The Knife's Edge (55 page)

Hall of Wind –
Where the Vaults are located, and where Mura claims Kail stashed his most precious of weapons.

Hando Cloak –
A black and forest green cloak Rydel wears. It signifies that he is one of the Hidden.

Haori –
Colored vests, each matches the powers the Ronin hold, and the color of the Kingdom they represent.

Heartwood –
Harder than most human metals, most of Eldas is constructed out of it.

Hel –
A house of nobles from Eldas.

Heron in the Reeds –
A powerful and agile strike from above—most often where one baits with the front leg, then pulls it into a “Heron” (a stance upon one leg), and strikes down at the now lunging and exposed attacker.

Herbwort –
An herb that aids with shivers and insomnia.

High Council –
The council of elves in Eldas that oversee affairs; they are also known as the Elders of Eldas.

High Elder Fari –
The leader of the council of Menalas.

High Moon –
A Devari stance where the back leg is heavily bent, and holding the majority of the weight, while the other foot rests lightly upon the ground. The fighter’s shoulders are angled, just enough to minimize a target, but enough to engage their upper-body, turning for powerful strikes if need be. It is a stance few ever master.

Hitomi –
Often called “Mistress” Hitomi. Hitomi is the proprietor of the Dipping Tsugi in the Shining City. When the others stumble upon several rare books in her packed library, they discover her obsession for books.

House of Nava –
Stanch supporters of Karil’s father.

Hoalin –
Old name for the Shining City, one of the Great Kingdoms.

Hiron –
A Ronin, also known as the Kingslayer. His element is that of water, and the Great Kingdom of Seria. He is known as the peacekeeper, and the Ronin of wisdom and serenity.

Hrofi –
An ancient city that was famous for its culinary skills. It has not been around in centuries. Mura recognizes when they are served a Hrofi dish within the library at the Dipping Tsugi.

Iridal –
Baro’s famed sword, rumored to be impossible to shatter.

Jiryn –
A high elf healer from Eldas.

Kage –
The nine nameless evils who pose as the Ronin and hold equal powers.

Kagehass –
The saeroks and verg’s name for what others refer to as the Nameless (the Shadow’s Hand).

Kail –
The once leader of the fabled Ronin. He is known by many names, from many eras including the blight seeker, betrayer of men, and the wanderer. He is rumored to have survived the Lieon, and still exists, told in fearful tales for the past two thousand years.

Karil –
Karil is the queen of Eldas, home and kingdom of the Elves. She is half-human and half-elf. Karil is tall and beautiful, with silver eyes, and white-blonde hair. Her beauty is only equaled by her intelligence.

Ki –
The source and power of a Devari.

Kin –
Dark men and women who are agents of the “shadow”, specifically the Kage. Gray runs into one in Lakewood when trying to retrieve the sword.

King Endar –
A betrayer king that Maris reflects on when Gray enters the Sodden Tunnels. He remembers chasing down and killing the man for an act of treachery against the nine kingdoms.

King Gias –
Karil’s father and the King of Eldas.

King Garian –
Powerful leader of Median.

King Katsu –
King of the Shining City.

Komai tail –
The braided hairstyle of the Devari; the longer the braid, the higher the rank.

Koru Village –
The town Gray and the others run across. It is just north of Lakewood.

Kri Hook –
A device with two metal bars that is used to hook and pull oneself up.

Laidir –
The second of Hiron’s famous twin swords.

Lakewood –
A peaceful town, but resides close to the ill-famed Lost Woods. It is the home of Ayva and Darius.

Lander –
Another of the lost three Great Kingdoms. Lander was the Great Kingdom of Stone. It was a city that had walls purported to be thicker than small cities.

Landerian Seal –
A very tight masonry seal which Balder refers to.

Lando –
Translates as “redeemers” or “liberators” in the common tongue. They are the group that saves Karil in the woods of Eldas.

Lieon –
The Great War during the Final Age that lasted over a thousand years.

Lifeblood –
Dark blood used to extract memories.

Lokai –
The god Darius evokes; the god of “luck”.

Lopping the Branch –
A slashing strike, twisting the torso and attacking the opponents head.

Lost Woods –
The infamous dark forest where Gray and Mura live, and said to be full of direbears and other nefarious beasts. Villagers say the woods come alive at night, and travelers who venture in are rarely ever seen again.

Low Moon –
a Devari stance where one leg is heavily slanted for a low center of gravity for balance and stability, and the other is heavily bent and holds the majority of the swordsman’s weight.

Maldon –
A land within Farhaven.

Malik –
Leader of the Kage. He has a spiked pauldron and is bigger than his brethren. He speaks to Vera and is the voice of the dark army.

Maris –
A Ronin. He is also called the Trickster, a Ronin of many names and faces. He wields Masamune, the leaf blade—its powers unknown. His element is that of tree, and his homeland is the Great Kingdom of Eldas.

Marmon –
Mura calls them a “safe haven for the wayward traveler.” It has a hollow trunk and awning-like branches. Gray makes camp in the shelter of the tree when he gets lost in the Lost Woods before the two paths.

Masamune –
Maris’ famed sword.

Mashiro –
Guard captain of the Shining City.

Mearus –
Devari, a “brother” to Kirin.

Median’s Warfleet –
A powerful fleet of warships from Median.

Menalas –
A southern city of Farhaven that was once part of Ester, together they were deemed a false kingdom denied the position of power as one of the nine Great Kingdoms. They were forced to split and divide up their power. Many of their inhabitants, however, still lust for a crown and throne that no longer exists. Moreover, they share an iron mine with Ester that was too difficult to upend in the Lieon, and was needed to fuel the fires of Darmin, the Great Kingdom of Metal.

Menalas Council –
The council of Menalas, a powerful city.

Menithas –
Famed war leader of the Shining City, who betrayed the Ronin and kingdoms of good, and did not come to their help in the battle for the survival of Eldas, where thousands of elves died.

Merai’s –
Servants of Elvin royalty, not elves but humans of a small, but ancient lineage when wars were fought and slaves were taken as servants.

Merhass –
A curse of the Kin, an ancient dialect of Yorin.

Merian –
A powerful Reaver who is desiccated by Vera.

Merilian Silver –
Fine silverwork from the city of Meril.

Merkal Desert –
White plains, lands of the east and north within Daerval, also called the salt flats.

Meruu sauce –
Tsugi’s famed sweet sauce that is used as a glaze for meats.

Mesia –
An ancient city that held the Green Tavern. It’s described as filled with lush gardens enclosed by white stone, and possessing a different breed of people too—their hearts too big for their small frames.

Milian –
A person of the land of Milia.

Mishif –
The town crier of Lakewood.

Mistress Sophi –
She owns an inn in Lakewood, and taught Darius how to dance.

Moonville –
A town on the way to the Shining City.

Mor ‘in dunindas. Forgah ‘l sendria tu va varius –
Yorin and it means, “My lord, greetings and honor to you and your house.”