Duskwoven

by Carrie Summers

  *Praviili - mother

  *Frask – older son

  Raav Ovintak - younger son/prime, also known as Trader Ovintak

  House Ulstat – Stanik Island

  Olev – father/prime, known largely as Trader Ulstat

  Mieshk – heir, currently gathering power on Ioene

  Ashhi – younger daughter

  Lakdiken – younger son, currently held hostage on Istanik

  *Leesa – wife of a mad prime who ruled centuries ago

  House Yiltak – Stanik Island

  Naviire – mother/prime, known largely as Trader Yiltak

  Moanet – heir

  House Srukolk – Orteshk Island

  Oreken – grandfather/prime, known as Trader Srukolk

  Maoket – heir, mother to Heiklet

  *Heiklet – granddaughter, killed by Mieshk Ulstat during failed Nocturnai

  House Majkut – Stanik Island

  Avilet - younger daughter, nightcaller to the failed Nocturnai, on Ioene with Mieshk Ulstat

  Crew of Zyri’s Promise

  Captain Vidyul Altak

  Strandmistress Nyralit

  First Mate Tkira

  Second Mate Gaff

  Miscellaneous

  Jet – captain of the gutter wardens

  Caffari – leader of a band of smugglers

  Daonok – Caffari’s second in command

  Vanished

  Peldin – speaker for the strands

  Zyri – gave Lilik her memories

  Tyrak – Zyri’s friend and beloved

  Places

  The Kiriilt Islands

  A group of roughly twenty islands governed by the ruling Trader Council. The following is a partial list of individual islands.

  Stanik Island

  Capital: Istanik

  A large island, home to a majority of the Kiriilti trader Houses. Istanik Harbor is the largest port in the Islands, and the Trader Council conducts business within Trader Council Hall in Istanik. The inland regions of Stanik Island are hilly and covered with terraced farmland. A system of earthen roads connects the farms with the coastal settlements. Because the underlying soil is clay, these roads become treacherous and slick when wet.

  Araok Island

  Capital: Ilaraok

  The second largest of the islands, Araok also boasts the second largest city, Ilaraok. House Ulstat calls Ilaraok home. A soot-stained city, the capital reflects the harsh Araokan landscape, craggy mountains of dark stone pocked by mine holes.

  Orteshk Island

  Capital: Ilorteshk

  Orteshk Island is a small, wooded piece of land on the eastern fringe of the archipelago. Though not heavily populated, the relatively egalitarian attitudes of Orteshkan has led to the rise of two trader Houses, Srukolk and Thuvet from amongst the population that was once entirely commoner-class.

  Tuuk Island

  Home to a colony of artisans known to produce some of the finest goods not only within the Kiriilt Islands, but within three weeks’ sail in any direction, Tuuk has no capital city and enjoys relative freedom from the structures imposed by the Trader Council.

  Outer Isles

  A collection of six small islands on the northern fringe of the archipelago. Settlements cling to the leeward aspects of craggy escarpments dropping into the sea. Fiercely independent, Outer Islanders make their living fishing and occasionally producing crafts and jewelry inspired by the rugged coasts.

  Other

  Ioene

  An island volcano many weeks north by sailing vessel and destination of dozens of Kiriilti Nocturnais. Former home of the Vanished civilization. Ravaged by severe seasonal changes that bring days and nights lasting for months as well as a storm season that is not thought to be survivable.

  Waikert Archipelago

  The jungled home of the brutal Waikert sea tribes. A month’s sail southeast from the Kiriilt group.

  Jalakyrisi Spicelands

  A distant group of three islands where monks collect spices rumored to have magical properties.

  Reknarish

  A landmass large enough that it takes three weeks to sail the length of the eastern coast. Few Kiriilti have ventured to a Reknarishi port city, and none have been deeper than a day inland. The northern and southern coasts are unexplored by Kiriilti captains.

  Acknowledgements

  Once again, I’m deeply indebted to many people for their support and help creating this book. My readers, David Forrest, Mary Anne Tarr, and Frances Silversmith, give me fantastic feedback. Thank you to Amalia Chitulescu for the mind-blowing cover.

  And last, thanks to my friends and family for their unconditional love and support.