The Prince of the Veil
Page 53
They lost the foremost mast first. It broke in half with a sound like cannon fire and plummeted overboard, crashing into the sea, pulled down to unknown depths almost immediately. Davydd and a gang of crew with hand axes ran forward and cut the rigging, lest it drag them down as well. Seawater sprayed in his face and rain cascaded down in veritable sheets. Men and women were thrown overboard, including the pilot, and more pieces of the ship were torn off, but still the crew fought on. Their hands were bleeding from handling ropes and lifelines, their bodies racked with pain and the disorienting, stomach-wrenching drops and climbs of towering waves.
But Davydd grabbed hold of the ship’s wheel and laughed and jeered at the shouting wind, mocking it with his very being. He shouted at the storm, taunting it, telling it that he still stood, that no mere squall would turn him back now. The crew joined in, shouting and laughing through their fear, roaring into the wind.
The Lucky Scoundrel grinned and steered them on, his eyes like glowing coals.
Glossary
Ashandel (AH-shan-DEL): Meaning “Sword” or “Blade” in the old tongue of Kindred, an Ashandel is part of a Rogue or Ranger pair. He or she is meant to compliment the Eshendai to which he or she is paired. Ashandel are typically the physically stronger of the two, though this is not always the case. Ashandel can be Spellblades, but it is exceedingly rare.
Bloodmage: A Bloodmage is a member of the Empire who, through ritual sacrifice, has given up his life in exchange for the ability to manipulate the lives of others. They are exclusively male, and ritualistically shave their heads. They do not eat, but instead subsist on the strength of the lives they harvest. The basis of their magic is the Raven Talisman, as well as the other Talismans to varying degrees, and as such their magic and enchantments cannot bind the Children. Their nominal head is The Seventh Child, the Prince of Ravens, but until he comes of age they are under the command of Rikard, the Prince of Lions.
Children, The: The seven living children of the Immortal Empress. Each of them bears one of the Seven Talismans and rules a province of the Empire of Ages.
Daemon (DE-mon): An elemental creature created by Bloodmagic. The formation of a Daemon requires raw material – i.e. the essence of a storm, the heart of fire, or the strength of earth – in addition to human sacrifices, and all Daemons require a full circle of thirteen Bloodmages to summon. Once Daemons are summoned, control is in the hands of the leader of the circle, and the Daemon is connected to that Bloodmage’s Soul Catcher.
Elders, The: The governing body of the Exiled Kindred, made of thirteen men and women who are responsible for distinct areas of Kindred society:
Elder of Wisdom: Crane
Elder of Truth: Ekman
Elder of Justice: Dawn
Elder of Mercy: Lymaugh
Elder of Agriculture: Ceres
Elder of Arts: Rose
Elder of Health: Keri
Elder of State: Warryn/Goldwyn
Elder of Innovation: Stanton
Elder of Animals: Pan
Elder of Law: Spader
Elder of Imperial Liaison: Ishmael
Elder of History: Iliad
Eshendai (EH-shen-DIE): Meaning “Dagger” or “Knife” in the old tongue of the Kindred, an Eshendai is part of a Rogue or Ranger pair. He or she is meant to compliment the Ashandel to which he or she is paired. Eshendai are typically the smaller of the two, and are extensively trained in healing, strategy and tactics, and map-making as a basis for their work. The majority of Spellblades are Eshendai.
Exiled Kindred: A people made up of the original inhabitants of the land of Lucia, of which there were few remaining survivors following the war between Aemon and the Empress, and those who have been Exiled from the Empire itself. No one knows how large the nation is, though the population has varied throughout the reign of the Empress. All who escape the law of the Empress are known as Exiled, and are hunted throughout the Empire. They are traditionally known as a refuge for thieves, criminals, and murderers.
Lucia (Loo-see-uh): Refers to both the continent and the Empire upon it.
Lucien (Loo-see-en): The capital city of Lucia, and the seat of the God Empress.
Ranger Pair: A pair of Exiled Kindred made up of one Ashandel and one Eshendai, who are charged with protecting the borders of the Kindred lands, as well as searching the Empire for any Imperial men or women who have been Exiled and wish to join the Kindred.
Rogue Pair: A pair of Exiled Kindred made up of one Ashandel and one Eshendai, who are charged with various infiltration and sabotage missions executed throughout the Empire.
Spellblade: A man or woman among the Exiled Kindred who has undergone a process of binding that has linked them to a specific weapon. The binding is not possible for most people, but those who have the ability can link themselves to their weapon of choice, enabling them to exercise a limited amount of mental control over that weapon. The binding also lends them strength and endurance, and speeds their recovery time. Most Spellblades are Eshendai.
About the Author
Hal Emerson was born in California and currently lives near San Francisco, where he works as an author. He graduated from UCLA with a BA in Musical Theatre, and has an undying obsession with raspberries.