A Victory for Kregen (31 page)

kreutzin: Light infantry acting as skirmishers, voltigeurs.

L

Lamdu: A form of Jikaida in which there are ninety pieces to a side.

Larghos the Sko-handed: A Vallian hyrpaktun from Gremivoh, with a long, narrow chin and slinger’s shoulders, returned to fight and joined 1EYJ in command of staff slingers.

Lattice House: Decadent palace in Trakon’s Pillars where Thelda Polista and her child were kept prisoner. LFK

Ling-li-Lwingling: A Witch of Loh.

LionardDen: Known as Jikaida City, situated very near the exact center of Havilfar.

Llunyush the Juice: One of the many spirits of catering sworn on by the chefs of Paz.

Lobur the Dagger: Name used by Lobur ham Hufadet, a Hamalese horter, aide-de-camp to Prince Nedfar.

Longweill: A fluttrhim and thief, who came to a glutinous end down the Moder. FFK

Loriman the Hunter, Kov: A full, fleshy, choleric noble whose passion is hunting. In his own intemperate, bash-on, bully-boy way he was a tower of strength down the Moder. What he sought down there among the horrors and the Monsters, Prescot suggests, was of use to his cult of Spikatur Hunting Sword and far outweighed in value mere gold or gems. FFK

“Lucili the Radiant”: A popular song in Vondium.

Lucrina, Yasuri, Vadni of Cremorra: The Lady Yasuri, a small woman who dressed in shiny black bombazine, employed Pompino and Prescot as paktuns, and they were bound to her protection as kregoinye on orders from the Star Lords. When she became champion in Jikaida City after Prescot fought Mefto the Kazzur she lost a deal of her sharpness, most of the lines on her face, and the razor-edged nose softened. The king of her country was slain and her vadvarate overrun. SFK, FFK

lumop: Term of abuse.

Luxis Bliem Juruk nalen Strom, En: The Strom’s Sacred Life Guard. Formed in Valka when Prescot Fetched the island back to the people and was Fetched to be their strom. Known as SSLG.

lynxter: A Lohvian sword.

M

Mahendrasmot: A town of Southern Pandahem.

Mai Makanar: A kovnate on the southeast coast of Vallia.

Mai Yenizar: A kovnate on the southeast coast of Vallia.

majis: Short form of majister, used only by close intimates.

Mancha of Tlinganden
: Argenter in which the returning paktuns took passage to Vallia, wrecked on Wenhartdrin. VFK

Mandanillo: A stately dance.

Mandua: Kingdom of Dawn Lands hostile to Hamal.

“March of the Skeletons”: A song in which a brilliant and charming girl, just returned from a boat holiday, recounts how the skeletons marched from the graveyard in search of their missing flesh and blood. The song is an example of that inscrutable Kregan humor.

marlque: A riding animal.

Mausoleum of the Flame: Chamber of the Flame at the heart of the Nine Halls filled with their corpses in the Moder. FFK

Mazdo the Splandu: A superb golden numim, great-hearted and generous, deadly with all kinds of weapons.

Measure of Princesses: The Jikaida Dance.

Mefto the Kazzur: Cognomen of Mefto A’Shanofero, Prince of Shanodrin, a Kildoi. An exceptional swordsman who fought through to the princedom of Shanodrin in blood and death, devoted to Kazz-Jikaida, involved in intrigues to further the cause of Hamal in the Dawn Lands. Is now minus his tail hand, which was a left hand. SFK

Mists of Sicce: Confusing fogs circumjacent to the Ice Floes of Sicce.

Moder: A large artificial mountain, a kind of tell, containing tombs, sepulchers, and vaults, corpses, Undead, treasure, traps, and monsters and magic. FFK

Moderdrin: The Humped Land, the Land of the Fifth Note, where the Moders cover the ground as far as the eye can see.

Mogper, Colun, Kov of Mursham: A brilliant-seeming but vicious and depraved kov of a province in Menaham, marked for retribution by Jilian. He slew Barty Vessler by stabbing him in the back.

Moltingur: Diff of apim size with horny carapace across shoulders, eating proboscis, feelers, faceted eyes, a tunnel mouth with rows of needle-like teeth to tear food for proboscis to masticate and swallow.

Speaks with a hiss, chillingly.

mon: Right (as distinct from left).

Mountains of Thirda: Situated on the western end of the border between Jevuldrin and Forli in eastern Vallia.

Muzzard: A diff something like a Chulik, but without tusks, with skin of a leaden hue and exuding a musky odor.

Myer, Pallan: Minister of Education, Learning, appointed by Prescot in Vondium. Walks everywhere reading a book.

“My Love is like a Moon Bloom”: Popular song of Paz.

mytzer: Low-slung, ten-legged, docile draught animal, inexpensive but of excellent pulling power much used by tradesmen and poor folk who cannot afford the more expensive breeds of draught animals abounding on Kregen.

N

Naghan the Doom: One of Ariane nal Amklana’s retainers, a numim.

Nath the Shaft: An apim from Ruathytu, expert archer, one of Prince Tyfar’s retainers.

Neagrom: City famous for beautiful ceramic ware.

Nedfar, Prince: Prince of Hamal, second cousin to the Empress Thyllis, father of Tyfar and Thefi, a man of high courage and honor.

Nierdrik: Diff with coarse-skinned, high-beaked, hooded-eyed face like killer-turtle, hard and gritty, with compact muscular body, with two arms, two legs and no tail.

Niklaardu: Family name of twin Vallian paktuns from Wenhartdrin returned to fight and joined 1EYJ.

Ngrozyan the Axe: Spirit from myths of Ng’groga.

Nodgen: A Brokelsh who has been a mercenary, a cutpurse in Jikaida City, and much else, handy with a spear, became slave with Hunch and Prescot. Good companion to Prescot, went with Hunch to Vallia.

Norgoth, Tarek Malervo: A man with thin legs and bulky body, sent as Ambassador to Prescot from Layco Jhansi, acted as commissar in army commanded by Kapt Hangrol defeated at Battle of Ovalia. A man whose self-importance expands or recedes with the company he keeps. LFK, VFK

Norhan the Flame: A useful fellow who likes to hurl blazing pots of combustibles.

Notor Shorthush of the Waves: One of the mythical Sea Lords of Kregen who send gales to sink men’s ships out of spite.

Noumjiksirn: A wake, an uproarious yet serious celebration in which warriors mourn their vanished comrades.

O

Olmes, Dav, Vad of Bilsley: A good-natured noble with long yellow hair, a round, cheerful, pugnacious face, an expert swordsman. Vad of a province in Mandua hostile to Hamal. Befriended Prescot, Bevon, and Pompino in Jikaida City. SFK

“Only Zair knows the cleanliness of a human heart”: A saying from the Eye of the World suggesting that all men have secrets they do not want, and act differently from the way they would wish to act, yet make attempts to overcome their failings.

Orscop, Nath, Trylon of Absordur: A noble of the Dawn Lands whose ruling passion was Vajikry.

VFK

Ortyg the Tresh: Standard Bearer with 1ESW who carries the Union flag of Vallia.

Ovalia: Town of the Imperial Province of Orvendel in Vallia.

P

Panachreem: Mythical home of the gods and spirits of Pandahem.

pantor: The word in Pandahem for the Hamalian notor and Vallian jen — lord.

Phrutius, Strom: Bought Prescot as slave from Jikaida City, was eaten by a Laughing Shadow down the Moder. FFK

Polisto: Tyr Lol, ti Sygurd: Fine, limber man who lost his farming estate during Vallia’s Time of Troubles, fought back as the leader of the local guerrillas and rescued and married Thelda.

Pompino, Scauro, ti Tuscursmot: A Khibil, powerful and shrewd, with scars tracing over his body, sometimes called Pompino the Iarvin. A kregoinye. From South Pandahem. Worked with Prescot for the Star Lords protecting the Lady Yasuri. Like most Khibils somewhat contemptuous of everybody else, but a good comrade to Prescot. SFK

Prado, En: A later playwright than Nalgre ti Liancesmot whose work En Prado often comments on.

Prince Larghos and the Demons: A legend of Kregen containing the story of Gilma, a water sprite, and Nafti, the potter’s son.

propt: Support; given by Deldar to swod in Jikaida.

Pypor: Deity of some clans of the Great Plains of Segesthes, and a Devil Deity to other clans.

Q

Quardon: Young voller pilot of 2ESW.

Queltar: Of Queltar, Deb-Lu-Quienyin says: “Some hellhole in Queltar where no man should have to exist.”

Queyd-arn-tung!: No more need be said on the subject.

R

Ralton Daw-Erentor, Tyr: Seconds on of a minor noble of North Vallia, hewed to Layco Jhansi’s party because of his father, a keen sleeth racer, uncomfortable over confrontation with Prescot during Norgoth’s embassy, potentially a fine man. LFK

Ravenshal and Rashenka: A gentle Relt stylor and his wife of Mahendrasmot, who invited Prescot to their home and treated him with kindness, two of the ordinary nice people of Kregen. VFK

reed-laurium: Reed — headband. Laurium — rank. Any headband bedecked with symbols, feathers, colors denoting rank. In this instance worn by people in Kazz-Jikaida to indicate the pieces they represent.

Renko the Murais: A Valkan axeman, member of the SSLG, saved from being hanged for a murder he did not commit by Prescot in Vondium, subsequently joined 1ESW. LFK

Risslaca Ichor: Wine; a rosé with the addition of dopa which adulterates it or fortifies it according to taste.

Rodiflor, Kov Erclan the Critchoith: Square, hard noble, savage to his subordinates, devoted to Kazz-Jikaida, a man of harsh authority and power.

Rokveil: King.

Rorvreng the Vakka! By: A strong cavalryman’s oath.

Rosala: Beautiful, brilliant girl, handmaiden to Delia.

Rovard the Murvish: An initiate of the Brotherhood of the Sorcerers of Murcroinim, an ascetic, dressed in skins and skulls, smells offensively, an adept with the morntarch.

“Run over-hastily on a leem’s tracks”: Presuming too early to confidences in a relationship.

Ruthmayern: A country of Hamal.

S

Saenci: Pretty Khibil girl, fiancée of Andrinos, brought safely out of Mahendrasmot by Prescot. VFK

Sakkora Stones: Ruined star-shaped buildings of the Sunset People.

Sangar, Orlon, ti Deliasmot: Kerchurivax of the Tenth Kerchuri of the Fifth Phalanx at the Battle of Ovalia. VFK

Sasco! By: An oath so far of obscure provenance used by Kov Loriman, the Hunting Kov.

Scarron Necklace, The: A new play by Master Belzur the Aphorist, produced in Vondium during the troublous times.

Scatulo, Master: A Jikaidast of repute, with too high an opinion of himself, who once owned Bevon as slave. SFK

schrafter: One of the many types of animal infesting dungeons, where they sharpen their teeth on the bones of corpses.

schturval: Any kind of badge, symbol, color, denoting allegiances.

screetz: Sword.

Shanodrin: Princedom of the Dawn Lands.

shansili: A white-flowered creeper with sweet scent grown on trellises.

“She Lived by the Lily Canal”: A sentimental song, much sung by the troops on the night before the Battle of Kochwold.

sherissa: A lady’s filmy veil.

Shirrerdrin: A country of the Dawn Lands heavily forested with oak trees.

Sicce’s Gates: Here an eons-old crack leads down deeply into the crust of the world; place in Vallia where the Vallian Army was overthrown by clansmen. LFK

sko: Left (as distinct from right).

Skull and Crossbones: A game of Kregen.

“Smoke blown with the wind”: Water under the bridge.

Sorcerers of Murcroinim: A brotherhood of thaumaturges of some real powers.

Songaslad: A town of thieves in the Dawn Lands where caravans form for the journey across the Desolate Wastes to Jikaida City.

Spag the June! By: The favorite oath of Dav Olmes, referring to a spirit causing confusion to honest travelers.

Spikatur Hunting Sword: A secret cult of which, at the moment, little is revealed by Prescot.

Spikatur Cycle, The: The Sixth Cycle of the Saga of Dray Prescot.

Springs of Beng Jasto: Hot mineral springs in Vallia where hides are cured to an exceeding toughness.

Spurs of Lasal the Vakka! By: A mild cavalryman’s oath.

Stony Korf: A forbidding fortress in the kovnate of Falinur.

strangdja: A feared weapon of Chem, six-foot-long haft, ten-inch-long steel head of holly-leaf shape, nine spikes aside set alternately forward and back, the lowest pair curving downward into hooks.

strebe: Silver coin of Western Dawn Lands, of two kinds, the broad and the short strebe. It is important in business to know which kind you are bargaining in.

Stroxals: A race of diffs of Kregen.

sturr: A fellow who is mostly silent, a trifle boorish, not particularly favored in handsomeness, louche, maladroit.

swarth: A four-legged risslaca with a cruel, wedge-shaped head sloping into a humped scaled body, clawed feet, not very fast. Has a muscular bulk that carries his rider well and is a saddle animal that jutmen are coming to favor more in Vallia.

Sweet Ibroi: Herb; the burned twigs give off aromatic smoke which invigorates and is used to revive victims of faintness.

Sweet Ordums: Small octagonal biscuits.

Sygurd: Small farming estate in Falinur; Lol Polisto is the squire.

T

Tardalvoh: A bracing dry wine, tart and invigorating.

Tarkshur the Lash: A Kataki from Klardimoin, bought Hunch, Nodgen, and Prescot on the slave auction block, a ferocious slaver, came to a gripping end down the Moder. FFK

“Teach a Wizard to Catch a Fly”: Teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

tenash: A large, blundering, grazing animal with a strong hide, which when cured becomes extraordinarily tough and light.

Tezpor: Island of Vallia due north of Rahartdrin.

Thangal: A Trylonate of Hamal northwest of Ruthmayern.

Thefi, Princess: Daughter of Prince Nedfar, a charming and strong-willed girl, with no malice in her but that occasioned by her exalted status and unthinking acceptance of service.

Thrangulf, Kov: Of Hamal, calls himself a plain man, successfully held his kovnate despite his father’s animosity because the old kov, Thrangulf’s grandfather, lived too long, no ham in his name, generally disliked by people who did not trouble to consider his position, loyal to the Empress Thyllis. FFK