by David Hair
Chapatti: Flat bread
Chela: A trainee Omali priest or sadhu
Chod!: Fuck! (obscenity)
Chodia!: Fucker! (obscenity)
Dalit: An ‘untouchable’; the lowest, most menial class of Lakh society
Didi: Sister
Dodi Manghal: The pre-dawn meal before wedding
Dom-al’Ahm: Lakh (originally Gatioch) word for an Amteh temple
Dupatta: A scarf worn by women with a salwar, and often used to veil the face from the sun or for modesty
Fenni: A rough and cheap spirit distilled from wheat
Ferang: Foreigner
Ganga: Marijuana
Garud: A bird-deity; the steed of the God Vishnarayan
Ghat: Terraced steps leading down to water, used for worship and washing in Lakh
Gopi: A milkmaid
Guru: Teacher or wise person
Havan Kund: Part of the wedding ritual, where the couple separately and together circle a fire, performing ritual words and actions
Haveli: Walled style of house with an inner courtyard common among the well-off of Lakh
Jadugara: A witch or wizard
Jhuggi: Slums, shanty towns where the poor dwell
Kutti: A woman’s genitals (obscenity)
Lingam: Male sexual organs
Mandap: The holiest place in a shrine, and the consecrated place where wedding vows are exchanged in a person’s house (which is blessed to become a temporary shrine)
Mandir: Omali Shrine
Mata: Mother
Mata-choda: Motherfucker
Mela: A fair
Nehin: No
Pandit or Purohit: Omali Priest
Pooja: Prayer
Pratta: A religious ban; e.g. the Blood-pratta that bars a menstruating woman from male company
Rangoli: Decorative floor-paintings
Sadhu: Itinerant Omali holy man
Salwar Kameez: A pull-over one-piece dress worn with drawstring baggy pants and a scarf (dupatta)
Siv-lingam: Religious icon representing the penis of the God Sivraman and his consort’s yoni.
Tilak A prayer-mark on the forehead
Vridhi Pooja: Ancestor prayers
Walla: ‘Fellow’, usually associated with a job, e.g. a chai-walla is a tea-boy
Yoni: Female sexual organs
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Ascendant’s Rite
As at Septinon 929
In Yuros
Imperial Court, Pallas
Emperor Constant Sacrecour: Emperor of Rondelmar and all Yuros
Mater-Imperia Lucia Fasterius: the emperor’s mother, a Living Saint
Cordan: son of Constant, heir to the throne
Coramore: daughter of Constant
Regis Sacrecour: Lord of Pontus
Lord Calan Dubrayle: Imperial Treasurer
Grand Prelate Dominius Wurther: Head of the Church of Kore
Natia Sacrecour: Constant’s imprisoned elder sister
Ervyn Naxius: former Ordo Costruo mage
Lady Delfinne de Tressot: A Keeper and Ascendant mage
Grandmaster Lens Nauvoine: A Keeper and Ascendant mage
Raneulf Fasterius: A Keeper and Ascendant mage
Jean Benoit: Merchant Guildmaster
Hestan Milius: an Arch-Legate of the Imperial Treasury
Yrna Corloi: female Volsai agent
ighteenth Fist of Kore’s Holy Inquisition
Elath Dranid: Fist Second [deceased]
Raine Caladryn: an Acolyte [deceased]
Dominic Rysen: an Acolyte [deceased]
Thirty-Second Fist of Kore’s Holy Inquisition
Fronck Quintius: Commandant
Artus Leblanc: an Acolyte
Geoffram: an Acolyte
Nayland: an Acolyte
Magrenius: an Acolyte
Adamus Crozier: a bishop of the Kore
Twenty-Third Fist of Kore’s Holy Inquisition
Ullyn Siburnius: Inquisitor and Fist Commander
Alis Nytrasia: Fist Third
Einar Perle: an Acolyte
Delta: a Souldrinker mage and prisoner of the Inquisition
Lambda: a Souldrinker mage and prisoner of the Inquisition
Rho: a female Souldrinker mage and prisoner of the Inquisition
Tau: a Souldrinker mage and prisoner of the Inquisition
Zeta: a female Souldrinker mage and prisoner of the Inquisition
Bricia
Lady Laeticia Korion-Fetallink: mother of Seth Korion
Hobin: gamesman of the Korion estates
Taft: butler of the Korion estates
Norostein, Noros
King Phyllios III: King of Noros
Vannaton Mercer: a trader
Tesla Anborn-Mercer: mage, wife of Vannaton Mercer [deceased]
Captain Jeris Muhren: Watch Captain [deceased]
Silacia
Vitor Mori: Pater-Retiari: a criminal clan-lord
Fanisia Sensini: wife of Vitor; mother of Ramon
Tomasi Fuldo: a Retiari familioso agent
Isabella Petrossi: a criminal clan-lady
Silvio Anturo: a Petrossi familioso agent
Gurvon Gyle’s Grey Foxes (based in Noros)
Gurvon Gyle: a mage-spy
Rutt Sordell: a mage, whose soul is currently in the body of Guy Lassaigne
Mayten Drexel: mage-assassin
Veritia: female mage
Sylas: mage
Luc Brossian: mage
Ordo Costruo (Mage Order based in Hebusalim)
Antonin Meiros: Arch-Magus and founder [deceased]
Justina Meiros: Antonin’s daughter [deceased]
Crusaders
The First Army (Northern)
General Kaltus Korion: Commander of the Armies of Rondelmar
Tonville: aide to General Korion
General Rhynus Bergium: Korion’s second-in-command
Oljan Fruleau: aide to General Bergium
Kendric Vitalis: Brevian battlemage
The ‘Lost Legions’ of the Southern Crusade
Seth Korion: Commander of the Lost Legions
Ramon Sensini: a battle-mage of Pallacios XXIII
Severine Tiseme: Legion Farseer of Pallacios XXIII
Julietta: newborn daughter of Ramon and Severine
Baltus Prenton: Windmaster of Pallacios XXIII
Lanna Jureigh: Healer of Pallacios XXIII
Hugh Gerant: a battle-mage of Pallacios XXIII
Evan Hale: a battle-mage of Pallacios XXIII
Fridryk Kippenegger: a battle-mage of Pallacios XXIII
Jelaska Lyndrethuse: Argundian battlemage
Carmina Phyl: Argundian healer-mage
Gerdhart: Argundian chaplain and mage
Lysart: Noroman battlemage
Sordan: Noroman battlemage
Mylde: Noroman battlemage
Runsald: Brevian battlemage
Hulbert: Hollenian battlemage
Nacallas: Brevian battlemage
Til ven Lascen: Brician battlemage
Barendyne: Brician battlemage
Deceased battle-magi of the Pallacios XXIII legion: Legate Jonti Duprey, Secundus Rufus Marle, Coulder, Fenn, Lewen, Chaplain Tyron Frand
Storn: Tribune of the Tenth Maniple of Pallacios XXIII
Coll: a scout of the Tenth Maniple of Pallacios XXIII
Gylf: commander of the Argundian contingent
Lukaz’s cohort; Pallacios XXIII (Ramon’s guards)
Lukaz: pilus (commander)
Baden: bannerman
The Front Rank: Serjant Manius, Dolman, Ferdi, Trefeld, Hedman, Gannoval
The Second Rank: Serjant Vidran, Bowe, Ilwyn, Holdyne, Gal Herde, Jan Herde
The Flankman: Kel Harmon, Briggan, Kent, Ollyd, Neubeau, Tolomon
Rondian Garrisons
Sir Bann Herbreux: Garrison commander of Vida
Monrel Jongebeau: Rondian general
In Javon
In Forensa
Cera Nesti: co-Queen of Javon
Timori Nesti: Crown Prince and rightful King of Javon
Harshal ali-Assam: brother of the Emir of Forensa
Camlad a’Luki: Jhafi kinsman to Harshal
Saarif Jelmud: Jhafi kinsman to Camlad and Harshal
Pita Rosco: Master of the Royal Purse
Luigi Ginovisi: Master of Revenues
Comte Piero Inveglio: a Rimoni nobleman
Seir Ionus Mardium: Nesti knight-commander
Luca Conte: Nesti noble [deceased]
Nehlan: Jhafi Scriptualist and royal soul-guide
Tavis: Sollan drui
Luqeef: Jhafi Godspeaker
Borsa: Nesti family nursemaid
Seir Delfin: Nesti knight
Genas: a Nesti ranker
Benirio: Nesti house guard
Tello: Nesti house guard
Jerid: Nesti house guard
Drus: Jhafi maid
Paolo Castellini: a Nesti guard commander [currently missing]
Elena Anborn: mage, former Grey Fox and Nesti champion
Kazim Makani: a Souldrinker and assassin
Theo Vernio-Nesti: cousin of Cera Nesti; commander of Viola Fort
In Brochena
Tomas Betillon: Imperial Governor of Hebusalim and Javon
Lann Wilfort: Kirkegarde Grandmaster
Blan Remikson: Kirkegarde Seer-mage
Kinnaught: Betillon’s spy master
Mikals: aide to Governor Betillon
Pendris: aide to Governor Betillon, son of Mikals
Francesco Perdonello: Don (Chief) of Royal Bureaucracy
Tarita: Cera’s personal maid
Mustaq al’Madhi: a criminal lord [deceased]
The Dorobon settlers
Francis Dorobon: King of Javon [deceased]
Craith Margham: mage-knight
Roland Heale: mage-knight
Guy Lassaigne: mage (possessed by Rutt Sordell)
Other Javonesi/Harkun
Alfredo Gorgio: a Rimoni lord of Hytel
Portia Tolidi: former Queen of Javon
Seir Lorenzo di Kestria: a Rimoni knight [deceased]
Seir Justiano di Kestria: Rimoni knight, younger brother of Lorenzo
Lord Massimo di Kestria: Lord of Loctis, elder brother of Lorenzo and Justiano
Lord Stefan di Aranio of Riban
Emir Ilan Tamadhi of Riban [deceased]
Marid Tamadhi: son and heir of Ilan Tamadhi, Emir of Riban
Emir Mekmud bin al’Azhir of Lybis
Gabrien Gorgio-Sintro: Rimoni bastard son of Alfredo
Ricardo Gorgio-Sintro: Rimoni bastard son of Alfredo, younger brother of Gabrien
Emilio Gorgio: half-Jhafi bastard of Alfredo Gorgio’s brother
Ghujad iz’Kho: Harkun chieftain
Cabruhil: nephew of Ghujad
Lekutto iz’Fal: Harkun scout
Gyle’s Mercenaries
Endus Rykjard: a mercenary commander
Adi Paavus: a mercenary commander
Hans Frikter: Argundian mercenary commander
Ogdi: nephew of Hans Frikter
Hullyn: Argundian battlemage
Eafyd: Argundian battelmage
Staria Canestos: female mercenary commander of the Sacro Arcoyris Estellan legion
Leopollo Canestos: Staria’s nephew and adopted son
Kordea Canestos: Staria’s adopted daughter
Capolio: spymaster of the Sacro Arcoyris Estellan legion
Marklyn: pilot-mage of Rykjard’s legion
Jesset: pilot-mage of Rykjard’s legion
Among the Lamiae
Kekropius: an Elder male
Kessa: mate of Kekropius and Elder [deceased]
Simou: an Elder male
In Kesh
Sagostabad
Salim Kabarakhi I: Sultan of Kesh
Latif: one of the Sultan’s impersonators
Faroukh of Maal: uncle of Sultan Salim
Barra Xuok: Godspeaker
Rashid Mubarak: Emir of Halli’kut and Ordo Costruo renegade
Alyssa Dulayne: renegade Ordo Costruo mage, Rashid’s mistress
Narukhan Mubarak: younger brother of Rashid Mubarak, and mage
Lesharri Dulayne: Alyssa’s younger sister and servant
Pashil: a Hadishah captain
Qanaroz: Hadishah, second-in-command under Pashil
Dashimel: Emir of Baraka; a Keshi general
Darhus: a Keshi general
Barzin: Mirobezan eunuch; aide and slave to Keshi royal house
Selmir: a Hadishah captain
Among the Hadishah
Molmar: a Hadishah skiff-pilot
Jamil: a mage assassin [deceased]
Gatoz: Hadishah mage and commander [deceased]
Megradh: a Hadishah captain
Tegeda: female Hadishah
Satravim: Hadishah skiff-pilot
Tahir: Hadishah breeding house overseer and Scriptualist
Sadikh: Hadishah breeding-house supervisor and mage
Yimat: Hadishah breeding-house mage
Gulbahar: female Hadishah breeding house mage
Prisoners of the Hadishah
Rene Cardien: Ordo Costruo mage
Odessa D’Ark: female Ordo Costruo mage
Clematia: female Ordo Costruo mage
Lunetta: female Ordo Costruo mage
Perdionus: Ordo Costruo healer-mage
Valdyr: Mollachian bannerman
Sir Beglyn: Pallacian knight
Huriya’s Souldrinkers
Huriya Makani: a Souldrinker, sister of Kazim
Malevorn Andevarion: former Inquisition Acolyte, now Souldrinker
Hessaz: a Souldrinker female
Tkwir: a Souldrinker male
Toljin: a Souldrinker male
Sabele: a Souldrinker seer [deceased and soul taken by Huriya]
Renegades
Zaqri: a Souldrinker male; deposed packleader
Cymbellea di Regia: Rimoni gypsy and mage
Souldrinkers in the Sultan’s army
Prandello: a Souldrinker clanleader
Maddeoni: Prandello’s Vereloni consort
Souldrinkers of Gatioch
Xymoch: Souldrinker and packleader
In Rural Kesh
Bunima: a female Keshi refugee
In Khotriawal
Ardijah
Amiza al’Ardijah: Calipha of Ardijah
Renn Bondeau: Rondian former-battlemage, now Caliph of Ardijah
In Lokistan
Mandira Khojana monastery
Puravai: a Zain master
Yash: a Zain acolyte
Gateem: a Zain acolyte
Aprek: a Zain acolyte
Kedak: a Zain acolyte
Haddo: a Zain acolyte
Sindar: a Zain acolyte
Fenan: a Zain acolyte
Bhati: a Zain acolyte
Joa: a Zain acolyte
Vekati: a Zain acolyte
Meero: a Zain acolyte
Urfin: a Zain acolyte
Felakan: a Zain monk
Alaron Mercer: mage, son of Vann and Tesla
Ramita Ankesharan: Lakh widow of Antonin Meiros
Dasra and Nasatya: twin newborn sons of Ramita and Antonin Meiros
In Lakh
Baranasi
Vikash Nooradin: market trader [deceased]
Ram Sankar: market trader
Sunita Sankar: Ram’s wife
In southern Lakh
Ispal Ankesharan: trader; Ramita’s father
Tanuva Ankesharan: Ispal’s wife; Ramita’s mother
Jai: Ispal’s son
Keita: Jai’s wife
From the Past
Johan Corin (‘Corineus’): Messiah of the Kore
Selene Corin (‘Corinea’) also known as Lillea Selene Sorades: sister (allegedly), lover and murderer of Johan Corin; personification of feminine evil
Olfuss Nesti: a deceased King of Javon
Jarius Langstrit: deceased Nor
os general
Echor Borodium: Duke of Argundy (deceased)
Belonius Vult: Governor of Norostein (deceased)
Nasette Ledoc: only person in history known to have been transformed from a mage into a Souldrinker
Attiya Zai: Omali holy man, founder of the Zain order of monasticism
The Blessed Three Hundred
Sertain: First Emperor of the Rondian Empire
Baramitius: Ascendant mage and creator of ambrosia, and the Scytale of Corineus
Berial: Brician Ascendant; mage-ancestor of Alaron Mercer and Elena Anborn
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
There have been a lot of people involved in placing this book in your hands, and I’m very grateful to all of them. It really wouldn’t have happened without them. First off, thanks to the wonderful Jo Fletcher for all the skill, experience and wisdom she’s brought to bear; these books are a product of her faith in the ideas and vision of this occasionally errant writer, and it’s impossible for me to express enough gratitude to her!
Thanks also to the rest of the team at Jo Fletcher Books, especially Nicola Budd and Andrew Turner; and to the US team, especially Eric Price and Olivia Taussig; and the wonderful publicists at Wunderkind led by Elena Stokes. Also big thanks (and apologies for the mishmash of languages and accents in the story) to Ryan Neuschafer and the team assembling the audio books. And thanks again to Emily Faccini for the cool maps.
Then there are the regular Moontide team: the test readers; Paul Linton, Kerry Greig and Heather Adams. I’ve said it before but these are the people who keep these books up to snuff and fit for consumption, kind of like a World Health Organisation Special Unit assigned to the Moontide Quartet. Sampling, testing and improving are just some of the duties they perform so well. Thanks so much!
It’s very hard for a story to go from being a file in a computer to a book in a shop without someone to fight its corner and get it noticed by publishers. I’m lucky to be represented by the aforementioned Heather, who runs HMA Literary Agency UK (alongside her husband Mike Bryan). Thank you both once more for opening the doors for me and my dreams, and for being perfect hosts on our last visit to the UK.