Aetherium (Omnibus Edition)

by Joseph Robert Lewis

  They smiled, and called the waiter over to order lunch.

  Asha looked at Gideon, and then at Wren.

  They aren’t you, Priya, not nearly. But they’re good people, and we’re going to do good things together. And you know what?

  Asha smiled.

  That’s all that matters. That’s all I want.

  Appendix

  This appendix lists many of the people, places, and things mentioned in the Aetherium books. Next to each item are the Fiction and the Fact of the matter. The Fiction part says what the item means in the story. The Fact part says what significance the item has in the real world.

  Acra – Fiction: A city on the western coast of Marrakesh. Fact: This location corresponds with the city of Agadir in modern Morocco.

  Adonai – Fiction: One of the names of God in the Middle Sea region. Fact: This is the Hebrew word for Lord.

  Aegyptus – Fiction: One of the provinces of the Empire of Eran located in the south-east corner of the Middle Sea region. Fact: This location corresponds with the modern nation of Egypt. Aegyptus was the Roman/Latin name for it.

  Aeroplane – Fiction: A Mazigh flying machine that can take off from land or sea. Fact: Airplanes are real!

  Aether – Fiction: A mysterious vapor most often seen in cold climates that allows the spirits of the dead to become visible. Fact: In the ancient world, philosophers believed there were five elements: air, fire, earth, water, and aether.

  Aetherium – Fiction: A rare metal that absorbs aether as well as souls. The addition of souls makes the metal hotter, but does not melt it. It appears red-gold, similar to copper, and is also called sun-steel. Ancient people saw the aetherium fall from the sky and believe that it fell from the sun. Fact: See Orichalcum, sun-steel, and rinegold.

  Afghanistan – Fiction: One of the provinces of the Empire of Eran located in east near Rajasthan. Fact: A country located in central Asia between Iran and Pakistan.

  Ahaggar – Fiction: A nation in central North Ifrica, home to the Kel Ahaggar people. Fact: There is an Ahaggar mountain range in central North Africa (southern Algeria) where the Kel Ahaggar (also called Tuareg) people live today.

  Ahura Mazda – Fiction: One of the names of God in the Middle Sea region, most often used by Eranians and the followers of the Mazdan Temple. Fact: This is the name of God in Zoroastrianism, an ancient religion of Iran that is still practiced today.

  Airship – Fiction: Airships are enormous flying machines invented by the Mazighs to explore the world and improve travel and trade. Fact: Airships are real!

  Aker El Deeb – Fiction: An Aegyptian member of the Sons of Osiris. An assassin and general contractor for the Temple of Osiris, recently gifted with a seireiken sword. Known associate of Shifrah Dumah and Zahra El Ayat. Fact: None.

  Aknin – Fiction: A police captain in Port Chellah, Marrakesh. Fact: Aknin is an Amazigh (Berber) surname in use today.

  Alero – Fiction: A small town on the road between Madrid and Zaragoza. Fact: None.

  Alexandria – Fiction: A port city on the northern coast of Aegyptus. Fact: A real location in Egypt, named for Alexander the Great.

  Algeciras – Fiction: A port city on the southern coast of España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Algora – Fiction: A small town on the road between Madrid and Zaragoza. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Aloja – Fiction: Part ghost and part flesh, these “water-women” haunt wells and lakes to seduce men. Fact: These creatures come from the folklore of Catalan in eastern Spain.

  Alonso Ramos – Fiction: One of the young fencing students at Don Lorenzo’s school. Handsome, charming, and a skilled guitar player, but not a remarkable swordsman. Fact: None.

  Alovera – Fiction: A small town on the road between Madrid and Zaragoza. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Amposta – Fiction: A port city on the eastern coast of España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Ankh – Fiction: An Aegyptian symbol resembling a cross with a round head, symbolizing eternal life. Fact: This Egyptian symbol for eternal life can be found in numerous artworks, including tombs.

  Anubis – Fiction: A young man gifted with an aetherium soul-locket, granting him eternal life and youth, as well as other abilities. A member of a large family of similarly immortal men and women, he lives a generally secluded life in the undercity of Alexandria. Four thousand years ago, he and his family posed as high priests and living gods of the Aegyptian people, presiding over state and religious functions, such as funerals. His appearance is unique within his family, notably his pure black skin and jackal mask. Fact: The Egyptian god Anubis was associated with mummification and the afterlife. He was depicted as having a jackal’s head (jackals were associated with cemeteries) and being black (to represent the fertile black soil of the Nile river valley).

  Arafez – Fiction: A wealthy industrial city in central Marrakesh. Fact: This location corresponds with the city of Fes, Morocco.

  Argenti Valero – Fiction: The monarch of España, also known as The Silver Prince. Fact: There was a king in the ancient Spanish city of Tartessos named Argantonio, which means silver.

  Ariella Espinoza – Fiction: An Espani nun who died centuries ago after a lifetime of virtuous service, and now she haunts Lorenzo Quesada. Fact: None.

  Ariza – Fiction: A small town on the road between Madrid and Zaragoza. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Arkangel – Fiction: A steam-powered ironclad warship built by the Espani navy under the command of Lord Admiral Ferdinand Magellan. Fact: Steam-powered ironclad warships were first used in the American Civil War (the Monitor versus the Virginia in 1862).

  Arquebus – Fiction: An early firearm. Fact: Same.

  Asha – Fiction: Born in Kathmandu, this herbalist was trained by Ming doctors after recovering from a dragon’s venomous bite. Fact: The Sanskrit name Asha means desire or hope.

  Ashanti – Fiction: One of the nations conquered by the Songhai Empire. Fact: The Ashanti live in West Africa around Ghana. Their empire spanned the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

  Askia – Fiction: The current ruler of the Songhai Empire, a man of peace and faith. Fact: Askia the Great ruled the Songhai Empire in the early sixteenth century and championed the growth of education, trade, religion, culture, and bureaucratic government.

  Asr be kheyr – “Good evening” in Farsi (Persian / Eranian).

  Athens – Fiction: A city in Hellas. Fact: A real location in Greece.

  Atlanteen Ocean – Fiction: An ocean to the west of Ifrica and Europa. Fact: An ocean to the west of Africa and Europe.

  Atlantia – Fiction: An ancient lost city where Tartessos now stands in España. Fact: Refers to the legend of the lost city of Atlantis, which some believe might have been located in southern Spain.

  Atlas Mountains – Fiction: A mountain range spanning Marrakesh and Numidia. Fact: A mountain range spanning Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia.

  Atoq – Fiction: The name of Qhora’s saber-toothed hunting cat. Fact: The name Atoq is the Quechua (Incan) word for fox.

  Ayurveda – Fiction: The traditional form of medicine in India. Fact: Same.

  Aztec – Fiction: The Aztec nation is a northern province of the Incan Empire. Fact: The Aztec nation spanned central Mexico until the Spanish invasion led by Hernan Cortez in 1521.

  Bafours – Fiction: A small group of people to the south of Marrakesh who oppose the spread of industrialization. Fact: The Bafours were among the earliest people to live in West Africa.

  Bansuri flute – Fiction: A type of bamboo flute common in India. Fact: Same.

  Bantu – Fiction: A powerful but little-known group of kingdoms in South Ifrica. Fact: The Bantu languages include Zulu, Shona, and Swahili, and there are about 335 million Bantu speakers across the southern half of Africa.

  Barcelona – Fiction: A sea port on the eastern coast of España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Barika Chaou – Fiction: The Mazigh ambassador to España. Fac
t: The Swahili name Barika means to bloom or to succeed and the surname Chaou is Amazigh (Berber).

  Basajaun – Fiction: A large hairy ape-man that lives in the Pyrenees Mountains and carries a saw-bladed club. Fact: This Bigfoot-like creature comes from Basque mythology and is generally considered wise and peaceful.

  Bashir – See Thoth.

  Basirat andarun – “To look inside” in Farsi (Persian / Eranian)

  Bastet – Fiction: A young girl gifted with an aetherium soul-locket, granting her eternal life and youth, as well as other abilities. A member of a large family of similarly immortal men and women, she lives a generally secluded life in the undercity of Alexandria. Four thousand years ago, she and her family posed as high priests and living gods of the Aegyptian people, presiding over state and religious functions, such as funerals. Today she protects the children of Alexandria, particularly girls, and has a large entourage of stray cats. She appears as a twelve-year-old girl in a black dress and carries a bronze sword and a cat mask. Fact: The Egyptian goddess Bastet was a protector of the royal family. She was depicted as having a cat’s head. Over time, she was replaced by a similar warrior goddess, Sekhmet, a woman with the head of a lioness.

  Berkan – Fiction: A Mazigh sergeant who protects Qhora and Lorenzo. Fact: The Amazigh (Berber) name Berkan means dark.

  Bielsa – Fiction: A mining town in northern España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Black Guelphs – Fiction: A political faction in Italia who support the Roman Pope and fight the White Guelphs, like chemist Dante Aligeri, who oppose papal power in favor of the king. Fact: Same. The famous poet Dante Alighieri was a White Guelph (and a chemist) who was exiled from Florence when the Black Guelphs took power.

  Blunderbuss – Fiction: An early firearm. Fact: Same.

  Bou Regreg River – Fiction: A river in Marrakesh that meets the Atlanteen Ocean near Port Chellah. Fact: A river in Morocco that meets the Atlantic Ocean near Rabat.

  Brahma – Fiction: The Indian (Hindu) god of creation. One of the three principal deities of India, alongside Shiva and Vishnu. Fact: Same.

  Brassmoon Gang – Fiction: A criminal syndicate in Lixus broken up by Major Syfax Zidane. Fact: None.

  Buddha – Fiction: An ancient Indian prince-turned-philosopher or sage who taught a lifestyle of moderation, selflessness, and harmlessness. Fact: Same.

  Buddhism – Fiction: An Indian philosophy-religion dedicated to ending human suffering by ending desire, greed, anger, and other vices. A vast body of monks and nuns striving to achieve and teach personal enlightenment, freedom from suffering, and a deeper understanding of the universe. Fact: Same.

  Bull of Heaven – Fiction: A mythical creature from ancient Eran (Persia). Fact: In the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh, the king and Enkidu kill the Bull of Heaven to defy the gods.

  Canaari Islands – Fiction: A group of islands off the western coast of Marrakesh owned by España. Fact: The Canary Islands off the western coast of Morocco are owned by Spain.

  Carnivale – Fiction: A festival held in Italia in early spring. Fact: A Catholic festival celebrated before Lent all over the world.

  Cartagena – Fiction: The fort town where the Espani made their last stand against the Incas before abandoning their failed invasion of the New World. Fact: A city in Colombia settled by the Spanish during their successful invasion of the New World.

  Carthage – Fiction: The capital city of Numidia and a port on the coast of the Middle Sea. Fact: Carthage was a powerful Phoenician city-state until the Romans destroyed it. The town and its ancient ruins are a popular tourist attraction today.

  Cathedral of San Salvador – Fiction: A large church in Zaragoza, España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Chandra – Fiction: A man living in eastern India with his son. Fact: The Sanskrit name Chandra means moon or shining.

  Ciudad Real – Fiction: A city in central España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Cockatrice – Fiction: An extremely rare animal, a hybrid of the Indian peacock and the Europan basilisk, a poisonous lizard. Its venom causes paralysis, coma, and death. Fact: A legendary animal, a cross between a rooster and a dragon with the power to turn people to stone.

  Conquistadors – Fiction: Powerful military leaders who led the failed Espani invasions of the New World. Fact: Powerful military leaders who led the successful Spanish invasions of the New World in the sixteenth century.

  Constantia – Fiction: An ancient and powerful city-state on the border of Hellas and the Eranian province of Turkiya. Ruled by the princess, Lady Nerissa, the city is locked in unending conflict with the nearby Eranians who wish to claim the city. The Hellans are unwilling to defend the city too staunchly to avoid provoking a war with Eran. Fact: The city of Constantinople was founded on the city of Byzantium, located on the Bosporus Strait between modern Greece and Turkey, and which later became the modern city of Istanbul.

  Constantian Church – Fiction: A religious organization that worships a God who came to earth as a man and a woman to experience and teach mankind. Fact: Loosely based on Orthodox Christianity.

  Copper Crake – Fiction: One of the Mazigh airships in the Northern Air Corps based in Tingis. Fact: None.

  Cordoba – Fiction: A city in central España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  Corso Donati – Fiction: A leader of the Black Guelphs in Florence, Italia. Fact: A leader of the Black Guelphs in Florence, Italy in the thirteenth century. Also a distant relative of the poet Dante Alighieri.

  Cremation – Fiction: In India it is common to cremate the bodies of the dead instead of burying them. Fact: Most Indian religions require cremation, and it is common to spread the ashes in rivers, such as the Ganges.

  Cusco – Fiction: The capital city of the Incan Empire. Fact: The capital city of the ancient Incan Empire. Located in southern Peru today.

  Cyrenica – Fiction: A province of the Empire of Eran located in North Ifrica. Fact: A district of the modern nation of Libya, and once a province of the Roman Empire.

  Damascena – Fiction: The name of a mysterious warrior woman who protects the city of Damascus. The word itself means woman of Damascus. Fact: None.

  Damascus – Fiction: The ancient capital city of Syria, a province of the Empire of Eran on the eastern edge of the Middle Sea. Fact: The capital of modern Syria, Damascus is over three thousand years old, and the area has been inhabited for thousands of years more.

  Damya – Fiction: The governor of Tingis, Marrakesh. Fact: An Amazigh (Berber) name.

  Dante Aligeri – Fiction: An Italian chemist and political activist opposed to the growing power of the pope in Rome. Fact: Dante Alighieri was an Italian apothecary and political activist in the thirteenth century who wrote The Divine Comedy and is considered one of the greatest Italian writers in history.

  Darius – Fiction: The ruler of the Empire of Eran. Fact: Three of the emperors of the ancient Persian Empire were named Darius.

  Demsiri – Fiction: A general in the Mazigh army. Fact: An Amazigh (Berber) name.

  Destreza – Fiction: The Espani fencing style. Fact: A Spanish fencing style created by Jeronimo Carranza in the sixteenth century. The word destreza means “skill” or “art.”

  Dharma – Fiction: The teachings of Buddha. Fact: Same.

  Dhole – Fiction: A wild dog common in India, resembling a small red wolf. Fact: Same.

  Diestro – Fiction: An Espani fencer. Fact: A Spanish fencer.

  Din Nasin – Fiction: The old queen of Marrakesh. Fact: There was an Amazigh (Berber) queen named Tin Hanin who led her people to their new home in the Ahaggar Mountains in the fourth century.

  Dogon – Fiction: One of the peoples of West Ifrica conquered by the Songhai Empire. Fact: A group of people who live in Mali and Niger today.

  Don – Fiction: An Espani title of respect and nobility for men. Fact: A Spanish title of respect and nobility for men. Similar to “Sir” for an English knight.

  Dona – Fiction: An Espani titl
e of respect and nobility for women. Fact: A Spanish title of respect and nobility for women.

  Drachmas – Fiction: Money in Hellas. Fact: Money in Greece (back before the Euro).

  Dragon – Fiction: An extremely rare and dangerous animal, this reptile can grow to enormous size. When young, it has the unique ability to inject its prey with venom as well as a drop of its own soul, which allows the dragon to easily track an animal if it escapes and dies of the venom elsewhere. Adult dragons resemble gigantic snakes, but do have four small legs. Their heads are similar to those of horses, possess whiskers or beards around the mouth, and have slender antlers above the ears. Fact: This description most closely resembles the dragons of Chinese and Japanese myth.

  Ejido – Fiction: A city in southern España. Fact: A real location in Spain.

  El – Fiction: One of the names of God in the Middle Sea region. Fact: This is the Hebrew word for God.

  Envelope – Fiction: The reinforced fabric balloon above an airship, which contains hydrogen to lift the airship through the atmosphere. Fact: Same.

  Eran – Fiction: An empire that encompasses areas of North Ifrica, Arabia, and other eastern provinces. Previously known as the Persian Empire. Fact: The Persian Empire spanned many centuries under various names and rulers, centered around the modern nation of Iran. “Eran” is one of the early versions of the name Iran.

  Espada – Fiction: The signature fencing sword of España. Fact: The espada ropero was lighter and more elegant than earlier swords, but not as advanced at the rapier, which appeared around the same time. The word espada means sword.

  España – Fiction: A country in western Europa. Fact: This is the Spanish name for Spain.

  Espani – Fiction: A person from or the language of España. Fact: The Spanish word for Spanish is actually Español.