Grand Conspiracy (91 page)
Authors: Janny Wurts
Nor was Elaira without the stark grit to encourage, and receive the forgiveness he offered. Through salt tears, her mouth bent in
that wry smile she saved to level his deepest defenses. âYou have boneheaded stubbornness. Is it true, what I heard, that Parrien s'Brydion once broke your leg to restrain you from misguided loyalty?'
âWell yes,' Arithon admitted, contrite. âBut let's not omit facts. I'd had the bad manners to make splinters of the salon in his brother's state galley, beforehand.'
Elaira laughed. âThe wasp hazing the bull? I ought to have guessed.' She mopped her damp chin with the back of her sleeve, then said in apology to Fionn Areth, âThis is a man who can't ever admit the hour he's been fairly beaten.'
âThat's likely to change,' a chill voice intruded. Disheveled, short-tempered, no longer possessed of her seamless coiffure or composure, Lirenda arrived like the shadow of bane in the open mouth of the archway. âOr will you see Elaira made into a mindless husk just to maintain consistency?'
Arithon whipped around like a wildcat to face her. âKeep the lady's name out of this!' His eyes, brilliant green, matched that tone of chill hatred with a hot-blooded, furious challenge. âIf you would claim the victory for Morriel Prime, then sully your hands, bitch.
Come take me
.'
Lirenda flicked a fallen wisp of black hair from her face, her vindictive triumph made all the sweeter by years of deferred anticipation. âWhat, no begging for me?' She advanced, the assured clarity of privilege etched into each mocking consonant. âNo princely gallantry? Shall I have no soft word of forgiveness? Or are my vows any less binding than Elaira's when enacting our Prime Matriarch's given will?'
Braced in vised stillness, prepared to draw steel, to use any and every unforgivable expedient to defer his inevitable defeat, Arithon s'Ffalenn ceased breathing. His head tipped a startled fraction to one side. As if through his bard's sensitivity he could hear and interpret some subtext layered through Lirenda's fierce joy in his downfall, he suddenly straightened and laughed. âYou believe your heart's fiber is made sterner than hers? Oh, madam.' He flung off his cloak. âShall we take the issue to trial?'
âHow far you have fallen, how desperately you grasp at straws.' Flushed to wicked enjoyment, Lirenda advanced. âWill you stoop to try steel against spellcraft? A dog shown the collar and leash can but bark. Do go on. Discard all the pride of your training along with the manners of your royal birthright.'
Lit to reckless delight, Arithon did not appease her taunt with
the obvious. His quick hands stripped off his gloves, then followed with sword and dagger. In a debonair abandon, he tossed the sheathed weapons and clothing into the startled arms of Fionn Areth. Still regarding Lirenda, he raised both dark eyebrows. âSword steel can but kill.' His expression was poured honey stirred through with malice, and his voice, the lightning bright cadence of satire. âMadam, did you know Caolle?'
Thrown off her stride, Lirenda stiffened. âWhat? Do you think to enact some petty revenge? Yes, I knew him. He died as my captive.'
As Arithon advanced, unarmed, toward her, she fell back an unthinking step.
âCaolle died free, avenged by his own hand.' Smooth in grace, possessed of a calm to outwear chiseled granite, Arithon s'Ffalenn raised his bare hands, palm upward. âYou once bound him like a calf, to draw me to slaughter.
What's wrong?
Can you not bear to shackle me in turn?'
Unprepared for the presence of him at close quarters, Lirenda retreated a second step on stunned reflex, her golden eyes wide in the flood of Elaira's held torch.
âGo on,' prompted Arithon. His smile opened into a genial invitation, he lilted a stunning, light phrase of clear melody.
Lirenda snatched a swift breath. Her hand closed in involuntary defense and shielded the quartz at her breast. âDon't. Not again.'
âOh, madam,' provoked Arithon in virulent good humor. âCan it be that I know you?' He sang another line. His flexible voice used the acoustics of closed stone and magnified nuance to a spellbinding presence woven of unfettered sound. His intimate words fell too softly for any but Lirenda to overhear. âWhat is a vow, after all, but a snippet of wind hobbled in words without meaning? Your heart knows a truth that your mind would deny.'
He reached her. Framed in the velvet shadow of twilight, he extended a bare hand and entrapped the fist she held cupped to her quartz. âI'm no cipher, but a living man. Would you know me?' A tug drew her to him. His second, swift move snatched the bone pin that fastened the tightly bound length of her hair. The jet coils spilled free. The long, straight length cascaded down her back, catching small snowflakes like diamonds.
Lirenda could not pull free. His gentleness disarmed, waking passion and need where she had no armor of experience. No
weapon she owned could match his compassion; no power of denial could heal the breach of a lifetime starved of affection.
The gift of his intimacy was no dry barb of intellect, but a breathing force that stripped away pretense and
cared
. Against the sure truth of his masterbard's empathy, she stood emotionally naked.
âWhat principle stands in the absence of love?' Arithon drew her closer, then stroked her cold cheek with a touch to wake fire from frost. âNor are you Morriel's bloodless instrument, after all.'
He caught her chin, turned her face. âLirenda?' He laid his lips upon hers, kissed her until he unchained the torrents of passion she had mistaken for the surrogate of ambition. She found the cradling support of his arm and gave way, swept into a spiraling sweetness of ecstasy beyond any dream to fulfill. When she lay in limpid surrender against him, he unclasped the hand tucked through her black hair.
The plea escaped before thought. âDon't leave.'
âI must.' Then the parting line, shaped in a pity honed like a knife thrust. âTell me again, what's the worth of a vow? If you would use loyal hearts for your weapon,
pray don't forget how the
experience feels
.'
Stunned beyond thought, beyond reason, beyond poise, Lirenda sensed nothing else but the surgically brisk withdrawal of Arithon's embrace. The impact of his absence left her unmoored. She scarcely heard his purposeful step, retreating back into the archway.
As though the script had been written and played behind a liquid shimmer of tears, she saw Arithon reclaim his cloak and his weapons from Fionn Areth's numbed hands. Then the Prince of Rathain stepped to the postern, where Elaira patiently waited.
He gave her a gallant's smile that burned for the gentle regard that was genuine. Nor was his voice either polished or suave as he stood inside arm's length, without touching. âBeloved, forgive me.'
Elaira regarded him, her staunch pride expressed in the bracing wit that had never yet failed to salve the agony from his stripped nerves. âWere you going to tell me you usually kiss your one-night trollops in private?'
He laughed. The free-ringing sound held a spark of pure pleasure, unforced and rich with surprise. âI don't kiss them at all, that they don't wear your face in the sanctity of my thoughts.
Now tell me the truth. Will your senior peer's profligate romantic indiscretion be enough to shield you from blame?'
For indeed, he had managed the miracle of creating a cunning double blind. Lirenda could not reveal Elaira's collaboration in Prince Arithon's escape. Not without laying bare the glaring weakness Morriel was least likely to forgive in a successor.
âGo safely, both of you.' Elaira stepped aside, allowing clear access through the postern.
Arithon gestured for Fionn Areth to pass first. While the herder set his strong shoulder to raise the bar, the Prince of Rathain paused, one hand raised. While the door hissed open with the oiled ease kept for Jaelot's wealthy smugglers, and sleet swirled cold through the gap, he traced the determined lift of Elaira's chin, then cupped her face with a tenderness no one else living could match. âYou are as my life, lady.
Never forget that
.'
The next instant, he was gone, and Fionn Areth with him, safely vanished into the gathering darkness. Elaira pulled the postern closed and dropped the bar back in place. Through the uplifting, bittersweet rush of pure gratitude, she ached for the memory left with her. The tiny impressions returned to haunt deepest, of his hands, which were chilled, and of clothing that had not been nearly sufficient to withstand the storm that rolled in off the waves of Eltair Bay.
Winter Solstice Evening 5670
   Â
Surrounded by her circle of twelve tranced seniors, the newly invested Koriani Matriarch infuses the wakened focus of the Great Waystone with the sigils of prime command, that no witness will recall the past night's events, or question her unprecedented succession; then she sends word far and wide to each peeress, of Morriel's death, and of Lirenda's failure in her charge to take Prince Arithon captive â¦
  Â
After nightfall on the desolate, wild shore of Camris, Lysaer s'Ilessid broods over the latest news from High Priest Cerebeld, that his damaged plot has been salvaged by the unexpected miracle of Prince Kevor's intervention; now Tysan's traumatized guilds set their seal to new documents, promising a standing armed force for the Light, and expanded fortifications to rival the Alliance garrison at Etarra â¦
  Â
As cloudy darkness wraps the spire of Althain Tower, and the solstice tides rise toward the harmonic surge that will fire the sixth lane at midnight, Luhaine's worried vigil at Sethvir's side is relieved by the arrival of two adepts of Ath's Brotherhood; and with them, he gains news that Prince Arithon has successfully snatched Fionn Areth from the claws of Koriani conspiracy, and Dakar awaits with hot food and supplies to shelter them from the inbound storm front â¦
AESHAââone of the volunteer women who assisted the crown healer at Avenor.
pronounced: aye-ash-ah
root meaning:
aeash
ââa balm
AIYENNEââriver located in Daon Ramon, Rathain, rising from an underground spring in the Mathorn Mountains, and surfacing south of the Mathorn Road.
pronounced: eye-an
root meaning:
ai'an
ââhidden one
ALESTRONââcity located in Midhalla, Melhalla. Ruled by the Duke Bransian, Teir's'Brydion, and his three brothers. This city did not fall to merchant townsmen in the Third Age uprising that threw down the high kings, but is still ruled by its clanblood heirs.
pronounced: ah-less-tron
root meaning:
alesstair
ââstubborn;
an
ââone
ALITHIELââone of twelve Blades of Isaer, forged by centaur Ffereton s'Darian in the First Age from metal taken from a meteorite. Passed through Paravian possession, acquired the secondary name Dael-Farenn, or Kingmaker, since its owners tended to succeed the end of a royal line. Eventually was awarded to Kamridian s'Ffalenn for his valor in defense of the princess Taliennse, early Third Age. Currently in the possession of Arithon.
pronounced: ah-lith-ee-el
root meaning:
alith
ââstar;
iel
ââlight/ray
ALLANDââprincipality located in southeastern Shand. Ruled by the High Earl Teir's'Taleyn,
caithdein
of Shand by appointment. Current heir to the title is Erlien.
pronounced: all-and
root meaning:
a'lind
ââpine glen
ALTHAIN TOWERââspire built at the edge of the Bittern Desert, beginning of the Second Age, to house records of Paravian histories. Third Age, became repository for the archives of all five royal houses of men after rebellion, overseen by Sethvir, Warden of Althain and Fellowship Sorcerer.
pronounced: alââlike âall,' thainââto rhyme with âmain'
root meaning:
alt
ââlast;
thein
ââtower, sanctuary
original Paravian pronunciation: alt-thein (thein as in âthe end')
AMA'IDANââcolloquial phrase in old Paravian for asking forgiveness for a blunder.
pronounced: ah-mah-aid-an
root meaning:
ama'idan
ââplease forgive
ANIENTââParavian invocation for unity.
pronounced: an-ee-ent
root meaning:
an
ââone;
ient
ââsuffix for âmost'
ARAETHURAââgrass plains in southwest Rathain; principality of the same name in that location. Largely inhabited by Riathan Paravians in the Second Age. Third Age, used as pastureland by widely scattered nomadic shepherds.
pronounced: ar-eye-thoo-rah
root meaning:
araeth
ââgrass;
era
ââplace, land
ARAITHEââplain to the north of the trade city of Etarra, principality of Fallowmere, Rathain. First Age, among those sites used by Paravians to renew the mysteries and channel fifth lane energies. The standing stones erected are linked to the power focus at Ithamon and Methisle keep.
pronounced: like âa wraith'
root meaning:
araithe
ââto disperse, to send
ARITHONââson of Avar, Prince of Rathain, 1,504th Teir's'Ffalenn after founder of the line, Torbrand in Third Age Year One. Also Master of Shadow, the Bane of Desh-thiere, and Halliron Masterbard's successor.
pronounced: ar-i-thonââalmost rhymes with âmarathon'
root meaning:
arithon
ââfate-forger; one who is visionary
ARWENTââriver in Araethura, Rathain, that flows from Daenfal Lake, through Halwythwood, to empty into Instrell Bay.
pronounced: are-went
root meaning:
arwient
ââswiftest
ASANDIRââFellowship Sorcerer. Secondary name, Kingmaker, since his hand crowned every High King of Men to rule in the Age of Men (Third Age). After the Mistwraith's conquest, he acted as field agent for the Fellowship's doings across the continent. Also called Fiend-quencher, for his reputation for quelling iyats; Storm-breaker and Change-bringer for past actions in late Second Age, when Men first arrived upon Athera.
pronounced: ah-san-deer
root meaning:
asan
ââheart;
dir
ââstone âheartrock'
ATAINIAâânortheastern principality of Tysan.
pronounced: ah-tay-nee-ah
root meaning:
itain
ââthe third;
ia
ââsuffix for âthird domain'; original Paravian,
itainia
ATCHAZââcity located in Alland, Shand. Famed for its silk.
pronounced: at-chas
root meaning:
atchias
ââsilk
ATH CREATORââprime vibration, force behind all life.
pronounced: ath to rhyme with âmath'
root meaning:
ath
ââprime, first (as opposed to an, one)
ATHERAââname for the world which holds the Five High Kingdoms; four Worldsend Gates; original home of the Paravian races.
pronounced: ath-air-ah
root meaning:
ath
ââprime force;
era
ââplace; âAth's world'
ATHIRââSecond Age ruin of a Paravian stronghold, located in Ithilt, Rathain. Site of a seventh lane power focus.
pronounced: ath-ear
root meaning:
ath
ââprime;
i'er
ââthe line/edge
ATHLIEN PARAVIANSââsunchildren. Small race of semimortals, pixielike, but possessed of great wisdom/keepers of the grand mystery.
pronounced: ath-lee-en
root meaning:
ath
ââprime force;
lien
ââto love; âAth-beloved'
AVENORââSecondAge ruin of a Paravian stronghold. Traditional seat of the s'Ilessid High Kings. Restored to habitation in Third Age 5644. Became the ruling seat of the Alliance of Light in Third Age 5648. Located in Korias, Tysan.
pronounced: ah-ven-or
root meaning:
avie
ââstag;
norh
ââgrove
  Â
BECKBURNââmarket located in the city of Jaelot.
pronounced: beck burn
root meaning not from the Paravian
BLACK ROSE PROPHECYââmade by Dakar the Mad Prophet in Third Age 5637 at Althain Tower. Forecasts Davien the Betrayer's repentance, and the reunification of the Fellowship of Seven as tied to Arithon s'Ffalenn's voluntary resumption of Rathain's crown rule.
BRANSIAN s'BRYDIONââTeir's'Brydion, ruling Duke of Alestron.
pronounced: bran-see-an
root meaning:
brand
ââtemper;
s'i'an
ââsuffix denoting âof the one'; the one with temper
BRETAââone of Fionn Areth's sisters.
pronounced: bret-ah
root meaning:
bretah
ââlittle sprout
  Â
CADGIAââKoriani seeress of senior rank who was temporarily
assigned to Lirenda's service.
pronounced: cad-jee-ah
CAITHDEIN
ââParavian name for a high king's first counselor; also, the one who would stand as regent, or steward, in the absence of the crowned ruler.
pronounced: kay-ith-day-in
root meaning:
caith
ââshadow;
d'ein
ââbehind the chair; âshadow behind the throne'
CAITHWOODââforest located in Taerlin, southeast principality of Tysan.
pronounced: kay-ith-wood
root meaning:
caith
ââshadowââshadowed wood
CAMRISâânorth-central principality of Tysan. Original ruling seat was the city of Erdane.
pronounced: Kam-ris, the âi' as in âchris'
root meaning:
caim
ââcross;
ris
ââway; âcrossroad'
CAOLLEââpast war captain of the clans of Deshir, Rathain. First raised by, and then served under, Lord Steiven, Earl of the North and
caithdein
of Rathain. Planned the campaign at Vastmark and Dier Kenton Vale for the Master of Shadow. Served Jieret Red-beard, and was feal liegeman of Arithon of Rathain; died of complications from a wound received from his prince while breaking a Koriani attempt to trap his liege.
pronounced: kay-all-eh, with the âe' nearly subliminal
root meaning:
caille
ââstubborn
CAPEWELLââcity located on the south shore of Korias, Tysan. Home of a major Koriani sisterhouse.
CARITHWYRââprincipality consisting primarily of a grasslands in Havish, once the province of the Riathan Paravians. A unicorn birthing ground. Currently used by man for grain and cattle; area name has become equated with fine hides.
pronounced: car-ith-ear
root meaning:
ci'arithiren
ââforgers of the ultimate link with prime power. An old Paravian colloquialism for unicorn.
CARRIGANââmatron who brews watered spirits in Jaelot.
pronounced: carey-gen
CASCAINSâârugged chain of islets off the coast of Vastmark, Shand.
pronounced: cass-canes
root meaning:
kesh kein
ââshark's teeth
CASLEYââprostitute in Meliane's house, in Jaelot.
pronounced: caz-lee
CATTRICKââmaster joiner hired to run the royal shipyard at Riverton; once in Arithon's employ at Merior by the Sea.
pronounced: cat-rick
root meaning:
ciattiaric
ââa knot tied of withies that has the magical property of confusing enemies
CENWAITHââgreat grandmother, and one of the eldest clan chieftains who maintain watch over Caithwood.
pronounced: sen-wayth
root meaning:
cian'waith
ââshining smile
CEREBELDââAvenor's High Priest of the Light, formerly Lord Examiner of Avenor.
pronounced: cara-belld
root meaning:
ciarabeld
ââashes
CHEIVALTââcoastal city south of Ostermere in Carithwyr, Havish. Known for its elegance and refined lifestyle.
pronounced: shay-vault
root meaning:
chiavalden
ââa rare yellow flower which grows by the seaside.
CIANOR SUNLORDââborn at Caith-al-Caen, First Age 615. Survived both the massacre of Leorne caused by methuri, or hate- wraiths out of Mirthlvain Swamp in the year 815, and led the Battle of Retaliation on Bordirion Plain (which by the start of the Second Age had been enveloped by the swamp). In 826, Cianor's forces were defeated at Erdane by Khadrim; Cianor retired to Araethura, gravely wounded. Crippled but alive, he was on hand at the arrival of the Fellowship of Seven. Healed by the Sorcerers; appointed Keeper of Records in 902; stabilized the realm after the murder of High King Marin Eliathe in Second Age 1542. Crowned High King of Athera in Second Age 2545 until his death in a rising of Khadrim in 3651.
pronounced: key-ah-nor
root meaning:
cianor
ââto shine
CILADIS THE LOSTââFellowship Sorcerer who left the continent in Third Age 5462 in search of the Paravian races after their disappearance following the rebellion.
pronounced: kill-ah-dis
root meaning:
cael
ââleaf;
adeis
ââwhisper, compound;
cael'adeis
ââcolloquialism for âgentleness that abides'
CILDEIN OCEANââbody of water lying off Athera's east coast.
pronounced: kill-dine
root meaning:
cailde
ââsalty;
an
ââone
COREYNââroad master of caravans, often hired by Reysald, merchant
of Daenfal.
pronounced: core-rain
root meaning:
ciorain
ââantique nail
CORITHââisland west of Havish coast, in Westland Sea. Site of a drake lair, and a ruined First Age foundation. Here, the council of Paravians met during siege, and dragons dreamed the summoning of the Fellowship Sorcerers. First site to see sunlight upon Desh-thiere's defeat.
pronounced: kor-ith
root meaning:
cori
ââships, vessels;
itha
ââfive for the five harbors which the old city overlooked
COWILLââinitiate priest dispatched to Alestron by Cerebeld.
pronounced: cow-ill
  Â
DAELION FATEMASTERââ âentity' formed by set of mortal beliefs, which determine the fate of the spirit after death. If Ath is the prime vibration, or life force, Daelion is what governs the manifestation of free will.
pronounced: day-el-ee-on
root meaning:
dael
ââking, or lord;
i'on
ââof fate
DAELION'S WHEELââcycle of life and the crossing point which is the transition into death.
pronounced: day-el-ee-on
root meaning:
dael
ââking or lord;
i'on
ââof fate
DAENFALââcity located on the northern lakeshore that bounds the southern edge of Daon Ramon Barrens in Rathain.
pronounced: dye-en-fall
root meaning:
daen
ââclay;
fal
ââred
DAKAR THE MAD PROPHETââapprentice to Fellowship Sorcerer, Asandir, during the Third Age following the Conquest of the Mistwraith. Given to spurious prophecies, it was Dakar who forecast the fall of the Kings of Havish in time for the Fellowship to save the heir. He made the Prophecy of West Gate, which forecast the Mistwraith's bane, and also, the Black Rose Prophecy, which called for reunification of the Fellowship. At this time, assigned to defense of Arithon, Prince of Rathain.
pronounced: dah-kar
root meaning:
dakiar
ââclumsy
DAGRIEN COURT and LANEââlocations in the city of Jaelot, Rathain.
pronounced: dag-ree-an
root meaning:
dagrien
ââvariety
DAON RAMON BARRENSââcentral principality of Rathain. Site where Riathan Paravians (unicorns) bred and raised their young. Barrens was not appended to the name until the years following the Mistwraith's conquest, when the River Severnir was diverted at the source by a task force under Etarran jurisdiction.