The Black Khan

by Ausma Zehanat Khan

  And distinctly in his awakening as Khorasan’s Dark Mage.

  He braced his arms on the Peacock Throne and drew himself to his feet. “It’s time,” he said with purpose, summoning the others with his words. “I call you to the Conference of the Mages.”

  HERE ENDS BOOK TWO OF THE KHORASAN ARCHIVES

  Acknowledgments

  THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT HARPER VOYAGER FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF this series, but especially to David Pomerico and Vicky Leech, for your amazing insights on The Black Khan. I keep rereading your letter and thinking of how much I learned. Thank you also to Natasha and Jaime for that great conversation in London and for our time together. To Priyanka and Shailyn, thank you for your unwavering efforts on behalf of these books and for keeping track of what I’m up to. And thank you to Steve, Micaela, Paula, and Ashley for your incredible work.

  Thank you to everyone at the Nelson Literary Agency for your support—and especially to Kristin Nelson, for taking charge the night of The Bloodprint And where would I be without the amazing multitalented Danielle, who wears so many hats, of which my favorite is undoubtedly First Reader. Thank you for the time and effort you put into The Black Khan, and for how our discussions add so much to my books.

  To all the women who form my Council of Hira, my gratitude and love: Ayesha, my brave and beautiful Sinnia; Uzmi, like Arian leading her world into the light; my flourishing garden of Farahs, the Khanum’s entrancing doves, except that none of you can dance; my worthy rival, Irmy, an omnipotent Lania; my sweetly loyal Haseeba, a Darya enchanted by the word; Fereshteh and Firoozeh, unerring Teerandaz archers; Nozzie, the formidable general of our Citadel; and Yasmin and Semina, my Elena and Larisa, travelers and warriors both. As for you, Hema Nagar, you are all things in one—warrior, assassin, princess, best friend … irreplaceable lifelong companion. Mostly you remind me of Wafa.

  And to the Council’s inheritors who must remedy the ills of this world, I send my love: my princess-warriors, Summer, Maysa, Zayna, Noor, Naseem, Negean, Zahra, Hanna, Maariya. And to my clever, courageous Citadel Guard: Casim, Layth, Ameer, and Amin.

  To my brothers, who uplift me with everything they do: Irfi, a Zerafshan whose generous heart rules a brilliant kingdom; and Kashie, an Arsalan, who proves his love and loyalty each and every day. (I have no doubt Arsalan would have been admitted to the Buddies’ Republic.)

  To my dear friend Uzma, thank you for so wondrously and patiently reading so many versions of this book, and for loving the characters I love in exactly the same way. What a difference your insights made. Thank you to the doe-eyed Sajidah, whose integrity I rely on for my books. I was so alone in my work before I found the two of you, and now you’ve become my inner Council.

  Thank you to the lovely Shannon Chakraborty for your beautiful words on The Bloodprint and for sharing the language of our books—it’s been such a joy to meet a Zareen-Qalam. Thank you to the exceptionally generous and frankly amazing Saladin Ahmed, who would make a fantastic Mage of Khorasan. Or possibly an Assassin.

  Thank you to the wondrous Amalie Howard, who in between spinning her own enchanting tales devoured The Black Khan and kept me going with her praise. Somewhere in Colorado, there’s a scrying chamber, isn’t there? Thank you to Viniyanka and Sasha of The Word, two lovely diviners of the Usul Jade, for encouraging writers like me.

  And thank you to my Warraqeen for your devotion to Ashfall’s scriptorium. Michael D’Souza, your kindness and charm know no bounds. And I am deeply grateful to this incredible group: Rim-Sarah Alouane, Nafiza Azad, Émilie Gascon-Léger, Irene Lau, Ali Lawati, Melati Lum, Ardo Omer, Rachel Purtteman, Hussein Rashid, and London Shah. Thank you to all the writers and readers who have taken the time to talk to me about this series and to fill me with hope.

  Finally, thank you to Nader for a love like Daniyar’s.

  Cast of Characters

  THE COUNCIL OF HIRA

  Ilea: the High Companion

  Other titles: The Golden Mage, the Exalted, the Qari, Ilea the Friend, Ilea the Seal of the Companions

  Arian: First Oralist, a Companion of Hira

  Sinnia: a Companion from the lands of the Negus

  Ash: the Jurist

  Psalm: the General of the Citadel

  Other Companions of Hira, the Affluent: Half-Seen, Mask, Moon, Rain, Saw, Ware, Zeb; and in the old world, Hafsah

  The Citadel Guard: Captain Azmaray, others

  CANDOUR

  Daniyar: the Guardian of Candour

  Other titles: The Silver Mage, the Authenticate, the Keeper of the Candour

  The Akhundzada: the Guardian of the Sacred Cloak

  Wafa: a Hazara boy of Candour

  THE TALISMAN

  The One-Eyed Preacher

  The Immolans

  The Talisman Tribes: the Shin War, the Zai Guild

  Captain Turan

  THE EAGLE’S NEST

  The Assassin/Hasbah: the founder and leader of the Assassins

  ASHFALL

  The Black Khan: Rukhzad, Rukh

  Other titles: Commander of the Faithful, Prince of West Khorasan, Khan of Khorasan, Sovereign of the House of Ashfall, the Black Rook, the Dark Mage

  Darya: the Princess of Ashfall, sister to the Black Khan

  Darius: the half-brother of Rukh and Darya, formerly the Dark Mage

  The Begum: the eldest aunt of the Black Khan

  Nizam al-Mulk: the Grand Vizier of Ashfall

  The Zhayedan: the Army of the Black Khan at Ashfall

  Arsalan: Commander of the Zhayedan

  The Cataphracts: shock troops of the Zhayedan

  Maysam: Captain of the Cataphracts

  The Teerandaz: the Zhayedan’s all-female company of archers

  Cassandane: Captain of the Teerandaz

  Dilaram: an archer of the Teerandaz

  The Khorasan Guard: the Black Khan’s personal guard, the home guard of Ashfall

  Khashayar: a Zhayedan soldier of the Khorasan Guard

  The Zareen-Qalam: the curator of the scriptorium of Ashfall

  THE WANDERING CLOUD DOOR

  Zerafshan: Aybek of the Wandering Cloud Door

  Other titles: Lord of the Wandering Cloud Door, Lord of the Buzkashi, Aybek of the Army of the Left

  THE WALL

  The Authoritan

  Other titles: Khagan, Khan of Khans

  The Khanum: Lania, sister to Arian, the First Oralist of Hira Other titles: Consort of the Authoritan, the Augur

  Alisher: a poet of Black Aura

  Donyanaz: Alisher’s betrothed

  Pari: Alisher’s sister

  Gul: one of the Khanum’s doves transferred from the Gold House to Black Aura

  Uktam: a prisoner of the Ark at Black Aura

  The Ahdath: Suicide Warriors, Guardians of the Wall

  Araxcin: Commander of the Wall

  Captain Illarion: second in command at the Wall

  Semyon, Alik: soldiers at the Wall in Marakand

  Captain Nevus: Commander in Black Aura Scaresafe

  Spartak: a soldier of the Ahdath

  Temurbek: newly assigned Commander of the Wall

  JASLYK PRISON

  The Warden: administrator of Jaslyk

  The Technologist: chief torturer, responsible for the Plague experiments

  The Crimson Watch: the elite company of the Ahdath who guard Jaslyk prison

  Marat: a soldier of the Crimson Watch

  Lilia: a prisoner of the Plague Wing at Jaslyk, Illarion’s sister

  Mudjadid Salikh: a prisoner at Jaslyk, founder of the Usul Jade

  THE BASMACHI RESISTANCE

  Larisa Salikh: leader of the Basmachi Resistance

  Elena Salikh/Anya: second in command

  Ruslan: Basmachi captain

  THE BLOODLESS

  Guardians of the Bloodprint

  First Blood

  Glossary of the Khorasan Archives

  ab-e-rawan. A type of silk known as running water.

  Adhraa. The most hig
hly venerated woman mentioned by name in the Claim.

  Afaarin. A word of praise and appreciation.

  Affluent. Those who are fluent in the Claim.

  Ahdath. Suicide warriors who guard the Wall.

  Akhundzada. A member of the family of the Ancient Dead, guardians of the Sacred Cloak.

  Al Qasr. Literally “the Castle,” but in this case referring to the women’s fortified quarters inside the royal palace at Ashfall.

  alam. A flag.

  Alamdar. A title of utmost respect given to an elder of the Hazara.

  All Ways. The fountains of the Citadel of Hira, imbued with special powers, and a foundation of the rites of the Council of Hira.

  Amdar. A river of North Khorasan that flows on both sides of the Wall.

  andas. Blood brother.

  Ark. The stronghold of the Authoritan in Black Aura Scaresafe.

  Aryaward. A territory of South Khorasan.

  Ashfall. The capital of West Khorasan, seat of the Black Khan.

  asmaan. Sky.

  asmani. Sky-blue lapis lazuli.

  Assimilate. The proclaimed law of the Talisman.

  Audacy. A mission assigned to any of the Companions of Hira; a sacred trust.

  Augur. One who foretells the future, a rank in the Authoritan’s court.

  Authenticate. A title given to one who can verify the truth. See also Silver Mage.

  Authoritan. The ruler of North Khorasan, the land beyond the Wall.

  Avalaunche. A Talisman warning horn used to defend the Sorrow-song.

  Aybek. Commander of the Buzkashi, leader of the people of the Wandering Cloud Door.

  aylaq. Summer camp of the Buzkashi.

  Basmachi. A resistance force north of the Wall who follow the teachings of the Usul Jade.

  Begum. The highest-ranking woman at the Black Khan’s court, in this case the Khan’s eldest aunt.

  Black Aura Scaresafe. The Authoritan’s capital beyond the Wall.

  Black Khan. The Prince of West Khorasan, the Khan of Khorasan.

  Bloodless. The guardians of the Bloodprint.

  Bloodprint, The. The oldest known written compilation of the Claim.

  Buzkashi. The name of the people of the Wandering Cloud Door.

  buzkashi. A game of sport involving the carcass of a goat chased by horsemen.

  Candour. A city in the south of Khorasan captured by the Talisman, home of the Silver Mage.

  Candour, The. The book of the Silver Mage, instructing him in the history, traditions, and powers of the Claim, as well as his responsibilities as Silver Mage and Guardian of Candour.

  Cataphracts. The shock troops of the Zhayedan, the Black Khan’s army.

  chador. Shawl.

  Citadel. The stronghold of the Council of Hira.

  Citadel Guard. Warriors who guard the Citadel of Hira, assigned to the protection of the Companions.

  Claim, The. The sacred scripture of Khorasan; also a powerful magic. Clay Minar. A tower in the city of Black Aura Scaresafe.

  Common Tongue. A language common to all parts of Khorasan and beyond.

  Companions of Hira. Also Council of Hira, Oralists, the Affluent, sahabiya in the feminine singular, sahabah in the plural; a group of women charged with the guardianship of Khorasan and the sacred heritage of the Claim.

  Council of Hira. See Companions of Hira.

  Crimson Watch. An elite company of the Ahdath who guard Jaslyk prison.

  dakhu. Bandit, disreputable person.

  Damson Vale. A valley north of the Wall and east of Marakand.

  Death Run. A chain of mountains that forms one of the boundaries of the Wandering Cloud Door, east of the Valley of Five Lions.

  Divan-e Shah. The throne room at Ashfall where emissaries are received.

  Eagle’s Nest. The fortress of the Assassin, north of the city of Ashfall.

  East Wind. A people of a sisterscripture to the Claim, also known as the Esayin.

  Empty Quarter. The lands of southwestern Khorasan, destroyed by the wars of the Far Range.

  Everword. A people of a sister-scripture to the Claim.

  Far Range. The uninhabitable country beyond Khorasan.

  Fire Mirrors. A mountain chain that forms the northern boundary of the Wandering Cloud Door, just south of the Wall.

  First Oralist. A rank of highest distinction among the Companions of Hira, reserved for the Companion with the greatest knowledge of and fluency in the Claim.

  Firuzkoh. The Turquoise City, lost to time.

  Five Lakes. A territory of Khorasan, north of Hazarajat.

  ger. Home, tent, yurt.

  geshlaq. Winter camp of the Buzkashi.

  Gold House. A palace in the Registan where women are trained in the arts. See also Tilla Kari.

  Golden Finger. A minaret at the meeting place of two rivers.

  Graveyard of the Ships. A desert near Jaslyk where the lake bed has dried up.

  Gur-e-Amir/the Green Mirror. A tomb complex in Marakand.

  Hafsah. A Companion of Hira, the Collector of the Claim.

  Half-Seen. A descendant of Hafsah.

  Hallow. A hall in the valley of Firuzkoh.

  haq. Truth, right, justice.

  haramzadah. An epithet that means “bastard.”

  Hazara. A people of central and east Khorasan, persecuted by the Talisman.

  Hazarajat. A territory of central and east Khorasan, home of the Hazara people.

  Hazing. A district of Marakand that is home to the Basmachi resistance. See also Tomb of the Living King.

  High Companion. Leader of the Council of Hira.

  High Tongue. The language of the Claim.

  High Road. A river of central Khorasan; also called the Arius, the Tarius, the Horaya, and the Tejen.

  hijra. Migration.

  Hira. The sanctuary of the Companions.

  Ice Kill. A valley at the entrance to the Wandering Cloud Door, home to the Buzkashi.

  Illustrious Portal. The entrance to the Black Khan’s palace at Ashfall.

  Immolans. Deputies of the One-Eyed Preacher, tasked with book-burning.

  Inklings. Scribes from the Lands of the Shin Jang.

  iqra. Read.

  Irb. The language spoken by the people of the Wandering Cloud Door.

  Jahiliya. The Age of Ignorance.

  Jaslyk. A prison of the Authoritan’s, northwest of the Wall.

  jorgo. Fast mountain horses.

  kaghez. Paper manufactured from mulberry trees.

  Kalaam. Word, one of the names of the Claim.

  kamish. A type of calligraphy pen.

  karakash. Black jade.

  Khagan. Khan of Khans or King of Kings.

  Khamsa. One of five mythical mares.

  khamsin. A desert wind.

  Khanum. A consort of the Khan, the Authoritan’s consort.

  Khost-e-Imom. A protective cover or place for the Bloodprint.

  Khorasan. The lands of the people of the Claim, north, south, east, and west.

  khubi. Bounty, spoils of war, an endearment meaning “enough/everything.”

  khuriltai. Council.

  kohl. Black eyeliner.

  Kufa. A style of calligraphy taken from a city of the same name.

  kuluk. Load-bearing horses with stamina.

  Kyzylkum. The Red Desert. A desert in northern Khorasan.

  lajward. Lapis lazuli.

  lajwardina. A lapis lazuli glaze.

  likka. Raw silk fibers used in the practice of calligraphy.

  loya jirga. A consultation of Talisman chieftains; also a council of war.

  Mangudah. A death squad of the Buzkashi, a regiment of the Army of the One.

  Marakand. A city of North Khorasan beyond the Wall.

  Mausoleum of the Princess. A tomb complex in the Hazing, an area of Marakand.

  Maze Aura. A city of central Khorasan.

  Mir. Any leader of the Hazara people.

  mllaya moya. My sweet, my love.

  morin khuur
. Horsehead fiddle.

  Mudassir. Respected teacher, a form of address.

  Mudjadid. A teacher of great knowledge, a form of address.

  Nastaliq. A type of calligraphy.

  neeli. Dark blue lapis lazuli.

  Negus. Ruler of the lands south of the Empty Quarter, also the name given to these lands; the leader of Sinnia’s people.

  Nightshaper. Site of the Poet’s Graveyard, an abandoned city of Khorasan.

  nurm. Soft.

  One-Eyed Preacher. A tyrant from the Empty Quarter whose teachings have engulfed all of Khorasan.

  Oralist. A Companion of Hira who recites the Claim.

  Otchigen. The Prince of the Hearth, a title given to the youngest male member of the family of the Lord of the Buzkashi.

  pagri. A thick wool cap worn by the Talisman.

  Pit, The. The dungeons of the Ark.

  Plague Lands. A northern territory of Khorasan destroyed by the wars of the Far Range.

  Plague Wing. A section of Jaslyk prison where prisoners are held for experimentation with the effects of the Plague.

  Plaintive. A warning horn sounded by the Buzkashi.

  qarajai. A dangerous form of the sport buzkashi.

  Qari. One who recites the Claim.

  Qaysarieh Portal. The prisons underneath Ashfall.

  qiyamah. Resurrection, rising.

  rasti, rusti. Originally, “safety is in right”; the Authoritan’s motto, “Strength is justice.”

  Registan. A public square in the heart of the city of Marakand, literally translated as “sandy place.”

  Rising Nineteen. A cult that has come to power in the Empty Quarter.

  Russe. A name given to the people of the northern Transcasp.

  sabz. Green lapis lazuli.

  Sacred Cloak. A holy relic worn by the Messenger of the Claim.

  Safanad. One of the five mares of the Khamsa, Arian’s horse.

  Sahabah. A title given to the Companions of Hira in the plural; sahabiyah, feminine singular.

  Sailing Pass. A mountain pass en route to the Sorrowsong Mountain.

  Sar-e-Sang/Sorrowsong. The Blue Mountain, location of the oldest continuously worked lapis lazuli mines in Khorasan.

  Sea of Reeds. A sea that divides the Empty Quarter from the Lands of the Negus.

  Sea of the Transcasp. A body of water that divides West Khorasan from the Transcasp.