Jonna stared at Sonea, her expression reflecting Rothen's confusion. Sonea grimaced, then placed a hand on her stomach. Jonna's eyes widened.
"Oh."
"Yes." Sonea nodded. "I'm scared, Jonna. I didn't plan for this. The Healers will look after me, but they can't cure my fear. I think maybe you could."
Jonna frowned. "You told me magicians had their own ways of taking care of things."
To Rothen's amazement Sonea blushed a furious scarlet.
"It seems that it's better if women do ... that sort of care-taking. Apparently men aren't taught the skill unless they request it," she said. "Girl novices are taken aside as soon as the Healers feel they're likely to be showing an interest in boys, but I was so unpopular that nobody thought of teaching me. Akkarin," Sonea paused and swallowed, "must have assumed they had. And I assumed he was taking care of things."
As understanding dawned, Rothen stared at Sonea. He found himself counting the months since her exile. Three-and-a-half, maybe four. The robes would hide it well. ..
She looked at him and then grimaced apologetically. "I'm sorry, Rothen. I was going to tell you, at a better moment, but when I saw Jonna I just had to take advantage of—"
They both jumped as Jonna burst into laughter. She was pointing at Rothen. "I haven't seen that look since I told Ranel I was expecting our first! I think, perhaps, these ma-
gicians aren't as smart as they make themselves out to be." She grinned at Sonea. "So. You're to have a baby, then. I can't imagine the child growing up with his or her head on right surrounded by magicians."
Sonea smiled crookedly. "Nor I. So, will you reconsider?" Jonna hesitated, then nodded once. "Yes. We'll stay a while."
Lord Dannyl's Guide to Slum Slang
blood money—payment for assassination
boot—refuseIrefusal (don't boot us)
capper—man who frequents brothels
clicked—occurred
client—person who has an obligation or agreement with a Thief
counter—whore
done—murdered
dull—persuade to keep silent
dunghead—fool
dwells—term used to describe slum dwellers
eye—keep watch
fired—angry (got fired about it)
fish—proposeIaskIlook for (also someone fleeing the Guard)
gauntlet—guard who is bribeable or in the control of a Thief
goldmine—man who prefers boys
good go—a reasonable try
got—caught
grandmother—pimp
gutter—dealer in stolen goods
hai—a call for attention or expression of surprise or inquiry
heavies—important people
kin—a Thief's closest and most trusted
knife—assassinIhired killer
messenger—thug who delivers or carries out a threat
mind—hide (minds his businessII'll mind that for you)
mug—mouth (as in vessel for bol)
out for—looking for
pick—recognizeIunderstand
punt—smuggler
right-sided—trustworthyIheart in the right place
rope—freedom
rub—trouble (got into some rub over it)
shine—attraction (got a shine for him)
show—introduce
space—allowancesIpermission
squimp—someone who double-crosses the Thieves
style—manner of performing business
tag—recognize (also means a spy, usually undercover)
thief—leader of a criminal group
watcher—posted to observe something or someone
wild—difficult
visitor—burglar
Glossary
Animals
aga moths—pests that eat clothing
anyi—sea mammals with short spines
Ceryni—small rodent
enka—horned domestic animal, bred for meat
eyoma—sea leeches
faren—general term for arachnids
gorin—large domestic animal used for food and to haul boats and
wagons
harrel—small domestic animal bred for meat inava—insect believed to bestow good luck limek—wild predatory dog mullock—wild nocturnal bird rassook—domestic bird used for meat and feathers ravi—rodent, larger than Ceryni reber—domestic animal, bred for wool and meat sapfly—woodland insect sevli—poisonous lizard squimp—squirrel-like creature that steals food yeel—small domesticated breed of limek used for tracking zill—small, intelligent mammal sometimes kept as a pet
PlantsIFood
anivope vines—plant sensitive to mental projection
bol—(also means "river scum") strong liquor made from tugors
brasi—green leafy vegetable with small buds
chebol sauce—rich meat sauce made from bol
crots—large, purple beans
curem—smooth, nutty spice
curren—coarse grain with robust flavor
dull—long fruit with tart orange, seedy flesh
gan-gan—flowering bush from Lan
iker—stimulating drug, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties
jerras—long yellow beans
kreppa—foul-smelling medicinal herb
marin—red citrus fruit
monyo—bulb
myk—mind-affecting drug
nalar—pungent root
nemmin—sleep-inducing drug
pachi—crisp, sweet fruit
papea—pepper-like spice
piorres—small, bell-shaped fruit
rakaIsuka—stimulating drink made from roasted beans, originally
from Sachaka
shem—edible reed-like plant sumi—bitter drink
telk—seed from which an oil is extracted term—grain that can be cooked as is, broken into small pieces, or
ground to make a flour tiro—edible nuts tugor—parsnip-like root vare—berries from which most wine is produced
Clothing and Weaponry
incal—square symbol, not unlike a family shield, sewn onto sleeve
or cuff kebin—iron bar with hook for catching attacker's knife, carried by
guards longcoat—ankle-length coat
Public Houses
bathhouse—establishment selling bathing facilities and other grooming services
bolhouse—establishment selling bol and short-term accommodation
brewhouse—bol manufacturer
hole—building constructed from scavenged materials
stayhouse—rented building, a family to a room
Peoples of the Allied Lands
Elyne—closest to Kyralia in position and culture, enjoys a milder
climate
Kyralia—home of the Guild Lan—a mountainous land peopled by warrior tribes Lonmar—a desert land home to the strict Mahga religion Vin—an island nation known for its seamanship
Other Terms
cap—coins threaded on a stick to the value of the next highest denomination dawnfeast—breakfast midbreak—lunch simba mats—mats woven from reeds
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TRUDI CANAVAN
lives in a little house on a hillside, near a forest, in the Melbourne suburb of Ferntree Gully in Australia. She has been making up stories about things that don't exist for as long as she can remember and was amazed when her first published story received an Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Short Story in 1999. A freelance illustrator and designer, she also works as the designer and Art Director of Aurealis, a magazine of Australian fantasy and science fiction. You can e-mail her at [email protected] or find out more about Kyralia and the Magicians' Guild at www.spin.net.auI~trudi.
Black Magician 03 - The High Lord Page 53
