Meuric

A Protectorate Series Novel

MEURIC

BEGINNINGS: Part One

By Maurice Jennings

Copyright © 2015 Maurice Jennings
The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

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I would like to thank those who have supported me in my writing endeavours. You know who you are…

For my daughter Joanne

Contents

Characters

Lexicon

Prologue

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

One Hundred and Fifty-five Years Later

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Two Weeks Later

Chapter IX

Chapter X

Chapter XI

Chapter XII

Twelve Years Later

Chapter XIII

Chapter XIV

Chapter XV

Chapter XVI

Chapter XVII

Chapter XVIII

Chapter XIX

Chapter XX

Chapter XXI

Chapter XXII

Chapter XXIII

Chapter XXIV

Chapter XXV

Chapter XXVI

Chapter XXVII

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter XXIX

Chapter XXX

Chapter XXXI

Chapter XXXII

Chapter XXXIII

Chapter XXXIV

Chapter XXXV

Chapter XXXVI

Chapter XXXVII

Chapter XXXVIII

Chapter XXXIX

Chapter XL

Chapter XLI

Chapter XLII

Chapter XLIII

Chapter XLIV

Chapter XLV

Chapter XLVI

Chapter XLVII

Chapter XLVIII

Chapter XLIX

Chapter L

Chapter LI

Chapter LII

Chapter LIII

Chapter LIV

Chapter LV

Epilogue

CHARACTERS

Abram – Prophesied child of the Roz'eli-held province of Jay'keb

Adela – Gahp'ryel's resistance leader against the Roz'eli

Anan – A powerful warrior who is part of Abram's retinue

Baadur – The Conclave's Troop Lieutenant

Bairre – A townsman of Ay'den

Bradán – Soldier serving in the Dark Druid's Legion

Briiz – Goddess of the Breeze and daughter of the god Widan

Cade – Key Keeper and Chief Administrator to the Conclave's Council of Eight

Cide – Offspring of Junives and entity representing universal order

Colton – Childhood friend of Meuric

Corliss – Love interest of Bradán

Daciana – Lady Prēost and Council of Eight member

David – Knight Protector of Jay'keb

Deo – The God of Death

Dervla – Wife of Meuric

Éabha – A soldier in the Druid's Legion and Bradán's adjutant

Eachann – Chieftain of Ay'den

Edgar – Rabi'a War Band warrior

Eufen – God of the seas

Fabien – Villager of the Daw'ra tribe

Fabienne – Knight Protector of Nah'cho

Faeder – Chief deity and ruler of the New Gods

Fari – Goddess of Fate and daughter of the entity Taim

Fedelm – Wife of Eachann

Gabija – Female Trooper in the Conclave's Brown Tower Squadron and archer

Gavriil – Discerner for the Dark Druid assigned to E'del

Genovefa – Woman of Ay'den

Haakon – A soldier in the Druid's Legion

Heber – Kel'akh merchant

Honora – Wise-woman of Ay'den and prēost of Fari

Iacchus – Trooper and swordsman of the Conclave's Brown Tower Squadron

Iason – Knight Protector of E'del

Jabez – Trooper and swordsman in the Conclave's Brown Tower Squadron

Jemima – Mother of Abram

Judoc – Eldest son of Meuric and Dervla

Junives – The god of all things. Junives is the god that all gods worship

Kaan – Trooper and archer in the Conclave's Brown Tower Squadron

Kettledrum – Shaman from the Nomad lands and a Council of Eight member

Laban – A Trooper of the Conclave

Liam – A nobleman and Custodian of Northwest Kel'akh

Mailís – Consort of the Dark Druid

Malitia – Daughter of Melevelens and the Goddess of Malice

Manlius – Ancient Roz'eli king

Melevelens – Goddess of dark acts

Meuric – Former Protectorate soldier and defender of the Kel'akh Nation. Currently sells himself as a sword for hire

Mittere – Messenger of the gods

Muin – Moon goddess

Nana – Dead wife of Thales

Nathan – Trooper and mage in the Conclave's Brown Tower Squadron

Neitfe – Offspring of Junives and an entity representing life within the universe

Obadiah – Father of Abram

Onóra – Serving girl in Kar'el

Paden – An Oak Seer from the Kel'akh Nation

Paulus – Knight Protector of Ee'en

Petros – Knight Captain for the Protectorate

Qadir – Knight Protector of Ar'en

Quirinus – Roz'eli Administrator assigned to Nah'cho

Rabi – Townsman from Ah'mos

Radha – Knight Protector for the Conclave assigned to the Kel'akh Nation

Rainier – War Band Commander of Rabi'a

Reume – Goddess and patron of the Roz'eli Empire

Rialiti – Offspring of Junives and an entity representing reality

San – God of sunlight and fertility

Seul – Entity representing the mind and soul

Shanahan – Sister of Liam

Simeon – Jay'keb mage

Siorus – Daw'ra tribe member

Skeil – The god who judges your soul when you enter the Otherworld

Sliip – Goddess of sleep

Speis – Offspring of Junives and an entity representing infinity

Streno – Demigod and son of Faeder and a mortal woman, renowned for his strength

Tacitus – Roz'eli senator and Commander of General Agents

Taim – Offspring of Junives and an entity representing time

Theirn – Rabi'a Chieftain

Ulrich – An Oak Seer assigned to Nah'cho

Urbanus – Roz'eli Centurion soldier loyal to Tacitus

Václac – First Mate on the merchant ship
Widan

Valens – Decurion loyal to Tacitus

Wacław – Captain of the merchant ship
Widan

Widan – God of the Four Winds

Wis – Goddess of Wisdom and War Strategy

Wyeth – Older son of Rainier

Wyrre – The god of war and bloodlust

Xavier – Younger son of Rainier

Yahya – Townsman from Ah'mos

Ysolt – War Band Lieutenant of Rabi'a

Zahara – Female servant of Jemima

Zuleika – Knight Lieutenant and second-in-command of the Protectorate

LEXICON

Administrator – The military and civil authority over an assigned province in Roz'eli-held territory

Antestes Cambire – Words of magick used by the Knight Protectors to change into the garb of the Protectorate

Ard-ri – Kel'akh name for their High King

Balance, the – A magickal and religious view where darkness and light must co-exist for the universe to exist

Ballista – A large catapult that fires large bolts

Balneae – A small heated bathing area for either public or private use

Bard – A person who can connect through empathic magick by way of words and song

Barring Narration – A spell that prevents the specific use of magick

Ben-sidhe or Woman of the Mounds – A daemon whose presence means death and hardship

Bireme – A Roz'eli scouting vessel, known for its speed and manoeuvrability

Bracae – Kel'akh trousers

Bratt – A Kel'akh cloak

Bridge Maker – Overall ruler of Wardens Keep, the Conclave, and head of the Council of Eight

Cena – A Roz'eli evening meal made up of several courses

Chieftain - The elected leader of a tribe in Kel'akh culture

Chilton – A knee-length tunic worn by Roz'eli slaves that can either be long sleeved or short

Cohort – A Roz'eli cavalry unit identified by dark grey armour over a brown tunic

Conclave, the – An association of high-ranking and powerful magi that teach magick and religion inside Wardens Keep

Conclave Standard – A white sword denoting the Conclave's Guardians, a black gauntlet clenched into a fist around its blade representing the power of the Council within a grey shield signifying the Protectorate and finally five coloured towers surrounding the picture, representing the warriors.

Conclave Squadron – A cavalry unit of twenty-five men broken down into five-man squads used in support of their missions

Corsair – A pirate

Council Administrators – Ministers who are directly subordinate to the Council of Eight

Council of Eight – Comprising the Head of each order within Wardens Keep, each of whom dictates the missions of the Protectorate and protects the world from the evil of the Otherworld

Crannóg – In the Kel'akh Nation, an artificial island on which a Kel'akh home is constructed

Crenel – Tooth-like gap in a battlement wall

Death Eaters – A cult group that actively seeks the deaths of others even at the cost of their own lives

Discerner – Spy

Disepie – Word of magick, meaning disappear

Doorway Narration – A spell that opens magickal portals for almost instant travel

Fear Narration – A spell that creates that state of mind

Federate Mercenaries – Men and women of Roz'eli-conquered lands that fight for the Empire

First Citizen – The highest-ranking civilian authority in a city or town in Rozeli-held territory

Free Archers – Unit comprising soldiers from conquered regions who undertake suicide missions, in return for which they pay no tax on their wages or spoils of war

Gaol – Prison

General Agents – A Roz'eli secret intelligence gathering unit that operates throughout the Empire and further afield that also conduct assassinations, subterfuge and sabotage

Gifts – Special abilities performed by those with access to the realm of magick

Gift of Distant Carry – Ability to instantly jump from one location to another

Gift of Distant Perception – Ability to communicate silently

Gift of Divining – Ability to tune the body to perform a specific function

Gift of Empathy – A connection to living things on a personal level

Gift of Feather Light – Ability to levitate

Gift of Soul Measure – The ability to read objects

Gladius; pl. gladii – A double-edged short sword used by Men-of-the-Legion

Gradalis (also known as the Cauldron-of-Plenty) – Cauldron from which the Protectorate drink to receive their Gifts

Greave – Armour of iron or toughened leather protecting the lower legs

Guardians (nicknamed the White Knights) – Act as a police force for Wardens Keep and bodyguards for the Conclave ministers

Roz'eli Guardsman – Local militia trained and recruited to guard villages, towns and cities within Roz'eli-held territories

Hand-over – Traitor

Hireling – A sword for hire or sell-sword

Hoplon – A large circular shield made of bronze, leather and wood measuring approximately one metre in diameter

Imperial Guards – Elite soldiers who protect the Emperor, his immediate family, and the city of Roz'eli

Kel'akh hierarchy (in descending order): King/Queen; Oak Seer; Council Members; Custodians; War Band Commander; War Band Lieutenant; nobleman; Chosen Man; the people; slaves

Kel'akh tattoos – Bronze and blood-red tattoos represent the Bren'es tribe; forest-green for the Daw'ra tribe; red and white tattoos for the I'soot tribe; sea-blue and white swirl tattoos for the Oak Seers of Isle Ee'ay; red tattoos for the Oo'do tribe

Key Keeper – Chief Administrator for the Council of Eight

Khopesh – A two-handed sickle-shaped sword, featuring a crescent blade and measuring about two feet in length

Kopis (meaning chopper) – A heavy, curved, one-handed sword of 65cm used in E'del

Kosmos Stones – Five magick gems that contain the powers of a god but can only be controlled by a mortal

League – Three Roz'eli miles

Legion – A Roz'eli military unit of 5000 men

Link, the – Means of telepathic communication between the Council and members of the Protectorate

Lost Room, the – A room that only the ruler of the gods can enter to take the Skywalk made of hoar frost crystal to converse with Junives

Man-of-the-Legion – A Roz'eli soldier of basic rank

Men of Art – Artisans whose magick comes alive through their work

Milksop – A person who lacks courage

Ministers – Officials who operate the day-to-day running of Wardens Keep

Name Day – A designated day assigned to the date of birth

Narration – Spell

New Gods, the – Children of the Old Gods who rebelled and overthrew the reign of their parents

Oak Seer – Prēosts and lawgivers for the Kel'akh Nation

Old Gods, the – The first order of gods to be created by man

Onager – A catapult system designed to throw rocks a considerable distance

Otherworld – Name given to the realm of gods

Parapet walk – The passageway along a wall that facilitates shooting and performing surveillance

Penteconter – A vessel used mainly for trading and commerce

Pit, the – Region where the Old Gods are imprisoned

Poltroon – An utter coward

Port – Name given to a gateway within a village, town or city

Portcullis – A secondary gate designed to reinforce a port

Prēost – Member of a religious order

Protectorate – An elite and secretive fighting unit of the Conclave

Pugio – A large leaf-shaped dagger used by Men-of-the-Legion

Rank system in the Druid Legion: Legion Master (identified by a charcoal tunic and cloak); Legion Major (grey tunic and cloak); First Chieftain (dark brown tunic and cloak); Captain (brown tunic and cloak); Lieutenant (bronze tunic and cloak); First Servant (dark green tunic and cloak); Chosen Man (green tunic and cloak), and Private soldier (olive green tunic and cloak)

Rank System in the Roz'eli Military: Duke (who commands up to five legions); Legate (at least two legions); First Spear (1000 men); Second Spear (500); Centurion (100); Decurion (50); Chief of Ten (10)

Realm of Mortals – What the gods call Terit're

Religious Conviction – An oversight group made up of high-ranking religious leaders from across Terit're who superintend the workings of the Council of Eight and the Protectorate

Roz'eli Empire – Controls an area of land 4 million square kilometres and contains a population of 55 million

Second Citizen – Assists the First Administrator in the running of a settlement

Shade – Ghost

Spatha – Long straight blade used by cavalry, approximately 39 inches in length

State Guard – Elite Roz'eli soldiers used for the protection of Roz'eli officials

Stola – A long tunic worn by women that can be either sleeved or sleeveless

Strigil – An instrument made of curved bone to scrape the oil off the body after bathing

Tab'ee helm – Open-faced helmet with nose plate and cheek-guards

Temple Knights – Elite warriors who protect the interests of the Religious Conviction and who are recognisable by their black and red uniforms

Terit're – A single land mass of roughly 150 million kilometres

Timeline:
War of the Gods
– In the earliest time of mankind, the Old Gods rise up against the Titans that spread war to all the regions of the universe;
Age of Durance
– The Conclave, with the help of the Protectorate, attempts to enslave the world. The people rise up;
The Fall
– The destruction of the original Conclave. Earthquakes destroy the land mass that was home to the Conclave. Tidal waves reach out and touch many coastlines of Terit're;
Age of Despair
– A time of disease, famine and war throughout the furthermost regions of Terit're.

Traditional Jay'keb customary exchange – “I thank you for allowing me into your home.” Response – “I thank you for respecting my home.”

Traditional Oak Seer saying: “May the land guard you.”

Travelers' Inn – An inn and barkeep set up in every Kel'akh settlement for the travel weary and locals alike

Troop Lieutenant – Second-in-command of all the Conclave Squadrons, identified by a single silver star over the heart

Troop Captain – Overall commander of the Conclave Squadrons, identified by two silver stars

Vambrace – Armour made of metal or toughened leather that protects the forearms

Veil Narration – A spell that hides a person in a specific area

War Band – Men and women of fighting age in the Kel'akh culture that make up the militia

War Band Commander – Battle leader of the tribe

War Band Lieutenant – Second-in-command of a War Band

Wardens Keep – An immense citadel on a pentagram shape that homes up to 5000 persons. A place of learning and teachings of magick and religion

Water Bearer – Elemental mage with an empathic link to all things water

Whoreson – Bastard

Wicca – Male witch

Wicce – Female witch

Wiccan – Those who follow the path of witchery

Widan – A penteconter-class merchant vessel

Woman of Companionship – Prostitute