Thread Slivers (Golden Threads Trilogy) (52 page)

Guard
: City soldiers, general police force.

Hand
: Broker or facilitator for trade in various goods or services, usually illegal.

High Councilor
: Chairman of the Leading Council of the Argos Guild of Mages.

Journeyman Mage
: Title of a mid-level magician for the Argos Guild of Mages; carries a unique badge of office and is seen as a direct representative of Argos.

Knife
: An assassin or hired killer, strongly controlled by a secretive guild

Magus (pl. Magi)
: A higher magician who has achieved the rank of master in the guild

PEOPLE AND THINGS

arit
: A strong, bitter drink made from roasted beans of the aritia tree which only grows in tropical climates.

blood compass
: A magical artifact made with blood which is capable of retracing a person’s life. Its construction is taboo in many lands and illegal in a few. It is effective for as long as the subject lives and for many hours after death.

Boadua of Mostill Valley
: A senior priestess of Dalpha in Llino.

cycle:
One complete cycle of the moon Tempa. Each year has twelve lunar cycles divided into the four seasons winter (Samag, Noelag, Foilleg), spring (Gearra, Marta, Abra), summer (Sealen, Ogmen, Luchen), and autumn (Lunas, Sultas, Fomas).

dagger table
: Various inns and taverns allow mercenaries to hire out from them. A Dagger table is reserved for only Daggers. Daggers signal they are open for hire by placing their dagger into the table standing up. Senior Dagger tables have a Dagger holder mounted on the table and, in Dagger Homes, can be owned exclusively.

Damega Drakeruin
: Legendary warrior who started many of the Dagger traditions. Although very mercenary he is always portrayed in a ’Robin Hood’ fashion. A good-hearted rogue, who refused any offer to settle down. Supposedly found or was gifted the Emerald Heart, a flying ship.

Ditani
: A Karakian servant to Magus Vestul.

Dohma Gerani
: Captain of the City and Palace Guards in Llino.

Dolphin dagger doors
: Unique doors use only at the Blue Dolphin Inn in Llino for Dagger and special guest rooms which are considered unbreakable and thief proof that require a combination and a special key to open.

Emerald Heart
: Legendary flying ship of Damega Drakeruin. Legend has it that it flies faster than any creature and is home-ported in a secret place far in the north.

Faltla of Rhini Wood
: Ticca’s Uncle a retired tactics Dagger that served in the Realms’ War and trained Ticca from birth.

Genne
: The current owner of the Blue Dolphin Inn the original Dagger House in Llino.

Hisuru Amajoo
: The city fortress home of the Nhia-Samri.

hyly
: A semi-sweet liquor made from honey.

Kliasa
: The daughter of House Elaeus of Rea-Na-Rey

Magus Andros
: A fifty year master mage of the Argos Guild of Mages and Lebuin’s mentor at the Llino Guildhouse.

Magus Cune
: A twenty five year master mage of the Argos Guild of Mages and Lebuin’s nemesis for all of Lebuin’s twenty years at the Llino Guildhouse.

Magus Gezu
: A seventy year master of the Argos Guild of Mages that died in the summer of 15348.

Magus Nillo
: High Councilor and a sixty year master mage of the Argos Guild of Mages and Lebuin’s mentor at the Llino Guildhouse.

Magus Seriel of Eralci
: An ancient mage who wrote the secret tombs of magic Lebuin acquired and studied.

Magus Vestul
: An immortal master mage who predates the Argos Guild of Mages. Close friend of Duke. Lives in Algan.

mark:
A period of time equal to a twenty-fourth part of a day and night and divided into 60 minutes.

Nhia-Samri
: A shadowy, ruthless mercenary group of warriors of unknown size which fight with inhuman speed and agility.

Nigan
: A combat specialist Dagger that works out of the Blue Dolphin Inn in Llino. Partners with Rissy and is called “Hairy” by Ticca.

odassi
: Single edged magical weapons of the shadowy faction of warrior mercenaries called the Nhia-Samri.

Risy
: A combat specialist Dagger that works out of the Blue Dolphin Inn in Llino. Partners with Nigan and is called “Frumpy” by Ticca.

Sayscia
: The High Priestess or The Great Lady of Dalpha in Llino.

Shar-Lumen
: The shadowy Grand Warlord of the Nhia-Samri.

sharre
: A sweet wine made by the elves from unknown ingredients. If kept properly it grows more potent over time. Five to fifty-year-old sharre is very robust and gives a little energy, as well as making people drunk extremely fast. Sharre over one hundred years old can heal wounds, revive tiredness, and sharpen the mind dramatically. Sharre over five hundred years old is thought to restore youth.

Sula
: A priestess healer of the Temple of Dalpha.

The Traitor (Amia-Dharo)
: The second-in-command Nhia-Samri who betrayed the Nhai-Samri in a great war and helped the Alliance Nations end hostilities. Second most deadly warrior in the world.

Ticca of Rhini Wood
: A hunter Dagger that works out of the Blue Dolphin Inn in Llino.

vanedicha
: A poison which induces a trance if a small amount is inhaled and kills in less than a minute in larger doses. Victims are unusually truthful when revived from a vanedicha-induced trance.

OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE

Argos Guild of Mages Sigil
: A stylized gold dragon with the five silver waves behind it.

Money

For over 10,000 years all of the nations of the Duianna continent as well as many trade nations on other continents have done trade based off of the Duianna Imperial Money System. The money system was further cemented by the Covenant of Duianna. Although prices may shift slightly and the value of various precious metals will fluctuate the currency has remained stable. Any attempt to undermine the currency is seen as a capital offence in every nation known.

Copper Ring (r)

Ring
: 1

Pence
: 4

Bell
: 6

Tyme
: 12

Chera
: 24

Cross
: 48

Crown
: 960

1 lb 99% base
: 360

Coin (oz)
: .044

Approx Size
: 1/2 Penny

Copper Pence (p)

Ring
: 1/4

Pence
: 1

Bell
: 1-1/2

Tyme
: 3

Chera
: 6

Cross
: 12

Crown
: 240

1 lb 99% base
: 90

Coin (oz)
: .178

Approx Size
: ~ nickel

Palladium Bell (b)

Ring
: 1/6

Pence
: 2/3

Bell
: 1

Tyme
:2

Chera
: 4

Cross
: 8

Crown
: 160

1 lb 99% base
: 220

Coin (oz)
: .073

Approx Size
: ~ dime

Palladium Tyme (t)

Ring
: 1/12

Pence
: 1/3

Bell
: 1/2

Tyme
:1

Chera
: 2

Cross
: 4

Crown
: 80

1 lb 99% base
: 110

Coin (oz)
: ..145

Approx Size
: < nickel

Silver Chera (c)

Ring
: 1/24

Pence
: 1/6

Bell
: 1/4

Tyme
:1/2

Chera
: 1

Cross
: 2

Crown
: 40

1 lb 99% base
: 140

Coin (oz)
: .114

Approx Size
: > dime

Silver Cross (s)

Ring
: 1/48

Pence
: 1/12

Bell
: 1/8

Tyme
:1/4

Chera
: 1/2

Cross
: 1

Crown
: 20

1 lb 99% base
: 70

Coin (oz)
: .229

Approx Size
: ~ quarter

Gold Crown (g)

Ring
: 1/960

Pence
: 1/240

Bell
: 1/160

Tyme
: 1/80

Chera
: 1/40

Cross
: 1/20

Crown
: 1

1 lb 99% base
: 180

Coin (oz)
: .089

Approx Size
: ~ dime

Acknowledgments

First and foremost thank you to my readers. Without you I cannot continue to write and every day I enjoy chatting with you online. My readers’ comments and reviews inspire me to work ever harder to produce good stories and fantastic characters.

Next I must send a huge thank you to my great friend Charles Berry who started as my very first beta reader and continues to inspire me with new ideas. Thanks for the long chats on character development and possibilities. Also, a huge thank you for donating the audio trademark and music for the promotional videos!

I have not the words to thank Elle Casey and Lindsay Buroker for taking an interest in an unknown new writer and answering my questions, no matter how trivial. Very early in my learning to be a professional writer I read everything I could from other successful writers on how to do this job. That you two took an interest in me and mentored me with suggestions and great references for professional services really propped me up at times!

To one of the greatest editors of all time, Alexis Arendt (
Wordvagabond.com
) a tremendous thank you. Your hours of toil, words of support and editorial comments made this book a reality. Looking down I humbly apologize for the number of reflexive sentences. You are the best!

To Kitten Jackson (
kittenkjackson.com
) an amazing editor with a unique view on my work. I really appreciate you stepping out of your comfort zone into the weird genre of fantasy. However, now that you are properly addicted to the genre the world is a better place. Thank you for sneaking my book into your tight schedule.