Sinhael: The tallest mountain in the land, standing a thousand meters taller than the rest of the mountains to the west. A semi-dormant volcano that releases smoke and ash every few generations.
Sword of Nubal: One of the Relics of Power. A longsword purported to be used by one of the First Fathers.
The Guide: One of the Relics of Power. A large, crystal-like orb the size of a big man’s head. Intersecting gold straps encircle it. Nobody knows what it’s for.
The Rod: A forgotten Relic of Power. Full name is the Rod of Lukoz.
Trinoma: A unique, small village, consisting of three extended families. Not well known.
Vesht Ants: Big black ants the length of a section of thumb. They have strong pincers on their mouths which inject a mild numbing agent- not dangerous for a person.
Walan: Essentially a deer, but somewhat like an antelope. It has two separated horns that spiral somewhat out from its head and come to a point. White tail and light red fur.
Zhimana: A warlike people in the mountain forests to the south and east of Zyronilxa. A matriarchal rule with work, war, and family duties shared equally between women and men. Sworn enemies of the Ehtzen.
A note on people’s names: You may have noticed a pattern amongst the names of people in the world of the Guide and the Sword. It is a common one throughout history and cultures—where a certain vowel or word-ending denotes a gender and the lack thereof denotes the other gender. Linguistics are just about the best thing.
I have a lot of people that need thanking for their help in getting this book—and by extension the entire series—finished and in your hands. If you’re reading this, it probably means you care about this stuff, and that is because I’ve had help making these stories awesome. So let’s get to it.
First off, Annemarie. For your relentless belief in me and your tireless support and your kisses that help me figure out how to write kissing scenes—thank you. Twenty-one years and eternity to go.
Second, my kids. Thomas, Hintze, April, Lily, Nathaniel, Benjamin, and Wallace. You love having fun, you have massive imaginations, and you’re my alpha readers. Having so many of you love this series has been a giant boost. Now don’t spoil what comes in the next series, or you’ll be disinherited from my utter lack of fortune.
Melissa Meibos, you are a great editor. Thank you for working with me on Usurper and Red Prince and for being a tireless cheer squad. Your walk-by selling skills are unmatched. Mikey Brooks, your work on the covers and inside of these books is crazy. I can’t believe how perfectly you caught the vision I had for these things. Thank you!
Next, I have to thank Randy Tayler again. Out of the blue you tweeted at me telling me you were reading the chapters I was posting live on my website of book one: Lakhoni. You liked them! That helped me realize this story had legs. Thanks! And by extension, thank you to that old writing group of old: Randy, Rebecca, Suzy, and Mark. You’re the best.
To Emma Hoggan, who helped find the diamond in Lakhoni, thank you.
To my review squad—Brent, Katie, Eleanor, Connor, Lisa, Carrie Ann, Ammon, Julia, Joe, and Jennifer—thank you for joining up and for helping. If you, dear reader, want to be in my review squad, simply find me on Twitter or Facebook or email and let me know. We’ll make it happen.
Also, to Amy Harmon, Jordan McCollum, and a bunch of other writers on Twitter who sprint with me to help me get that first draft done—I can’t thank you enough.
I have to acknowledge Edgar Rice Burroughs, Clive Cussler, Robert Ludlum, Robert E. Howard, Aprilynne Pike, David West, Graham Bradley, DJ Butler, and a bunch of other writers I don’t have space to list. Reading your work, hustling side by side with some of you, and talking with you about the craft has helped me settle more comfortably into my writing.
Internet, thank you. Thank you for being awesome and having so much knowledge ready for the reading and learning.
And finally, to you wonderful readers, teachers, and librarians, thank you. I love hearing how much fun you and your students have with these stories. Please keep your emails, messages, tweets, and letters coming. What a blast you make this writing business!
Finally finally, thank you God.
Jared Garrett is the author of the number one bestselling scifi thriller Beat and a bunch of other lies in book form. He is a family man raising seven kids with his best friend and wife of two decades. He’s been telling stories since he was thirteen and found himself weeping over Bridge to Terabithia. He has worked in education and corporate training for nearly twenty years, delivering training globally for Amazon for the last three years. He had an odd childhood in a nomadic cult, which he left at seventeen. He’s worked as a firefighter, a BBQ restaurant manager, a bellman, and as a rubber vulcanizing engineer, among many others. His stories have been nominated for and won several awards, including First Place in the Vera Hinckley Mayhew contest in Utah and Honorable Mention in the Writers of the Future contest. His favorite authors are Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Robert Ludlum, Katherine Paterson, Douglas Adams, Patricia McKillip, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and many more. If you ask him where his story ideas come from, be prepared for a lengthy discussion about inspiration dust, hauling a towel wherever you go, and dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. No, seriously. Dogs.
Connect with Jared on:
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