The Pillars of Sand
Page 46
Soul Trader
Nomads, though sometimes living beings, who harvest the souls of the dead in order to sell them to others.
Starborn
Humans.
Sûk
A school.
Sût
High Avān word meaning “knife.”
Teshri
The government leaders, representatives of the Crown and State. Members of the Teshri are sayfs and rahns, though senior members of influential consortiums are also appointed such the leaders of the House of Pearl, the Banker’s House, the Mercantile Guild, Alchemists Guild, etc.
Unity
The process whereby an Awakened rahn travels their prefecture, communing with the consciousness of Īa. Successful Unity provides the Awakened rahn with the ability to share, harness, and leverage from the vast natural forces of Īa.
Vayen-sûk
The Lotus School of the warrior-poets, from Myr in Selassin Prefecture. Currently under the governance of Master Tarshin.
Warrior-poet
Arguably the most dangerous weapon masters in the world, a warrior-poet is trained in various weapons, strategies, unarmed combat, and military history and philosophy. They are also trained in the creative
arts of writing, poetry, painting, and sculpting, as a means to offset the violence of their core teaching and to gain an understanding of the value of life. A warrior-poet lives according to the tenet “The one will fight, so the many do not have to.” Once trained, they are contracted out as bodyguards, champions, and military leaders to the Great Houses, the Families, and to the various large syndicates such as the Mercantile Guild, the Banker’s House, and the House of Pearl. The Feyassin, the personal guard of the Mahj (or the Asrahn, in the case of the Shrīanese Federation) are entirely comprised of warrior-poets from the various schools.
Water of Life
Also known as the World Blood, the Water of Life is a rare and vital source of water, enriched with a high content of disentropy from where it has flowed through areas where the border between the physical world of Īa and the ahmtesh are tenuous.
Witch
The first group of the Ilhennim, mystics who are able to harness a vast array of natural forces to affect a supernatural outcome. A more dangerous, and less predictable,
set of practices than those used by scholars. The first scholastic orders were created by witches.
Witchfire
A natural ore with the mineral properties to more effectively channel disentropy, without being destroyed in the process. Often alloyed with kirion for greater strength, though can be alloyed with other metals.
Zienni, the
An order of scholars that focuses upon mental discipline and philosophy. They are capable practitioners of unarmed combat, though tend not to engage in violence. Known by their gray over-robes. Also known as the Wandering Order.
CULTURES
Avān
A species originally made by the Seethe in Torque Spindles from Seethe and Human specimens, as well as samples from predatory animals. The Avān were originally used as peacekeepers in the Petal Empire, though they rose up against the Seethe. Rather than release Humanity from their servitude, the newly formed Awakened Empire kept Humanity as a vassal race for the next millennium until it was toppled as part of a Human revolt.
Dragons
One of the Elemental Masters species, Dragons are also known as the Fire Masters. They call themselves the Hazhi. Rarely seen in the modern world, they are known to spend much of their time in slumber as part of the Great Dreaming, with only a small percentage of their population awake at any one time.
Fenling
A race created by the Seethe in the Torque Spindles, the Fenling are the merger of giant tool-using rats and
the Avān. They are a race of scavengers who rarely deal with non-Fenling, and are known for their cannibalism and carrying of virulent diseases.
Feyhe
One of the Elemental Master species, the Feyhe are also known as the Sea Masters.
Herū
One of the Elemental Masters species, the Herū are also known as the Earth Masters.
Humans
Also referred to as the Starborn. The most populous species on Īa. Once a vassal race to the Petal Empire of the Seethe, as well as the Awakened Empire of the Avān, Humanity is now independent. The largest Human faction in Southeastern Īa is the Iron League—composed of Atrea, Jiom, Imre, Manté, Orē, and Angoth. Humans are known to live in almost every nation.
Iku
One of the species of the Bamboo People. An ancient and enigmatic race of avian-like humanoids, with strong ties to the Sēq Order. They are rarely seen outside their mountain retreats, and generally people mistake their appearance for a disguise. For the most part the Iku are daikajé, traveling warrior philosophers and teachers. Sometimes associated with bad omens.
Katsé
One of the species of the Bamboo People. Also referred to as the fox-folk, they are a vulpine race who live in the forests and mountains of Īa. The Katsé are known for their cunning, and nature as tricksters.
Nomads
The undying or undead. Generally, they are without physical form and need to inhabit a physical shell in order to interact with the physical world. Seen as abominations by the Ancestor-worshipping Avān.
Rōm
Also called the Time Masters, the Rōm predate the Elemental Masters. There is very little documented about the Haiyt Empire of the Time Masters.
Seethe
One of the Elemental Master species, the Seethe are also known as the Wind Masters. The founders of the now fallen Petal Empire, they are effectively immortal, though they can die via sickness and violence. As Seethe mature, they undergo a physiological change where their bones thin and they grow wings. Seethe elders are capable of flight. The Seethe live and travel in extended family units known as troupes. They can be found in many cities across Southeastern Īa, though most dwell in the floating Sky Realms, which drift around the world, propelled by the winds.
Tau-se
The lion-folk of the Taumarq, originally made in the Torque Spindles by blending Humans and lions. They are collected into a tribe-based patriarchy, though it is the women who run businesses and households. The Tau-se are sought after as mercenaries.
Y’arrow-te-yi
A reclusive species reputed to be descended from earth elementals.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The creation of these three novels in the Echoes of Empire series has been such a consuming part of my life for the past couple of years. Writing them has been a tremendous experience, not without its lessons learned, its joys, and its sacrifices.
To my family and friends who’ve been so very patient, putting up with infrequent visits, and my social absences. Thanks for being there, and understanding how important this is for me.
To John Jarrold, who was always there with his advice and experience, and who has been so passionate about my work. I look forward to working with you on my next books.
David Pomerico and the 47North Author Team, you’ve proven time and time again that you believe in me, and the Echoes series. There’s so much work behind the scenes, and you made it all flow as smoothly as I could’ve hoped for.
To my editor, Juliet Ulman, for your guidance and attention to detail.
Matt Patin, I appreciate how hard copy editing can be. Thanks for all your hard work, and trying to make my stories a better experience for the reader.
To Stephan Martiniere, you’ve given me the most amazing cover art for these stories. I’m blessed to have had your vision as the first thing people see about my books.
My humble thanks to you all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mark Barnes was born in September, 1966, in Sydney, Australia. Raised and educated in Sydney, he was a champion swimmer who also played water polo, soccer, cricket, and volleyball. Drawn to the arts at a young age, he wrote his first short story at age seven, and was active in drawing, paintin
g, and music as well.
His career stuttered in finance, slid into advertising, then leaped into information technology, where he continues to manage a freelance organizational change consultancy. It was not until January, 2005, when Mark was selected to attend the Clarion South residential short story workshop, that he began to write with a view to making it more than a hobby. Since Clarion South 2005, Mark has published a small number of short stories, worked as a freelance script editor, and done creative consultancy for a television series. The Obsidian Heart is Book Two in the Echoes of Empire series, which began with his first novel, The Garden of Stones.
Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
DEDICATION PAGE
CONTENTS
BEFORE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CAST OF CHARACTERS
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
CULTURES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR