Prince of Scorpio [Dray Prescot #5]

by Alan Burt Akers

Delia: Princess Majestrix of Vallia, Delia of the Blue Mountains, Delia of Delphond.

  Delian Cycle, The: The first five books of the Saga of Prescot of Antares.

  Delka Dwa: A one-time fortress town of Vindelka on the border of the Ocher Limits.

  Delka Ob: Capital of the Kovnate province of Vindelka in Vallia.

  Delphond: A province of Vallia situated on the southern coast, a rich, lazy, carefree, happy land. Dedicated to Delia.

  dhem: Silver coin of Pandahem.

  Diproo the Nimble-fingered, By: A thieves’ oath.

  dom: Kregish equivalent of English “mate” or American “pal."

  Donengil: Coastal lands and islands of South Turismond.

  dopa: A fiendish drink guaranteed to make a man fighting drunk.

  Doty: Name of a personage or spirit used in invective by the aragorn and slave-masters of Vallia.

  Dragon's Bones, The: A giant crater in the Ocher Limits filled with fossilized risslaca and mammal bones where Prescot was created Prince Majister of Vallia.

  Drak: Name used on occasion by Dray Prescot.

  Drak's Seat: Mountain peak in the form of a throne to the northeast of Vondium.

  drin: Suffix in Kregish denoting “land."

  dromviler: Vessel of the inner sea propelled partly by sail and partly by oar, used mainly by the Sorzarts.

  dwa: Two.

  dwabur: Measurement of length, approximately five miles.

  dwbrs: Abbreviation of dwaburs.

  E

  Eling, Pallan: Minister (Secretary) of State of Vallia responsible for the canals.

  Empire of Loh: More properly, the Empire of Walfarg. Empire carved out by Walfarg taking in all of Loh, Pandahem, Eastern Turismond, the Hoboling Islands, and other areas. Now completely fallen, although there are traces left in various countries—roads, religions, culture, fashions.

  Encar of the Fields: Elder, appointed by Prescot, responsible for agriculture in Valka.

  Erdgar the Shipwright: Elder, appointed by Prescot, responsible for dockyards and shipping in Valka.

  Erithor of Valkanium: A bard and song-maker of Valka held in high renown throughout Vallia.

  Erthyrdrin: Land of mountains and valleys in the northernmost tip of Loh, famed for its Bowmen, the finest of Loh. Birthplace of Seg Segutorio.

  Erthyr the Bow: The Supreme Being of Erthyrdrin.

  Erstveheim, High Kov of: Councillor of the Presidio of Vallia.

  Esser Rarioch: The high fortress overlooking Valkanium.

  Esztercari: A noble house of Zenicce. Cydones was Prince of the House of Esztercari during Prescot's sojourn there (TT).

  Everoinye: The Star Lords.

  Evir: Northernmost province of Vallia.

  Eward: A noble house of Zenicce. Wanek was Prince of the House of Eward during Prescot's sojourn there (TT).

  Eye of the World: The inner sea of the continent of Turismond.

  F

  Falinur: A Kovnate province of Vallia.

  fallimy: A little blue flower made into a paste to scour cisterns clean. Applied as a poultice to Prescot's chest by Thelda (WA).

  Farris, Lord of Vomansoir: A Chuktar in the Vallian Air Service.

  Fatal Love of Vela na Valka, The: A music drama known over most of Kregen.

  Faygar, Strom of Vorgan: A member of the Racter party, owing allegiance to the Kov of Vomansoir. In his Stromnate Prescot first saw the headless zorcamen.

  Felschraung: A clan of nomads roving the Great Plains of Segesthes. Prescot took obi of them and rose to be Zorcander (TT).

  Felteraz: A harbor, town, fortress, and estate a few dwaburs east of Sanurkazz. A spot of exceptional beauty. Home of Mayfwy.

  Fetching of Drak na Valka, The: Song made by Erithor of Valkanium commemorating Prescot's fetching freedom to Valka, by fetching the people to resist, and of their fetching of him, as Drak, to be their Strom. Runs to seven hundred and seventy-eight stanzas.

  Flahi: An island group off the coast of Eastern Turismond.

  Flahians: People of remarkable physical structure living on Flahi.

  flick-flick: A plant with orange cone-shaped flowers and six-foot-long tendrils expert at fly-catching; kept in Kregan houses and kitchens for that purpose.

  Foke the Ob-handed: A render who perpetrated atrocities in Valka.

  Forpacheng: A treacherous councillor of Hiclantung who sold out to Umgar Stro (WA).

  Fraser, Dan: In West Africa he afforded Prescot the opportunity to tell his story, resulting in The Tapes from Africa.

  Fristle: Furred and bewhiskered cat-people, fierce and treacherous, often employed as mercenaries. Their racial weapon is the scimitar.

  Furtway, Naghan, Kov of Falinur: A great lord of Vallia, rescued by Prescot from the Mountains of the North on orders from the Star Lords.

  Fwymay: Daughter of Zorg and Mayfwy of Felteraz.

  G

  Gansk: A city of the northern shore of the inner sea.

  Gdoinye: A giant scarlet and gold raptor, messenger and spy of the Star Lords.

  Genal the Ice: An iceman of the Mountains of the North.

  Genodras: The green sun of Antares.

  Glittering Caves: Quarries and catacombs in jeweled mountains just outside Arkasson (SS).

  Gloag: A Mehzta, slave of the Esztercaris, freed by Prescot to become a good comrade (TT).

  Glycas: A prince of Magdag (SU).

  Goforeng: A fortress city of the green north coast of the inner sea.

  Golda: A great lady of Aphrasöe (TT).

  Gons: A race who, ashamed of their white hair, habitually shave their heads bald.

  Grace of Grodno: A swifter of Magdag (SU).

  graint: A stubborn beast resembling a bear, but with eight legs and crocodile-like jaws extending for over eighteen inches.

  Grakki-Grodno: Magdaggian sky-god of draft beasts.

  Grand Archbold: Spiritual and temporal head of the Krozairs of Zy.

  Grand Canal: Five miles wide, connects the inner sea with the outer oceans.

  Great Northern Cut: A main canal of Vallia beginning in Vondium.

  Great River: The major river of Vallia, winding from the Mountains of the North to the south coast where stands Vondium. Also known as Mother of Waters, and She of Fecundity.

  green sun: Besides Genodras it has many thousands of names; Kokimur, Ry-ufraison, He of the Green Spear, Havil, are four.

  gregarians: A Kregan fruit.

  grint: A small creature like a six-legged opossum of the Owlarh Waste.

  Grodno: The green-sun deity.

  Grodno-Gasta: A blasphemously insulting epithet used against the people of Grodno.

  grundal: Rock-ape of the inner sea, with six spiderish limbs and a gray pelt; large mouth closing in folds of flesh, opening to a round, and armed with concentric rows of needlelike teeth. Vicious, cowardly, and deadly when hunting in packs.

  Gurush of the Bottomless Marsh, By: A canalman's oath.

  Gyphimedes: The immortal mistress of the beloved of Grodno.

  H

  halflings: General term for the beast-men, man-beasts of Kregen.

  Hall na Priags: A sacred chamber within one of the colossal megaliths of Magdag (SU).

  Happy Swinging: Parting salutation in Aphrasöe.

  Harfnars: Half-men of Chersonang, with flat noses across their faces wide as their lips, brilliant lemur-like eyes, squared-off chins and foreheads. Hereditary foemen of Hiclantung, they are well-armed and armored after the decadent fashion of Loh.

  Havilfar: A continent of Kregen.

  Havilfar Cycle, The: The second cycle in the Saga of Prescot of Antares.

  Havilfarese: The people of any nation of Havilfar.

  Heart Heights: Mountains and massif central in the center of Valka.

  hibisum flour: Used in the Blue Mountains for baking ponsho tender.

  Hiclantung: A city of the Hostile Territories ruled by Queen Lilah.

  High Zorcady: Capital of the province of the Blue Mountains in Vallia.
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  Hikdar: Commander of a hundred.

  Hlabro, Mount: A peak in Erthyrdrin.

  Hlo-Hli: A spirit of Loh, appealed to and sworn by.

  Hobolings: A race very squat of body and long of arm and leg, excellent topmen, inhabitants of the Hoboling Islands.

  Hoboling Islands: Chain of islands stretching from Erthyrdrin to Northwest Pandahem off the northeast coast of Loh.

  Hostile Territories: Area of central East Turismond between The Stratemsk and the Klackadrin, cut off from the outside world since the collapse of the Empire of Loh.

  Hrunchuk: Idol in the temple gardens across the forbidden canal in Zenicce. Has three enormously valuable eyes.

  humespack: Cloth used for clothing.

  Hunter, Alex: Earthman sent by the Savanti on a mission to Valka.

  Hurtado, Don, de Oquendo: Spaniard who taught Prescot rapier fighting.

  I

  ib: Spirit of the dead.

  Ice Floes of Sicce: One of the versions of a Kregan hell.

  impiter: Gigantic coal-black flying animal of Turismond, the mainstay of various races’ aerial cavalry, as a saddle animal.

  Inch: From Ng'groga. Seven feet tall, extraordinarily thin, with long fair hair. Wields an ax of the Saxon pattern. Obsessed with his taboos. A good comrade to Prescot.

  Invisible Twins: see Opaz.

  Isteria: Small island a comfortable day's pull from Sanurkazz.

  J

  Jenbar, Tyr: Nephew to Naghan Furtway, Kov of Falinur.

  Jeniu: Old panval shipwrecked in Valka on the way to Penal islands.

  Jholaix: Nation in the northeast of Pandahem famed for her wines.

  Jikai!: A word of complex meaning; used in different forms means: “Kill!” “Warrior.” “A noble feat of arms.” “Bravo!” Many other related concepts to do with honor, pride, and warrior-status.

  Jikaida: A board game combining chess, checkers, and Halma-like moves on a checkerboard of a rectangular shape: a war-game.

  jikaider: To flog crisscross.

  Jiktar: Commander of a thousand.

  K

  kalasbrune: A building material of great value.

  king korf: Larger than the crested-korf; found in Erthyrdrin; its feathers are prized for fletching.

  Klackadrin: A long narrow fault in the crust of Kregen running from the Boiling Sea in the north to the Lesser Stratemsk in the south of Eastern Turismond. Gives off hallucinogenic gases.

  kleesh: Violently unpleasant, repulsive, stinking—an insult.

  knuckle: Approximately 4.2 inches.

  Kodifex: Leader of the Assembly in Zenicce, elected from among the Princes and the chiefs of the Houses of Zenicce.

  Korer, Captain: Captain of a Valkan galleon.

  Koter: A Vallian gentleman. Kr. is the abbreviation.

  Kotera: A Vallian lady. Kta. is the abbreviated form.

  Kothmir: Once a part of the Empire of Loh.

  Kov: Title of Kregan nobility, approximating to “Duke."

  Kovneva: Duchess.

  Kovnate: An estate or province of a Kov.

  Kovno, Rov: A Jiktar of the clan of Longuelm (TT).

  Kregen: Planet circling Antares. Kregan is the adjective. Kregish is the language in universal use. There are many local tongues.

  Krozair: Member of an Order dedicated to Zair.

  Krz. Abbreviation for Krozair.

  Krzy. Abbreviation for the Krozairs of Zy.

  Kutven: Leader of the Vens of the canalfolk.

  L

  Lahal: Universal greeting for friend or acquaintance.

  Larghos, Nath, Trylon of the Black Mountains: A Vallian nobleman.

  Lashenda: Once a part of the Empire of Loh.

  laypom: Fruit like a peach of a pale subtle yellow color, exquisite.

  leem: A feral beast found in one form or another over most of Kregen. Eight-legged, it is furred, feline, and vicious, with a wedge-shaped head armed with fangs that can strike through oak. It is weasel-shaped but leopard-sized. Its paws can smash a man's head. There are various forms, as sea-leem, snow-leem, marsh-leem, desert-leem, and mountain-leem, each suitably camouflaged.

  leepitix: A reptilian twelve-legged wriggler about a foot long infesting the canals. Has a nasty bite but can be frightened off by splashing.

  lenk: A very hard wood similar to oak.

  Lesser Stratemsk: Spur of The Stratemsk running due east to the coast of Eastern Turismond opposite Flahi.

  lesten: A high-class hide used for belts, moneybags, etc.

  Likshu the Treacherous: A Chulik divine spirit appealed to and sworn by.

  Lilac Bird: Swifter commanded by Pur Zenkiren (SU).

  Lilah: Queen of Hiclantung (WA).

  ling: Animal as large as a collie dog, with six legs, and claws it can extend to four inches in length and open a rip in chunkrah bide. Lives among the bushes and rocks of the small prairie of Segesthes. Possesses a magnificent lightweight, long and silky white fur.

  Llahal: Universal greeting for stranger.

  Loder, Hap: Was Jiktar of the Clan of Felschraung when he gave obi to Prescot. Appointed Zorcander in Prescot's absence but remains intensely loyal and devoted to Prescot. A good comrade (TT).

  Loguetter cheese: A first-quality cheese.

  Loh: A continent of Kregen.

  Loku: A Hikdar of the Clan of Felschraung (TT).

  Lome: A nation in the northwest of Pandahem.

  longsword, the Krozair: A perfectly balanced two-handed longsword with wide-spaced handgrips, able to be used one-handed, subject of rigorous and demanding training and mystical exercises. A terrible weapon of destruction.

  Longuelm: A clan of the Great Plains of Segesthes, allied with the Clan of Felschraung under Prescot as Zorcander.

  loomins: Mauve and white flowers.

  Lord of Strombor: Dray Prescot.

  Lorenztone: A Vallian Air Service flier.

  lupu: A trance state induced by the Wizards of Loh.

  lurfings: Low-bellied, lean-flanked, gray-furred scavengers of the plains with probing snout-like faces.

  Lu-si-Yuong: A Wizard of Loh (WA).

  M

  ma faril: Translates out as “my dear."

  magbird: Black carrion-eating bird of Magdag.

  Magdag: Chief city of Grodno on the northern shore of the inner sea.

  Maiden with the Many Smiles: The largest of Kregen's seven moons.

  main-gauche: The left-handed dagger is often called the Hikdar.

  Makki-Grodno: The base for a large and colorful variety of obscene oaths used by the followers of Zair.

  Makku-Grodno: An evil spirit of Magdag.

  Malar Marshes: Marshy area of Erthyrdrin.

  Marble Quarries of Zenicce: It was in the infamous Black Marble Quarries that Prescot labored as a slave (TT).

  Marlimor: A reasonably civilized city famed for beautiful legends.

  Marshes of Buranaccl: Swampy area to the north of the Hostile Territories.

  Marsilus, Marker: Son of the Kov of Bormark, husband of Tilda and father of Pando. Died as a soldier in East Turismond.

  Marsilus, Murlock: Nephew of the Kov of Bormark, usurped the Kovnate.

  mashcera: Material used for awnings.

  Maspero: A citizen of Aphrasöe, one of the Savanti, Prescot's Tutor (TT).

  Mayfwy: Widow of Zorg. Lively and beautiful, the great lady of Felteraz (SU).

  Mazak, Pur, Lord of Frentozz: A Krozair of Zy and swifter captain (WA).

  Mehzta: One of the Nine Islands. Lies off the east coast of Segesthes.

  Mehztas: A race of very strong people with bristle bullet-heads, heavy muscles, thick dun-colored hides, and short sinewy legs. Inhabitants of Mehzta.

  Memis: A province of Tomboram.

  Men of the Sunrise: An ancient people of whom now only their monuments remain, constructors of the Dam of Days and the Grand Canal. Also referred to as the Men of the Sunset.

  Menaham: Nation of central North Pandahem.

  miscils: Tiny, fra
gile cakes that melt on the tongue.

  missal: A tree with white and pink blossoms.

  momolams: Small round yellow tubers eaten with roast ponsho.

  moon-blooms: Flowers with a double ring of petals, both opening during the day, and the outer at night when moons are in the sky.

  moons: Kregen has seven moons. The largest, the Maiden with the Many Smiles, is almost twice the size of Earth's moon. The next two, the twins, revolve around each other. The fourth is She of the Veils. The three smallest moons hurtle rapidly across the sky close to the surface of Kregen.

  morfangs: Monsters of the Hostile Territories, squat, ovoid, with two arched coat-hanger-like shoulders each sprouting five long whip-like tendrils, which, if cut off, grow into new monsters. Quasi-intelligent, quick, treacherous, and incredibly strong.

  Mother Zinzu the Blessed, By: A favorite oath of the drinking classes of Sanurkazz.

  Mountains of the North: The mountain range in the north of Vallia from which flows the Great River and much of the canal headwaters.

  muldavy: Small boat of the inner sea, generally clinker-built and with a dipping lug.

  mur: The Kregan minute, fifty to a bur.

  Murn-Chem: An area of western Loh.

  muschafs: Cultivated bushes yielding crops.

  mushk: A scented yellow plant used as a windbreak, attractive to bees.

  N

  na: “Of.” Usually used to denote a person's land or province of origin. Sometimes rendered as nal.

  nactrix: Close cousin of the sectrix.

  Naghan the Paunch: An overseer of caravan guards between Pa Mejab and Pa Weinob (SS).

  Natema: The Princess Natema Cydones of the Noble House of Esztercari of Zenicce. Married Prince Varden Wanek (TT).

  Nath: Sometimes Nath of Sanurkazz, sometimes Nath ti Zullia, from his birthplace. Oar-comrade to Prescot, Zorg, and Zolta. Son of an illiterate ponsho farmer. Big, a drinking man, intensely loyal to Prescot. Eventually a member of the Zimen.

  Nath the Needle, Doctor: Gave medical attention to Prescot in Vondium.

  Nath the Thief: Assisted the clansmen in Zenicce (TT).

  nathium: Precious metal used in trinkets and objects of art.

  Nemo: King of Tomboram (SS).

  Nemo Zhantil Faril Opaz: A King's Swordship of Tomboram (SS).

  Ng'groga: Land in the southeast of Loh.

  Ngrangi: Spirit of Ng'groga appealed to and sworn by.

  Nicomeyn, Pallan: Councillor of State to King Nemo (SS).

  Nycresand: Islands off the east coast of Loh.