Heart of a Rocky
EART
OF A
R
OCKY
A G
ARDINIAN
W
ORLD
C
OLLECTION
by
K
ELSEY
J
ORDAN
Booktrope Editions
Seattle WA 2014
Copyright 2014 Kelsey Jordan
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Cover Design by Greg Simanson
Edited by Jacy Mackin
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to similarly named places or to persons living or deceased is unintentional.
Print ISBN 978-1-62015-445-8
EPUB ISBN 978-1-62015-455-7
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014918323
ONTENTS
To my Nana. She’ll probably never read this, but her fierce spirit is one of the reasons I am comfortable with the woman I have become.
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
It’s a given that I thank my family and friends, because without their respective whip cracking and encouragement, I would have written solely for my own entertainment. Thank you also goes to my awesome team over at Booktrope and my Gardinian Girls (GGs), who help me get the word out. Thank you
so much!
Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way. Your advice and general awesomeness is greatly appreciated. I’m terrible at these things, so if you think I’ve forgotten you, know that it isn’t personal. Blame it on the people too busy chatting in my head to let me remember to thank you properly.
UTHOR
N
OTE
These novellas take place after the conclusion of
The Lycan Hunter.
I would suggest anyone interested in this book read
The Lycan Hunter
, book one of the Gardinian World Novels first. Doing so will help you better understand some aspects of the Gardinian universe. As you read, there will be certain words that are capitalized. This is done on purpose as a means to use the domain of a particular god as a proper name. As always, I include a glossary of terms to help out on the lesser known terms.
From Gardas with Love,
Kelsey Jordan
LOSSARY
Admeri:
The leaders under the Asim, defender of the Hafiz Nation.
Afri
: Goddess of Love and former love interest of Lykil; current on-again, off-again lover of Tuyir.
Alake:
Regional rulers who answer directly to the Tor.
Alpha
: In the Lycan world, alpha denotes the Lycan is dominant. There are other titles to determine the leader of Lycan groups.
Ardethen
: A ritual performed that passes the leadership to a leader’s chosen successor. This ritual is usually performed when there is an aging leader seeking to relinquish control with the god Ulryk’s blessing.
Asim:
The formal title for the Defender of the Hafiz Nation.
Aatiki:
The technical term for wife; used primarily among Lycans.
Dispelling
: A ritual decommissioning of a Rocky. The process ends in death. Dispelling is only done for Rockys who have caused grievous harm through their actions that may reflect back on the name of all members of the Rockys.
Doctrine of Liflasir
: The Gardinian holy book, written by the gods. Any updates written within the book by the gods will automatically appear in all copies of the book throughout the Four Worlds.
First Shift
: An event that occurs when a Lycan succumbs to the pull of the full moon for the first time and shifts. Typically, when a Lycan shifts for the first time, it is followed by a celebration much like the formal ceremony occurs on Fredys’ holy day.
First Wife:
In Aleser society, Aleser males can take on as many wives as they can provide emotional, financial, and physical care for. The First Wife is the one that holds the most sway with the husband and is often the male’s Soul’s Mate.
Forever War
: The war that began more than 8,000 years ago after the creation of the Lycans and the subsequent Hunters who were tasked to kill all Lycans.
Fredys
: Goddess of Fertility.
Fyre
: Goddess of Weather.
Gardas
: The home of the gods, their Hermods, and all other Gardinian beings.
Gava
: An exchange of gifts, like a dowry given to the bride from her family.
Gavatta
: The gift of taking that is given to the bride’s family in exchange for her hand in marriage.
Gavattage:
The gift of giving which is presented to the bride-to-be by the groom. The gift solidifies the groom’s intent of marriage.
Godtrande:
The gift of acceptance which is given by the bride-to-be to her intended groom as a formal acceptance of his proposal.
Gen 1 Hunters
: Gen 1 Hunters are all Hunters that descend from the original Hunters created by the gods Jordis, Vili, Tuyir, and Lelah.
Gronak
: The isle of eternal punishment. Souls judged to spend their ten thousand lifetimes on the island suffer under the weight of the chaos found in a world of anarchy.
Hermod
: Messengers to the gods, though some serve individual gods in a more hands-on capacity, much like a personal assistant.
Ilok
: One of the giant animated tree-like beings that stands guard to the entrance to Gardas proper. He offers the physical challenge that one must pass in order to enter Gardas. Souls that belong to the dead do not face the challenge.
Imel
: The isle of eternal reward. Souls judged to spend their ten thousand lifetimes on the island enjoy a time of personalized heaven.
Ire
: Goddess of Health
Jordis
: Goddess of Weaponry
Jormun
: God of L
iars and Thieves
Judgment
: The final judgment of a soul, performed in Gardas after the Passing. Souls that do not receive a Passing can find their way to Gardas and their Judgment if they allow the pull that leads them into the airy light of Gardas proper.
Lelah
: Goddess of Life and Death.
Liflasir
: The world tree; holds the Four Worlds within its limbs.
Longing
: The Longing is a slow emotional and mental breakdown for those who have lost their Soul’s Mate. Depending on the attachment level, a Lycan can go Rogue or Feral. In some cases, Alpha Lycans can stave off the negative progression of the Longing for years.
Lykata:
Second-in-command to the Tor; serves as his personal guard and adviser.
Lykil
: God of Destruction and Champion to the Lycans. He also serves as the protector to Alexis and the godfather to Aryana and Camden.
Meihleh
: The river of souls that contains the life essences of the former angels and demons created by Nivar, as well as the souls of those who failed to pass the challenges given by Ilok and Plienir.
Nabila:
Formal title of the Tor’s wife; means queen.
Nivar
: God of Creation.
Nunginn
: The grove of all life energy from which all new life is created. Souls that have spent ten thousand lifetimes on Imel or Gronak return here to be reborn, their deeds (good and bad) wiped free to start anew.
Omega
: Denotes a Lycan as submissive, rather than Alpha; non-dominant.
Othion
: God of the Sky, father to Narn, who is the Goddess of the Wild and creator of the Lycans.
Passing
: A funeral-like ceremony which sends the soul into Gardas to be judged.
Plienir
: One of the giant animated trees that stands guard to the entrance to Gardas proper. She offers the mental challenge that one must pass in order to enter Gardas. Souls that belong to the dead do not face the challenge.
Rengoring
: The rite of cleansing. The bodies of those to be wed are treated with the utmost care through strict diet, prayer, and various other relaxation and purification techniques.
Thamal
: The mountainous island that houses temples of all the gods carved within the mountainside.
Tor:
The king over all Alesers in a given region. Alakes and Zarebs are regional rulers who are answerable directly to the Tor.
Torin
: Lykil’s personal Hermod. He is considered his most trusted friend. He is also Alexis’ brother and uncle to Camden and Aryana.
Trobis
: The Gardinian marbled bridge that leads from the branches of Liflasir into Gardas.
Tuyir
: God of War, lover to Afri, general pain in the ass to Lykil.
Tyllaga
: The official proposal ceremony, performed three days before the actual wedding ceremony.
Tukata:
Third-in-Command, serves as both personal guard to the Tor, as well as a trusted adviser.
Unshifted
: A young Lycan who hasn’t had his or her First Shift.
Ulryk
: God of Kings and Queens.
Unexplained
: Generally equates to magic. Named as such because the source of the magic is unknown.
Withstanding
: A portion of the Rocky training process that revolves heavily around the mental, physical, and emotional breaking of the Lycan. After they are broken, they are nursed back to their full strength and welcomed into the fold as a full-fledged Rocky. Those that fail to survive the Withstanding die as honorary Rockys and are afforded all the fanfare that comes with it.
Witnessing
: A Rocky practice where members come forward and witness the honorable deeds of the Lycan who is up for Dispelling. These deeds are then struck from record, with the understanding that from that moment forward, any and all previous mighty and good deeds are washed away due to the disgrace the Rocky has shown.
Validation/Validating
: The ceremonial recognition of a Rocky’s deeds, which are noted in the Histories at the time of their Passing.
Var
: Goddess of Adultery. Isn’t known for her bedroom prowess despite the nature of her domain.
Variant Hunters
: Variant Hunters are all those created after the revitalization of the war in which Nivar appointed Lykil and Vili champions of the Lycans and Hunters, respectively. Variants are imbued with some God-given knowledge thanks to Tuyir, but lack the other blessings and knowledge that Gen 1 Hunters benefit from.
Vili
: God of Wisdom, as well as the Champion to the Hunters
Zareb
: Sub-regional rulers who are directly under the rule of Alakes. They report directly to the Alake of their region and can challenge the Alake in their region for leadership.