by David Hair
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes, and lifted her hand to his face. ‘Ramon, I’m carrying your child.’
Halli’kut, Northern Kesh, Antiopia
Zulhijja (Decore) 928
6th month of the Moontide
Kaltus Korion sat astride his horse, overlooking the walls of Halli’kut. He liked to be alone at moments like this before battle; he found it focused him to sit there by himself, facing the enemy: one hero, about to bring his wrath down upon the dark hordes before him.
So it was with some annoyance that he saw General Rhynus Bergium climbing the hill towards him. He sighed in vexation, until he noticed that the general was carrying a messenger scroll.
The general proffered the scroll to his commander and stood back to allow him some privacy when he opened it.
Korion pushed the walls of Halli’kut from his mind, examined the seal – that of Emir Rashid – and broke it open.
The message was brief, just twelve words.
The army of Echor Borodium has been destroyed. The bargain is fulfilled.
‘Where did this come from?’ he asked Bergium.
‘An enemy rider handed it to one of our scouts,’ Bergium replied, eyeing the scroll curiously.
Korion handed him the scroll.
The general read it, blinked, and read it again. Then he smiled. ‘Congratulations, Lord General. The command of the Crusade is yours once more.’
Kaltus Korion closed his eyes, letting the setting sun kiss his face. ‘It always was, Rhynus.’ He chuckled softly. ‘What a glorious day.’
Well done, Belonius Vult! Your plan worked. What a shame you’re too dead to enjoy the moment.
‘Will we still attack tomorrow?’ Bergium asked.
Korion opened his eyes and gazed down on Halli’kut. ‘Of course. The real war has only just begun.’
THE END OF BOOK TWO OF THE MOONTIDE
The story continues in:
UNHOLY WAR
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Scarlet Tides
As at Junesse 928
In Yuros
Imperial Court, Pallas
Emperor Constant Sacrecour: Emperor of Rondelmar and all Yuros
Mater-Imperia Lucia Fasterius: the emperor’s mother, a Living Saint
Cordan: son of Constant, heir to the throne
Coramore: daughter of Constant
Lord Calan Dubrayle: Imperial Treasurer
Arch-Prelate Dominius Wurther: Head of the Church of Kore
General Kaltus Korion: Commander of the Armies of Rondelmar
General Rhynus Bergium, Korion’s second-in-command
Adamus Crozier: a bishop of the Kore
Natia Sacrecour: Constant’s imprisoned elder sister
Rondelmar
Echor Borodium, Duke of Argundy: uncle of Emperor Constant
Boron Funt: a priest-mage
The Eighteenth Fist of Kore’s Holy Inquisition
Lanfyr Vordan: Inquisitor and Fist Commander
Dranid: Fist Second
Alain: Fist Third
Raine Caladryn: an Acolyte
Filius: an Acolyte
Jonas: an Acolyte
Virgina: an Acolyte
Seldon: an Acolyte
Dominic: an Acolyte
Malevorn: an Acolyte
The Lamiae
Kekropius: an Elder male
Kessa: mate of Kekropius
Mesuda: an Elder female
Reku: an Elder female
Hypollo: an Elder male
Naugri: a male
Fydro: a male
Ildena: wife of Fydro
Nia: a female
Vyressa: a female
Poulos: a male
The Twenty-Third Fist of Kore’s Holy Inquisition
Ullyn Siburnius: Inquisitor and Fist Commander
Delta: a mage
Norostein, Noros
King Phyllios III: King of Noros
Governor Belonius Vult: Imperial Governor of Noros
Eli Besko: a Norostein counsellor and mage (deceased)
Captain Jeris Muhren: Watch Captain
Vannaton Mercer: a trader
Tesla Anborn-Mercer: mage, wife of Vannaton Mercer (deceased)
Alaron Mercer: mage, son of Vann and Tesla
Gina Weber: daughter of Jos, Council mage
Pars Logan: a veteran of the Noros Revolt
Clement: Council secretary
Olyd Krussyn: a Council mage
Gron Koll: a Council mage (deceased)
Blayne de Noellen: a mage
Silacia
Mercellus di Regia: head of a Rimoni gypsy family
Cymbellea di Regia: Rimoni gypsy, daughter of Mercellus
Anise: a Rimoni orphan
Ferdi: Anise’s brother
Signor Torrini: a landowner
Alfonso: a Silacian farmer
Pater-Retiari: a criminal clan-lord
Turm Zauberin Arcanum, Norostein
Lucien Gavius: Principal of Turm Zauberin (Arcanum College)
Darius Fyrell: a tutor at Turm Zauberin
Agnes Yune: a tutor at Turm Zauberin
Gurvon Gyle’s Grey Foxes (based in Noros)
Gurvon Gyle: a mercenary captain and spy
Rutt Sordell: a mage, whose soul is currently lodged in the body of Elena Anborn
Mara Secordin
Yvette (‘Coin’): a child of Mater-Imperia Lucia
Mathis Drumm
Glynn Nevis
Hesta Mafagliou
Mathieu Fillon
Madeline Parlow
In Antiopia
Pontus
Giordano: a Silacian trader
Regina: Giordano’s daughter
The Thirteenth Pallas Legion (Palacios XIII)
Jonti Duprey: Legate
Rufus Marle: Legate-Secundus
Baltus Prenton: Windmaster
Lanna Jureigh: Healer
Tyron Frand: Legion Chaplain
Severine Tiseme: Legion Farseer
Seth Korion: a battlemage
Renn Bondeau: a battle-mage
Tomas Coulder: a battle-mage
Bevyn Fenn: a battle-mage
Hugh Gerant: a battle-mage
Evan Hale: a battle-mage
Rhys Lewen: battle-mage
Fridryk Kippenegger: a battle-mage
Ramon Sensini: a battle-mage
Nyvus: Dupre’s aide-de-campe
Storn: Tribune of the Tenth Maniple
Col: a scout of the Tenth Maniple
Sydia
Gul-Vlk: chief of Vlk tribe
Hyr-Vlk: chief’s son
Drzkir: head shaman of Vlk Sfera
Myrlla: a Vlk Sfera mage
Gilkria: a Vlk Sfera mage
Ordo Costruo (Mage Order based in Hebusalim)
Antonin Meiros: Arch-Magus (deceased)
Justina Meiros: Antonin’s daughter
Rene Cardien
Rashid Mubarak, Emir of Halli’kut
Alyssa Dulayne
Taldin
Stivor Sindon
Francois Vertros
Hebusalim
Tomas Betillon: Imperial Governor of Hebusalim
Ramita Ankesharan: Lakh widow of Antonin Meiros
Captain Faubert: master of the windship Fleur-Rouge
In Javon
Cera Nesti: Queen-Regent of Javon
Timori Nesti: Crown-Prince of Javon
Solinde Nesti: Princess of Javon (deceased)
Paolo Castellini: a Nesti guard commander
Harshal ali-Assam: a Jhafi noble
Francesco Perdonello: Chief of Royal Bureaucracy
Acmed al-Istan: an Amteh Godspeaker
Pita Rosco: Master of the Royal Purse
Luigi Ginovisi: Master of Revenues
Seir Luca Conti: a Rimoni knight
Comte Piero Inveglio: a Rimoni nobleman
Seir Lorenzo di Kestria: a Rimoni knight (deceased)
Ilan Tamadhi, Emir of Ihtemsa
Seir Rico di Kestria: a knight (elder brother of Lorenzo)
Seir Maxi di Aranio: a knight
Borsa: Nesti family nursemaid
Tarita: a palace maid
Ivan Prato: a Sollan drui
Mustaq al’Madhi: a criminal
Endus Rykjard: a mercenary commander
The Dorobon monarchy
Octa Dorobon: widowed matriarch of Dorobon Family, pretenders to the Javon throne
Francis Dorobon: son and heir of the Dorobon line
Olivia Dorobon: daughter of Octa and sister to Francis
Magister Rhodium: a mage
Sir Terus Grandienne: a mage-knight
Eternalus Crozier: a Kore bishop
Alfredo Gorgio: a Rimoni lord of Hytel
Portia Tolidi: a noblewoman of Hytel, sister of Fernando
Fernando Tolidi:a nobleman of Hytel (deceased)
In Kesh
Sagostabad
Salim I, Sultan of Kesh
Wimla: a Krak di Condotiori maid
Among the Hadishah
Kazim Makani: a Souldrinker and assassin
Jamil: a mage assassin
Molmar: a Hadishah skiff-pilot
Gatoz: Hadishah mage and commander
Talid: an assassin
Yadri: an assassin
Hamid: a Hadishah trainee
Arda: maid to Alyssa Dulayne
Haroun: an Amteh Scriptualist
Elsewhere
Sabele: a Souldrinker seer
Huriya Makani: a Souldrinker, sister of Kazim
Zaqri: a Souldrinker
Ghila: a Souldrinker, wife of Zaqri
Perno: a Souldrinker
Hessaz: a Souldrinker, wife of Perno
Arkanus: a Souldrinker warleader
In Lakh
Teshwallabad
Tariq, Mughal of Lakh
Hanook: Royal Vizier
Baranasi
Ispal Ankesharan: trader
Tanuva Ankesharan: Ispal’s wife
Jai: Ispal’s son
Keita: Jai’s lover
From the Past
Johan Corin (‘Corineus’): and Messiah of the Kore
Selene Corin (‘Corinea’): sister and murderer of Johan, personification of feminine evil
Hiltius Sacrecour: late emperor, grandfather of Emperor Constant
Magnus Sacrecour: father of Emperor Constant
Alitia: deceased first wife of Emperor Constant
General Arkimon Robler: a renowned Noros general
General Jaes Andevarion: a disgraced Rondian general
Olfuss Nesti: a deceased King of Javon
Jarius Langstrit: a Noros general
Fraxis Targon: a deceased Inquisitor
APPENDICES
Time-line of Urte history
Year Y500BV*: Approximate beginning of the Rimoni conquest of Yuros.
(BV = Before Victory)
Year Y1: Beginning of the reign of Emperor Sertain, and new calendar adopted.
Year Y380: The dissident Corineus and his followers engage in ‘The Ascension of Corineus’. Corineus dies, but three hundred survivors led by Sertain gain the gnosis and begin the conquest of Yuros. Another hundred under Meiros forgo war and journey eastwards into the wilderness, and a further hundred ‘moon-tainted’ survivors go into hiding.
Year 382: Sertain is crowned first Rondian Emperor in Pallas and establishes Sacrecour dynasty that still rules in Pallas. In time Rondian rule extends across almost entire continent of Yuros.
Year 697: First wind-ships from Pontus ‘discover’ Antiopia and its ancient and thriving civilisations. Trade-links develop, and eventually, plans for a linking bridge are developed by Meiros and his order of peaceful magi, the Ordo Costruo.
Year Y808: The First Moontide: the Leviathan Bridge is completed by Meiros and opens for the first time.
Year Y820+: The Second Moontide sees Rimoni natives flood into Ja’afar (Javon) in large numbers, where they buy land and establish themselves. As they gain political control, civil war develops, but is averted by the ‘Javon Settlement’ formally adopted in 836. The monarchy of Javon becomes democratic and is legally tied to the necessity for mixed racial background.
Year 834: A Keshi invasion of northern Lakh establishes the Amteh in Lakh, and a dynasty subservient to Kesh (the ‘Mughal’ is a Keshi ruler of Lakh territories).
Year Y880/881: The Seventh Moontide: the most successful Moontide trading season in Hebusalim, and the revelation that the Pallas debt exceeds revenues. Crown credit crisis resolved by underwriting of crown debt by merchant bankers Jusst & Holsen.
Year Y892/893: The Eighth Moontide: trading is disrupted by a series of atrocities by both Amteh fanatics and Kirkegarde knights.
Year Y902: ‘The Year of Bloody Knives’: Emperor Hiltius is assassinated and his son-in-law Constant becomes emperor. Adherents of his elder daughter are arrested and executed after a reported coup attempt.
Year Y904/905: The Ninth Moontide and the First Crusade: the Rondian Emperor Constant sends his legions into Hebusalim. His armies are permitted to cross the Bridge by the Ordo Costruo; they defeat the armies of Dhassa and Kesh. The Rondians establish the Dorobon monarchy in Javon and plunder Sagostabad. The Rondians leave a garrison in Hebusalim to resist re-occupation.
Years Y909/910: The Noros Revolt: King Phyllios III of Noros refuses to send tax and tribute to Pallas, provoking a military response. Despite promises of support from neighbouring states, Noros is isolated and finally defeated in 910 when the last armies under General Robler surrender.
Years Y916/917: The Second Crusade: Rondian legions are reinforced in Hebusalim. They defeat the Sultans of Dhassa and Kesh and plunder as far east as Istabad. Again they withdraw to Hebb Valley as the Bridge closes.
Year Y921: Rebellion in Javon results in the Dorobon monarchs fleeing into exile and the establishment of the Nesti monarchy. Olfuss Nesti becomes king.
Year Y926: The Eighth Convocation of Amteh declares Shihad upon the Rondian invaders.
Year 927: The next Moontide will begin in 928. The Third Crusade is declared by Emperor Constant, and preparations for war accelerate in both continents.
Note: Antiopian chronology is counted from 454 years earlier than Yuros, so Y927 is A1381.
Time and Dates in Urte
The world of Urte uses a lunar calendar, and due to the size and influence that the moon has on both continents (or perhaps because they were once joined) they have essentially the same calendar, though they use different names for the months. There are twelve moon-cycles in a year, each 30 days long, making the lunar year 360 days. The solar calendar is a few hours longer, meaning that every few years an out-of-calendar day is recommended by the Ordo Costruo to the Emperor of Yuros and the rulers of Kesh, which is widely observed. The months are as follows:
Month of Year Season Yuros Name Antiopian name
1st month Spring Janune Moharram
2nd month Spring Febreux Safar
3rd month Spring Martrois Awwal
4th month Summer Aprafor Thani
5th month Summer Maicin Jumada
6th month Summer Junesse Akhira
7th month Autumn Julsep Rajab
8th month Autumn Augeite Shaban
9th month Autumn Septinon Rami
10th month Winter Octen Shawwal
11th month Winter Noveleve Zulqeda
12th month Winter Decore Zulhijja
There are five parts to the lunar cycle, each roughly six days long, creating five six-day weeks. They are: New Moon, Waxing Moon, Full Moon, Waning Moon and Dark Moon. The weekly holy day is usually the last (or first) day of the six-day week; generally no commercial work is done and the day is divided between religious observance and relaxation.
The days of the week are as follows:
Day of Week Yuros Name Kesh name Lakh name
1st day Minasdai Shambe Somvaar
2nd day Tydai Doshambe Mangalvaar
3rd day Wotend
ai Seshambe Budhvaar
4th day Torsdai Chaharshambe Viirvaar
5th day Freyadai Panjshambe Shukravaar
6th (holy) day Sabbadai Jome Shanivaar
The time is measured using sand-timers, and the hours are rung by a man assigned to staff the tallest tower of every city, town and village. There are varying numbers of hours to the day and night: at the instant of dawn, a bell is struck, and then again every hour until sunset, when a different (lower-toned) bell commences. Depending upon the season and latitude, a day might contain as many as sixteen daylight or night-time hours or as few as eight, but a day always totals twenty-four hours. Due to variability in quality of timing devices and vigilance of timekeepers, the time-keeping can be quite variable. The hours of the day are named as follows:
Sunrise is the first hour: Day-Bell One
Midday is typically Day-Bell Six
Sunset would normally be considered Day-Bell Twelve, or Night-Bell One.
Midnight is typically Night-Bell Six.
The Primary Religions of Yuros and Antiopia
Sollan (Yuros): The Sollan Faith was the dominant religion of the Rimoni Empire and evolved from the sun and moon cults of the Yothic peoples that spread from the northeast prior to the formation of the Empire. Sol is the male deity and progenitor of mankind, together with his wayward wife Dara, or Luna, who is associated with the moon. The Sollan faith is kept by priests known as drui whose primary function is to keep records, advise communities and observe the seasonal rituals. The Sollan faith was outlawed by the Rondian Empire in 411 following the establishment of the Kore. It still thrives in parts of Sydia, Schlessen, Rimoni and Pontus, and also among the Rimoni of Javon.
Kore (Yuros): The Church of Kore was established alongside the conquest of Rimoni by the Rondian magi. It believes that Corineus, the leader of the group who discovered and consumed ambrosia and gained the gnosis, was the son of God (or ‘Kore’). The Church elevates people of mage-blood (i.e. related to one of the 300 Ascendants who led the conquest of Yuros by the Rondians) and holds that Kore gave the gnosis through the death of his Son. The Kore is the prime religion of Yuros, except where Rondelmar does not hold sway (parts of Sydia, Schlessen, Rimoni and Pontus). The Kore is male-dominated and places religion and the magi above secular society.
The Kore promises eternal life in Heaven for the faithful, a status that magi automatically gain, but ordinary men can aspire to. The wicked burn in Hel, a fiery underworld ruled by an evil spirit called Jasid (though never named, as that is believed to be unlucky).
