01 - The Compass Rose
The Compass Rose
GAIL DAYTON
The Compass Rose
For Robert. Thanks for all the brainstorming help
and for paying attention when I told you
how much fun fantasy was. I’m glad you’re my kid.
And for Lindi. Keep at it. Dreams do come true.
CONTENTS
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Kallista Varyl-
captain in the Adaran army, naitan of the North, lightning thrower
Torchay Omvir-
Adaran sergeant, Kallista’s bodyguard
Stone, Warrior vo’Tsekrish-
Tibran warrior
Fox, Warrior vo’Tsekrish-
Tibran warrior, fighting partner to Stone
Aisse vo’Haav-
Tibran woman
Obed im-Shakiri-
Southron trader
Joh Suteny-
Adaran guard lieutenant
Serysta Reinine-
ruler of Adara, North naitan truthsayer
Viyelle Torvyll-
Adaran prinsipella of Shaluine
Belandra of Arikon-
the near legendary godstruck naitan who unified the first four prinsipalities to establish Adara, a thousand (or so) years ago
Huryl Kovallyk-
Serysta’s high steward
Erunde Nonnald-
Steward’s 4
th
undersecretary
Irysta Varyl-
Kallista’s birth mother, East naitan healer
Karyl & Kami Varyl-
Kallista’s twin sisters by blood
Mother Edyne-
Mother Temple prelate in Ukiny
Huyis Uskenda-
Adaran general in Ukiny
Merinda Kyndir-
Adaran East naitan healer
Mother Dardra-
Kallista’s 5
th
mother, Riverside temple prelate and administrator in Turysh
Domnia Varyl-
founder of the Varyl bloodline, West naitan and prelate
Oughrath, Bureaucrat vo’Haav-
docks and trading official in Haav
Beltis-
South naitan firethrower, Adaran trooper under Kallista’s command
Hamonn-
Beltis’s bodyguard
Adessay-
North naitan earthmover, trooper under Kallista’s command
Kadrey-
Adessay’s bodyguard
Iranda-
South naitan lightmaker, trooper under Kallista’s command
Rynver-
East naitan plantgrower, trooper under Kallista’s command
Mora-
South naitan foodspoiler, trooper under Kallista’s command
Borril-
Adaran guard sergeant
Smynthe-
Tibran female magic hunter
Gweric-
Tibran male magic hunter
GLOSSARY
Adara-
the nation occupying the northern half of the continent south of the Jeroan Sea
aila (aili)-
Sir or Madam, a title of respect in Adara
Alira River-
tributary of the Taolind, descending from the Shieldback Mountains near Arikon
Arikon-
capital of Adara at the edge of the Shieldback Mountains in western Adara
Athril River-
center, navigable branch of the two western arms of the Unified River
Boren-
town where the Alira becomes unnavigable, where the road to Arikon begins
Devil’s Neck-
impassable isthmus connecting Tibran continent to the Adaran
Devil’s Tooth Mountains-
the mountains that make the Devil’s Neck impassable, habitable only in the lower southern reaches, above the Empty Lands
Djoff-
Tibran port on the western coast, at the mouth of the Athril
Dzawa-
Tibran city where the Silixus descends from the central plateau to the coastal plain
Empty Lands-
an ancient lava-flow desert on the northern edge of Adara, thought to have been created in the Demon Wars 2000 years ago, habitable if one is careful
Filorne-
prinsipality north of Taolind, upriver from Turysh; coat of arms: crossed swords, black and silver
Gadrene-
Ukiny’s prinsipality; coat of arms: blue-and-white ship
Haav-
main port of Tibre, at the mouth of the Silixus River, easternmost of the rivers coming out of Tsekrish
Heldring Gap-
wide valley in west central Adara, famed for the mines on either flank, and the swords made there
ilian (iliani)-
four to twelve Adaran adults joined into a family unit, their version of marriage
ilias (iliasti)-
spouse (spouses)
Kishkim-
port city west of Ukiny, at the mouth of the Tunnassa River, known for its swamps and smugglers
Korbin-
northernmost Adaran prinsipality, just south of Devil’s Neck land bridge in the Devil’s Tooth Mountains and the Empty Lands, Torchay’s home prinsipality; coat of arms: red-and-gold stag
Mountains of the Wind, Mother Range-
mountain range that marks Adara’s southern border, Mother Range is Southron name; Mountains of the Wind is name used by Adarans
naitan (naitani)-
a person with a magical gift
Obre River-
westernmost branch of the Unified River, fast and full of rapids
Okreti di Vos Mountains-
the name means “Arms of God” in the ancient language; separated from the Devil’s Tooth range by a lava-flow desert and from the Shieldbacks by the Heldring Gap
prinsep (prinsipi)-
the ruler (male or female) of one of the once-independent governmental units now joined together to create Adara
prinsipality-
the province ruled by a prinsep
prinsipella-
the offspring (male or female) of a prinsep
Reinine-
the priestess-queen chosen by the collective Adaran prelates and prinsipi to rule Adara; a lifetime appointment, but not hereditary
Shaluine-
prinsipality north of Turysh, between Taolind and Tunassa Rivers; coat of arms: gold lion
Shieldback Mountains-
a western mountain range separated from the Mother Range by the Taolind and Alira River valleys and from the Okreti di Vos Mountains by the Heldring Gap, where Arikon is located
Silixus River-
important transport river in Tibre, easternmost of the three branches of the Unified River, the only one that empties into the Jeroan Sea
Taolind River-
Adara’s major river, leading from northern coast at Ukiny southwest deep into the interior
Tibre-
the nation made up of most of the continent north of the Jeroan Sea
Tsekrish-
capital of Tibre, on the high central plateau where the Unified River breaks into three
Tunassa River-
secondary river, north of the Taolind, rarely navigable, empties into Jeroan Sea at Kishkim, runs southwest to northeast
Turysh-
Kallista’s hometown, at the confluence of the Taolind and Alira Rivers, also the name of a prinsipality, coat of arms: green tree surmounted by a gold crown
Ukiny-
port city on Adara’s northern coast, at the mouth of the Taolind River
Unified River-
flows into Tsekrish from northern mountains, once considered sacred
CHAPTER ONE
T
he wind off the sea snapped the banners to attention on the city walls. It ripped at the edges of the captain’s tight queue and set the two white ribbons of her rank fluttering from her shoulders. Kallista Varyl tugged her tunic, blue for the direction of her magic, into better order. Yet one more time she wished that if she had to have North magic, she might have been given some more useful type. Directing winds, for instance.