Sterling (37 page)
Authors: Emily June Street
a
etherlight
:
the energy in every living thing, visible only in the Aethers by those with magical talent. People have their own signature color of aetherlight.
a
etherlumo di fieri
:
lightning-struck love. A mysterious magical phenomena wherein two people’s aetherlights match in complimentary ways, and they are uncommonly drawn to each other.
a
ether-sending
/aether-send:
messages sent by mages through magestones.
T
he Aethers
:
the dimension of magic, visible only to those with the magical talent or sense.
a
kavit
:
a strong, grain-distilled liquor flavored with juniper, pepper, or amber, depending on the region of production.
A
maranth
:
the mythical dwelling place of the gods, similar to Heaven or Olympus. Used as an exclamation.
A
massis
:
the highest in the Pantheon of Lethemian gods. Used as an exclamation.
A
matos
:
the mythical evil brother of Amassis. Used as a curse word.
A
marite
:
the goddess of love, who, in legend, served as a consort to the god Amassis. Her son was Ricknagel, the founding scion of the great house.
T
he Ballo
:
the most formal and traditional of the Lethemian court dances.
T
he Conservatoire
:
Lethemia’s academy of magic, located in Galantia, the capital.
d
arfossa
:
a vigorous court dance involving many fast “passes” across the dance floor and frequent partner switches.
j
hass
/jhasstones:
the monetary unit of Lethemia, consisting of three valuations, grey (worth the least), green, and gold (worth the most). The “coins” are made from grey or green or gold stones.
l
ienbound
:
the state of a mage who remains beholden to a master of the Ten Houses. All mages who graduate from the Conservatoire serve a term of fifteen years in service to the Ten Houses.
l
ynchkey
:
a magical password used by mages to access the architecture of a spell in the Aethers.
m
ageglass
:
a physical product of magic that looks and feels like colored glass, but is much stronger and tougher—only magic can break it. Used in construction and to build certain kinds of spells.
m
agitrix
:
a female mage.
T
he Ophirae
:
Six powerful magestones cut in ancient times from the colored crystal pillars that gird the Palace in Galantia—Emerald, Sapphire, Rose, Opal, Moonstone, Black Star. (Singular: Ophira).
s
ennight
:
seven days, a week.
s
idereal
:
twenty-eight days, or the length of time it takes the two planetary guide stars to make a full circumvolution across the night sky.
T
he Ten Houses
:
the ruling houses of Lethemia. Each governs an eponymous province; House Galatien traditionally rules above all.
v
alta
:
an intimate court dance where the partners stand face to face in a closed embrace. Some people consider it improper.
a
mpara a’nix
: the night queen, a hallucinogenic plant potion used for various purposes.
j
ennars
: the monetary unit of the Eastern Empire.
s
hir
: an Imperial soldier’s standard-issue weapon, a curved blade about the length of a man’s thigh.
u
raska
: ugly, unappealing.
v
a-maniah
:
an oath meaning, “I so vow.”
y
eucalipt
:
a species of tree that makes a potent medicinal oil.
The Ten Great Houses of Lethemia:
Galatien: House of the Golden Flowers
Ricknagel: House of the Stone Warrior
Talata: House of the Coursing Hound
Entila: House of the Water Dragon
Powdin: House of the Iron Wheel
Powdon: House of the Silver Harp
Shiree: House of the Shining Mountain
Lissi-Batz: House of the Black Hind
Amar: House of the Hunting Osprey
Gaart: House of the Weeping Angel
Lethemians
House Ricknagel:
Xander Ricknagel:
Head of House
Jenesis Ricknagel:
Xander’s wife, deceased
Stesichore Ricknagel:
elder daughter of the House, deceased, married for a short time to King Costas Galatien
Sterling Ricknagel:
younger daughter of the House, de facto Head of House
Serafina:
Sterling’s former handmaiden
Siomar Ricknagel:
Xander’s sister, a magitrix
Kyro Arten:
Xander’s personal mage and servant
Galen:
captain of the Ricknagel household guard
Taz Ballestos:
a lienbound battlemage
Metty:
a household maid
House Galatien:
Costas Galatien:
Head of House, King of Lethemia
Leila Galatien (née Amar):
Costas’s wife by secret marriage
Tiriq Galatien:
Costas’s and Leila’s son and heir
Mydon I Galatien:
Costas’s father, former King of Lethemia, deceased
Jhalassa Galatien:
Mydon’s wife, also deceased
H
ouse Talata
:
Tirienne Talata:
Head of House
Cavan Talata:
her husband (took her name as her House had precedence)
Erich Talata:
eldest son and heir to the House
Evanna Talata:
eldest daughter of the House
Janus:
a manservant
H
ouse Amar
Laith Amar:
a lienbound mage, the bastard son of the former Head of House, Leila Galatien’s half-brother
Jaasir Amar:
Head of House, Laith’s half-brother
Vhimsantese
Captain Preserni:
a privateer
Immaris Proseri Vittarian:
Governor of Vorisipor
Lord Jaxith:
the Governor’s steward and servant
Esani
Diali Radhech:
the master of a traveling acrobat troupe
Nadea, Luca, Vasil, Danev, and Georgi:
the acrobats
Miscellany
Sienna/Ennis Angusina:
a magitrix
Alira:
a courtesan
Rachell:
an intrepid orphan
Cortis:
a footman
Scelpts:
a housekeeper
Orgin:
a butler
Alexei Lessin:
a lieutenant Dragonnaire
B
ook Four
“
F
or I am
every dead thing
in whom Love wrought new alchemy.”
T
he further I
get in this series, the more I appreciate the people willing to walk with me for any portion of the way. As always, Beth Deitchman, Christine Kam-Lynch, Nancy Street, and Kim Street offered support at every incline and unexpected bend in the road. Thank you for being willing to read over and over again.
Mike Headley read and offered excellent feedback as a new reader of the book’s opening chapters.
Tamara Shoemaker was a tireless, prompt, and detail-oriented editor, helping me identify where I had veered away from my story and characters while gently nudging me back to the road.
And, as always, thank you to the readers who give these words life in their imaginations.
E
mily June Street
is the author of five novels:
The Gantean, The Cedna, Sterling, Secret Room,
and
The Velocipede Races.
She has degrees in psychology and library science, but she divides her time between teaching Pilates and exploring alternate worlds in writing. She founded Luminous Creatures Press with Beth Deitchman in 2013. Look for the next installment in the Tales of Blood & Light series,
Mage & Source
, in 2017.
