Warlord of Antares (21 page)
“Thus ended the Witch War.”
With these words the tape from Dray Prescot whispered to silence.
I just sat, half slumped forward in the wing armchair, and stared at the cassette player; but I saw — oh, I saw the rolling plains of Segesthes, the treacherous jungles of Pandahem, the glitter and rush of swifters upon the Eye of the World in Turismond, the riotous confusion of the Sacred Quarter in Ruathytu, the glisten along the canals and boulevards of Vondium, the Bravo Fighters swaggering in the enclave city of Zenicce.
And, too, I saw Aphrasöe the Swinging City and a simple leaf boat with a Scorpion for crew sailing down the River Aph where Dray Prescot’s adventures on the fascinating world of Kregen began.
From that beginning until now there have been over two and a half million words in Dray Prescot’s narrative.
Many people have passed before us limned in the magic fire of imagination, men and women of forms unknown to this Earth, people of heroic stature and trembling cowards, rogues and fools, ordinary folk trying to live ordinary decent lives, adventurers and swashbucklers, men and women of a diversity to make up a whole planet.
We have tried to discover the mysteries of the Savanti and the Star Lords and with Prescot have abused their spy and messenger the Gdoinye knowing that the blue fire of the Scorpion hovers, close and menacing...
For the moment I have received no more tapes from Dray Prescot.
There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind that he is upon Kregen now deeply involved with the many projects under his hand, still defying the Shanks, still attempting to reach an understanding with the Star Lords, still trying to complete all the manifold tasks besetting him.
Oh, no; Dray Prescot with Delia — Delia of Delphond, Delia of the Blue Mountains — and his family and friends still battles on, undefeated and defiant under the streaming mingled lights of the Suns of Scorpio.
Alan Burt Akers
A Glossary to the Witch War Cycle
Compiled by Els Withers.
References to the five books of the cycle are given as:
WWK
Werewolves of Kregen
WOK
Witches of Kregen
SOV
Storm over Vallia
OOK
Omens of Kregen
WOA
Warlord of Antares
NB: Previous glossaries covering items not included here can be found in Volume 5:
Prince of Scorpio,
Volume 7:
Arena of Antares,
Volume 11:
Armada of Antares,
Volume 14:
Krozair of Kregen,
Volume 18:
Golden Scorpio,
Volume 22:
A Victory for Kregen,
Volume 26:
Allies of Antares,
and Volume 32:
Seg the Bowman.
A
agio:
a custom practiced by mercenaries of putting their wealth into a common pot before a battle, those sharing it out being fewer than those contributing.
Alexeyim’s trakir:
a hefty sliver of iron sharpened at both ends and hurled in battle by the Alexeyim to deadly effect.
Alloran, Kov Vodun of Kaldi:
Sent by Prescot to liberate southwest Vallia. Became a traitor and tried to usurp the throne of Vallia under the influence of Arachna, but upon her death became once again loyal.
SOV
Applica the Bounteous, Temple of:
a temple in Rashumsmot.
WWK
Arachna:
a sorceress of mixed Kataki and Kildoi ancestry who suborned Vodun Alloran; was killed by Lon the Knees. Prescot says that this is not her real name, which is too long and complex to be used conveniently.
SOV
Aramplo, San:
a wizard, an adept of the Thaumaturges of Thagramond; a member of the second expedition to the Coup Blag; died on that expedition.
OOK
Ava:
an island off the northwest coast of Vallia.
Azure Strigicaw
:
a voller in the fleet meeting the invasion of the King of North Vallia.
OOK
B
bacra area:
a strange region of house-sized metal boxes and giant metal-eating caterpillars visited by Prescot; it holds some unknown significance for the Star Lords.
WOA
Bakan:
an old name for the province of Balkan.
Barange Fairshum:
a palace in Falkerium.
Battle of Bengarl’s Blight:
the final battle in the reunification of Vallia.
OOK
Battle of Blue Lizdun:
in which Prescot’s army defeated the advance force of the King of North Vallia.
OOK
Battle of Corvamsmot:
in which the forces of Prince Drak defeated those of Vodun Alloran.
SOV
Battle of Cowdenholm:
which ended in a draw between the forces of Prince Drak and those of Vodun Alloran.
SOV
Battle of Farnrien’s Edge:
in which the Vallian Freedom Army soundly defeated the forces of Layco Jhansi.
WWK
Battle of Gwalherm:
in which the Vallian Freedom Army conclusively defeated the King of North Vallia.
OOK
Battle of Marndor:
in which the Vallian army defeated the forces of Layco Jhansi in Falinur.
WWK
Battle of Swanton’s Bay:
took place in the Southwest Vallian campaign; ended in a defeat for the imperial forces.
SOV
Belzur the Aphorist:
a playwright renowned in all Vallia.
Beng Brorgal:
the patron saint of tavern brawlers.
Beng Debrant:
the patron saint of animal husbandry.
Beng Feylam the Bonder of Warehouses:
a patron saint of merchants.
Bengarl:
a tiny village in the province of Erstveheim; site of the Battle of Bengarl’s Blight.
“Black was the River and Black was her Hair”:
a maudlin song of Hamal.
Bolto the Knot:
the ship-Deldar of
Logan’s Fancy. WWK
Branka:
a thief of Rashumsmot.
SOV
Broken Vaol-Paol, The:
a dance for a large group of people.
brunnelley:
a four-legged saddle bird, colored in mauves, blues, and browns, with a yellow beak and red claws.
brytevax:
short form of brumbytevax; the commander of a Phalanx.
C
Cabaret Plant:
a carnivorous plant of South Pandahem which lures its victims with sounds resembling conversation and the clink of glasses.
Cackling leer:
a grotesque denizen of the Coup Blag, all dripping greeny-black robes and tassels, with a leering mouth.
Caul of Protection:
a sorcerous spell of protection.
Cedro:
the nephew of Kov Vodun Alloran.
WWK
chark:
a gray, shaggy wild beast. Normally hunts in packs, although the rogues are most dangerous. Said to possess a rudimentary language of their own.
Chem, Sea of:
the sea south of Pandahem.
Chemsi the Fair:
a mistress of Vodun Alloran.
WWK
chunkscreetz:
a type of sword used by a Kanzai Warrior Brother.
conult:
to give someone a tremendous buffet about the heart, either physically or psychically.
Coup Blag:
a maze of horrors in South Pandahem, which was used as a trap for Prescot by Csitra and Phunik.
OOK
,
WOA
crottle:
a word describing the effects of burning or charring food so that it becomes tasteless and generally inedible.
Csitra:
a witch of Loh, the widow of Phu-Si-Yantong. Lured Prescot to the Coup Blag to destroy him, but became enamored of him, allowing him to escape. Pronounced the Nine Unspeakable Curses against Vallia. Ultimately gave her life to save Prescot.
OOK
,
WOA
D
The Dancing Flea:
a low-class tavern in Rashumsmot.
SOV
Dolours, Gate of:
in the inner wall of Gorlki.
The Dragon’s Roost:
a tavern in Selsmot.
OOK
Drak Exalted, Hall of:
a large chamber in the Imperial Palace in Vondium.
Drill the Eye:
a commander of the Emperor’s Yellow Jackets.
OOK
Durheim:
a kovnate province in the center of North Vallia.
Dweloin, San:
a poet who lived 3000 years ago.
E
Emiltur, Fangar:
the Jiktar of a Valkan archer regiment.
WWK
Endru, Vintang ti Vandayha:
the Jiktar of one of Prince Drak’s personal bodyguard regiments.
SOV
Enwood nal Venticar, Kapt:
Drak’s right-hand man and chief of staff as Prince Majister of Vallia.
SOV
Ephanion, Nalgre:
the Jiktar of a Valkan archer regiment.
WWK
Erclan:
a Jurukker in 2ESW.
WWK
Erstveheim:
a hyr-kovnate province to the west of Durheim in North Vallia.
F
Failsham, Gilda:
the Chuktar of Vodun Alloran’s Jikai Vuvushis; a member of the Sisters of the Sword.
SOV
Fakransmot:
a village in Falkerdrin.
Famphreon, Kov Nath:
the son of Natyzha Famphreon, Kovneva of Falkerdrin. Became Kov upon her death and his rescue by Prescot from Ered Imlien.
WOK
Fardew, Ongarr:
a brigade-Chuktar in the Vallian Army; one of the judges at the hearing of Nath Javed.
OOK
The Feathered Ponsho:
a tavern in Tali.
WOK
Fintle:
the family name of triplets, Oby, Dwaby, and Sosie, all working as secret agents of Vallia.
WOK
Flick-Flock:
a gambling game played with multicolored rods.
Foison the Stroke:
the cadade in the caravan of Dolan Weymlo.
WOA
Fortro:
the brother-in-law of Nath Javed, who sold his daughter to the adherents of Lem.
OOK
Fraipur:
a wizard of Fruningen, in the service of Vodun Alloran, who helped rescue Prince Drak from Alloran.
SOV
Fra-Le, Hodo:
a leader of Zamran archers sent with the reinforcements to the armada against Csitra.
WOA
Francine:
the sister of Nath Javed, who sold her daughter to the adherents of Lem.
OOK
Frant:
a middle-sized island off the northwest coast of Vallia.
Frastel, Stromni Marion of Huvadu:
a member of the Sisters of the Sword; her band of Jikai Vuvushis was used by Csitra to spread the plague of werewolves in Vallia.
WWK
Frentar, Lango:
a wealthy Vallian financier.
WOA
Frentar, Orso:
the son of Lango Frentar; went with Prescot’s expedition to Menaham.
WOA
The Frog and Jut:
a tavern in Vondium.
WWK
Fruningen:
an island which serves as the home for a school of wizardry.
G
Gah:
a continent of Schan.
ganchark:
a human being cursed with the propensity to transform into a chark; similar to a werewolf.
WWK
ganjid:
a potion used in conjunction with dudinter to kill a ganchark.
WWK
Gartang the Kazzur:
the leader of a band of brigands in Menaham.
WOA
Gliderholme:
a small market town of Falinur.
Golden Sliptingers, River of:
separating the provinces of Durheim and Erstveheim in North Vallia.
Goordor the Murvish:
a legendary sorcerer of Murcroinim who killed the ganchark of Therminsax.
WWK
Gordoholme:
a village in Vennar.
Gorlki:
a town in Menaham.
Grace, Avenue of:
a street in Falkerium.
Greatheart:
a zorca purchased in Falkerium by Prescot.
WOK
greeps:
slender, bright green shoots that must be cooked expertly and with precision as to temperature and duration to bring out the flavor.
H
Hack ’n’ Slay:
the nickname given to Jiktar Nath Javed.
Hallandlas:
a town in Hamal north of Ruathytu.
Hanitcha Triumph
:
a voller used on Prescot’s second foray into the Coup Blag.
OOK
Hardolf, Nath:
the captain of
Logan’s Fancy. WWK
Harveng:
an apprentice of Deb-Lu-Quienyin.
WWK
Heart of Imrien
:
the lead voller in the armada sent to meet the invasion of the King of North Vallia.
OOK
Hebe, Lady:
a member of the second expedition to the Coup Blag; was fought over by Kov Loriman and Kov Hurtal ham Hortang. Was killed inside the Coup Blag.
OOK
Hemfar, Strom Tothor ham:
a member of the second expedition to the Coup Blag.
OOK
Hemlock, Larghos:
the first lieutenant of
Heart of Imrien
.
OOK
He of the Bright Face:
the river separating the kovnates of Bormark and Malpettar; also known as She of the Mellifluous Breath.
Hern-vilar:
a race of diffs with green skins.
