Wizard (The Key to Magic) (34 page)

Specifically, the
pistol
had been designed to kill sorcerers. The slugs would ignore combat wards, glamours, hexes, and the sort of direct manipulation that Mar was capable of. Originally, nhBreen had searched for such a device in order to have the ability to eliminate Mar should the need arise. His dream had shown him a better use for the device.

"We should have the naming of the baby," Yhejia said, fighting a frown. "If ... well, we should just have it."

nhBreen knew the concern that troubled the woman. It was a commonly held belief that a child that died without a name could not be called by the Gods into the afterworld and would forever haunt the world of the living as a destitute spirit.

"Yes," Aunt Whelsi agreed with an artificially cheerful smile. "It's not fit that a girl should brave the world long without a name. What shall we call her?"

Telriy drew a deep breath, steadied, and said, "Mar said to name her Gherihy, but I don't want that future -- not with the way that it will be. Her name will be Celly, in honor of my mother."

"A fine name --" Aunt Whelsi began, then gasped when the wizard stepped from undertime to appear crouched at the front of the cavity.

His face locked in an uncaring expression, Zso instantly raised his hand to incinerate the three women and the child with a flash of ethereal fire.

Before the wizard could complete the gesture, nhBreen calmly raised the
pistol
and shot him through the eye.

The Key to Magic concludes in Book VII: Thief (2014)

Addendum

The Forty-Nine (give or take) Gods

(One scholarly accounting numbers the Forty-Nine at three hundred and eight distinct deities. This sum is, naturally, subject to strident dispute.)

Aenhishk'lhe, Stepchild of the Leafy Goddess

Awandrehachor, God of Poems and Sonnets

Alosth, Sublime Half-Quarter-Goddess of the Rapine of Civilization

Bhalrgam, Mystical Lord of the Fleet of Foot

Bhenthiabuka, God of Condiments

Bhist-gem-naet, fertility goddess

Bhurghrah, God of Waste, Sewage, and Refuse

Bhizg'g, God of the Malformed and patron of all beggars.

Bligyld, Goddess of Eternal Hatred.

Borloi'gh'nyh, Archfriend of Arsonists and Clumsy Fools

Chaoel, Ascending Goddess of the Marvelous Loom

Cyhalis’ts’psqo, God of Boats, ships, rafts, and buckets of all sorts

Ephtehg’rha, Lord of Shipwrecks

Fflygao, the Under Oligarch of Foliage

Gheshuai -- Chief Suzerain of Unhappy Marriages, Cuckolds, and Oppressed Husbands

Gwolth, Invisible Ultimate Priestess of the Arcane Rites of Sand

Gz’l, God of Heretics

J'yorstagnoephiactle, Patron of Rat Catchers.

Knorthrha the Night God

Luftorh, God of the Oceans

Lyrgrh, Goddess of Ignorance, Maladroit Craftsmen, and Clumsy Jests

Mhokh, God of Death

Mehl-shzu, God of Nautical Trades

Myrae’n the Snake Goddess

Myd, Goddess of Wayward Travellers, Misapplied Repairs, and Faulty Directions.

Nhal-bhy-chu, Goddess Mother of Chance Events

Nhish, Goddess of Grain

N'm, God of Seafood

Oahkthegk, God-Regent of mountains and deserts (and all ancillary terrain, inhabitants, and conditions)

Oos'ghlsiana, Mistress of Forests, Seedlings, and Shade.

Pernaphrhan, Overseer of Trickery

Phisitia, Benefactor of the Kind.

Plegh, The Unknowing God

Ptem-ko-ah, God of the Outerworld

Pwrll, Upright Goddess of Household Pets. The Seventy-Eight Handmaidens of Pwrll are often depicted as animalistic spirits in the forms of cats and dogs.

Phrusht, Guardian of the Drowned

Rwalkahn, Demigod of Righteous Vengeance

Rwalkahn, in his rival persona as 32
^nd
Avatar of Pernaphrhan

S'lskaigho, Protector of Forgotten Things

Shurzha, God of Purity

Soohlmed, God of Idiocy

Thiallia, Goddess of Compassion

Trhoozh, Master of Luck

W’aerliq, God of Forests, Meadows, and Trees in general. In some cultures, also the God of the Hunt.

z'm, Demigoddess of Jocularity

Zzgssii, the Leafy Goddess, whose various incarnations are distinguished by the placement of key leaves in her bodice

Zsnigh-mhi, Demigod of Tile roofs, Sheds, and Cisterns

Military Ranks of the Reconstituted Empire

(Adapted from Mhajhkaeirii'n practice)

Prince-Commander –Supreme commander of all Mhajhkaeirii forces.

High Captain – Marine rank. Commands a brigade (five troops).

Knight-Commander – Legion rank. Commands five legions. (Corps)

Captain – Marine rank. Commands a full Troop (400 men)

Coirneal (Imperial Addition) -- Legion and marine rank.

Maidsear (Imperial Addition) -- Legion and marine rank.

Commander – Legion rank. Commands a full Legion (1000 men)

Vice-Captain – Marine rank. Commands a half-troop (200 men)

Subaltern – Marine rank. Commands a quarter-troop (100 men)

Vice-Commander –Legion Rank. Commands five sections (500 men).

Legate – Legion rank. Commands a Section (100 men).

Quaestor -- Legion Quartermaster rank equivalent to Subaltern/Legate.

Fugleman – Commands a file (6 quads, 25 men including the Fugleman)

Ceannaire -- Commands of a quad

Legionnaire

Superior Armsman -- Militia rank

Trainee

Table of Contents

Title Page

Other Works:

Forthcoming:

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-THREE

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY-ONE

THIRTY-TWO

THIRTY-THREE

THIRTY-FOUR

THIRTY-FIVE

THIRTY-SIX

THIRTY-SEVEN

THIRTY-EIGHT

THIRTY-NINE

FORTY

FORTY-ONE

FORTY-TWO

FORTY-THREE

Addendum

Military Ranks of the Reconstituted Empire