The Labyrinth of Destiny

by Callie Kanno

  L’avan, the race of: the descendants of the sons of L’avan and their Serraf wives. They inherited magical abilities from the Serraf, setting them apart from other humans. They lived in isolation for centuries, but recent tragedy forced them to set forth on a new path. They are now striving to become part of the community of the world, and have founded a settlement away from their homeland.

  Leander (lee-AN-der): son of Hestia, the leader of the Ojuri tribe.

  L’era (l-EY-rah): younger sister to L’iam, who died during the rescue mission at the Shimat fortress.

  L’iam (l-EE-am): King of the L’avan and husband to Adesina. He was kidnapped by Basha to be used to open the Threshold between the human world and the realm of magical creatures. His L’avan gifts include being able to channel pure energy (life force) and being able to sense the emotions/intentions of those around him.

  L’on (l-ON): L’iam’s older brother and former Crown Prince of the L’avan. He died during the mercenary attack on Pevothem.

  L’unn (l-UHN): L’iam’s father and former King of the L’avan. He died during the mercenary attack on Pevothem.

  L’yra (l-AY-ruh): L’iam and Adesina’s daughter, and heir to the L’avan throne.

  Ma’eve (mah-EYV): another name for Adesina, primarily used by Ravi and E’rian.

  Maizah (MAY-zah): a Tracker for the Shimat organization. She has the ability to sense vyala, and therefore can track magic-users. She was born and raised in Shimat captivity, and had never known anything but obedience until she was freed by Kendan. She is also mute.

  Mar’sal (mar-SAHL): a L’avan protector. He joined Adesina on her journey to rescue L’iam. His L’avan gifts include healing and the manipulation of density.

  Matshi (mat-SHEE): a group of former Shimat who left the order when Basha and Cha-sak took over. They are led by Kendan, and strive to become peacekeepers rather than assassins.

  Me’da (MEH-dah): a retired L’avan Protector General, serving as one of L’iam’s military advisors.

  Me’shan (meh-SHAHN): a member of the L’avan race. Adesina’s father and governor of Yavar. He was captured by Adesina when she was a teenager, and turned over to the Shimat. When Adesina discovered the truth of the Shimat, she led a rescue mission to retrieve Me’shan. He is husband to E’rian, and also father to E’nes.

  M’os (m-OHS): the sixth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

  Na’cum (NAH-koom): the ninth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

  Nordin (NOR-dihn): a former citizen of the High City, among those who escaped to Emerald Harbor. He is husband to Deasa.

  Northern Tribes: nomadic groups of people, generally ostracized from society. They are treated with distrust and contempt by others, and therefore usually keep to themselves.

  Ojuri (o-JUR-ee): one of the Northern Tribes, led by Hestia.

  O’nan (O-nan): the third son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

  Per (pehr): a former Shimat instructor, and Adesina’s former Shar. He fled with Signe from Cha-sak’s influence and then followed Kendan as a member of the Matshi.

  Petre (PEH-treh): a race of Immortals that look like a slightly humanoid pile of rocks.

  Pevothem (peh-VOE-them): the homeland of the L’avan people.

  Plague Years, the: the decade following the Great Wars, where pestilence greatly reduced the world population. It is said that the plagues were born of magic, because magic-users were the first to be affected.

  Protectors: special L’avan warriors who have received elite training. Many of them serve the royal family.

  Qetza (KET-za): a race of Immortals in the form of enormous serpents with feathered wings.

  Quinlan (KWIN-lan): a former citizen of the High City, and a blacksmith by trade. He is among the refugees that escaped to Emerald Harbor.

  Rajan (rah-ZHAN): former leader of the Rashad race, and mentor to Ravi.

  Rashad (rah-SHAD): a race of enormous felines with great intelligence. They serve as companions and guardians to the L’avan people. Their ancestors were the guardians to the Serraf.

  Rasim (RAH-sim): the last king of Sehar, murdered by the Shimat.

  Ravi (RAH-vee): a member of the Rashad race, and personal guardian to Adesina. He and Adesina were Joined by magic, which enables them to share thoughts and emotions, as well as physical traits such as strength. He is son to Riordan and Rabia, brother to Ruvim and Rissa, and betrothed to Remah.

  Riel (ree-EL): the Rashad companion to Sitara.

  Rina (REE-nah): a former citizen of the High City and friend to Adesina. She escaped with a group of refugees that eventually sought protection with the L’avan. She is wife to Degan, and mother to Cavell, Ardley, and Faryl (named for her adopted aunt, the apothecary).

  Ri’sel (rih-SEL): a member of the L’avan race. Brother to Me’shan and uncle to Adesina. His L’avan gifts include telekinesis and extreme focus.

  Rissa (RIH-sah): a member of the Rashad race, and younger sister to Ravi.

  Ruon (ROO-on): leader of the Laithur, and counterpart to Sitara as Adesina’s companion.

  Satosh (sah-TOSH): a crewmember of the merchant ship Zephyr, and an amateur historian. He is also the adoptive father of Suvi.

  Savir an Kavi nan Darshan ol Henka (sah-VEER ahn KAH-vee nahn dar-SHAHN ol HEN-kah): a Desert Dweller whose life is saved by Adesina and her companions, and he joins the fight against Cha-sak. His name means Savir, son of Kavi, of the Darshan family group, of the Henka tribe. His animal guardian is a hawk.

  Sehar (SEH-har): also known as The Fallen Kingdom of Sehar, it is Adesina’s homeland. The kingdom was created shortly after the Great Wars, and the monarchy rules for many generations. Then, about seventy years before this story takes place, the royal family was killed and the government collapsed (hence, its name of the Fallen Kingdom). It now has no organized government other than what can be found in isolated cities or villages. The natives are called Seharans.

  Serraf (SEH-raf): magical creatures that look like beautiful women. They are the Watchers of the gateways between worlds, and the Rashad are their guardians and companions. They are immortal, and they can use all of the magical gifts of the L’avan instead of just one or two.

  Shar Children: students who are raised from infancy in the Shimat fortress.

  Sharifal (shar-IH-fahl): the title of the leader of the Shimat order.

  Shi (shee): a student training to become a member of the Shimat order.

  Shimat (SHEE-mat): a secret organization of warriors and spies, whose goal is to gain power and influence. They are trained extensively from childhood in a wide variety of topics, and then are sent out on missions when they have completed their education.

  Shimat demons: a group of shadow demons, from which the organization derived its name.

  Signe (SIG-nay): Sharifal of the Shimat order, and the woman who primarily raised Adesina from infancy to when she began her training. She also raised Kendan as her nephew.

  Sitara (sih-TAH-rah): the leader of the Serraf during the Great Wars, and Adesina’s guide through the realm beyond the Threshold. She becomes Adesina’s teacher as Adesina strives to master her new abilities as a Serraf.

  Solaran (so-LAR-an): a race of magical creatures similar to dragons.

  So’phus (SO-fus): the fifth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

  Ston (stohn): the former leader of the Entrance Council in the High City. He became leader of the group of refugees that fled to the north and eventually sought protection with the L’avan.

  Suvi (SOO-vee): a teenage girl who lives and works aboard the merchant ship Zephyr with her adoptive father, Satosh.

  Syss (sis): the leader of the Qetza.

  Tanar (TA-nar): one of Sehar’s few cities, located the farthest south of all of them.

  Than’os (THAN-os): a L’avan Protector, and one of Adesina’s first students. He joined Adesina on her journey to rescue L’iam, where he lost an arm. His L’avan gifts include
the manipulation of objects/elements and hyper-awareness of the world around him.

  Thieves’ Forest, the: an ancient forest that acts as one of the barriers between Pevothem and the rest of Sehar. It was formerly favored by thieves and other miscreants due to its isolation from other civilization, but it was abandoned when the spirits of Immortals took up residence there.

  Threshold Child, the: a figure in a prophecy told to the L’avan by the founder of the race. The Threshold Child is said to be the one who will lead the L’avan to their great purpose. Adesina is believed to be this person.

  Thresholds: gateways between the various realms, such as the human realm and the realm of magic.

  Toraun (TOR-awn): the leader of the Council, and the leader of the Aurym race.

  Torith (TOR-ith): the horse that L’iam gave to Adesina as a gift after her first visit to Yavar.

  Umarina (oo-mar-EE-na): the daughter of the governor of Charan.

  Vattir (va-TEER): a magical race of creatures, distinguished by their stubby bodies and bat-like wings.

  Velia (VEE-lee-ah): a member of the Shimat organization. She takes over for Breyen after he abandons his post.

  Vyala (VYAH-lah): a word that means “light of the soul,” it is the manifestation of life force. In layman terms it is called magic, but it is a connection and control of the life force of the earth and all creatures therein. Only certain creatures are able to control their vyala, among them are the L’avan (through their Serraf ancestors) and the Rashad.

  Vyuhava (VYOO-hah-vah): a special kind of Dream that precedes a life-altering decision. The Dream usually contains information relevant to the choice that will be made.

  Wadell (wa-DEL): former governor of the High City who dies shortly after the refugees fled to the north.

  Wakichonze (wah-KEE-chonz): the Lord Governor of Charan.

  Wraith: an evil spirit that feeds on fear.

  Wren’na (REN-nah): a member of the L’avan race. Wife to E’nes, and mother to En’ver, R’egina, and Med’gar. Her L’avan gifts include healing and hyper-awareness of the world around her.

  Yavar (yah-VAR): the capital city of Pevothem.

  Zadok (ZA-dok): the former blacksmith at the Shimat fortress. He fled with Signe and later became a member of the Matshi.

  Za’far (ZAH-far): the second son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

  Zamual (ZAM-yoo-ahl): a male member of the Hite clan of scholars from the city of Tanar.

  Zephyr: the merchant ship that conveyed Adesina and her companions from Sehar to Zonne during their search for L’iam.

  Z’eki (z-EH-kee): a retired L’avan Protector General, serving as one of L’iam’s military advisors.

  Zonne (ZON-neh): the continent southeast of Sehar, primarily composed of deserts.

  Zulimar (ZOO-lih-mar): captain of the Zephyr, a merchant ship.