Talon (The Astor Chronicles Book 1) (39 page)

Word

Pronunciation

Meaning or description

Age of Astors (The)

The Age of Astors – year 1 to 718 when Sy-tré is foretold to return

Animal-kin

An animal that has bonded with a person (known as a Rada). The animal is usually called a ‘Rada-kin’ but can also be called ‘animal-kin’ or even by whatever type of animal it is, such as ‘bear-kin’ or ‘cat-kin’.

Ancient Sapphire Tree (Also see ‘Great Sapphire Tree’ and ‘sapphire tree’)

Seven trees fuelled by the Lightmaker’s magic, seeded by Sy-tré himself as part of the Penultimate Prophecy of Anzaii. Artefacts made from their sapphire-like leaves or their iron-like branches augment an Anzaii’s use of the waves. One day, it is said all seven artefacts will be brought together to symbolise the final united stand of all Kriites. The ‘Ancients’ are the largest and most powerful of all sapphire trees.

Anzaii

Ahn-ZAI

A person with very strong abilities using the waves, one of ‘ancient blood’,
i.e.
the blood of Anzaiia or the ‘ancient survivors’

Anzaiia

Ahn-ZAI-uh

An area outside the Catacombs of Krii (where a number of ancient people survived the cataclysm) and where a great nation was rebuilt. Almost all the ‘ancient survivors’ of Anzaiia could speak telepathically with each other. Great sapphire trees from underground were harvested to enhance these abilities even further.

Astor

Ass-tor

A word based on the acronym A for Anzaii, S for Sleffion, T for Tolite and R for Rada, ‘Astor’ describes these gifts as a whole or a person who has all four gifts. In the latter case it functions like a rank or title.

Before Time (The)

The Before Time (an estimated 1,000 years before calendars were used)

Cubit (one)

450 mm (width from one’s elbow to one’s hand)

Chryne

Krine

The planet on which the novel is set

Foot (one)

Great Sapphire Tree (also see Sapphire Tree)

Although not as powerful as any one of the seven Ancient Sapphire Trees, Great Sapphire trees have nonetheless been used to create dozens of powerful artefacts, including many Anzaii-kin (jewellery, musical instruments etc.) and Tolite-kin (weapons). Like in Jaria, these trees are special symbols of the Lightmaker’s power and love.

Inch (one)

Jaria

A section of land nestled agains the Ky-Ayr Ranges where a secluded tribe of Radans lives. Also used in common speech to refer to the main village.

Jarian

Jah-ree-uhn

A person whose heritage is in Jaria

Kin

Kin

A general term that refers to any of the Rada-kin, Sleffion-kin, Tolite-kin or Anzaii-kin, it also simply means ‘family’ or ‘brethren’

Krii

CREE

The human form of the Lightmaker who walked upon Chryne

Kriite

CREE-ite

A member of a faith that worships the ‘Lightmaker’, whose physical form was a man named Krii. Kriites believe Krii’s sacrificial death reconciles them, despite their evil deeds, to the creator. They are supported by Krii’s kindred spirit, the wolf Sy-tre’ who remained on Chryne after Krii’s death.

League (one)

5 km or 3 miles

Lightmaker

The highest figure of the triune god of the Kriites (along with Sy-tré and Krii), the Lightmaker is the sovereign planner and ruler of the cosmos, watching over and directing the affairs of the world, getting involved in people’s lives on an individual level, but often without them knowing and usually only by invitation

Mile

Magic

Sometimes used to describe the good and evil forces that allow supernatural things to take place. It is closely linked with the spirit world.

Milk vine (and Milk bulbs)

A cave-dwelling plant, the roots (bulbs) of which are squeezed for their ‘milk’

Pace (one)

1.48 m or 4.85 feet

Prime Leader

A traditional term for a ruler of a group of Rada (only Jaria and Lyth keep to the old ways)

Prophet’s Epoch

The Prophet’s Epoch – year 1 to 1272 when Krii was born

Rada

Rah-duh or Ray-duh

A person who has the Kriite gift of sharing their thoughts and gifts with a sentient animal Note: ‘Rada’ is also the pluralised form, used to describe this group of people

Rada-kin

Rah-duh kin

A sentient animal who has the Kriite gift of sharing their thoughts and gifts with a human; also the pluralised form

sapphire tree (Also see ‘Ancient Sapphire Tree’ and ‘Great Sapphire Tree’)

Saf-FAI-uh Tree

Smaller than a Great Sapphire Tree, it is more numerous and the effects of an artefact made from it are less pronounced to the Anzaii. Still, objects and weapons made from sapphire trees are highly valued. The trees mostly only remain in underground caves or in deep, undisturbed forests, having been harvested for generations.

Sarlice

Sar-leese

Second main character of book one, a twenty-two year-old Lythian woman

Shape-shift

A magical morph from one form to another, usually to some kind of land animal

Skyearl

A water chimera that has brightly coloured fur, feathered wings, lion-like paws, a horse-like body and lizard-like tail. All of them are sentient because of an ancient pact made with the Lightmaker to look after mankind

Sleffion

A person who has the Kriite gift of sharing their thoughts and gifts with a skyearl (their Sleffion-kin)

Sleffion-kin

A skyearl who has the Kriite gift of sharing their thoughts and gifts with a human; also the pluralised form

Sy-tré

SAI-tray

The lowest figure of the triune god of the Kriites (along with the Lightmaker and Krii), Sy-tré is a wolf spirit who has the most direct contact with living believers

Talon (Also see Theon)

Tal-uhn

The main character of book one, an eighteen-year-old Jarian man

Theon

Tay-on

Talon’s birth name

Treelion

A cat-like animal with reddish fur, except for its white underbelly. It is most at home in the upper canopy of a forest

ton

ton

20 hundredweights of 112 pounds each

Yard

Zei

The god of the Zeikas. Demon lord (king of demons) and arch enemy of Krii

Zeika

Person who worships Zei and seeks supremacy over other living beings