Mouse and Dragon (47 page)

Professor Kiladi has published widely, his scholarship is noteworthy, and his achievements undeniable,
Aelliana said tartly.
He is a work of art,
van'chela
; a work of art with a heart and a soul, sorrows and joys. You owe him at the least a brother's care, yet you drive him and make demands of him and allow him not a single joy or pleasure. I never knew you to be so meager, Daav. It troubles me. Indeed, it troubles me deeply.

Tears pricked his eyes—his or hers, it scarcely mattered. Nor did it matter that the fabrication of Jen Sar Kiladi had begun as a game; twenty years, three degrees, and dozens of scholarly papers, hundreds of students . . . Surely, Jen Sar Kiladi was every bit as alive as—as Daav yos'Phelium.

 . . . or perhaps more.

Daav?

"Aelliana . . ." he gasped, the slow tears suddenly fast and hot. "Aelliana . . ."

He twisted, burying his face in the flat pillow, sobbing, and seeing it all, all again—the street, the flash, her hair swirling as she leapt to shield him, the blood, the blood . . . 

Some time later, as he lay shivering and exhausted, he felt her stroke his hair, then slip close and put her arms around him. And so at last he fell asleep, imagining that she held him.

a'nadelm

Heir to the nadelm.

a'thodelm

Heir to the thodelm.

a'trezla

Lifemates.

al'bresh venat'i

Formal phrase of sorrow for another Clan's loss, as when someone dies.

benjali

Excellent.

cantra

Liaden unit of large currency, named for Cantra yos'Phelium.

cha'leket

Heartkin; a person for whom one feels a sibling's affection.

cha'dramliza

A Healer. plural: cha'dramliz.

chernubia

Confected delicacy.

chiat'a bei kruzon

Dream sweetly.

coab minshak'a

"Necessity exists."

delm

Head of Clan.

delmae

Lifemate of a Delm.

denubia

Darling.

dramliza

A wizard. plural: dramliz (The dramliz . . . ).

eklykt'i

Unreturned.

Eldema

First Speaker (most times, the delm).

Eldema-pernard'i

First-Speaker-In-Trust.

Flaran Cha'menthi

"I(/We) Dare," Korval's motto.

ge'shada

Mazel tov; congratulations.

Glavda Empri

yo'Lanna's house.

indra

Uncle.

Jelaza Kazone

The Tree, also Korval's Own House. Approx. "Jela's Fulfillment."

Korval-pernard'i

See "Eldema-pernard'i."

Megelaar

The Dragon on Korval's shield.

melant'i

Who one is in relation to current circumstances. also who one is in sum, encompassing all possible persons one might be.

menfri'at

Liaden karate.

mirada

Father.

miravot

Altanian wine; blue in color.

nadelm

Heir to the Delm.

nubiath'a

Gift given to end an affair of pleasure.

prena'ma

Storyteller.

prethliu

Rumorbroker.

qe'andra

Person of business, i.e. an accountant.

relumma

Division of a Liaden year, equaling 96 Standard Days. Four relumma equal one year.

thawla

Mother.

thawlana

Grandmother.

thodelm

Head of Line.

tra'sia volecta

Good morning.

Trealla Fantrol

The yos'Galan house.

Tree-and-Dragon

Korval; a reference to their clan sign of a winged dragon over a tree.

Valcon Berant'a

Dragon's Price or Dragon Hoard, the name of Korval's valley.

Valcon Melad'a Dragon's Way,

the Delm's Own ship.

van'chela

Beloved friend.

va'netra

Charity case, lame puppy.

8 Standard Days in One Standard Week
32 Standard Days in One Standard Month
384 Standard Days in One Standard Year

96 Standard Days in One Relumma
12 Standard Months in One Standard Year
One Relumma = Eight 12-day weeks
Four Relumma = One Standard Year

Sharon Lee
and
Steve Miller
live in the rolling hills of Central Maine with three insistent muses in the form of cats and a large cast of characters. The husband-and-wife team's collaborative work in science fiction and fantasy include seventeen novels and numerous short stories in their award-winning Liaden Universe®. In addition to their collaborative work, Steve has seen short stories, nonfiction, and reviews published under his name, while Sharon has seen published short stories, newspaper pieces, two mystery novels, and
Carousel Tides
, coming from Baen in November.

Steve was the founding curator of the University of Maryland's Kuhn Library Science Fiction Research Collection and a former Nebula juror. For five years, Sharon served the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, consecutively as Executive Director, Vice President and President. Sharon's interests include music, seashores and pine cones. Steve also enjoys music, plays tournament chess, and collects cat whiskers.