"Hey!" Nolyn called above the din. "Stop causing such a ruckus and get down here!" The shouts shifted to uniform amazement as the fiery bird swooped down and alighted on the back of Zoe's sofa, his flames extinguishing. "I suppose that is my cue to get on with my report to the council," he grumbled. "Damned impatient featherduster."
"I have it on good authority patience is not a natural quality of Desantiva," Ellis noted. He smiled down at Zoe as the girl sat on the step at his feet. With her sitting, the Desanti sat as well.
Nolyn stepped out and turned to face the council. Squaring his shoulders, taking a deep breath, he stated, "Many months ago, Estania requested my assistance for a matter of trouble along their border with Gallilae. My first encounter with the creature that troubled the hunters and trappers of Estania nearly proved fatal, but with Unsvet Guardian Val-… Unsvet Edai Valerian, we contained the creature temporarily. My gratitude to Woodsman Ursin Farover for hauling my near-dead self back home cannot be overstated."
He looked back to the Desanti. "With the aid of Githalin Su'alin Star il'Citali, I was able to recover from that illfated encounter. After I had recovered, I made plans with the Swordanzen to return and resolve the matter with this monster that tormented so many." He indicated the phoenix. "The matter was dire enough that even the Githalin Swordanzen recruited creatures from Desantiva itself to assist Forenta."
The bird chirped, tilting his head in puzzlement. Seeker grunted. "I guess blurry truth is easier to manage over stark reality." Feathers fluffed as the bird shook his head, his feathery crest rising briefly before relaxing.
"But thanks to those faithful to their god's teachings, and through the joint blessings of the Knowing One, the Raging One, and the Timeless One, we were able to free one more tortured soul from the grips of a filthy darkling that sought to continue to poison our population." He turned to the side, waiting patiently.
From the shadows, a looming, hunched figure appeared wearing a cloak that reached from shoulder to the floor, his face hidden within the darkness of the deep hood. He hesitated when he reached Nolyn's side, regarding the mage uncertainly. Nolyn nodded once, encouraging him to step forward with a small handwave.
The figure took one step, reaching up for the edges of the hood. After several long moments of tension-filled silence, Endarian lowered the hood to reveal his face. Zoe jumped up to her feet, staring in shock as he undid the cloak clasp and allowed the garment to fall to the ground. The chamber was dead silent for several minutes before the whispering began. The Trisari fanned his wings, lowering himself to one knee and bowing his head. "My lady," he whispered.
Zoe walked forward with stuttering steps, her eyes unblinking as she stared. She stopped in front of the Trisari, still saying nothing. He looked up, tears in his eyes. "My lady, forgive me," he begged. "Please. I—" Zoe cut his words off, throwing her arms around his neck and held him fiercely tight.
"She forgave you a long time ago," Zoe said, her voice harsh with emotion. "You were right. You did what needed to be done, as painful as it has been to everyone. She says She was too blind, too proud to heed your warnings." She let go of him to put her fingers on his lips. "Hush. The past is in the past. Now we can look to the future." She smiled brightly up at him. "We are so glad you are home at last!"
Closing his eyes, he looked away with an agonized expression. "But I cannot… I cannot return to Her side. Not until—"
Her small hand reached up to touch his cheek, turning his face back to hers. "I know. But because you have shown your loyalty to Me and the children of magic these past thousands of years, despite having every reason not to have faith, protecting and guiding them to the best of your ability despite being hobbled as you have been, the ancient trinity has granted us a boon." Taking his right hand, Zoe moved it up, palm facing outward. The girl then put her palm against his, looking tiny in comparison. Metallic curls snaked down Endarian's arm, echoing the appearance of an Illaini mark, but with three colors: copper, gold, and emerald green.
Endarian stared in shock, then closed his eyes as he felt the touch of his goddess through the link. Pale in comparison to what he had known before, his gratitude to have this much humbled him. He started to bow his head to Zoe again when she threw her arms around his neck. "I have missed you, my Knight," the goddess whispered.
"And I, you, my Queen," he whispered, careful to keep from crushing the girl in his equally fierce embrace, his wings trembling with his emotion.
Ellis watched with a benign smile, arms crossed smugly. "Think we will get much more useful done today, Eptina?" he asked.
Eptina wiped the corner of her eye at the emotional scene. "No, Ellis. Or for a sevenday at the least."
"Agreed." He tapped the bell four times and called formally, "This session of congress of the Edai Tredecima is recessed until next sevenday!" He looked down at the hammer in his hand. "There is a lot of work ahead we need to get to."
Glossary
A
a'alisna — (ah-ah-LIS-nah) Vodani term for the nomadic urge to move from place to place
A'tyrna Ulan — (ah-TIR-nah OO-lahn) Stone pillars that are the remains of ancient Desanti-Forentan halfborn
Almek Two-Tones — (AL-mek) The last living Guardian of Time bearing two colors on his divine mark Oldest wandering Guardian at over 500 years old; Sevmanen-Vodani halfborn
Alysha — (ah-LISH-ah) an Unsvet Guardian of Time who is an herbalist and caretaker of the terminally ill
Amelana — (ah-MEH-lah-nah) Formerly great grandniece of Ellis Avarian who was stripped of her family name for her crimes; Ash Andar's former journeyman student
Ana — an abused young woman Valerian rescued and retained as a personal aide
Ancestral agony — Vodani term for the Psia Re
Ancient Triad — The first gods, Creator, Destroyer and Time, see also ancient trinity
Ancient Trinity — The first gods, Creator, Destroyer, and Time
Andar — Ash's birth home, uninhabited due to the disaster that left him orphaned
Andarian Barrier — a magical barrier created by the twin brother master mages Ellis and Bennu Avarian to keep an unnatural fire and whatever caused it contained
Anibu — (ah-NEE-boo) Totani, the Shadow Jackel
Anton Ganessi — Head of the noble house that rules the port city of Ganessi
Arman Zeridius — (ahr-MAHN) Grand Master of the Zeridian healing temple
Arrowhawk — A black falcon with blue markings used by the Vodani people to carry messages
Ash — Forentan man, master mage and Illaini Magus
Aughas Oberlain — mage apprentice
Avarian family — (ah-VAH-ree-ahn) One of the oldest of the Ancient Houses in Forenta
B
Bard — A wandering minstrel and neutral arbiter, usually Vodani-born
Bayuli-volsha — (bah-YOO-lee VOLE-sha) A Desanti term for a bond between souls, considered extremely sacred to Desanti
Before Time — Desanti term for the time before the Great War
Bek — A crude Sevmanen caravan worker
Bella — A Vodani Unsvet Guardian
Benilus - (BEN-i-luss) A Guardian of Time, second to the Dulain of Sanctuary
Bennu Avarian — (beh-NOO) Deceased Forentan mage, Ash's former master and grandfather, twin to Ellis
Bethal Lirai — (BETH-ahl LIR-eye) senior librarian of the Quoesia library
Black water — The ink produced by squids
Blisarj leaf — (BLIH-sarzh) A toxic Desanti herb used to treat pain
Blood crystal — A crystal made from blood by a Totani that ties the life force of a Swordanzen to another
Blood Oath — A mystical bond created between a Forentan and another
Blood magic — The Desanti equivalent of magic
Blue Rose Inn — A tavern the travelers stay at
Bo-alia — (bow ah-LEE-ah) a dice game related to cross bones, except the dice are eight-s
ided.
C
Caryla Zeridius — (cah-RIL-ah) master healer at the Zeridian temple, wife of Arman
Ceremony of Choosing — a holy Forentan ceremony where the mortal servants of the Knowing One are publically chosen.
Chaining — method of multiple users of the same energy work in unison, increasing the effect through focus and sharing the resulting backlash
Change Winds — A post-Great War event that mutated all remaining living things in Desantiva
Chase — A Swordanzen who had been Storm's th'yala.
Chitan — (cheh-TAHN) a four-limbed, winged, omnivorous reptile native to Desantiva the size of a gerbil
Chlayxin — (CHLAY-zin) the buildup of pressure in the skull caused by channeling life energy, also called magic backlash
Chok — A crude Sevmanen caravan worker
Citali — Totani, Winged Snake of Death
Clarissa — Headwoman of the Avarian household
Claire — Forentan child
Corast — (KOR-ahst) A Forentan-Vodani border port city
Council of Elders — The ruling council of Desantiva comprised of the oldest members of the Desanti people
Creator, the — One of the Ancient Triad; The Unchanging One
Cross bones — a dice game played with five six-sided dice
Cross the Sword — A Desanti euphemism for significant life changes, such a becoming an adult or dying. Also, 'Cross the blade'
Crysalin — a crystalline stone found in the World Spine disruptive to temporal shifters
Cursed child — A surviving child of a dead Desanti tribe, usually left to die for fear of contagions
D
Dahla — (DAH-lah) Title for a Guardian of Time who scrys individuals to determine their potential
Darkborn — A human born with the soul of a darkling
Darkling — An entity that crosses into the physical plane from the River of Time that preys on the souls of the living
Davin Nadeesi — An ancient Dulain of Sanctuary
Deliah — (deh-LIE-ah) Great grandniece of Avarian
Defiler — A derogatory Desanti term for a Forentan
Dinnais — (dih-NAY-ss) A Desanti term for a darkling
Desanti — (deh-SAN-tee) Singular or plural term referring to a human from Desantiva; adjective describing anything from Desantiva
Desantiva — (deh-san-TEE-vah) The barren wasteland southern territory claimed by the Desanti people; The name of the Desanti's dragon god
Dessa — (DEH-sah) Ash's only servant, companion since childhood; Killed by a darkling
Destroyer, the — One of the Ancient Triad; The Changing One
Donu — (DOH-noo) Guardian Unsvet and follower of Dremmen, stripped of the Timeless One's blessing
Dove and Lily Inn — Upper class establishment in Ganessi
Dragon — six-limbed giant reptile with wings
Dremmen — (DREH-men) A Forentan Unsvet Guardian
Drizar — (DRI-zahr) The term for a full male drizzen, synonymous to stallion
Drizzen — (DRI-zen) Vicious, reptilian omnivores that replace horses in Desantiva
Dulain — (doo-LANE) Senior Unsvet in charge of the Guardian city in Fortress
Dusvet Guardian — (DOO-sveht) A Guardian of Time marked with a metallic mark of two colors on the right cheek
Dylar — (D'EYE-lar) Guardsman captain of Ganessi
Dzee — Rainbow wyvern Totani
E
Edai — (eh-DAH-ee) The Knowing One's laws about duty and the gathering and sharing of knowledge
Edai Magus —One of the mages on the Forentan mage high council
Edai Tredecima — (eh-DAH-ee treh-DES-ee-mah) The thirteen member mage high council
Elder — A Desanti who is 35 years or older
Elder bear — A giant bear native to Forenta
Ellena — Daughter of Grand Master Healer Zeridis and wife of Davin Nadeesi
Ellis Avarian — (EL-lis) Forentan mage, twin brother of Bennu Avarian and Ash's great uncle, highest ranking mage on the Edai Tredecima
Emaris — (EM-ahr-ihss) Mute Sevmanan gypsy mercenary, brother of Emil
Emil — (EH-mill) Sevmanan mercenary-thief, brother of Emaris
Endarian — (ehn-DAR-ee-yan) patron Trisari of Andar and the Avarian noble family
Eptina Dyndrai — (ehp-TEE-nah DIN-dry) lowest ranking member of Edai Tredecima
Erik — Forentan boy, Nolyn's nephew
Estania — (ess-TAH-nee-ya) a region of the Forentan nation
Etaio — (eh-TIE-oh) Gypsy leader of the Morlaiz clan
F
Final Dance — A Swordanzen attack that leaves the attacker impervious to injury, but kills the attacker once completed
Firebird — A rare bird that dwelled near active volcanos, believed to be able to live and nest in molten lava
First Home — The only permanent Desanti city in Desantiva
First Sundering — An ancient cataclysm that created the Forentan and Desanti nations
Forbidden arts — Forentan magic that has no limitations that end a spells effects
Foreigner — For non-Desanti, anyone not born of their race, sometimes assigned to those from rival regions within the same territory; For Desanti, anyone recognized as part of the Vodani nation
Forenta — (for-EHN-tah) The heavily forested northern territory claimed by the Forentan people; name of the Forentan god
Forentan — (for-EHN-tan) Singular term for a human from Forenta; adjective describing anything from Forenta
Forenten — (for-EHN-ten) Plural term for a human from Forenta
Forest Sprite — A species with humanoid bodies and dragonfly-like wings favored by the Knowing One
Forge, the — Desanti term for the hottest part of the day
Fortress of Time — Solitary mountain near the World Spine, home to the Guardians of Time
G
Gabrielle Avarian — Ash's mother
Ganessi — (gah-NESS-ee) A Sevmanan-Vodani border port city
Githalin — (gith-AH-lin) a mortal with a bond to a Totani distinctly marked with a tattoo image of the Totani's animal form on their right shoulder, bearing a physical symbol having two edges to represent the great balance
Githalin Blades — (gith-AH-lin) The divine created single-edged paired blades given to Githalin
Githalin Swordanzen — A god-touched Swordanzen
Great Barrier — The dividing line between the physical plane and the River of Time
Great War — The war between Forenta and Desantiva that ended in the Second Sundering
Guardian Adept — A person formally identified to be training to be tested to become a Guardian of Time
Guardian Adept Elite — A student capable of performing more difficult tasks through manipulating temporal energy but not yet having been tested
Guardians — Short form for Guardians of Time
Guardians of Time — Nearly immortal servants of the Timeless One
Gypsy — Sevmanan nomads
Gypsy's Grotto — A giant, hidden grotto cavern deep within Fortress where the hidden gypsy clan calls home
H
Halfborn — Anyone with parents from two nations (example: Sevmanan and Vodani)
Hall of Remembrance — Chamber in the butte of First Home with mosaics depicting moments of Desanti history
Heart of Desantiva — Name for the Desanti God
Home Port — The first Vodani city, only non-Desanti city in Desantiva
Hollow — A Forentan term for an inn, usually lower class
Hunter il'Thandar — The Githalin Swordanzen from the na'Zhekali tribe who sired Jaison with a Vodani weather wisdom
I
il'Dzee — Surname of a mage accepted by the Totani Dzee, bearing a circular pendant
il'Kailee — Surname of a Swordanzen accepted by the Totani Kailee, bearing a two-edged blade with her symbol
il'Thandar — Surname of a Swordanzen accepted by the Totani Thanda
r, bearing a two-edged blade with his symbol
Illaini Magus — (ill-AEE-nee) A god-touched mage
Ilsa — (ILL-sah) Master Vodani apothecarist of Water's Resonance
Immortal servant — A minor divine entity that serves one of the gods
Issonia — Only surviving su'nalia tree
Itena — (ih-TEN-ah) A gypsy-born Oracle
Ithesra — (ih-THEHZ-rah) Capital city of Forenta
Ithesra proper— (ih-THEHZ-rah) The more densely populated area of Ithesra
Izkynder - (IZ-kyn-der) son of Mureln and Taylin
J
Jaison — (JAY-sun) A Desanti-Vodani Unsvet Guardian from Desantiva
Jaline — (jah-LEEN) A Forentan seamstress; Terrence's intended wife-to-be
Jakkee — (JAH-kee) A Vodani boy of Water's Resonance
Joban — (JO-bahn) A Sevmanan man punished by a Guardian
K
Kailee — (KAY-lee) A silver desert cat Totani
Keenan — (KEE-nahn) A young Forentan man
Kelafy — (keh-LAH-fee) Headwoman to the house of the Illaini Magus
Kendle — (KEN-dahl) one of the Roylat line of divine servants not imprisoned in the World Spine
Kerburn Dyndrai — (KUR-burn) head of house of the Dyndrai highborn family
Kin song — a strong sense of family or belonging shared among gypsies
Kiya il'Citali — (KEE-yah) youngest sister of Seeker and Skyfire, Su'alin
Knowing One, the — The Forentan tree god
Kraken — Giant, deep-ocean squid
L
Lana — (LAH-nah) mundane midwife serving Sanctuary
Landwalker — Vodani nickname for anyone from the land bound nations
Li — (LEE) Forest Sprite guardian of the entrance to the Forentan god's home
Lowborn — Forentan term for someone of the lower classes
Lupine — Giant wolf native to Forenta