Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (50 page)

Ravi
shook his head. “I do not know. All I know is that your life drained away
completely, and then you were filled with…something else.”

His
voice was peculiar, and she leaned forward in concern. “What do you mean,
Ravi?”

He
struggled to find the right words. “You were transformed.”

Adesina’s
memories came rushing back, and she recalled the converting fire that had
seared her entire body. She turned her attention inward, and she realized that
she felt incredible.

She
was much stronger than before—much more powerful.

Ravi
was still trying to explain what he had experienced through their Joining. “I
do not know how to describe it. I have only ever felt such a thing from your
Dream, when we were in the presence of—”

“The
Serraf,” finished Adesina faintly.

Her
guardian nodded slowly. “Yes.”

Footsteps
could be heard approaching, and a silhouette appeared at the entrance of the
cave.

Adesina
sprang to her feet with more speed and grace than she had ever possessed.

“Who
is there?” she demanded.

The
figure came into view, and Adesina recognized her immediately. She had long,
wavy hair and eyes that were a metallic purple with flecks of gold. Her face
was unearthly in its beauty, and her full form was robed in a simple gown of
white. She was accompanied by a Rashad with black fur and golden eyes.

It
was Sitara, the leader of the Serraf.

Her
musical voice sounded with the confidence and authority of a herald.

“Welcome,
She Who Was Born on the Threshold. We have been waiting for you.”

Note:
Names that contain an apostrophe
(e.g. L’iam) should be said with a brief pause where the apostrophe is placed.

A’asil (
AY-ahsil
): a
L’avan soldier who often worked closely with L’iam. He was in the search party
that first discovered Adesina outside the High City, and he competed against
her in a knife-throwing contest. He was among the first casualties when L’iam
was kidnapped by the Shimat. His L’avan gifts included manipulation of light
(illusion) and manipulation of gravity.

Adesina (
adeh-SEE-na
):
Queen of the L’avan, and wife to L’iam. She was raised and trained by the
Shimat, but left the organization when she discovered their true purpose. She
is daughter of Me’shan and E’rian, and sister to E’nes. It is believed that she
is the Threshold Child, a key figure in the prophecy concerning the future of
the L’avan. She has the ability to use all of the magical gifts of the L’avan,
rather than just one or two.

Adrie (
ah-DREE
): the name
used by Adesina during her time in the High City.

Aekuor (
AY-koo-or
): a
giant sea serpent that attacks ships.

Aleron (
ah-LAIR-on
): a
former citizen of the High City and friend to Adesina. He died during the
rescue mission of Adesina’s father.

Aletta (
ah-LEH-tah
): a
refugee from the High City, and younger sister of Deasa.

Aradsus (
ah-RAD-sus
): a
large desert creature native to Zonne. It is bigger than a horse and resembles
something between a boar and a scorpion.

Aurym (
AH-rim
): a magical
race of creatures, distinguished by their golden hair and four arms.

Banolf (
BAN-olf
): a nation
across the sea, northeast of Sehar.

Basha (
BAH-sha
): Adesina’s
fiercest enemy and former rival in the Shimat order. She was responsible for
the kidnapping of L’iam, and initiated the ritual that opens the Threshold
between worlds.

Be’ezal (
bee-EY-zal
): a
race of winged demons that drink blood.

Belen (
BEH-len
): a refugee
of the High City, and younger brother to Deasa.

Blood Weapons: customized
weapon(s) given to Shimat graduates, forged with drops of their own blood.

B’osli (
b-OZ-lee
):
the tenth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

Bren (
bren
): a
Serraf in Adesina’s
vyuhava
that sacrifices her life to open the
Threshold.

Breyen (
BRAY-en
):
Adesina’s Shar as a young student, and second to the Sharifal. He is father to
Faryl, and lead many experiments regarding magic. He is also the secret leader
of a splinter group of Shimat that intend to wrest power from the Sharifal.

Cha-sak (
cha-SAK
): a demon
Shimat (as opposed to a member of the Shimat organization) who longs to destroy
humanity.

Cor’a (
KOR-ah
): a member
of the L’avan race, and personal maid to Adesina.

Cre’sin (
CREH-sihn
):
the seventh son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

Daemon Mount: a lone
mountain in the desert of Zonne, where the Threshold is said to be located.

Dava (
DAH-vah
):
the title given to a
L’avan when they are betrothed. Each L’avan child is taken to a Reader (one who
specializes in reading the spirits of other human beings), who determines if
there is another L’avan child currently living who would be an ideal match in
marriage. If there is, the two children become betrothed. If there is not, the
child goes on with their life as before.

Deasa (
dee-AY-sah
): a
former citizen of the High City and friend to Adesina. She escaped with a group
of refugees and found a home in Emerald Harbor. Wife of Nordin; sister to
Matias, Aletta, Grania, and Belen.

Devlin (
DEV-lin
): Kendan’s
father, who is deceased.

Dezisla (
deh-ZIH-slah
):
rival to Naiser the Mighty, and magistrate of Lam.

Dreams: a vision in which the
mind of a living person passes into the spirit realm. The Dreamer can see the
spirits of the dead or events of the past. Dreamers can also see symbolic
possibilities of the future.

Ed’mon (
ED-mon
):
the eleventh son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

Emerald Harbor: one of the five
remaining cities found on Sehar. It is the only major port in the kingdom, and
one of the few economic producers. The sea emerald plant, which grows in the
harbor, is used to make a vibrant dye which is sold to merchants from all over
the world.

E’nes (
eh-NEHZ
): a L’avan
Protector and brother to Adesina. He was named regent of the L’avan settlement
during Adesina’s absence. His L’avan gifts include hyper-awareness of the world
around him and telekinesis.

En’ver (
EHN-ver
): a member
of the L’avan race. Toddler son to E’nes and Wren’na.

E’rian (
eh-REE-an
): mother
to Adesina and E’nes, and wife to Me’shan. She was captured by the Shimat while
pregnant with Adesina, and she was imprisoned until the birth of her daughter.
She used the last of her life-force to forge a bond between Adesina and
Me’shan, enabling them to find one another. Her spirit dwells in the Dream
world, where she guides Adesina in her journey.

Etan (
EY-tan
): a
neighboring kingdom to Sehar.

Fair Tides: the merchant ship
that conveys Basha and L’iam from Sehar to Zonne.

Falcon: the name of Adesina’s
Blood Sword.

Faryl (
FAIR-ihl
): a former
Shimat test subject who escaped and hid in the High City. She was recaptured by
the Shimat when the High City was destroyed, and she shared a prison cell with
Me’shan. She is called an alchemist by the Shimat, due to her advanced
abilities that stem from her L’avan mother. Breyen is her father.

Fia (
FEE-ah
): a former
citizen of the High City, daughter of Hass and Jelana (hosts to Adesina during
her time there). She escaped with her family, and the group of refugees settled
in Emerald Harbor.

First Parents: a term that the
Rashad use to refer to their ancestors who entered mortality with the Serraf.

Fortress, the: the base of
operations for the Shimat order, and the training facility for the students.

Gaiana (
guy-AN-ah
): a
magical race of people, distinguished by their lack of arms and powerful legs.

Gainor (
GAY-nor
): a former
citizen of the High City and friend to Adesina.

Gauri le Jaya len
Omana ol Henka (
GAU-ree leh JAH-yah len o-MAN-ah ol HEN-kah
): the Chief
Elder of the Henka tribe.

Ghaith (
gayth
): a
neighboring kingdom to Sehar.

Gi’tel (
gih-TEL
):
the fourth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

Great Desert, the: a
land in the Dream world that is connected to Zonne. It bears the scars of
violent magic, and the residue can still be felt.

Great Wars, the: a period in
human history that spanned approximately fifty years, filled with numerous and
continual wars. It was primarily a war of magic, and the end of the conflicts
also marked the end of magic in the world. See also: Plague Years, the.

Hanta (
HAN-tah
): a tribe
of Desert Dwellers in Zonne, and the enemies of the Henka.

Hass (
hahs
): a former
citizen of the High City and host to Adesina during her time there. He was
among the refugees that settled in Emerald Harbor. He is a carpenter by trade,
but was forced to work in the mines (where he lost his leg). His wife is
Jelana, and his daughter is Fia.

Henka (
HEN-kah
): a tribe
of Desert Dwellers in Zonne that give shelter to Adesina and her companions
during the seasonal storms. They are shape-shifters, and each have an animal
guardian (whose shape they can imitate) from the time they are young.

Hestia (
HEH-stee-ah
): the
leader of the Ojuri, one of the Northern Tribes.

High City, the: a city that was
established with deliberate isolation from outside influences. Adesina was sent
there by the Shimat, and lived there for less than a year. After she left, the
entire city was destroyed.

Immortal Council: the leaders of
the magical races who directed the Armies of Light during the Great Wars.

Itho (
IH-tho
): an island
nation northeast of Sehar, just off the coast of Joura.

Jahan Lirit (
jah-HAN LIH-riht
):
a bard that Adesina meets in Emerald Harbor. He is fascinated with the L’avan,
and decides to travel with the High City refugees to the L’avan settlement.

Jame (
jaym
): the main port
city of Zonne.

Jelana (
jeh-LAH-nah
): a
former citizen of the High City and host to Adesina during her time there. She
was among the refugees that settled in Emerald Harbor. She is wife to Hass and
mother to Fia.

Joining: a magical process where
two souls are bound to each other. It is a ritual that was primarily used
between the Serraf and the Rashad.

Joura (
JOR-ah
): a coastal
nation found on the continent to the northeast of Sehar. It is the home of
Maizah’s parents.

Karon (
KAIR-on
): the alias
of Kendan during his years spent in Emerald Harbor.

Kay’l (
KAY-l
):
the eighth son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

K’eb (
k-EHB
): former
L’avan soldier who now serves as Adesina’s personal assistant. His L’avan gifts
include healing and hyper-awareness of the world around him.

Kendan (
KEN-dan
):
Adesina’s former Shar and former love interest. He betrayed her and manipulated
her on behalf of the Shimat order. He realized his love for Adesina and decided
to leave the Shimat to join her cause. He was raised as the nephew of Signe, the
Sharifal.

Keeva (
KEE-vah
): Kendan’s
mother, who is deceased.

Kirin (
KIHR-in
): the
military aide to L’avan (the man) during the Great Wars.

Lake Breezes: an inn found in one
of the small villages along the banks of the Sister Lakes.

Lam (
lahm
): an ancient
kingdom that bordered Sehar. In Adesina’s day it has split into two kingdoms,
Ghaith and Etan.

Lanil (
la-NIHL
): Adesina’s
childhood friend. They were both raised in the Shimat nursery from infancy.

L’aslo (
l-AHS-loe
): the
first son of L’avan, and one of the founders of the race.

L’avan (
l-ah-VAHN
): a man
who lived during the time of the Great Wars and raised eleven orphan boys as
his own sons. When his sons were grown, he convinced eleven Serraf to accept
mortality and to become their wives. He was the founding father of the L’avan
race.

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.

Layfan (
LAY-fan
): a
variation of the name L’avan, used by the Henka.

L’elia (
l-eh-LEE-ah
): aunt
to L’iam and sister to L’unn. She is next in line for the L’avan throne, should
something happen to L’iam.

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.

Lotannir (
low-tan-EAR
): a
nation found on a continent southeast of Zonne.

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

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 has never known anything but obedience. She is also mute.