The Archer's Heart (61 page)

“You won’t be alone.”

A warm wind blew over them, rustling the reeds.

 “Am I still attractive in this future vision of me?” Jandu asked with a grin.

Keshan’s eyes remained closed, but his mouth curved into a lazy smile. “Very. Although you are going to go gray prematurely.”

Jandu sighed. “Well, at least I’ll still have hair. What about you?”

Keshan laughed. “I still look magnificent.”

“It wouldn’t matter you know. I’d still love you even if you were bald and fat and wrinkled.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”  

The two of them lay on the bank of the lake and stared upwards. A smile played across Keshan’s mouth, and he lazily closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into Jandu’s neck.

Just then, a large sarus crane flew overhead. He blocked out the sun with his massive white wings, his red and black head looking down at Jandu and Keshan with vague interest. And with sudden, resounding volume, the crane sang out. From a distance, other cranes called back and the air was filled with music.

Jandu stroked Keshan’s face, and the beauty of this moment, it became eternal. Death and life, the dejection of the spirit and the courage to triumph—all these timeless experiences and emotions, like pigment in oil, were encapsulated, preserved forever, in this one second of a life.

He was alive. Keshan was alive. And now they could begin.

CHARACTERS

Abiyar Lokesh: Third and youngest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi.

Ajani Alamar: Wife of Keshan Adaru

Anant Sarkumar: Commander in the Dragewan army

Azari: Pseudonym of Suraya Paria while hiding in Afadi

Baldur Tanaraf: Lord of the State of Penemar

Bandruban: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Baram Param: Second son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari;brother of Yudar and Jandu; husband of Suraya Paria

Bir Soridashen: Lord of the State of Jagu Mali

Bodan: Pseudonym of Baram Paran while hiding in Afadi

Chezek: Keshan Adaru’s charioteer and servant

Darvad Uru:Son of King Shandarvan by his second wife Farashi; half-brother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu

Druv Majeo: Lord of the State of Pagdesh

Esalas: Pseudonym of Yudar Paran while hiding in Afadi

Eshau: Abiyar Lokesh’s weapons master

Farashi Uru: Second wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Darvad Uru

Firdaus Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; brother of Hanu; father of Ishad

Hanu Trinat: Chandamar Ambassador in the State of Afadi; brother of Firdaus

Harami: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Indarel Lokesh: Lord of the State of Afadi; husband of Shali Amain; father of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha, and Abiyar

Inaud Adaru: Uncle of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Ishad Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; son of Firdaus

Iyestar Adaru: Lord of the State of Tiwari; brother of Keshan Adaru

Janali: Pseudonym of Jandu Paran while hiding in Afadi

Jandu Paran: Third son of King Shandarvan by his first wide Kari; youngest brother of Yudar and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria

Kadal Kardef: Lord of the State of Marshav

Kari Paran: First wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu

Keshan Adaru: Younger brother of Iyestar Adaru, Lord of Tiwari; husband of Ajani Alamar; cousin of the Parans

Koraz: Yashva demon of the forest

Laiu: Tarek Amia’s servant

Lazro Arundan: Son of Tamarus Arundan; friend of Keshan Adaru

Linaz: Mother of Lord Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Mazar Hamdi: Regent of Marhavad; weapons master to the princes of Marhavad

Mendraz: King of the Yashvas

Nadaru Paria: Lord of the State of Karuna; father of Rishak and Suraya

Ohendru: Chaya soldier in the Uru army

Olan Osasu:
Lord of the State of Bandari

Onshu:
High priest of Marhavad

Parik Lokesh:
Second son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi

Ramad Lokesh:
Eldest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi

Rani:
Servant in the Afadi palace; Janali’s roommate

Rishak Paria:
Son of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; brother of Suraya; brother-in-law of the Parans

Sadeshar:
Prophet of the Shentari faith

Sahdin Ori:
Lord of the State of Jezza

Satish: Tarek Amia’s charioteer

Shali Amain:
Wife of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi; mother of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha and Abiyar

Shandarvan:
Former King of Marhavad; father of Darvad Uru, and Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran

Suraya Paria:
Daughter of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; sister of Rishak; wife of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran

Taivo:
Prophet of the Shentari faith

Tamarus Arundan:
Chaya spiritual leader and friend of Keshan Adaru

Tarek Amia:
Lord of the State of Dragewan

Tarhandi:
Prophet of the Shentari faith

Umia:
Yashva demon consort of Mendraz, King of the Yashvas; aunt of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Vaisha Lokesh:
Daughter of Indarel, Lord of Afadi

Warash: Chaya
soldier in the Uru army

Yudar Paran:
First son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari; brother of Jandu and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria; Royal Judge

Zandi:
Yashva demon and Jandu’s bow

TERMS

Adri Mountain: Mountain in Pagdesh: location of  holy retreat

Ajadusharta:
Magical weapon; repels other weapons

Alazsharta:
Magical weapon; knocks enemy unconscious

Ashari Forest:
Forest outside Prasta; home to Yashva demon Koraz

Barunazsharta:
Magical weapon; brilliant light

Chaya:
Unskilled labor and servant caste of Marhavad; lowest caste

Dejaru:
Long piece of cloth worn by men, either secured under a belt and sash and made into loose trousers, or tucked loosely and left long like a sarong

Draya:
Priestly caste of Marhavad; second-highest caste

Fazsharta:
Magical weapon; arrow with endless range

Hafedsharta:
Magical weapon; freezes opponent

Harafa:
Long piece of cloth worn either as a scarf or wrapped across the upper torso

Hedravan tree:
Magical Yashva tree that grows in the Ashari Forest

Jegora:
Untouchable caste of Marhavad; casteless

Korazsharta:
Magical weapon; spear of unfailing accuracy

Manarisharta:
Magical weapon; burst of electricity

Pezarisharta:
Magical weapon; sets fire to the sky

Prasta:
Capitol city of Marhavad

Rajiwasharta:
Magical weapon; creates a sucking vortex

Rebo:
Three stringed musical instrument

Sharta:
Magical weapon; form of a Yashva demon in the human world

Shentari:
Primary religion of Marhavad

Suya:
Merchant and skilled labor caste of Marhavad; third-highest caste

Tarhisharta:
Magical weapon; explosive wall of force

Terashu Field:
Traditional battleground of Marvad kings

Triya:
Warrior and king caste of Marhavad; highest caste

Tunufisharta:
Magical weapon; burns any individual to ash

Yashva:
Immortal demon from the Yashva Kingdom

Zahari:
a blouse and long piece of fabric wrapped around the body to form a woman’s dress

Zandisharta:
Magical weapon; any instrument or tool of metal

Characters

Abiyar Lokesh: Third and youngest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi.

Ajani Alamar: Wife of Keshan Adaru

Anant Sarkumar: Commander in the Dragewan army

Azari: Pseudonym of Suraya Paria while hiding in Afadi

Baldur Tanaraf: Lord of the State of Penemar

Bandruban: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Baram Param: Second son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari;brother of Yudar and Jandu; husband of Suraya Paria

Bir Soridashen: Lord of the State of Jagu Mali

Bodan: Pseudonym of Baram Paran while hiding in Afadi

Chezek: Keshan Adaru’s charioteer and servant

Darvad Uru:Son of King Shandarvan by his second wife Farashi; half-brother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu

Druv Majeo: Lord of the State of Pagdesh

Esalas: Pseudonym of Yudar Paran while hiding in Afadi

Eshau: Abiyar Lokesh’s weapons master

Farashi Uru: Second wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Darvad Uru

Firdaus Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; brother of Hanu; father of Ishad

Hanu Trinat: Chandamar Ambassador in the State of Afadi;Firdaus’s brother

Harami: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Indarel Lokesh: Lord of the State of Afadi; husband of Shali Amain; father of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha, and Abiyar

Inaud Adaru: Uncle of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Ishad Trinat: Lord of the State of Chandamar; son of Firdaus

Iyestar Adaru: Lord of the State of Tiwari; brother of Keshan Adaru

Janali: Pseudonym of Jandu Paran while hiding in Afadi

Jandu Paran: Third son of King Shandarvan by his first wide Kari; youngest brother of Yudar and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria

Kadal Kardef: Lord of the State of Marshav

Kari Paran: First wife of King Shandarvan; mother of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu

Keshan Adaru: Younger brother of Iyestar Adaru, Lord of Tiwari; husband of Ajani Alamar; cousin of the Parans

Koraz: Yashva demon of the forest

Laiu: Tarek Amia’s servant

Lazro Arundan: Son of Tamarus Arundan; friend of Keshan Adaru

Linaz: Mother of Lord Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Mazar Hamdi: Regent of Marhavad; weapons master to the princes of Marhavad

Mendraz: King of the Yashvas

Nadaru Paria: Lord of the State of Karuna; father of Rishak and Suraya

Ohendru: Chaya soldier in the Uru army

Olan Osasu: Lord of the State of Bandari

Onshu: High priest of Marhavad

Parik Lokesh: Second son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi

Ramad Lokesh: Eldest son of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi

Rani: Servant in the Afadi palace; Janali’s roommate

Rishak Paria: Son of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; brother of Suraya; brother-in-law of the Parans

Sadeshar: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Sahdin Ori: Lord of the State of Jezza

Satish: Tarek Amia’s charioteer

Shali Amain: Wife of Indarel Lokesh, Lord of Afadi; mother of Ramad, Parik, Vaisha and Abiyar

Shandarvan: Former King of Marhavad; father of Darvad Uru, and Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran

Suraya Paria: Daughter of Nadaru Paria, Lord of Karuna; sister of Rishak; wife of Yudar, Baram, and Jandu Paran

Taivo: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Tamarus Arundan: Chaya spiritual leader and friend of Keshan Adaru

Tarek Amia: Lord of the State of Dragewan

Tarhandi: Prophet of the Shentari faith

Umia: Yashva demon consort of Mendraz, King of the Yashvas; aunt of Iyestar and Keshan Adaru

Vaisha Lokesh: Daughter of Indarel, Lord of Afadi

Warash: Chaya soldier in the Uru army

Yudar Paran: First son of King Shandarvan by his first wife Kari; brother of Jandu and Baram; husband of Suraya Paria; Royal Judge

Zandi: Yashva demon and Jandu’s bow

Glossary of Terms

Adri Mountain: Mountain in Pagdesh: location of  holy retreat

Ajadusharta: Magical weapon; repels other weapons

Alazsharta: Magical weapon; knocks enemy unconscious

Ashari Forest: Forest outside Prasta; home to Yashva demon Koraz

Barunazsharta: Magical weapon; brilliant light

Chaya: Unskilled labor and servant caste of Marhavad; lowest caste

Dejaru: Long piece of cloth worn by men, either secured under a belt and sash and made into loose trousers, or tucked loosely and left long like a sarong

Draya: Priestly caste of Marhavad; second-highest caste

Fazsharta: Magical weapon; arrow with endless range

Hafedsharta: Magical weapon; freezes opponent

Harafa: Long piece of cloth worn either as a scarf or wrapped across the upper torso

Hedravan tree: Magical Yashva tree that grows in the Ashari Forest

Jegora: Untouchable caste of Marhavad; casteless

Korazsharta: Magical weapon; spear of unfailing accuracy

Manarisharta: Magical weapon; burst of electricity

Pezarisharta: Magical weapon; sets fire to the sky

Prasta: Capitol city of Marhavad

Rajiwasharta: Magical weapon; creates a sucking vortex

Rebo: Three stringed musical instrument

Sharta: Magical weapon; form of a Yashva demon in the human world

Shentari: Primary religion of Marhavad

Suya: Merchant and skilled labor caste of Marhavad; third-highest caste

Tarhisharta: Magical weapon; explosive wall of force

Terashu Field: Traditional battleground of Marvad kings

Triya: Warrior and king caste of Marhavad; highest caste

Tunufisharta: Magical weapon; burns any individual to ash

Yashva: Immortal demon from the Yashva Kingdom

Zahari: a blouse and long piece of fabric wrapped around the body to form a woman’s dress

Zandisharta: Magical weapon; any instrument or tool of metal