Pronunciation Guide and Glossary
General note: in Sesskia’s language (Balaenic), long A and long O are usually written “ae” and “oe,” and she writes Castaviran words and names as they would be spelled in Balaenic (i.e. Coell (Coll) River)
aenemica (ay-NEM-i-cah) – in Balaen, a name one uses for one’s enemy to avoid referring to that person in a way that might indicate a positive or friendly relationship
baezrel (BAYZ-rel) – two-wheeled transport like a bicycle, but for one to four passengers
Balaen (bah-LAIN) – Sesskia’s home country
Barrekel (BEAR-uh-kel) – second largest city in Balaen; in conflict with Castaviran city Teliarne
Castavir (CAS-tah-veer) – Empire formerly ruled by the God-Empress Renatha Torenz; also the central country of that empire
collenna (coh-LEN-nah) – engine, either self-propelling or attached to a loenerel
Colosse (col-LOSS) – capital city of the Castaviran Empire
Darssan (DAR-san) – combination school and research organization for Castaviran mages
Edmonti (ed-MON-tye) – Castaviran month equivalent to Balaenic month Dorinet (May)
Endellavir (en-DELL-uh-veer) – country annexed a century ago by the Castaviran Empire
Helviran (HEL-veer-an) – country in the Castaviran Empire
Karoli (kah-ROH-lye) – Castaviran month equivalent to Balaenic month Shelet (April)
kathana (ka-THAWN-ah) – ritual or spell composed of th’an
Kilios (KEY-lee-ohs) – “highest master”; a mage who has mastered all known th’an and all kathanas that can be performed by a single person
Lethess (leth-ESS) – coastal Balaenic city, resort town, ruled by Granea Amelessar
loenerel (LOH-neh-rel) – a train-like vehicle that runs on any surface, not on rails
Pfulerre (FOO-lair) – coastal Castaviran city, ruled by Daenen Radryntor
pouvra, plural pouvrin (POW-vrah, pow-VRIN) – a form of magic requiring no words, gestures, or th’an, that is instead manifested through the mage’s will
praenoma, (plural) praenomi (pray-NO-ma, pray-NO-mee)—Balaenic first name; reserved for the use of close friends and family
Sai (sigh) – “great master”; a mage with advanced knowledge of magic
Teliarne (TEE-lee-arn) – capital city of Helviran; in conflict with Balaenic city Barrekel
th’an (TH-AWN, with a glottal stop at the apostrophe) – magical pictogram or rune; may refer to a single rune or a simple combination of three or four
thanest (THAWN-est) – in Castavir, a place where magic is available to the public, usually for a price but sometimes for free
Venetry (VEN-uh-tree) – capital of Balaen
Viravon (VEER-uh-von) – country annexed by the Castaviran Empire over a century ago; in rebellion to gain their freedom
THE BALAENIC CALENDAR
Winter:
Hantar (30 days)
Jennitar (31 days)
Teretar (30 days)
Spring:
Shelet (30 days)
Dorinet (31 days)
Auret (30 days)
Summer:
Evray (30 days)
Senessay (31 days)
Lennitay (30/31 days)
Autumn:
Coloine (30 days)
Nevrine (31 days)
Seresstine (31 days)
THE BALAENICS
(NOTE: the surnames of the noble houses all end in –ssar; these are the people who are allowed to serve as Chamber Lords and as Lords Governor of the major cities of Balaen)
Sesskia (SESS-key-ah) – Balaenic mage of ten years’ standing, Cederic Aleynten’s wife and Empress-Consort of the Castaviran-Balaenic Empire
Jeddan (JED-un) – Leader of the Balaenic warrior mages, Sesskia’s friend
Mattiak Tarallan (MAT-tee-ack tar-ALL-un) – Commander General of the Balaenic Army
Alenik (ah-LEN-ick) – Sesskia’s father (deceased)
Cessily (SESS-ih-lee) – Sesskia’s mother (deceased)
Roda (ROE-duh) – Sesskia’s older sister
Bridie (BRY-dee) – Sesskia’s younger sister (deceased)
Garran Clendessar (GAR-un CLEN-des-ar) – King of Balaen
Caelan Crossar (CAY-lun CROSS-ar) – Chamber Lord of Defense
Merdel Lenssar (MUR-del LEN-sar) – Chamber Lord of Commerce
Jarlak Batekessar (JAR-lack BAH-teh-keh-sar) – Chamber Lord of Agriculture
Debarra Jakssar (deh-BAR-uh JACK-sar) – Chamber Lord of Transportation
Relania Phellek (ruh-LAIN-ee-ah FELL-eck) – mage of several years’ standing, pacifist and spy
Tobiak (toe-BYE-ack) – mage created by the convergence, spy
Jerussa (juh-RUE-sah) – mage created by the convergence, master of the flitting pouvra
Arron Domenessar (AR-un do-MEN-uh-sar) – Lord Governor of Barrekel
Roebart Gradden (ROH-bart GRAD-un) – General in command of the Black Army at Barrekel
Soessen Ellert (SOH-sun EL-ert) – General in command of the Brown Army at Barrekel
Granea Amelessar (GRAY-nee-ah AM-el-es-ar) – Lord Governor of Lethess
Orenna (or-ENN-ah) – mage in the service of Granea Amelessar
THE CASTAVIRANS
Cederic Aleynten (SED-er-ic ah-LEN-ten) – Kilios, Sesskia’s husband and Emperor-elect of the Castaviran-Balaenic Empire
Terrael Peressten (ter-RAIL per-ESS-ten) – mage who can no longer work magic, Sesskia’s friend, married to Audryn; Cederic’s aide and inventor of kathanas
Audryn Engilles (AW-drin en-GIL-is) – mage and friend of Sesskia, married to Terrael; Terrael’s partner in invention
Sovrin Ustanz (SAW-vrin uss-TANCE) – mage who can no longer work magic; head of the translator corps and Sesskia’s friend
Jaemis Quallen (JAY-mis QUAH-lun) – mage, expert in transmutation kathanas
Dugan Lerongis (DOO-gan leh-RON-gis) – King of Helviran in the Castaviran Empire
Joena Lerongis (JOH-nuh leh-RON-gis) – Queen-Consort of Helviran, Dugan’s wife
Lelaena Osther (leh-LAY-nuh OSS-ther) – Queen of Endellavir in the Castaviran Empire
Moerton Taissatus (MOR-ton TIE-sah-tus) – Consul of Colosse; chief of the consuls of the Castaviran Empire
Veneta Amaleten (ven-EE-tah ah-MAH-leh-tun) – chief Sai of the Firtha thanest in Colosse; Cederic’s former teacher and most high priestess
Renatha Torenz (reh-NAH-tha tor-ENCE) – deposed God-Empress of Castavir
Gael Regates (GAIL reh-GAH-tes) – Commander of the Castaviran Army; former conspirator against the God-Empress
Perce Aselfos (PERSS ah-SEL-fus) – Renatha Torenz’s former spymaster, responsible for removing her from the throne
Brisson Rialen (BRIS-un rye-AH-len) – consul of Teliarne, Dugan Lerongis’s cousin and heir
Raewyn Garatssen (RAY-win ga-RAHT-sen) – Commander General of the Helvirite Army, Dugan Lerongis’s half-sister
Daenen Radryntor (DAY-nen RAD-rin-tor) – consul of Pfulerre
READ ON for some bonus scenes from Cederic’s point of view!