Healed by Hope (29 page)

Fifty years later
 . . .

. . . A TALL BUT SLUMPED man stood amid a field of vegetables aligned in orderly rows. As dusk neared, late-summer storm clouds built over the mountains in the distance.

Rain would come soon. This pleased him.

The man noticed a weed growing between a pair of thriving tomato plants. He knelt down and plucked it from the ground, feeling guilty even as he did so.

From the farmhouse atop the hill, his wife called to him. Her alabaster eyes were blind, but she stumbled on the uneven ground less often than he.

“Darling,” she said, in her ancient voice. “Supper is ready.”

“Coming!” he shouted back. Then he whispered, “Just one more thing to do.” Rather than walk directly to the house, the man slipped down a slope and strode toward another patch of ground, this one untended.

Though that wasn’t entirely true.

For a second time the man knelt, and his calloused fingers excavated a hole in the dirt. He planted the weed, among many others.

When he stood it began to rain.

“You’ve got a chance,” the gardener said from high above. “I’m afraid that’s all I have to offer.”

He stood there a moment, a thin man with wet hair and warm bones.

Then he climbed up the slope toward the comforts of home.

So ends
The Death Wizard Chronicles
.

(Please continue reading for lots more information)

Glossary

Author’s note:
Many character and place names are English derivatives of Pali, a Middle Indo-Aryan dialect closely related to Sanskrit but now extinct as a spoken language. Today, Pali is studied mainly to gain access to Theravada Buddhist scriptures and is frequently chanted in religious rituals.

Aarakaa Himsaa
(ah-RUH-kah HIM-sah): Defensive strategy used by Tugars that involves always staying at least a hair’s width away from your opponent’s longest strike.

Abala
(AH-buh-luh): Great horn made from the tusk of a mammoth.

Abhisambodhi
(ab-HEE-sahm-BOH-dee): Highest enlightenment.

Adho Satta
(AH-dho SAH tah): Anything or anyone who is neither a dragon nor a powerful supernatural being. Means
low one
in ancient tongue.

Akando
(ah-KAHN-doh): Eldest brother of Takoda.

Akanittha
(AHK-ah-NEE-tah): A being that is able to feed off the light of the sun. Means
Highest Power
in the ancient tongue.

Akasa Ocean
(ah-KAH-sah): Largest ocean on Triken. Lies west of Dhutanga, Jivita, and Kincara.

Alābha-Abhinno
(ah-LAH-buh-ahb-HIH-no): A highly ranked Warlish witch.

Ancient tongue
:
Ancient language now spoken by Triken’s most learned beings, as well as most Tugars.

Anna
:
Tent City of Tējo. Home to the Tugars.

Annusati
(ah-noo-SAH-ti): Largest cathedral in Jivita.

Antaradhaayati, Sati
(ahn-tuh-ROD-huh-YAH-tee, SAH-tee): Demonic spell that erases memory.

Aponi
(ah-POH-nee): Biological daughter of Takoda. Younger sister of Magena.

Appam
(ah-PAHM): Tugar warrior.

Archbishop Bernard
:
Highest-ranked Jivitan clergyman.

Arupa-Loka
(ah-ROO-pah-LOH-kah): Home of ghosts, demons, and ghouls. Lies near northern border of the Gap of Gamana. Also called Ghost City.

Arusha
(ah-ROO-shuh): Mare ridden by Queen Rajinii. Greatest of all Jivitan warhorses.

Asamāna
(ah-sah-MAH-nah): Senasanan bride of Invictus.

Asava
(ah-SAH-vah): Potent drink brewed by Stone-Eaters.

Asēkha
(ah-SEEK-ah):
Tugars of highest rank. There always are twenty, not including Death-Knowers. Also known as
Viisati
(The Twenty).

Assarohaa
(AH-suh-ROW-huh): White horsemen of Jivita.

Asthenolith
(ah-STHEN-no-lith): Pool of magma in a large cavern beneath Mount Asubha.

Augustus Pontius
(PON-chess): Newborn soldier who replaced Lucius as second-in-command of Mala’s army.

Avici
(ah-VEE-chee):
Largest city on Triken. Home to Invictus.

Avikkhepa
(ah-vih-KAY-puh): King of Jivita during the war against Slag.

Aya
(AH-yuh): Tugar warrior.

Badaalataa
(BAD-ah-LAH-tuh): Carnivorous vines from the demon world.

Bakheng
(bah-KENG): Central shrine of Dibbu-Loka.

Balak
(BAH-luk): First wall of Nissaya.

Baldwin “Burly” Boulogne
: Gillygaloo enchanter from Kincara.

Bard
:
Partner of Ugga and Jord, trappers who lived in the forest near the foothills of Mount Asubha.

Barranca
(bah-RAHN-chuh): Rocky wasteland that partially encircles the Great Desert.

Bell
:
Measurement of time approximating three hours.

Beydoo
(BAY-doo): Desert tribesmen loyal to Tugars.

Bhacca
(BAH-cha): Chambermaid assigned to Laylah.

Bhasura
(bah-SOOR-ah): One of the large tribes of the Mahaggata Mountains.

Bhayatupa
(by-yah-TOO-pah): Most ancient and powerful of dragons. His scales are a deep crimson.

Bhojja
(BOH-juh): Mother of all horses. Magical being of unknown origin or lifespan.

Black mountain wolves
: Largest and most dangerous of all wolves. Allies of demons, witches, and Mogols.

Bonny
:
Female pirate from Duccarita.

Boulogne’s
: Out-of-the-way tavern favored by Jivitan locals. Owned by Burly.

Broosha
(BREW-shah): Female vampire from Arupa-Loka.

Bruugash
(BREW-gash): Pabbajjan overlord.

Bunjako
(boon-JUH-koh): Stone-Eater; son of Gulah, grandson of Slag.

Cariya River
(chah-REE-yah): Largest river west of Mahaggata Mountains.

Catu
(chah-TOO): Northernmost mountain on Triken.

Carūūl
(kuh-ROOL): Magical ring given to Mala by Invictus.

Carūūldassana
(kuh-ROOL-duh-suh-nuh): Bhayatupa’s lost love.

Cave monkeys
:
Small, nameless primates that live in the underworld beneath Asubha.

Chain Man
:
Another name for Mala.

Chal-Abhinno
(Chahl-ahb-HIH-no): Queen of the Warlish witches.

Che-ra
(CHEE-ruh): Svakaran name for a fat possum.

Chieftain
:
Desert gelding befriended by Tasēti.

Churikā
(chuh-REE-kah): Female Asēkha.

Cirāya
(ser-AYE-yah): Green cactus that, when chewed, provides large amounts of liquid and nourishment.

Cubit
: Length of the arm from elbow to fingertip, which measures approximately eighteen inches, though among Tugars a cubit is considered twenty-one inches.

Daasa
(DAH-suh): Pink-skinned slaves captured on the western shore of the Akasa Ocean.

Dakkhinā
(dah-KEE-nay): Sensation that brings on the urge to attempt
Sammaasamaadhi
. Means
holy gift
in the ancient tongue.

Dalhapa
(dal-HAH-puh): Tugar warrior.

Dammawansha
(DAHM-uh-WAHN-shuh): Senior monk of Dibbu-Loka second only to Sister Tathagata.

Death-Knower
: Any Tugar—almost always an Asēkha—who has successfully achieved
Sammaasamaadhi
. In the ancient tongue, a Death-Knower is called
Maranavidu
.

Deathless people
:
Monks and nuns who inhabit Dibbu-Loka. Called deathless people because some of them live for more than one thousand years. Also known as noble ones.

Death Visit
:
Tugar description of the temporary suicide of a Death-Knower wizard.

Dēsaka
(day-SAH-kuh): Famous Vasi master who trained
The Torgon.

Dhītar
(DHEE-tar): Senasanan countess.

Dhutanga
(doo-TAHNG-uh): Largest forest on Triken. Lies west of the Mahaggata Mountains. Also known as the Great Forest.

Dibbu-Loka
(DEE-boo-LOW-kah): Realm of the noble ones. Means
Deathless World
in the ancient tongue. Originally called Piti-Loka.

Ditthi-Rakkhati
(DEE-tee-rack-HAH-tee): Current-day Jivitan who is a spy within Duccarita.

Ditthi-Sagga
(DEE-tee-SAH-gah): Jivitan captain who battled druids during war against Slag.

Dracools
(drah-KOOLS): Winged beasts that walk on hind legs but look like miniature dragons. Taller than a man but shorter than a druid.

Druggen Boggle
(DROO-gun BAH-guhl): Druid representative from Dhutanga.

Druids
(DREW-ids): Seven-cubit-tall beings that dwell in Dhutanga. Ancient enemies of Jivita.

Duccarita
(DOO-chu-REE-tuh): City of slave traders, pirates, thieves, and rapists in the northwestern corner of the Gap of Gamana.

Dukkhatu
(doo-KAH-too): Great and ancient spider that spent the last years of its life near the peak of Asubha.

Dvipa
(DVEE-puh): Asēkha left in charge of Anna.

Efrits
(EE-frits):
Invisible creatures that dwell in the Realm of the Undead. When summoned, they voraciously devour the internal organs of living beings.

Ekadeva
(ay-kah-DAY-vuh): The
One God
worshipped by the Jivitans and many other inhabitants of Triken.

Elu
(EE-loo): Miniature Svakaran who is an associate of Rathburt.

Essīkka
(ee-SICK-kuh): Female black knight who befriends Elu.

Eunuch
(YOO-nuk): Castrated male slaves who reside within the fifth wall of Kamupadana.

Fathom
: Approximately eleven cubits.

Gambhira
(gahm-BEER-uh): A male snow giant.

Gap of Gamana
:
Northernmost gap of the Mahaggata Mountains.

Gap of Gati
:
Southern gap that separates the Mahaggata Range from the Kolankold Range.

Gillygaloos
: Enchanters and enchantresses from Kincara. Small in stature, but powerful.

Golden Road
:
Road paved with a special golden metal that connects Avici and Kilesa.

Golden soldiers
:
Soldiers of Invictus, mass-bred in his image.

Golden Wall
:
Oblong wall coated with a special golden metal that surrounds Avici and Kilesa.

Gorlong 
(GOR-long): A representative of the Pobbajja.

Gray Plains
:
Arid plains that dominate much of the land east of the Ogha River.

Green Plains
:
Lush
plains that surround Jivita.

Gruugash
(GROO-gash): A representative of the Pobbajja.

Gulah
(GOO-lah):
Stone-Eater who became warden of Asubha. Son of Slag.

Gunther
:
Son of Vedana, father of Invictus and Laylah.

Gutta
(GOO-tuh): Highly ranked Tugar.

Hakam
(huh-KAM): Third wall of Nissaya.

Harīti
(huh-REE-tee): Kojin rumored to be in love with Mala.

Henepola III
(HEN-uh-POH-lah): King of Nissaya during war against Slag.

Henepola X
:
King of Nissaya during war against Invictus.

Hornbeam
: Ancient trees whose twisted lust for life causes madness. Called
Pacchanna
in the ancient tongue.

Ice Ocean
:
Ocean that lies northeast of Okkanti Mountains.

Iddhi-Pada
(IDD-hee-PUH-duh): Series of four roads that leads from Jivita to Avici, passing through Lake Hadaya, the Gap of Gati, Nissaya, and Java.

Indajaala
(inn-duh-JAY-la): Powerful Nissayan conjurer.

Invictus
(in-VICK-tuss):
Evil sorcerer who threatens all of Triken and beyond. Also known as
Suriya
(the Sun God).

Iriz
(eye-REEZ): Female dracool.

Izumo
(ee-ZOO-moh): Dracool from Mahaggata.

Jākita-Abhinno
(JAH-kih-tuh-uh-BHEE-no): Successor to Chal-Abhinno as queen of the Warlish witches.

Jākita-dEsa
(JAH-kih-tuh-DAY-suh): Hag servant of Jākita-Abhinno.

Java
(JAH-vah): Dark Forest that lies east of Nissaya.

Jeguccha
(jeh-GOOCH-uh): One of Vedana’s original daughters.

Jhana
(JAH-nah):
Father of Torg.

Jivita
(jih-VEE-tuh): Wondrous city that is home to the white horsemen. Located west of the Gap of Gati in the Green Plains. Also called the White City. Known as
Jutimantataa
(City of Splendor) in the ancient tongue.

Jord
:
Mysterious partner of Ugga and Bard
,
trappers who lived in the forest near the foothills of Mount Asubha.

Kalakhattiya
(kah-lah-KHA-tee-yuh): Black knights of Nissaya.

Kalapa
(kuh-LUH-puh): Powerful Asēkha chieftain during war against Slag. Grandfather of Kusala.

Kalliks
(KAL-icks): Desert bandits.

Kamupadana
(kuh-MOO-puh-DUH-nah): Home of Warlish witches and their lesser female servants. Also called the Whore City.

Kattham Bhunjaka
(kuh-TAM boon-JAH-kuh): Most powerful druid queen to ever exist.

Kauha Marshes
(COW-hah): Deadly marshes that lie between Avici and Kilesa.

Kilesa
(kee-LAY-suh):
Sister City of Anna
.

Kincara Forest
(KIN-chu-ruh): Large forest, though not as large as Dhutanga, that lies south of the Green Plains.

King Lobha
(LOW-bah): Sadistic king who built Piti-Loka.

Kithar
(kee-TAR): Tugar warrior.

Kojin
(KOH-jin): Enormous ogress with six arms and a bloated female head. Almost as large as a snow giant.

Kolankold Mountains
(KO-luhn-kold): Bottom stem of the Mahaggata Mountains, located south of the Gap of Gati.