by S Kaeth
cha’atanahn - Taunos’s pet name for his sister, literally meaning “abundance of heart”
nanovah - a Rinaryn word basically meaning “Forget about it”
ACKNOWELDGEMENTS
This book has been the work of many years, and I could not have produced it without the help and support of so very many people. As always, I stand on the shoulders of giants. I am so grateful for the advice, support, and encouragement from my writing community and my family and friends.
To my husband, my rock, thanks for being so amazing. You’re consistently there for me when I need you. You’re the best alpha reader a writer could ever have, and then you read things again once I think I’ve got them polished. I believe you read this story three or four times? Thank you for your steadiness through my nerves and waffling and stubbornness.
To my children, you are so understanding and supportive: asking questions, helping out around the house, and giving me your thoughts. I wish the world for you and love to see you creating your own stories, breaking past the limits others might place on you!
Thanks to my family for encouraging my love of stories, science, and fantasy.
My amazing critique partners, I can’t say enough good about you. R. Lee Fryar, you have an amazing gift to see right to the heart of my stories and my characters and you never hesitant to point me on the path when I stray. Thanks to you for helping my characters shine with their whole hearts. And for Ariana Townsend, you got Kaemada in a deeply internal way and joined R. in continuing to encourage me to dig into her. Not only that, but you copy edited this whole giant manuscript for me, and I cannot thank you enough for your care and attention to the details of all the rules I had laid out. Thanks to the two of you, this story is the best I can make it, and I love its polish!
To my writing groups, the Inklings, the Parliament of Pens, Quillhaven, and the Writer In Motion groups, thank you for providing such community and encouragement. I have my tribe and I’m so thankful for it! You’re all amazing.
Special thanks to Rosie, Pancake, Moxie, Honey, and Zelda.
To my fantastic beta, gamma, and omega readers, for all your feedback and questions and insights: Liza Tucker, Becky O’Connor, Billy Brinkley, Laura Kehoe, Autumn, Michael Chatfield, Jeremy Nelson, Amy Brown, Timothy, Agnes S., Mist, E.P. Larrson,
