The Legend of El Shashi

by Marc Secchia

  Doublesun cahooday–A popular Roymere festival involving competitions such as dancing, keg-wrestling, and beer-brewing, and an inordinate amount of feasting and merriment to go along with it.

  Dream-pipe–Long pipe with small round bowl, used to smoke varieties of tobacco or leaf drugs.

  Dusky Fahric–Language of the academic elite, use restricted to the scholarly elite.

  Dyndigit–Eldrik unit of measure, one hundredth of a digit.

  Dyndyndigit–Eldrik unit of measure, one hundredth of a dyndigit.

  Eldoran–Capital city of the Eldrik people.

  Eldoria–The Eldrik lands.

  Eldrik–A race separate to the Umarik. Enjoy a utopian society which has a strong culture of mentoring. Fighting and strife are unknown and the arts are highly valued. Very powerful Warlocks and Sorcerers. Generally diminutive in stature and fairer of complexion than Umarik although dark-haired. Keep slaves of the Armittalese race. Scientifically much more advanced than the Umarik. The Eldrik enjoy a kind of communal mind, the gyael-irfa, which functions to share knowledge and wisdom, but also controls the populace with behavioural conditioning.

  El Shashi–Arlak Sorlakson, the man of many names, man who can heal with a touch, literally means ‘the man who flees’.

  Fiefdoms–Umarik states, sometimes free states, usually ruled by a Hassutla or a ruling family, for example, Chasturn, Roymere, Elbarath, Hakooi, Brephat, Damantia, etc.

  Fromite–Distinctive purplish mineral deposit, common to the mountains of Arlak’s birth and a few other parts of the Fiefdoms.

  Gantul–Generation.

  Grephe–The sixth sense, a sense of insight or special knowledge, sometimes foreknowledge.

  Guardtower will–A supposedly impenetrable mental/magical construct used to hide features or parts of a mind from observation or manipulation by outside forces. Implemented by Janos in Arlak to hide his Eldrik heritage and cut him off from the gyael-irfa.

  Gyael-irfa–Communal mind of the Eldrik race. A means of common communication, a racial feature which they believe raises them above other races. Used by the Interrogators to snoop on the doings of individual Eldrik; employed by Jyla to subvert minds and turn them to her use. The guardtower will can hide a person from the gyael-irfa.

  Herikbane–Cereal crop rich in oils which make jatha slightly mad for a period of several makh.

  Hexogi–Six-sided Roymerian inn design, built around a central hearth with five wings branching off the main building. The sixth facet is the front door, often fronting a space for parking carts and takibuges.

  Hassulkarian–The Hassutl of Herliki’s chain of office.

  Hassutl–Male ruler of a city or state, consort to the Hassutla.

  Hassutla–Female ruler of a city or state.

  Hewehat–A type of grain, similar to wheat. Distinctive lime-green when unripe. Hewehorm is a fabric dye of similar hue.

  Holia–Eldrik dwelling.

  Holitaph–Hakooi traditional feast-day.

  Holok–Mentor who offers young women a practical education in sexual matters before the Matabond, an old Umarite custom.

  Honoria–Respectful form of address for a lady of rank.

  Hyngreal–A collective mind-state of Mata-worship, much valued by the Eldrik as the ultimate expression of worship to the creator and sustainer of life.

  Illiathi–Eldrik favourite, very spicy fish dish.

  Jalkwood–Tough mountain tree, resistant to rot, used for furniture-making.

  Jatha–Large domesticated bovine with thick, spreading horns as wide as a man’s outstretched arms, used to draw carts, provide meat, and leather for hides. Glues are made from the hooves.

  Jerlak–Wild cousin of the domesticated jatha, a dangerous and unpredictable animal.

  Kabari tunic–Hakooi traditional tunic for men, a patchwork riot of clashing colours.

  Khat–Mildly narcotic leaf used to keep drudges happy and compliant, related to tobacco.

  Konis–A herb.

  Lahi bread–Eldrik favourite bread spiced with rumiaflower seeds.

  Larathi–Swear word.

  Layik–Leader of a village, head woman.

  Liathe–Goddess of Sorcery.

  Lillia–Eldrik word for a store of magic power, or the command of magical potential.

  Limmerwort–High-grown root vegetable.

  Limnisflower–Armittalese perfume imported to Eldoran from beyond the Ammilese March.

  Lithpot–Ink pot.

  Lithlin runes–Lithlin is a deep blue ink extracted by a secret process from the leaves of the taramara tree; runes written with a quim using lithlin ink.

  Lloviatir–Eldrik, hair worn over the right shoulder and dressed in complex braids, only for qualified female graduates of the Guilds.

  Lohki–Leafy vegetable grown in the mountains.

  Loiol tree–Tree of 50 paces tall on average, has a smooth trunk and a single tuft of lavender leaves on the top.

  Lormix–Parasitic fungus which affects jatha, left untreated will blind and eventually kill the animal.

  Lucanism–Term describing the doctrine of Lucan, the separatist leader who ‘cleansed’ the Eldrik people and created the Banishment, then took his own life, martyr for the cause. Publicly revered by many Eldrik as the father of modern Eldrik society. A great wizard, poet and philosopher, and a politically astute man who took his life after completing his signature work, the Banishment.

  Lumdog–Small pet dog common in the Fiefdoms.

  Lummericoot–Stringed instrument with a long neck having five or seven strings, either played with a bow or plucked.

  Luninol tree–Tall but flexible tree with long, thin hanging branches, which sways in the slightest breeze, most commonly found in Eldoran.

  Lurdik flower–Small flower, extract used in medicine.

  Lurganberry–Tart berry common to the southern Fiefdoms, used in creating berry wines.

  Lurmint–Type of hardwood tree common to the Fiefdoms.

  Lymat–Grain variety, high-grown.

  Lynfay–Armittalese material spun from spider-silk.

  Lyom / Lyomhouse–Domestic fowl which lays green speckled eggs.

  Lyrakosh–Large desert cat, approximately the size of a lion, lives in the mountains on the edge of the Great Erg.

  Lyrithbark–A type of tree.

  Makh–A period of approximately two hours, there being fourteen makh in a day, five to sleep and nine to work.

  Mata–The Creator Goddess, regarded by Umarite and Eldrik alike as the highest of all Gods.

  Matabond–Marriage vows made before Mata.

  Mataflower–Rare and costly gemstone mined in a secret location near Soluk Village.

  Matali-ur-uli–Practice by religious fanatics (Grathayn sect) of shining sunlight or other powerful light sources into a person’s eyes to exorcise evil from the quath.

  Meliki scimitar–Double-edged, double-pointed scimitar favoured by the coastal peoples of Herliki Free Fiefdom.

  Merriol silk–Tough silk produced from merriol worm cocoons.

  Mokir–Men’s headscarf, worn for modesty in Brephat.

  Moxi–Grain variety, high-grown, used in bread-baking.

  Myki Mahdros–An ancient Umarite legend, wherein Myki the Snake cheated the Goddess Yuthe of the nectar of immortality, hoping to make himself one of the Gods. Imyni, the Goddess of Hunting, hunted Myki to the ends of the lands and shot him through the heart with one of her burning arrows, thus recovering the nectar. Some versions of the tale claim that Myki had two hearts and thus cheated death.

  Nadal–Village idiot.

  Nardis–A hard narcotic, smoked in a dream-pipe use leads to psychosis.

  Narkik–Swear word, meaning a person who commits incest.

  Nethe–Hell; a place of torment and judgement; Ulim’s demesne.

  Nevsê / Nevsêsh–Eldrik linguistic suffix adding the endearment ‘my soul’ or ‘beloved of my soul’ to a person’s name. The ‘sh’ in a suffix is the feminine form.

 
; Night-eaters–Fabled weapon of Eldrik Warlocks, said to suck the quoph out of a man and leave him a husk.

  Nih / Nish–Eldrik linguistic suffix denoting close relationship, often used between good friends

  Nihka / Nishka–Eldrik linguistic suffix denoting the most intimate form, usually only used between husband and wife

  Nummandori Overlords–Very mysterious, ancient race said to rule the Armittalese.

  Oil of Rumali–Extract of sathic seed.

  Ormetal–A brass alloy.

  Pakari flatbread–Elbarath bread made without yeast.

  Pearlock–Fowl, lays a distinctive blue egg.

  Palisk-quartz–A decorative pink or red variety of quartz, prized by Eldrik architects.

  Pentacle–Home to the Guild of Interrogators in Eldoran, the place where Arlak is tortured on his arrival in Eldoran.

  Perikol–Tasty fruit much loved by the Eldrik.

  Phuletip–A common five-petalled yellow flower much beloved by Roymerians for decorating window-boxes, as it flowers in all but the coldest seasons of the anna.

  Pumphouse–Washroom, a place for weary carters, traders and travellers to bathe and refresh themselves.

  Quath–Sometimes called the animal soul, the seat of emotions, desires, and one’s fundamental needs.

  Quatl–The personality soul–describes one’s character, background, and upbringing, beliefs.

  Quatyl–A person skilled in diagnosis of physical, spiritual and emotional ailments; a holistic healer. In some Fiefdoms a quatyl can be seen more as a witchdoctor.

  Quim–Quill pen commonly used for writing.

  Quoph–Eternal soul. The highest, deepest, and most mysterious of the three souls.

  Qur’lik message drum–An important means of communication in the Fiefdoms, a system of large drums in the towns and villages used to rapidly relay messages.

  Renj–Type of beet grown in the mountains.

  Rimwood tree–Tall and thick hardwood tree, much prized for furniture making due to the dark, strongly-grained texture of the wood.

  Rimmerwort–Root vegetable similar to a large yellow carrot.

  Rock lynx–Medium-sized cat commonly seen in the mountains and woodlands of the Umarik Fiefdoms.

  Rockwood–Hardwood tree which grows to a trin and a half’s height, named for the extreme durability of its wood.

  Roundel sweetbread–Sweet bread-roll commonly baked in the Fiefdoms, eaten at any and every occasion.

  Rumiaflower–A flower commonly used in perfume-making.

  Rumik–Shirt or overshirt worn by Roymerian men, double lapels folded over to the left side and belted at the waist.

  Safehouse–Safe place to leave one’s valuables in an inn overnight.

  Salcat–A small wildcat about the size of a domestic cat, with distinctive white-tufted ears and a white bobbed tail–originally ‘salt-cat’.

  Salikweed–Narcotic, used to grant a man berserker strength in combat, stains lips and gums purple, leads to increased physical growth and early death.

  Sallinen–A fine type of cloth, worn by the wealthy.

  Sardi-dress–Hakooi traditional holiday dress with wide flounced skirts and bells sewn into the hem.

  Sathic–Common sweet-smelling herb in the Fiefdoms, makes an infusion against colds, arthritis and rheumatism.

  Scrolleaf–A hardy papyrus-type paper particularly used for archiving and the recording of commerce.

  Seribik sea-serpent–Small sea-serpents that nest on the coast of Hakooi.

  Shadworm–A multi-legged crawling insect, carnivorous and aggressive, grows as long as a man’s arm.

  Shalik runes–Rune-stones usually made from human bones and used in prophecy and foretelling.

  Shenbik tree–Tree of Eldoran which bears three different fruits, each in its season.

  Shilita–Large, curved sword of the desert nomads.

  Shillier wool–A very soft wool made from the fur of long-haired silky rabbits in Eldoran.

  Sholfish–Freshwater fish commonly eaten in the Fiefdoms, a much smaller relative of the river pike.

  Shrine of Akki-Ayali–Shrine to warriors fallen in glorious battle. A body is embalmed and placed in public view for an anna and a day before being entombed.

  Shurmal tree–Grows in Cherholn valley of Eldoran, large purple blossoms, said to have magical properties.

  Sifadoon–Warm Doublesun breeze in Hakooi, comes off the southern deserts.

  Slaghounds–Slaghounds to the slaughter: wild dogs which hunt in packs, common to the Faloxxian peninsula; they are afraid of nothing.

  Sodbuster–Epithet for a farmer; a peasant; a lowlife.

  Solibas oil–Very strong-smelling oil, used for embalming bodies and cleansing tombs.

  Songstrel spire–A tall, thin spire commonly found in Umarik villages and towns, the place from which the daimi and dioni orisons are sung.

  Sotik–Large flightless bird of the Faloxxir peninsula.

  Span–A period equating to 14 minutes, there being eight spans to a makh.

  Sparkstone–A flinty stone used to strike sparks to make a fire.

  Stagesmith’s mask–Used in drama, a device to transform the actor into the personification of a deity or role, e.g., Death, Mata, Ulim, Love.

  Staypole–Place to temporarily harness jatha.

  Stinge–Thorny, tall bush.

  Striploose–An insult referring to a man who puts his own pleasure above hers; literally, a man who drops his trousers too quickly in the bedroom.

  Sulg–Low bush with a very strong odour, eaten by jatha and jerlak.

  Surriba–Fashionable Herliki dress, gathered close to the waist and fitted at the bodice, hand-stitched.

  Suthauk–The primary, yellow sun.

  Sybali–Caste of warrior-born women who worship Liathe, the Goddess of Sorcery, also called trance-warriors.

  Takibuge–An enclosed carriage drawn by five or six jatha, used for travel by the wealthy.

  Terg tree–Tall, straight-growing hardwood tree.

  Terl–Coin of small value, brass. A beggar’s due.

  Thexik–Type of cord or linen trousers worn by Umarite commoners, a peasant’s clothing.

  Thorrick–Hay, used as animal feed.

  Tollish ship–Eldrik seagoing vessel.

  Torfly–Annoying biting fly.

  Trin–Measure of one hundred paces.

  Tropik-hopik–Slang for a young man of dubious reputation.

  Tygar–Very large wild feline, commonly found in the jungles and forests of the Umarik Fiefdoms.

  Ukal–Coin of medium value.

  Ulikarn–Double-bladed dagger made of narwhal horn, used by the Sybali warriors.

  Uliktak–Herbal remedy used by male consorts in Umarite brothels to render their seed infertile.

  Ulim–Ulim, evil, much-feared God of the underworld and God of judgement (upon evildoers). Also Ulim Godslayer, believed by some to be a powerful Sorcerer who killed the Gods and usurped their place.

  Ulim’s Hounds–Similar to the chaos hounds. A belief that during ten days of darkness Ulim lets his hounds loose on the evildoers of the world; a reckoning, shorthand for swift judgement.

  Ulinbarb–A low, squat tree often used for firewood, due to the dense composition of the wood.

  Ulitrist–Ulim-worshipper, dissect corpses in search of arcane knowledge.

  Ulule–Storyteller, usually female.

  Umak talis–Dusky Fahric for a forbidden liaison, part of a stagesmith’s repertoire of language.

  Umanthi–Process of charring wood in cultural or artistic patterns using a heated metal implement.

  Umarik–A racial group, generally tan to dark of skin, inhabitants of the Fiefdoms.

  Umarik Fiefdoms–The demesnes of the Umarite peoples, as distinct from the Eldrik. Mostly peaceful, but marred by regular territorial disputes.

  Ur-Mataph–Deity, creator-God, female, the eternal feminine, Mata for short.

  Wardog–A bulky, muscular dog, bred for aggression, used in
war to break the opposing army’s ranks by attacking beneath the shield-line.

  Web of Sulangi–Magical construct most notably used by Eldrik Warlocks to raise Wurms, but can also be used to amplify lillia.

  Wurm–The ‘burrowing dragon’, considered mythical, can be augmented from common creatures by Eldrik Warlocks for warfare.

  Yaluk–Type of sparrow known for its particularly sweet and pretty warbling call.

  Yammariks–The Umarik equivalent of priests, intermediaries with the Gods.

  About the Author

  Marc is a South African-born author who lives and works in Ethiopia with his wife and 4 children, 2 dogs, a rabbit, and a variable number of marabou storks that roost on the acacia trees out back. On a good night you can also hear hyenas prowling along the back fence.

  When he’s not writing about Africa Marc can be found travelling to remote locations. He thinks there’s nothing better than standing on a mountaintop wondering what lies over the next horizon.

  Growing up in Cape Town gave Marc a love of all things salty, and is the inspiration for the IsleSong series–ocean worlds, whales as you have never imagined them, and adventure on the high seas await!

  Other Books by Marc Secchia

  The IsleSong series: (Young Adult and older readers) A story for anyone who loves the ocean and its whales, salt water in their hair, and the gentle rasp of beach sand between their bare toes. This story will transport you to a beautiful, unspoiled ocean world where people have to rely on Whales to travel between the islands. A world where danger can, and does, lurk beneath any wave.

  The Girl who Sang with Whales (IsleSong Book 1)

  The Shioni of Sheba series: (Middle Grades and older readers) Unique African historical fantasy adventures set among the myths and legends of ancient Ethiopia.

  Shioni of Sheba #1: The Enchanted Castle

  Shioni of Sheba #2: The King’s Horse

  Shioni of Sheba #3: The Mad Giant

  Shioni of Sheba #4: The Sacred Lake

  Feynard: Epic fantasy with a tongue-in-cheek twist (Young Adult and older readers)

  For Kevin Jenkins, nothing good can come from being kidnapped out of his comfortable old slippers to save Feynard’s mythical Forest from the Blight. He’s bedridden, afraid of beetles, and he doesn’t believe in magic. But his abductors, a Unicorn and a Dryad, think differently.