StarlightComplete
Page 43
*Nutrina: a liquid supplement, looking like blue milk and for some unpalatable. Sam likens its taste to “plastic”. Many people prefer to drink it than go to the trouble of preparing real food. There is a growing backlash in the galaxy against manufactured synthetic nutrients, and a return to the real food/slow food revolution of the late twentieth century earth.
*Pussy: not to be confused with the old earth term for vagina—”pussy” is a felinus endearment: to call a man or woman your pussy is to indicate a deep relationship—whether friends or lovers—it depends on the inflection.
*Quan-lo maer lar t’an: a felinus welcome, and roughly translated: our last meeting, too long!
*Quefram: the felinus equivalent of silk, it is highly prized by all, but rarely seen by off-worlders. Like many things of Chizan, it relates to the senses: it is a sensual fabric that often changes hue depending on the mood of its wearer.
*Querel an far nat: for you, only for you. This is the second part of the felinus pledge. (see Saer wan naemis-al).
*Recognition: the ritual that formally declares to all that two mates (whether female/male or male/male or female/female) are a fully bonded couple.
*Saer wan naemis-al: the ritual felinus declaration of relationship made from the male to the female; it means “I exist for you.”
Kuno declares this to Samantha at their very first face to face meeting: “Kuno, saer wan naemis-al.” (“My name is Kuno and I exist for you.”)
*Saeran wan naemis-alen: the ritual felinus declaration of relationship made from the female to the male: it is a pledge between the couple and once given it cannot be rescinded.
Samantha declares this to Kuno: “Samantha, saeran wan naemis-alen.” (“My name is Samantha and I exist for you.”)
See also: Querel an far nat.
Thus the entire felinus pledge is:
Saer wan naemis-al. Querel an far nat. (i.e., My name is () and I exist for you. Only for you.)
*saer-tan: brother-mine. An endearment to one’s brother, or close male friend.
*saer-tanis: sister-mine. An endearment to one’s sister, or close female friend.
*san-Duran: Prince.
*Sarensen: assassin killing points, often reversals of the sex meridian technique, the activated pressure points located on the body’s prime meridians can lead to instant death or, in the case of the sarensen-zaer, the delayed assassin’s touch, such cause a ripple effect on a specific body organ that will kill slowly over a few days.
These are assassin’s techniques and the knowledge of them is guarded fiercely, and rarely is such shown to outsiders.
*schahor: the mind, body and soul touch: the closest link between a couple, obtained at the deepest level of convergence and an even more intense intimacy if the couple has entered mutatis.
*sex-points: there are many meridian points in the human body and felinus have made their use an art form. Originally based on Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture points, the felinus have incorporated and elevated many mystical traditions (such as yoga and tantra) to achieve and enhance sexual pleasure by the touch of fingers, lips and other body parts. Each sexual “hot spot” (as John calls them) has a special name. And when the sex point is activated by a bite, it further enhances pleasure, for both the giver and receiver. For example: tu’urell (the prowler) the tongue is used to tease a specific point just below the right shoulder and is generally followed by a bite in the same place.
*sher-ean: Princess (of Chizan)
*sher-ean-fe’ha tu: Princess of Chizan who has undertaken the mutatis ritual with her husband, the prince.
*shovan: a felinus liqueur, rare, expensive and generally unavailable to non-felinus, but humans being inquisitive creatures have tried to manipulate stolen recipes with varying degrees of success. The true shovan liqueur has a potency that depends upon the skill (and intent) of the person making the drink. Kareena is highly skilled and is able to vary its potency (Lenar, accustomed to the drink, can still be wiped out by it—if Kareena has a mind to play a trick on her mate). Shovan has no smell, its piquancy is all in the taste.
*t’serl: female speaking to her mate and roughly translated means “beloved”—but with all felinus, the word has layers and textures of meaning.
*t’serlan: male speaking to his mate, it means “beloved” (as above).
*Tual-nol: your attention.
*tu’urell: the prowler. This is a felinus sex meridian point located near the right shoulder and generally activated by the mouth (lips, tongue or teeth), or in combination.
*Vegemite: an old earth Australia food revered by many, it is a yeast-based spread, popular in sandwiches or on toast, very salty, it is an acquired taste. Harimal has a private store on Chizan where it is called “Viethemiter.”
*zan-m’trl: my duty to advise.
About the Author
Astrid has been writing since she was five years old and even then her stories were of the “fantastic”: aliens, spaceships, knights on magical quests. Astrid is an award-winning, best-selling author whose works encompass many genres and many formats (traditional print, electronic and POD). Active in s.f. fandom, she has organised s.f./fantasy conventions, edited over 100 fanzines, and run several fantasy ‘fan’ groups. When not writing, Astrid works in her two and a half acre ‘garden’ in rural South Australia. She is currently working on more erotic stories for Extasy Books (Pride’s Passion and Forbidden Nights), and is planning/editing a mainstream fantasy novel of ‘epic proportions’, has been offered a new contract by Zumaya for her best-selling book ‘Crystal Dreams’ and is contracted to edit an anthology ‘The Fabled Towers’ featuring stories about the Arthurian myth. She has also recently organised a local writers’ group and is convening ‘writefest’ a writers’ conference in her home town.
Astrid can be reached at this email:
asti8@bigpond.com
Astrid’s website is located at:
http://www.astridcooper.com