Wild is the Blue

by Cecilia Randell

  Opi – a root vegetable, sort of a cross between a carrot and a turnip, but with a slightly sweet flavor, similar to a sweet potato.

  The Order of Terril – An enforcement agency for the Alliance. It is an elite organization of enforcers. Each world and territory have their own police, those who handle the day to day monitoring of the laws. The Order of Terril is an interplanetary enforcement agency, only called in when the crimes have spread beyond one planet. In addition to their stated purpose, there is a branch made up of sleeper agents, those placed in various positions throughout the worlds and activated when necessary. The stated purpose of this branch is to monitor and maintain the freedom of individuals on the alliance worlds, no matter what. This is actually the true purpose of the order, and the more apparent enforcement agents are merely a cover.

  Orinan – a wild fowl common on Karran, similar to turkey.

  Pango – a light tea grown and sourced near the Kranka clan’s camp in the western foothills.

  Pilik – an aquatic bird on Cularna, similar to a duck or goose.

  Piquet – a large feline, similar to a cross between a tiger and a lion, striped but with a small mane. They tend to run in packs and have a very set social structure. Extremely territorial. Usually will leave you alone unless they feel you have trespassed in one of their breeding grounds.

  Plinar – a being formed when the Crystals of Shardon absorb enough energy to manifest.

  Plumar – A flower found in the jungles of Falass, used in many scents and for trade.

  Portals – A naturally occurring phenomenon on Karran where “thin spaces” create a kind of shortcut between locations, similar to worm holes. These portals form when the specific energy signature of an area on Karran matches that of an area on another world, or even another area of Karran. Most occur naturally around Karran, and form to the same or similar areas each time. Some people on Karran are born with an ability to manipulate these thin spaces, attuning the energies to create – and open and close – portals at will. Occasionally, especially if a person with untrained potential is in the vicinity, a natural portal will be activated.

  Pouma – a feline mount from Cularna, also imported to Karran for leisure riders.

  Prida – Among the clansmen of Karran, the term is used to denote the family unit, one woman and multiple men. The prida is made up of the Heart and her priden. All members are selected by the Heart and the First Priden, and all those in the prida must agree when a new member is proposed and selected.

  Pucho – a heard beast raised in the southern plains of Karran and one of the primary meat sources. It’s a red meat.

  Quilns – A strategic board game of Cularna

  Quorin – A type of mount similar to a horse, with horns. They choose their own riders and sometimes will form a deeper bond with them.

  Ransyi – a term used by the clans to mean the balance of trust and equality for each member of a prida. It emphasizes the idea that each person has their duties and responsibilities equal to the others, and that each person’s thoughts, wishes, and wants are sought to be accommodated.

  Seyna – the banner that holds and proclaims a prida’s mark or sigil.

  Shluyka - a derogatory term originating from the southern portion of the Tremmir region in Karran. It refers to a woman who lives among the clans but is not from them, and has the connotation of “whore.”

  Shopa – Means “heart” in the clan language. The heart is the center of the prida and is also used as a term of endearment from a priden to his Heart.

  Skidera – a feces eating beetle, known as a disease carrier. Usually used as an insult.

  Sladu – a insect like serpent from the jungles of Falass.

  Strontu – means bullshit basically.

  Tiri – Small pack-animals, like a cross between a cow and a deer.

  Toka – short blade used by the clans of Karran.

  Tormani – the language of the clansmen of Karran.

  Trial period – A term specific to Cularna. Very similar to a hand-fasting, this is the practice of specifying a period of time for a couple to live as a married unit before making the union official. Could also be thought of as an engagement, but with the legal benefits of an official union for the designated time. If at the end of this trial the couple decides they will not suit, the union is severed with no legal repercussions.

  Trilki Root – The root of a plant known to grow in the Filiri region of Karran. When pressed and processed the correct way, it produces a non-addictive drug that causes sleep. Usually used in low doses to assist those with chronic insomnia; in higher concentrations, it can keep someone under for hours, unable to be woken. If the dose is strong enough, it can cause a coma.

  Tripi – The equivalent of a penny in the clans’ monetary system.

  Turammin – metal from Turamm used for shielding.

  Umsji – The role in a prida considered the caregiver. Where the First Priden is mostly concerned with the overall balance of the prida, including duties and protection of the members and the shopa, the umsji concentrates on the mental balance of the members.

  University of Tremmir – The premiere educational establishment that most attend if they are continuing their studies after the general education that all on Karran receive. There are other colleges and trade schools as well, but the University of Tremmir is the largest. Even those from other worlds will attend.

  Valk – a feathered mount used in the southern plains of Karran, often also used in racing.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  I wanted to write a quick note for everyone. Mostly because I’ve decided I like doing that.

  This part of Blue’s tale was definitely emotion heavy—or at least more so than the others. Things always are when you’re dealing with family. I think, more than Blue even, this book was for Felix.

  Felix was a character that I had not planned on. He literally just appeared and started winning everyone over. He refused to be placed in a corner as one of those faceless mercenaries used for back-up. He went around patting heads, laughing, and grinning, until I just had to say yes to him.

  On the surface, he’s got it all together. An extremely competent soldier, part of the Order, knows how to have fun, and not afraid to get his hands dirty. But like so many of us, that smile covers a lot. He had some things to face up to, concerning his past and his family.

  Anyway, I hope you are enjoying the journey! This next one is a doozie, as you can probably already tell…

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Cecilia Randell was born in Austin, Texas and grew up in a home with her very own Cheerful Bulldozer. After some brief adventures in various places such as California and Florida, she returned to her hometown and took up a career in drafting.

  A lifetime lover of words and stories, the transition to writing was two-fold: a comment from a relative and a short line from another author, saying to write what you want to read.

  And thus the new adventure was born.

  Now she can be found most days curled up in a comfy chair and creating new tales to share with others.

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