marriage, his second.

  Kashirian Steppes—Makahomian region that produces the best fighters.

  Kashirians—Makahomians from the Kashirian Steppes.

  kava—a coffeelike hot drink produced from roasted ground beans.

  KEN—a line of general-purpos
e male androids, some with customized specializations, differentiated among their owners by number, for example—KEN637.

  Kezdet—a backwoods planet with a labor system based on child exploitation. Currently in economic turmoil because that system was broken by Delszaki Li and Acorna.

  Khaari—senior Linyaari navigator on the Balakiire.

  Khleevi—name given by Acorna’s people to the space-borne enemies who have attacked them without mercy.

  Khoriilya—Acorna and Aari’s oldest child, a daughter, known as Khorii for short.

  kii—a Linyaari time measurement roughly equivalent to an hour of Standard Time.

  ki-lin—Oriental term for unicorn, also a name sometimes associated with Acorna.

  Kilumbemba Empire—an entire society that raises and exports mercenaries for hire—the Red Bracelets.

  Kisla Manjari—anorexic and snobbish young woman, raised as daughter of Baron Manjari; shattered when through Acorna’s efforts to help the children of Kezdet her father is ruined and the truth of her lowly birth is revealed.

  Kubiilikaan—the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.

  Kubiilikhan—capital city of narhii-Vhiliinyar, named after Kubiilikaan, the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.

  LAANYE—sleep learning device invented by the Linyaari that can, from a small sample of any foreign language, teach the wearer the new language overnight.

  Laarye—Maati and Aari’s brother. He died on Vhiliinyar during the Khleevi invasion. He was trapped in an accident in a cave far distant from the spaceport during the evacuation, and was badly injured. Aari stayed behind to rescue and heal him, but was captured by the Khleevi and tortured before he could accomplish his mission. Laarye died before Aari could escape and return. Time travel has brought him back to life.

  Laboue—the planet where Hafiz Harakamian makes his headquarters.

  lalli—Linyaari word for “mother.”

  lilaala—a flowering vine native to Vhiliinyar, used by early Linyaari to make paper.

  Liriili—former viizaar of narhii-Vhiliinyar, member of the clan Riivye.

  Linyaari—Acorna’s people.

  Lukia of the Lights—a protective saint, identified by some children of Kezdet with Acorna.

  Ma’aowri 3—a planet populated by catlike beings.

  Maarni—a Linyaari folklorist, mate to Yiitir.

  Maati—a young Linyaari girl of the Nyaarya clan who lost most of her family during the Khleevi invasion. Aari’s younger sister.

  MacKenZ—also known as Mac or Maak, a very useful and adaptable unit of the KEN line of androids, now in the service of Captain Becker. The android was formerly owned by Kisla Manjari, and came into the Captain’s service after it tried to kill him on Kisla’s orders. Becker’s knack for dealing with salvage enabled him to reprogram the android to make the KEN unit both loyal to him and eager to please. The reprogramming had interesting side effects on the android’s personality, though, leaving Mac much quirkier than is usually the case for androids.

  madigadi—a berry-like fruit whose juice is a popular beverage.

  Maganos—one of the three moons of Kezdet, base for Delszaki Li’s mining operation and child rehabilitation project.

  Makahomia—war-torn home planet of RK and Nadhari Kendo.

  Makahomian Temple Cat—cats on the planet Makahomia, bred from ancient Cat God stock to protect and defend the Cat God’s Temples. They are—for cats—large, fiercely loyal, remarkably intelligent, and dangerous when crossed.

  Makavitian Rain Forest—a tropical area of the planet Makahomia, populated by various warring jungle tribes.

  Manjari—a baron in the Kezdet aristocracy, and a key person in the organization and protection of Kezdet’s child-labor racket, in which he was known by the code name “Piper.” He murdered his wife, then committed suicide when his identity was revealed and his organization destroyed. Martin Dehoney—famous astro-architect who designed Maganos Moon Base; the coveted Dehoney Prize was named after him.

  Melireenya—Linyaari communications specialist on the Balakiire, bonded to Hrronye.

  Mercy Kendoro—younger sister of Pal and Judit Kendoro, saved from a life of bonded labor by Judit’s efforts, she worked as a spy for the Child Liberation League in offices of Kezdet Guardians of the Peace until the child-labor system was destroyed.

  Miiri—mother of Aari, Laarye, and Maati. A member of the Nyaarya clan, life-bonded to Kaarlye.

  mitanyaakhi—generic Linyaari term meaning a very large number.

  Miw-Sher—a Makahomian Keeper of the sacred Temple cats. Her name means “Kitten” in Makahomian.

  MME—Gill, Calum, and Rafik’s original mining company. Swallowed by the ruthless, conscienceless, and bureaucratic Amalgamated Mining.

  Mog-Gim Plateau—an arid area on the planet Makahomia near the Federation spaceport.

  MOO, or Moon of Opportunity—Hafiz’s artificial planet, and home base for the Vhiliinyar terraforming operation.

  Mulzar (feminine form: Mulzarah)—the Mog-Gimin title taken by the high priest who is also the warlord of the Plateau.

  Mulzar Edu Kando sach Pilau dom Mog-Gim—High Priest of Hissim and the Aridimi Plateau, on the planet Makahomia.

  Naadiina—also known as Grandam, one of the oldest Linyaari, host to both Maati and Acorna on narhii-Vhiliinyar, died to give her people the opportunity to save both of their planets.

  Naarye—Linyaari techno-artisan in charge of final fitout of spaceships.

  naazhoni—the Linyaari word for someone who is a bit unstable.

  Nadhari Kando—formerly Delszaki Li’s personal bodyguard, rumored to have been an officer in the Red Bracelets earlier in her career, then a security officer in charge of MOO, then the guard for the leader on her home planet of Makahomia.

  narhii-Vhiliinyar—the planet settled by the Linyaari after Vhiliinyar, their original homeworld, was destroyed by the Khleevi.

  Neeva—Acorna’s aunt and Linyaari envoy on the Balakiire, bonded to Virii.

  Neo-Hadithian—an ultraconservative, fanatical religious sect.

  Ngaen Xong Hoa—a Kieaanese scientist who invented a planetary weather control system. He sought asylum on the Haven because he feared the warring governments on his planet would misuse his research. A mutineer faction on the Haven used the system to reduce the planet Rushima to ruins. The mutineers were tossed into space, and Dr. Hoa has since restored Rushima and now works for Hafiz.

  Niciirye—Grandam Naadiina’s husband, dead and buried on Vhiliinyar.

  Niikaavri—Acorna’s grandmother, a member of the clan Geeyiinah, and a spaceship designer by trade. Also, as Niikaavre, the name of the spaceship used by Maati and Thariinye.

  Nirii—a planetary trading partner of the Linyaari, populated by bovinelike two-horned sentients, known as Niriians, technologically advanced, able to communicate telepathically, and phlegmatic in temperament.

  nyiiri—the Linyaari word for unmitigated gall, sheer effrontery, or other forms of misplaced bravado.

  Our Star—Linyaari name for the star that centers their solar system.

  Paazo River—a major geographical feature on the Linyaari homeworld, Vhiliinyar.

  pahaantiyir—a large catlike animal once found on Vhiliinyar.

  Pandora—Count Edacki Ganoosh’s personal spaceship, used to track and pursue Hafiz’s ship Shahrazad as it speeds after Acorna on her journey to narhii-Vhiliinyar. Later confiscated and used by Hafiz for his own purposes.

  piiro—Linyaari word for a rowboatlike water vessel.

  piiyi—a Niriian biotechnology-based information storage and retrieval system. The biological component resembles a very rancid cheese.

  Praxos—a swampy planet near Makahomia used by the Federation to train Makahomian recruits.

  PU#10—Human name for the vine planet, with its sentient plant inhabitants, where the Khleevi-killing sap was found.

  Rafik Nadezda—one of three miners who discovere
d Acorna and raised her.

  Red Bracelets—Kilumbembese mercenaries; arguably the toughest and nastiest fighting force in known space.

  Roadkill—otherwise known as RK. A Makahomian Temple Cat, the only survivor of a space wreck, rescued and adopted by Jonas Becker, and honorary first mate of the Condor.

  Roc—Rafik’s shuttle ship.

  Scaradine MacDonald—captain of the Arkansas Traveler spaceship, and galactic freight hauler.

  Shahrazad—Hafiz’s personal spaceship, a luxury cruiser.

  sii-Linyaari—a legendary race of aquatic Linyaari-like beings developed by the Ancestral Friends.

  Siiaaryi Maartri—a Linyaari survey ship.

  Sinbad—Rafik’s spaceship.

  Sita Ram—a protective goddess, identified with Acorna by the mining children on Kezdet.

  Smythe-Wesson—a former Red Bracelet officer, Win Smythe-Wesson briefly served as Hafiz’s head of security on MOO before his larcenous urges overcame him.

  Standard Galactic Basic—the language used throughout the human settled galaxy, also known simply as “Basic.”

  stiil—Linyaari word for a pencil-like writing implement.

  Taankaril—visedhaanye ferilii of the Gamma sector of Linyaari space.

  Tagoth—see Bulaybub.

  techno-artisan—Linyaari specialist who designs, engineers, or manufactures goods.

  Thariinye—a handsome and conceited young space-faring Linyaari from clan Renyilaaghe.

  Theophilus Becker—Jonas Becker’s father, a salvage man and astrophysicist with a fondness for exploring uncharted wormholes.

  thiilir (pl. thilirii)—small arboreal mammals of Linyaari homeworld.

  thiilsis—grass species native to Vhiliinyar.

  Toruna—a Niriian female who sought help from Acorna and the Linyaari when her home planet was invaded by the Khleevi.