Dreamthief

by Jason Knepper

CHAPTER FOUR – Epilogue

  Pegasus was by turns happy and angry with the outcome, happy because we'd solved the problem of missing kids, and angry that I was proposing sticking him with babysitting a prick like Math.

  “Look, it seemed like a good idea at the time; a crippled Fae Lord to tutor your Riders and allies in Faerie spellcraft and culture, and you get some more respect for doing better than the other Clanheads,” I said.

  “You've got to be kidding me, you've stuck me with an Elder Fae criminal, so I'm turning him over to the other Clanheads,” he said with a snort. “They aren't my favorite people, but I have a responsibility to them.”

  “Well knock yourself out Marge, as long as word starts getting around that stealing Drakine kids is a bad idea, I don't really give a rat's ass what you do with him,” I shouted in frustration. We'd been hashing and rehashing the same arguments for the last thirty minutes, and the hour before that had been chock full of getting checking on kids and locking the Ancient One in a stall and setting a guard. I leaned against the paddock fence and let out a long breath. The father of winged horses stepped close enough and put his head over my shoulder and huffed a sigh of his own.

  “So what do you want to do with the kid?”

  “I'm taking her to my sister, that's Clan protocol. With all the outside Clan Elders coming through these days, there's bound to be someone that knows about her family.” I reached up and scratched between his eyes, just like I would with any other horse, making him rumble in pleasure. “I'm sorry to have to stick you with Math, but if I turned him over to the Reeves or the Archives they'd either extradite him or try and suck anything useful out of his brain, and that'd be dangerous.”

  I shared the whole hunger for God-Power thing with him, and he just suggested I snack down on his father Poseidon Earthshaker, but I don't blame him, the SeaGod was the one that sold him to the Fae.

  After hashing out what was to be done with the Ancient One, namely a complete memory wipe of the preceding 24 hours courtesy of Senior Archivist Ranson before the Clanhead of the Windhorses turned him over to Brigid Firequeen for final judgment and probably execution, we turned back to what had brought us here to the Market in the first place, making allies and increasing the size of the Clan.

  We were there for three weeks, Avani and I had a couple of long discussions, and much to my surprise she told me that while the Reeves were saddened by the loss of their founder, there wasn't as much negative opinion about me as I thought, at least among the people she hung out with. I laid out that one of her kids was a potential Rider,and she agreed to pass that along to the kid's parents, along with the idea that the Reeves could use a flying mounted division, or at least some ties to the Windhorses. After a couple of extra days to just have fun under the aegis of a Fae Clanhead, she took them home to wherever Reeves hang their hats.

  Like most Archivists, myself included, Ranson's got a lot of curiosity, and he's not at all easy to divert or dissuade, but he can be distracted. “Claiming complete ignorance is one thing to a relative stranger like Avani, Ry, but I know you better. What in the Hell was that spell-eating thing?”

  “Truthfully, I'm not sure, but I think it might have something to do with this,” I said and I showed him the slowly pinwheeling and mutating blue and black tattoo that swirled up from my ankles and halfway down my arms. Sad part, I wasn't exactly lying, Tiamat had slapped the thing on me, and I had no idea exactly what it did, aside from increasing my capacity for Ocean-magic and triggering Vampiric blood-wards. “Don't ask what it is, 'cause aside from 'gift from the Mother of Monsters',” I did the air-quotes thing and twisted my mouth into a sour expression, “I don't have the foggiest.” My tactics worked, and he spent the next two days alternating between handling his own acquisitions and sales and charting how much the tattoo moved overnight and making notes for later research, which at least kept him from poking at the original issue, even if I felt bad about not trusting him with the truth.

  On the last day of Market, I joined in the closing ceremonies with the Emissaries of the other Fae Clans, and while the mock-Sun dimmed and set, Prometheus decided to spoke my wheels.

  “You know you're completely out of excuses to avoid and at least two more reasons to go visit Tiamat, right?”

  “Unfortunately. Remind me to do laundry when we get home, I think I'll be needing a few extra changes of underwear.”

  “Don't forget to take weapons, Mardi Gras is open season in the Big Easy.”

  Dictionary

  Anansikin – the offspring of Anansi the Spider God of Africa. Known for cleverness, adaptability, and unconventional thinking. Technically werespiders, they have some ability to shapeshift to gain extra limbs, eyes, fangs, venom, and other arachnid features, but very few have the talent to become completely arachnid.

  Annwyn – the Celtic Underworld, a series of islands near to Emhain Ablach, off limits to the living.

  Arawn – Celtic God of the Dead, ruler of Annwyn.

  Archives - an organization of scholars, memory-keepers, and researchers, all working towards advancing and centralizing magical knowledge. Any faction recognized by the Compact may submit some of their number to work for the Archives so as to maintain the Archives' neutrality. Most of the Shadeweb is run by them as well. Contributing to the Archives builds credit with them, the more that is contributed the more rare the information that can be requested from them, so clued-in human cabals and the other factions have strong incentives to donate. Fae join to get away from the machinations of the Lords and Ladies of their Clans, Amortari join to have safe havens, and Drakine join to experience life outside the Retreats of their Clans.

  Archivist - anyone that works for the Archives. The main divisions are Research, Field Archivists, and Historical. Historical section is currently leading the competetion for Archives resources and personnel, much to the dismay of Field and Research divisions. Each of the nonhuman Edger species has customs that are followed when they join the organization- Drakine Archivists have their names spellwiped to protect the Clans' secrets, Fae Archivists take new names to divorce themselves from their past, and the Amortari get protection from spellbound guardians to safeguard their weaknesses.

  Art, The - Intuitive usage of Power, normally focusing on a singular concept, idea, or Element. The invention of spells and enchantments on the fly, as opposed to recreating or adapting a previously existing one. Artworkers tend to be more Powerful than Craftworkers, but their spells tend to lack subtlety and intricacy, at least until they reach Master level.

  Avani – Reeve, 5th generation. Hindu Godblood, dark hair, dark complexion. Capable of manifesting multiple usable limbs.

  Brigid – Sidhe, DeDaanan, Fae Queen of Flame and only non-Deity Forgelord. Cousin to Freya, half-sister to Manannan. Called Forgeheart, Font of Poetry, Lady of Smithcraft, Fomorislayer.

  Clan- any Edge faction that is organized along familial lines. Usually applied to the Drakine and the Fae.

  Carson, Pamela ,"Pam" – Technomage, Ry's best friend and ally, Pacted to Goffannon Forgelord as Mystech.

  Chrysaor- the son of Medusa, brother of Pegasus, called the Defender, Golden Boy, and Chrys (sounds like Christ, but without the "T"). Near-Immortal. Founder of the Order of Reeves, but emphatically NOT its leader.

  Compact, the - also called the Treaty, the agreements hammered out between Edge factions to deal with the effects of the Bomb and agreements on how to keep themselves out of the notice of mainstream humanity. Human Edgers are aware of the Compact, but are generally only told enough to keep them out of trouble with the non-human factions. Part of the Compact's terms levied a randomized infertility curse on Drakine females, simply to keep them from breeding up armies, another part recognizes the primacy of the Reeves as lawkeepers, and a third recognizes the existence and guarantees the neutrality of the Archives. There are several hundred clauses and sections to the Compact, and it is constantly being debated and reviewed by each faction.

  Court of Dreams – outl
awed Fae faction, notorious for stealing children from humans and Fae, responsible for many of the legends about Faeries stealing children. Believed to be exterminated.

  Craft, The - Logically planned use of the Power and magic, also the combination of various Elements towards a single end. The usage of learned spells and enchantments, also including the usage of complicated tools in one's magic. Typically, Craft users are less Powerful than Art-users, so they compensate with more intricate works and greater subtlety. All technomancy and Mystechnology are considered part of the Craft.

  DeDaanan – Titan-uplifted Sidhe family, the 'ruling' class of the Fae.

  Defender – a title given to Chrysaor.

  Dive – term used by Divers when they open themselves to the Ocean, their Elemental Source.

  Diver - slang term for Ocean-magic users.

  Drakine - the mostly-human partly-draconic descendants of the Dragons. They are divided into Clans, grouped by which Lastborn was their ancestor, at least in their oral histories.

  DreamSmoke – Alchemically created substance that acts either as a temporary Gate or allows for astral travel, depending on how it is compounded.

  Edge – the metaphorical term for factions, societies, and races that live just outside the view of non-magical humanity

  Edgers - generic name for anyone/anything that lives in or is aware of the magicked world.

  Edgerunners – synonym for Edger

  Elder – a). any Drakine that has passed the age of 200. Incredibly savvy in the art of surviving, they are politicians and manipulators without equal,. As their Power level has finally stabilized by this point, Elders are given additional training in the Art and Craft to reflect their exalted status, making them each a walking magical doomsday weapon.

  b). a title given to the oldest members of most Edger species.

  Elfshot – ammunition used by the Fae that sends whoever it hits into a coma.

  Elements - Themes and concepts created/codified by the Titans to describe a common base of experience for the things they created. Later adopted by the Edge Races to describe the primary schools of magic and by primitive humanity to describe the phases of matter and spirit.

  Elemental Source – mythical beginning-places of the Elemental themes; they are rumored to be the Great Cenote of Gaia, the Well at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, Mt. Etna in Sicily, a hidden grove in Greenland, and a few others are apocryphal.

  Fae – AKA Faeries, Fey, the Gentry, the Fair Folk, etc. Any being or animal that makes its primary home in Faerie. Vulnerable to iron toxicity.

  FaeLords/Ladies - the rulers of the Fae races. All are DeDaanan Sidhe.

  Faerie - the Otherworldly realm of the Fae races. Causality, reality, time, all are incredibly mutable within Faerie. It is rumored that the Fae kidnap humans to establish/maintain what rules exist within Faerie, but that is unconfirmed.

  Firstborn – the Titan name for humanity, and the Gods use it as well, when they're being honest.

  Flame - the Element of fire, plasma, passion, and rage. Its practitioners tend to have a few burn-scars and explosive tempers.

  Gaia - called Earthmother, Mother Nature, the All-Mother, Geb, Pele, and others. Mate to Oranos, sister to Tiamat. Creator and sustainer of the world, nurturer of all life forms from the Titans to viruses.Prometheus refers to her as Grandmother.

  Godblood – a mortal that is partially descended from a God, usually they show great Power, and usually a signature characteristic, like Hercules and his strength.

  Harmony - Ry's sister, one of the few female Drakine whose fertility hasn't been affected by the Compact. Flame-aligned, and particularly brilliant in its application.

  High Airs – the portion of Faerie that corresponds with the Element of Wind, and the Dominion of Pegasus.

  Lastborn - another name for the Dragons, the last race made by Tiamat. Used as an swear word or oath by the Drakine, replacing the colloqial usage of God, Gods, and Jesus, eg “Lastborn-damn-it”

  Avani – Reeve, 5th generation. Indian Godblood, dark hair, dark complexion. Capable of manifesting multiple usable limbs.

  Marge – nickname given to Pegasus by Ry.

  Market – an Otherrealm created by the Elemental Lords and Ladies of Faerie, a great marketplace where things (and sometimes people) are bought and sold, and alliances are bartered.

  Marshallac - Fire-aligned Fae of Brigid's Clan, who had a bad run in with Ry and his Clanhead, Brigid Forgemaster.

  Math Mathonwy – one of the eldest of the Fae, and one of their greatest spellweavers and warleaders.

  Matriarch - an Elder female of the Drakine Clans, and has a great many descendants. Their whims and decrees set general policy for the Clan lines in their dominions, but there is still considerable give-and-take. The position is one of respect and honor, and it takes work to overcome a Matriarch's decree.

  MostCunning – name used to refer to Cronus the Titan, Lord of Time and father to the Olympian Gods.

  Necromage(s) – AKA Necromancers, Deadspeakers. The most disconcerting and stereotypically feared Practitioners. Necromages call up the spirits of the departed for information and travel into the Underworlds, also occasionally reanimate corpses and ritually reincarnate souls.

  Ocean - the name for the Elemental Power of Water, liquids, illusion, emotion, and health. Also called the Stream, the Flow, and the River. Users suffer synesthesia, the blending of their senses, as well as euphoric rushes when they touch the Ocean, and the euphoria lingers for up to a few hours after heavy usage. Its practitioners also have very slow tempers and a sensitivity to the emotions of other people.

  Oranos - mate of Gaia and Tiamat, parent to the Titans, Hekatonchires, Gigantes, and Cyclopes. Called Father Sky, Atum, Ymir, Abzu, the Unborn, Father Eternity. Dismembered by Cronus Mostcunning in the Titanomachy, but is still alive and active.

  Otherworlds - the created sub-dimensions that exist 'perpendicular' to Earth. Some were created by the Titans, others by the Gods, and still others by the various Edge races. The Otherworlds depend on the continuity of Earth to support their existence, but the realities within them are as varied and mutable as their creators' whims. Also called Otherrealms.

  Pegasus - brother of Chrysaor, son of Poseidon and Medusa. Horse with wings. Zephyr. Grandmaster telepath. Bonded to Ry.

  Power, the - the underlying source of existence, source of all magics, souls, minds, matter, spirit, and energy.

  Ranson – Senior Archivist, works in Fae Research, Anansi-kin and Treeblood. Has a SilverBranch on his left arm, indicating strong relations with the Fae Clans. Appears to be an elderly African with wild white hair.

  Reeves- the equivalent to cops, judges, and sheriffs. Territory is based around what each feels they can hold, and they are held to their oaths by their superiors. Their existence is codified in the Compact, and any Edger, human or not, can join the service, helping to maintain their impartiality.

  Ry – AKA Rhymer, Drakine Archivist. Protagonist. Water-aligned. Of Song's Brood.

  Shadeweb - the mystical Internet. It exists on the same networks and servers, but the sites and addresses are blocked by technomantic spells as well as security software. The Archives run and maintain most of it.

  Sight, the - perception through magical aptitude and training; seeing the mystical underpinnings of reality. Despite the term, all senses can be involved, usually all jumbled together similar to the phenomenon called synesthesia.

  SilverBranch – a Fae artifact, used in a fashion similar to keys. Possessing one is a sign of significant influence with the Fae, as each is custom made to a particular person.

  Somnomancer – magicians that specialize in affecting dreams, and using dreams to affect the world.

  Song - Ry and Harmony's mother.

  Sparky - nickname given to the 'recording' of Prometheus that lives in Ry's mind. Retains the original mindset of the Titan.

  Stone - One of the Elemental Concepts of Earth. Most pragmatic, practical, and empirically-ori
ented of the elemental Powers. Its practitioners have incredibly slow tempers but nurse grudges. Tend to be secretive and solitary, keeping others at arms length. Using Stone imparts feelings of clear-headedness, as well as incredible sensory acuity. The dulling of their emotions makes others uneasy, leading to their being distrusted and poked fun at, especially by the Treeblooded.

  Telchine - primordial race, similar to the Dwar and Svart, became weaponsmiths to the Titans during the Titanomachy, and killed off by the Gods afterwards. Also known as Wizards.

  Thumbbearer – term used by the Windhorse Clan to refer to humanoids.

  Tiamat - She of the Bitter Waters, Titan of the Seas. Creatrix and Destructrix. banished to the Abyssal Depths by Marduk. Progenitor of the Tiamatspawn Drakine Clans. Prometheus refers to her as Aunt.

  Tiamatspawn - the Drakine Clans spawned from the Mother of Bitter Waters. They tend to show one of the two faces of their ancestor, Creator or Destroyer. Referred to as T-Spawn.

  Titanomachy - "War of the Giants", the Giantswar, the overthrow of the Titans by the Gods.

  Titans - The first children of Gaia and Oranos, Gaia and Tiamat, Tiamat and Oranos. Creators of the worlds and most of the things in them. Overthrown, killed, or imprisoned by the Gods.

  Tree - One of the Elemental Concepts of Earth. Like their sibling Earth concept of Stone they are pretty pragmatic, but they are more communally oriented. Frequently work with covens of practitioners and environmental causes, behind the scenes.

  Treeblood - acceptable slang term for a practitioner of Tree magic

  Underworld - the Otherworld Realms of the dead. It's unknown if every soul that exists passes through these planes, but they are certainly well-populated.

  Unmanifest – the Void, what existed before reality itself, the raw potential that was turned into actuality by Gaia, Tiamat, and Oranos.

  Unknown Shore - the place/state in the Ocean that is feared by Divers. "Going to the Unknown Shore" or "arriving at the Unknown Shore" is normally a euphemism among Divers for losing themselves in the Ocean and going mad.

  Vimana – a flying craft originally designed and used by the Gods of India. Most are circular, and are a cross between a flying chariot and a flying carpet. Used as weapons platforms, they played an instrumental war in the civil wars of that region's Gods.

  Voidstuff – raw potential that becomes existence by the actions of Gaia, Tiamat, Oranos, and the Titans.

  Watcher – a subset of the Reeves service on permanent liason with the Archives, they keep watch over all known Vergences, Gates, etc., and they also run the purge services used by the Fae. Also, the more combat oriented members of Gate-install teams.

  Wind - Elemental concept of air, gasses, thought, imagination, and sensation. Its practitioners are usually greedy for experiences and feelings, becoming base-jumpers and adrenalin addicts, as well as more traditional drugs. They tend to have moments of brilliance counterweighted by moments of depression, as well as being the most easy-going of the Elemental magic-users. They are regarded as people-persons.

  Zephyr - slang term for Wind-aligned magicuser.

  The Firethief Book One of the Unbinder Recursion

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