vyer – stringed instrument from Elyne
COUNTRIES/PEOPLES IN THE REGION
Duna – tribes who live in volcanic desert north of Sachaka
Elyne – neighbour to Kyralia and Sachaka and once ruled by Sachaka
Kyralia – neighbour to Elyne and Sachaka and once ruled by Sachaka
Lan – a mountainous land peopled by warrior tribes
Lonmar – a desert land home to the strict Mahga religion
Sachaka – home of the once great Sachakan Empire, where all but the most powerful are slaves
Vin – an island nation known for their seamanship
TITLES/POSITIONS
Apprentice – Kyralian magician under training, and who has not been taught higher magic yet
Ashaki – Sachakan landowner
Ichani – Sachakan free man or woman who has been declared outcast
Lady – wife of a Kyralian landowner
Lord – Kyralian landowner, either of a ley or a city House, or their heir
Magician – Kyralian higher magician (“Lord” used instead if magician is a landowner)
Master – free Sachakan Village/Town Master – commoner in charge of a rural community (answers to the ley’s lord)
OTHER TERMS
the approach – main corridor to the master’s room in Sachakan houses
blood gem – artificial gemstone that allows maker to hear the thoughts of wearer
earthblood – term the Duna tribes use for lava
kyrima – a game played by magicians to teach and practise strategic skills in battle
master’s room – main room in Sachakan houses for greeting guests
slavehouse – part of Sachakan homes where the slaves live and work
slavespot – sexually transmitted disease
storestone – gemstone that can store magic
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first half of this book was written during a very stressful and frustrating year, then the second half, rewrites and polishing in a tight six months. So I would like to thank Darren Nash and the team at Orbit for their understanding and patience, and Darren and Tim’s sympathetic ears when I poured out the whole house-extension saga on their visit to Melbourne.
I also want to thank Fran Bryson, my agent, and her assistant, Liz Kemp, for their support and great work, and the agents all over the world who bring my books to readers who speak languages other than my own. Another thank you also goes to Phillip Berrie, who I hired to do a professional consistency check on the manuscript, that was well worth the investment.
Thanks to my partner, Paul, who read the book, chapter by chapter, over the course of a year and a bit and kept encouraging me to write more, even though he was as demoralized over the house saga as I.
And to my friends and family, who provided valuable feedback on part or all of the book: Mum and Dad, Donna Hanson, Fiona McLennan and Kylie Seluka.
Lastly, but always most fondly, thank you to all the readers of my books who have sent lovely emails, left enthusiastic messages on my website’s guestbook, recommended or given my books to friends and family. You make my day.
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