The Pirates of Moonlit Bay

by Samaire Provost

  Döner kebap — Beaten pieces of meat (lamb and beef), seasoned with suet, local herbs and spices, skewered on a spit and grilled vertically.

  Fo'c'sle — Forecastle (front) deck of a ship, near the bow.

  Giant Manta Ray — A giant magical beast that is a fish resembling a black square kite, with massive wings that span fifteen meters (nearly fifty feet) across. Benign and gentle, they are used to aid in the propulsion of the sailing ships, since there is very little wind.

  Hellada — Kingdom across the Mare Internum from Alkebulan and far south of Swerighe.

  Jambudvipa — Ancient land to the east, full of riches and treasures.

  Jim — Nickname the troupe give to the djinn from the Tomb of Ancients when in human form.

  Kasaba berries — Berries that grow in abundance in Alkebulan, they look and taste much like concord grapes, but are orange-yellow in appearance. They grow in clutches, much like grapes, but in larger quantities on the tree.

  Keffiyeh — Traditional headscarf worn in Alkebulan to protect from the sun’s rays.

  Khepri — Assistant healer in the employ of her uncle the sheikh of the Abdü caliphate. Brown skin tone and brown hair. Age 32.

  Kinah — Pirate captain. Brown skin tone, brown hair. Age 27.

  Kishon — A pirate aboard Kinah’s ship.

  Kym — The chimera in human form. Appears to be a six-year-old girl, with coal black skin tone, curly black hair, and an infectious laugh. In reality is thousands of years old and yet still a child, as chimeras are extremely long lived.

  Lissy — The basilisk who is the play companion to the chimera.

  Malík — The Abdü sheikh’s eldest son. Brown skin tone, brown hair. Age 25.

  Manticore — Massive magical beast possessing the body of a lion, the face of a man, and the sting of a scorpion. Usually red or tan, and easily as large as a bull elephant, fifteen feet tall.

  Mare Internum — The sea to the north, directly above the Alkebulan continent.

  Marula — Tree bearing ripe marula fruit that ripens and then ferments into fruit that can get animals mildly drunk.

  Moonlit Bay — The port of call for the city and marketplace of Tambibo.

  Port — Nautical term for the left side of a ship, when facing forward.

  Pride of the Sea — The rechristened ship Charlotte and her troupe capture from pirate captain at Moonlit Bay.

  Šabāb — A young man, guy, youth.

  Shadhavar — A kind of unicorn.

  Shêtân — The black stallion from Jambudvipa.

  Starboard — Nautical term for the right side of a ship, when facing forward.

  Stern — Nautical term for the rear of a ship.

  Swerighe — A small kingdom in the far northlands.

  Taimim — Means ‘perfect one’ – the name of Kym’s pony. He is a golden tan with a blonde mane and tail.

  Tam — Tamerlane. Sailor on pirate ship. Brown skin tone, brown hair. Age 22.

  Tambibo — The large city on the northwestern coast of Alkebulan, known for its massive marketplace.

  Thawb — Traditional, everyday light and airy robe worn in Alkebulan.

  The Imam Khatibs — The priests, clerics, and wizards in Alkebulan.

  The Key of Azurethene — The enchanted key only the foretold person may hold, it opens The Tomb of Ancients.

  Tikiko and Pala — Tupu’s cousins, taken by Sheikh of Abdü caliphate.

  Tomb of Ancients — This ancient tomb is said to be full of riches never before seen in Alkebulan. Riches beyond anyone’s imagining.

  Tupu — Kidnapped and brought as slave to Abdü caliphate by Malík. Coal-black skin tone, curly black hair, violet eyes. Age 20.

  Verdantwood — Similar to Blackroot, grows in the Northlands.

  Here ends The Pirates of Moonlit Bay, the first book of The Paladin Princess series. The second book will be called The Pirate Queen.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Samaire Provost grew up in a lot of different places, and now happily resides on the East Coast, laboring away at writing stories every day. She is an animal lover with far too many pets, yet she still muses how she’d like to add even more. A lover of all things night and gothic, she also loves to read and reread her favorite books. Owned by a cat named Tyrion, she can be found haunting the shadows and mists that hang low over the hills of southern Virginia.