by Foz Meadows
Vexa’Mara – One of the three chosen marriage-mates of a reigning Vexa. The Vexa’Mara is traditionally chosen for their embodiment of the quality of kinship or blood (mara), which is usually taken to mean that they represent a favourable political alliance. For this reason, ‘mara partners within the royal mahu’kedet are generally held to be more powerful than their other marriage-mates, and can sometimes hold more political sway than a Cuivex or Cuivexa.
Vexa’Sehet – One of the three chosen marriage-mates of a reigning Vexa. The Vexa’Sehet is traditionally chosen for their embodiment of the quality of soul or wisdom (sehet), which is usually taken to mean intelligence, whether scholastic, magical or strategic.
Yaramet – Fire-magic. This gift is associated with Yemaya, the fire goddess.
Yemaya – Goddess of fire, and one of the six gods of the Second Tier of the Celestial Hierarchy. Her counterpart is Nihun, her sacred colour is red, and her marital attribute is mara (blood).
Zuymet – Word-magic, language transference. This gift is associated with Sahu, goddess of wisdom.
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Vekshi
Ashasa – The Mother Sun, the fire goddess of Veksh.
Dou – A square-necked tunic.
Etmahsi – Motherless; a title of disowned women.
Kettha – Loose trousers that wrap at the waist.
Mege – A hot, sweet tea brewed from caffeinated leaves and soup stock, popular with traders.
Nekveksanayun – Literally, “neither the right thing nor its opposite”. The state of being in between, uncertain or undecided.
Shariktai – Literally “sun-tongue”, the Vekshi word for language-magic, equivalent to zuymet in Kenan.
Shasuyakesani – Literally, “one on whom the sun both smiles and frowns”, indicating a person born with mottled skin. Shasuyakesani individuals are varyingly considered to be either very good or very bad luck, and as such are treated with a mixture of caution, contempt and respect.
Yevekshasa – The ancient capital of Veksh. The city is built on a mesa.
Yshra – Literally, “blade” or “blades” (the singular and the plural take the same form). The word refers both to an actual knife, and to warrior-priestesses in Ashasa’s service.
Zejhasa – Literally, “the braided path”. An important Vekshi concept describing the complicated relationship between mothers and their children, especially as those children age and begin their own lives as adults.
Acknowledgments
Thanks first and foremost to Kate Elliott and Trudi Canavan, both of whom went above and beyond in helping this book see daylight, and to my other beta readers; also Katharine Kerr, Ryan Scott Kennedy, Margie Lau, Corinne Duyvis, Laura Lam and Ship Everman, who took the time to read my drafts, whether in excerpts or their entirety, and provide valuable feedback. Thanks also to Professor Heidi Mirza, who was kind enough to help me with my research into Gwen’s background, and to my godmother, Pam Zemanek, for her knowledge of DOCS protocol. Any remaining errors and/or fail are entirely my own fault.
Especial thanks to my agent, Jennie Goloboy, who had faith in Saffron from the very first, and to my parents, grandmother and parents-in-law, who have always been unstinting in their encouragement of my writing, no matter how weird it makes me. Further thanks to my fellow nerds in the ECKC, who took that weirdness, ran with it, and hauled me into a glorious world of life-affirming trash. You know who you are, and I wouldn’t be here without you.
And last but by no means least: thanks to my wonderful husband, Toby, and to our son, Silas, who entered the world in the course of my writing this book, and who is now tall enough to stand at the edge of my desk and try to steal the computer mouse, because clearly such a shiny thing with a clicky bit should be his. I love you both.
About the Author
Foz Meadows is a genderqueer author, blogger, essayist, reviewer and poet. In 2014, she was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer for her blog, Shattersnipe. She is also a contributing writer for the Huffington Post and Black Gate, and a contributing reviewer for Strange Horizons and Tor.com.
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fozmeadows.wordpress.com • twitter.com/fozmeadows
ANGRY ROBOT
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Out of these worlds
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An Angry Robot paperback original 2016
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Copyright © Foz Meadows 2016
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For Meadows asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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UK ISBN 978 0 85766 584 3
US ISBN 978 0 85766 585 0
EBook ISBN 978 0 85766 586 7
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Maps by Stephanie McAlea.
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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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