Agnith's Promise: The Vildecaz Talents, Book 3 (31 page)

“But I’m not,” he said quietly.  “I’m awed.”  There was no questioning the brilliance in his eyes.

Zhanf held up his hand.  “I don’t think I can keep him under control much longer.”  The two scent-hounds were fretting, Senkei making low, distressed noises.

“But he’s still unconscious,” said Erianthee.

“That may not be enough,” said Zhanf as the room once again went cold.

A humming like a swarm of maddened wasps, but much lower, filled the air, the sound working its way into the heads of all those in the room, bringing a sickening ache with it.  The oil-lamps grew dimmer, and then there was a sudden, grinding pop; Heijot Merinex rose in the air, then seemed to break apart into myriad shining scraps of blackness, that fluttered and then, in a breath, vanished.

It took more than fifty heartbeats for light and warmth to be restored in the room, where all five occupants stood, stunned, while the spell-hounds whined, their noses in the air as if seeking to find a trail for the vanished Merinex.

Finally Ninianee said, a little tremulously, “At least he’s gone.”

“For now,” said Zhanf.  “It will take some days to find out how many devices he’s left in the Castle.  The wooden jars and the spell-mummies can’t be all of it.”

They all went silent again, then Erianthee said, “Will he try to return, do you think?”

Zhanf shrugged as he knelt to calm the dogs.  “I wish I knew.  You can be sure he isn’t dead.  That discorporation was an act of profound magic.  He’ll need time to recover from it, but I have no doubt that he will.”

“And regain all his strength?”  Kloveon asked.

“I fear so.”

“Will he try to come back?”  Ninianee asked.

“I don’t know,” said Zhanf.

“I hope not,” said Doms.  “Because if he does, the Duzeons are in terrible danger.”

“They are, but not only here in Vildecaz, which may provide them some protection, since they banished him from this Duzky through their triumph over him.  Beyond the Duzky they will have to be on their guard constantly, or risk Merinex’s reprisals,” said Zhanf.  “No matter where you go, Duzeons, you’ll have to be wary of the Night Priests.  No matter what becomes of Merinex, from now on, you have malign and implacable enemies, and you’ll need to be vigilant.”

Ninianee dropped onto one of the benches, and pulled Doms down beside her.  “That’s probably true, Magsto, but if you don’t mind, we’ll wait for tomorrow to work out a plan.  For now, I’m very tired.  I know Erianthee is, too.  Would you object to staying here until ae-Miratdien returns, and let us go down to bed?”  She rested her head on Doms’ shoulder.

“Yes,” said Erianthee.  “We can determine how to look for our father when we wake up and recover from all that’s happened.  With Merinex out of Vildecaz, we should be able to use locating spells with better results.  Evening meal tomorrow, when we’re rested and new protective spells are in place, should be a good time to plan what to do next.”  She brought the diamond-folded parchment out of her sleeve and held it up.  “And there’s this.”

The others stared while Foluch wagged his tail.

“What is it?”  Ninianee asked.

“I don’t know.  It appeared at the end of the manifestation, and didn’t fade with the rest.”  She held it out to Zhanf.  “Use your skills, Magsto, and tell us when we waken what it says.”

Zhanf took the parchment, testing it carefully with his fingers before putting it into his sleeve.  “All right.  Go on, then.  You two do need rest.  I’ll set a reclaiming-spell over the Castle to begin securing it.  Now that the two of you have vanquished Merinex, we can begin to restore Vildecaz.”

Ninianee got up slowly, threading her fingers through Doms’.  “So long as you’re with me, I know I can face anything.”

“We must hope you won’t have to,” he said, lifting their hands to kiss hers.

Erianthee and Kloveon were already at the door.  “I’ll see you tomorrow, Nin, 
Not too early,” 

“Bontaj, no, not early,” Ninianee exclaimed.

“If we both work on it, I know we’ll find papa.” Erianthee said, and impulsively went to give her sister a hug.  “We did it, didn’t we?”

Ninianee returned the embrace.  “Yes,” she said.  “We did.”

The
end

THE VILDECAZ TALENTS

Adamat
[Ah-DAH-maht]  – an ancient city on Pomig

Adamine-velvet
[Ah-DAH-meen]  – velvet from the ancient city of Adamat on Pomig

ae-Dysin, Okeij
[eye-Die-SIHN, Oh-KAYZH]  – one of Hajmindor Elet’s officers

ae-Freimir, Quardith
[eye-Frey-MIHR, KWAHR-dihth]  – legendary military leader of Harro-ae

ae-Melukah, Dozinen
[eye-Mehl-LOO-kah, Doh-ZIH-nehn]]  – a distinguished artist from Harro-ae

ae-Miratdien, Senijer
[eye-Mihr-AHT-deeihn, Seh-NIH-zhehr] – Captain of the Night Guard at Vildecaz Castle

ae-Perqueon, Hallis
[eye-Pehr-QUAY-ohn, HAHL-lihs]  – guide with short-term precognition

ae-Semilgai, Dinvee
[eye-Seh-MIHL-guy, DIHN-vay]  – Yulko Bihn’s so-called student

ae-Tsomso, Dojlan
[EYE-TSOHM-so, DOHZH-lahn]  – heroic guard from Harro-ae in the Svalen-Tu myth

Agninean
[Ahny-NAY-ahn]  – Ninianee’s alias

Agnith, the Preternatural [
AHN-yith]  – goddess of all things magical, of continents and seas, of ideas and talents; one of the Six Founder Gods, and patron of Fah.

Agnitheon
[Ahn-yith-AY-ohn]  – the most illustrious center of higher education in the Great World even though it’s on Fah. 

Aodil
[Ow-DEEL]  – helpful Kuyumai in the Svalen-Tu myth

Aiolenee
[Ay-oh-LEE-nay]  – Riast’s present Empress, from north-eastern Theninzalk, the daughter of an important Hircaj

Amejgon
[Ah-mehzh-GOHN]  – Bindomaj messenger

Analahor, the Inspirational
[Ah-nah-LAH-hohr]  – goddess of mortality, rebirth, agriculture, arts visible and invisible, intuition, and victory; first daughter of Agnith, the Preternatural, and twin of Hyneimoj, the Ineffable

Anvil, The
  – a constellation on the ecliptic, with fourteen others

Aon
  – of or pertaining to Ayo

Aon-bear
  – ursine from Ayo

Aon-nuts
  – delicacies from Ayo

Armies of Tsmai
[TSMY]  – mercenaries from Ymiljesai during the Lost Time

Atakirath
[Ah-tah-KEE-rahth]  – goddess of the waxing moon

Atazunah
[Ah-tah-ZOO-nah]  – goddess of the waning moon

Aubindimei
[Au-bihn-DEE-may] – goddess of clouds; one of the children of Reonoj

August Ancesto
r – title for any ancestor whose deeds are still having an impact on the culture; not always flattering

Aycar [
AY-cahr]  – ancient title for the lord of a military fiefdom in Theninzalk

Aym
[AIM]  – a second-level maritime commander from Ymiljesai

Aymmeraj
[Aim-MEHR-rahzh]  – a land-grant on Ymiljesai for military service

Aymsai
[AIM-sigh]  – second-level cavalry commander from Ymiljesai

Ayo
[EYE-yoh] – the largest island on the Great World, northwest of Haverartbow

Ayocath
[EYEYOH-cath]  – a Hircar in Ayo

Badrei
[Bahd-RAY]  – an island in the Drowned World, on the Zengoarst Sea

Badrei-fish
[Bahd-RAY]  – fish from near Badrei, an island in the Drowned World; similar to halibut

Bandikrion, the Destinizer
[Bahn-dee-KREE-ohn]  – goddess of ambition, fate, enterprise, education, apprenticeship, and of efforts rewarded; sister of Daj and Nyolach.

Banorin
[Bah-NOH-rihn]  – landlord of The Ioraj

barlo-cloak
[BAHR-low] – woodsman’s cloak, long, engulfing, with pleated shoulders

Barren Moon
  – when the full moon falls on the Last Day or First Day

Bazdalt Ocean
[BAHZ-dahlt]  – east and southeast of Theninzalk

Beidohr
, Duin [BAY-dohr, DWEEN]  – ancient Firnij of Otsinmohr, very covetous

Beirach
– [BAY-ratch]  – a fur-trader

Berianaj, Farnoxon [
Beh-ree-AH-nahzh, Fahr-NOKS-ohn]  – Vildecazin coachman

Berianoroz, Wixerin
[Beh-ree-AHN-noh-rohz, Wihks-EHR-ihn] – Vildecaz Castle guard

Bihn, Yulko [
BIHN, YOU-lko]  – high-ranking Court magician, and former rival of Nimuar

Bindomaj
[BIHN-doh-mahzh]  – human-bat species

binjoz
[BIHN-zhohz]  – armored bib worn by Bindomajes

Blaugrex
of the Drowned World [BLAW-grehks]  – juggler from Tirin-Dzur; Gleimai's brother

Boarth Range
[BOH-arth]  – a Theninzalk mountain range; the northwestern end is the Valdishan Escarpment

Boarthine
– of or pertaining to the Boarth Peninsula

Boarthine crab
  – from the coastal waters of the Boarthine Peninsula

Boarthine Peninsula
[BOH-ahrth-een] – where Vildecaz, Otsinmohr, Cazboarth, Rocaz, Eltsigaranth, and Mindicaz are located

Boarthine Plateau
  – between Cazboarth and Minidcaz

Boarthinee
[Boh-ahr-THEE-nay]  – human capital city in Cazboarth

bontaj
[bohn-TAHJ]  – swear-word somewhere between damn and shit, having to do mainly with frustration or disappointment

Bonti
[Bohn-TEE]  – god of unmagical misfortunes; once a mythic mortal whose life went from disaster to disaster, hence bontaj as a minor oath.

Bonti’s Luck
  – compounded misfortune; hence bontaj

Bougard hound
[BOW-gahrd]  – a species of hound bred to hunt boar

Bozidar VII
[BOW-zih-dahr]  – late Emperor of Polzark

Bozidar, Prince
  – Emperor Riast's heir

Breimanee-wood
[Brei-MAH-nay]  – a wood from Ayo noted for its resonant qualities

brikes
  – pantaloons

Brotherhood of Roadmakers and Bridgebuilders
  – the center for civil engineering and road maintenance; centered on Theninzalk.

bryo
[BREYE-oh]  – silver coin, worth roughly $20; prone to magical manipulation

Burinar
[Boo-REE-nahr]  – messenger for Vildecaz Castle

Burinee
[Boo-REE-nay]  – goddess of summer

bydoga
[beye-DOH-gah]  – a long, decorated vest worn by officials on ceremonial occasions

Byton fowl
[BEYE-tohn]  - a partridge-like game-bird

Cantonment of The Tail
  – ancient administrative district; still functioning

Cataclysm, The
  – a catastrophic event that happened between 1700 and 1800 years ago, which resulted in the sinking of the Drowned World.  Most Great World priestly calendars date from its time, although not all agree on when it occurred. (A super volcano erupted and collapsed in on itself changing the Great World dramatically)