Cobweb Forest (Cobweb Bride Trilogy) (41 page)

“Yes,” she said, “Sir Knight, ninny fool, love of my life.”

He pressed his lips against her forehead and held her very tight. “Then I think we will do very well together, you and I . . . My Lady Persephone Chidair.”

The ship was only a few hundred feet from the harbor when a strange light seemed to shine from the waters, from the hazy greenish depths below.

“Oh look! What is that?” Percy pointed to some strange fluid shape of translucence that passed beneath them as they moved through the occasional foaming swells.

Or rather, they passed over
it
.

Whatever it was, it suddenly caught the light of the sun like a prism, and it seemed to reflect a thousand tiny colored stars like a rainbow of fractured shards, a thing of molten blue and heliotrope and lavender and liquid sky.
 . . .

Sapphire blue.

Percy and Beltain looked overboard and gazed with wonder at what was surely a splendid chair, made of translucent glass . . . as though the wind had stolen itself underwater and taken the fluid form of a throne.

It was the
Sapphire Throne
of the Domain.

The only remainder of the past, it would thus grace the dreamland of the Mediterranean waters, and one day, a goddess might reawaken upon it and rise forth, bursting in delight, to play upon the waves.

The Beginning

If you enjoyed this series, you might also like

Lords of Rainbow
and
Dreams of the Compass Rose

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If you’ve made it this far, you are probably wondering about some of the liberties taken with history, in particular the fantasy version of the Renaissance, and the unusual European geography and mythical topology and mindset in this alternate universe.

The
Cobweb Bride
trilogy takes place in an imaginary “pocket” of Europe sometime in an alternate version of the 17th century Renaissance. I’ve modified the continent of Europe by inserting a significant wedge of land between France and Italy, dissolving Austria and Hungary into Germany and pushing the whole thing up north, shifting Spain halfway to the east and lowering the northern shores of the Mediterranean by pushing the southern portion of the continental landmass further down south so that the French Riviera is now where the sea is in our own reality.

Imagine a cross, with Germany up north, Spain to the south, France to the west, and Italy to the East. In the heart of the cross lies the imaginary land that comprises the Realm and the Domain.

Now that you’ve read the third and final book, you see that this is really an origin myth about the creation of the Underworld. It is also a myth of the grand scheme of things—the cycle of life and death (as they are inseparably linked together) and the cosmology involved, based on ancient Greek traditions. Persephone and Hades take center stage in this worldview, and I think they fit remarkably well into the sensibilities of the Renaissance. Indeed many of the Renaissance ideals evolved from the classical world, so this is truly a “marriage made on Olympus.”

According to Greek myth, Hecate took responsibility for the polecat. Pomegranates are really an Underworld “thing.” What happened at the original Eleusinian Mysteries remains a mystery, but I choose to think that it could very well be the pantomime of the Longest Night. Of course, in the language of modern science, it is also the metaphor for the Big Bang.

The culture of the mythical Realm and the Domain is an uneven mixture of French, Italian, Spanish, and German influences of the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The language spoken is Latin-based “Romance,” and the linguistics are also a mixture of the same.

Other minor liberties taken include the referral to some physical parcels of land as “Dukedom” as opposed to the correct term “Duchy.” Royal and noble titles, ranks, and their terminology are similar, but not the exact equivalents of our own historical reality.

I hope you enjoyed spending time with Percy, Beltain, Claere, Vlau, and all the other curious mortals and gods in this mythic tapestry of story.

May Queen Mab herself bring you the sweetest dreams of airy wonder and delight!

And now, please see the next page for a list of all the character names with a pronunciation key.

(Dramatis Personae)

With Pronunciation Key

Death
, Lord of the Keep of the Northern Forest

Village of Oarclaven (Lethe)
(Oh-ahr-CLAY-ven)

Persephone
(Per-SEH-pho-nee) or
Percy
(PUR-see)
Ayren
(EYE-Ren), middle daughter

Parabelle
(Pah-rah-BELL) or
Belle
(Bell)
Ayren
, eldest daughter

Patriciana
(Pah-tree-see-AHNA) or
Patty
(PEH-dee)
Ayren
, youngest daughter

Niobea
(Nee-oh-BEH-ah)
Ayren
, their mother

Alann
(Ah-LAHN)
Ayren
, their father

Bethesia
(Beth-EH-zee-ah)
Ayren
, their grandmother

Johuan
(Joh-HWAN)
Ayren
, their grandfather

Guel
(Goo-EHL)
Ayren
, their uncle from Fioren (south of Letheburg)

Jack Rosten
(ROS-ten), villager

Jules
(JOOL-z), Jack’s second son, promised to Jenna Doneil

Father
Dibue
(Dee-B’YOU), village priest

Nicholas
(NIH-koh-luss)
Doneil
(Doh-NEYL), village butcher

Marie
(Muh-REE)
Doneil
, his wife

Faith Groaden
(GROW-den), village girl

Mister
Jaquard
(Zhah-KARD), villager

Uncle
Roald
(ROH-uld), villager, the Ayrens’ neighbor across the street.

Bettie
(BEH-tee), village girl

Kingdom of Lethe
(LEH-thee)
(Realm)

The Prince Heir
Roland
(Roh-LUND)
Osenni
(Oh-SYEN-nee) of Lethe

The Princess
Lucia
(Liu-SEE-ah)
Osenni
of Lethe

Queen Mother
Andrelise
(Un-dreh-LEEZ)
Osenni

Prince
John-Meryl
(JON MEH-reel)
Osenni
, son and heir of the Prince.

Dukedom of Chidair
(Chee-DEHR)
(Lethe)

Duke
Hoarfrost, Ian Chidair
of Lethe

Lord
Beltain
(Bell-TEYN)
Chidair
of Lethe, his son, the black knight

Rivour
(Ree-VOOR), Beltain’s old valet

Father
Orweil
(Or-WAIL), Chidair family chapel priest

Riquar
(Reek-WAHR), Beltain’s man-a-arms

Laurent
(Loh-RENT), pennant bearer of Chidair

Annie
, girl in the forest

Dukedom of Goraque
(Gor-AH-k)
(Lethe)

Duke
Vitalio
(Vee-TAH-lee-oh)
Goraque
of Lethe

The Silver Court (Realm)

The Emperor
Josephuste
(Jo-zeh-FOOS-teh)
Liguon
(Lee-G’WON)
II
of the Realm

The Empress
Justinia
(Joo-STEE-nee-ah)
Liguon

The Infanta
Claere
(KLEH-r)
Liguon,
the Grand Princess

Lady
Milagra
(Mee-LAH-grah)
Rinon
(Ree-NOHN), the Infanta’s First Lady-in-Attendance

Marquis
Rinon
of Morphaea, her father

Lady
Selene
(Seh-LEHN)
Jenevais
(Zheh-neh-VAH-is), Lady-in-Attendance, of Lethe

Lady
Floricca
(FLOH-ree-kah)
Grati
(GRAH-tee), Lady-in-Attendance, of Styx

Lady
Liana
(Lee-AH-nah)
Crusait
(Kroo-SAH-eet), Lady-in-Attendance, of Morphaea

Lady
Alis
(Ah-LEE-s)
Denear
(Deh-ne-AHR), Lady-in-Attendance, of Lethe

Baron
Carlo
(KAR-loh)
Irnolas
(Eer-noh-LAH-s), Imperial knight

Lord
Givard
(Ghee-VAHR-d)
Mariseli
(Mah-ree-SEH-lee), Imperial Knight

Doctor
Belquar
(Behl-KWAH-r), head Imperial physician

Doctor
Hartel
(Hahr-TEH-l), Imperial physician

Kingdom of Styx
(STEEK-s)
(Realm)

King
Augustus
(Uh-GUS-tus)
Ixion
(EEK-see-ohn) of Styx

King
Claudeis
(Kloh-DEH-ees)
Ixion
of Styx, deceased

Queen
Rea
(REH-ah)
Ixion
of Styx, deceased

Marquis
Vlau
(V’LAH-oo)
Fiomarre
(F’yoh-MAH-r) of Styx

Micul
(Mee-KOOL)
Fiomarre
of Styx, Vlau’s father

Ebrai
(Eh-BRAH-ee)
Fiomarre
, Vlau’s older brother

Celen
(Seh-LEH-n)
Fiomarre
, Vlau’s younger brother

Marquise
Eloise
(Eh-loh-EEZ)
Fiomarre
, Vlau’s mother, deceased

Oleandre
(Oh-leh-AHN-dr)
Fiomarre
, Vlau’s younger sister

Lady
Ignacia
(Eeg-NAY-shuh)
Chitain
(Chee-TAY-n), of Styx/Balmue

Kingdom of Morphaea
(Mohr-FEH-ah)
(Realm)

King
Orphe
(Or-FEH)
Geroard
(Geh-roh-AHR-d) of Morphaea

Duke
Claude
(KLOH-d)
Rovait
(Roh-VEY-t) of Morphaea

Andre
(Ahn-DREH)
Eldon
(Ehl-DOH-n), the Duke of
Plaimes
(PLEY-m’s), of Morphaea

Duchess
Christiana
(Khree-stee-AH-nah)
Rovait
of Morphaea

Countess
Jain
(JEY-n)
Lirabeau
(Lee-rah-BOH) of Morphaea

Lady
Amaryllis
(Ah-mah-REE-liss)
Roulle
(ROOL), of Morphaea

Lord
Nathan
(NEY-th’n)
Woult
(WOOL-t), of Morphaea

The Road

Grial
(Gree-AHL), witch woman from
Letheburg
(LEH-thee-b’rg)

Ronna
(ROHN-nuh)
Liet
(LEE-eh-t), Innkeeper at
Tussecan
(TUSS-see-kahn), Grial’s cousin

Mrs.
Beck
(BEH-k), cook at Ronna’s Inn

Jenna
(JEH-nuh)
Doneil
(Doh-NEY-l), butcher’s daughter from Oarclaven

Flor
(FLOH-r)
Murel
(M’you-REH-l), baker’s daughter from Oarclaven

Gloria
(GLOH-ree-ah)
Libbin
(LEE-bin), blacksmith’s daughter from Oarclaven

Emilie
(Eh-mee-LEE)
Bordon
(Bohr-DOHN), swineherd’s daughter from south of Oarclaven

Sibyl
(SEE-beel), tailor’s daughter from Letheburg

Regata
(Reh-GAH-tah), merchant’s daughter from Letheburg

Lizabette
(Lee-zah-BET)
Crowlé
(Krow-LEH), teacher’s daughter from Duarden (Doo-AHR-dehn)

Catrine
(Kaht-REEN), sister of Niosta, from south of Letheburg

Niosta
(Nee-OHS-tuh), sister of Catrine, from south of Letheburg

Marie
(Mah-REE), girl from
Fioren
(F’YOH-rehn), originally from the Kingdom of
Serenoa
(Seh-REH-noh-ah) (Domain)

The Sapphire Court (Domain)

The Sovereign,
Rumanar
(Roo-mah-NAH-r)
Avalais
(Ah-vah-LAH-ees) of the Domain

Kingdom of Balmue
(Bahl-MOO)
(Domain)

King
Clavian
(Klah-vee-AHN)
Sestial
(Ses-tee-AH-l) of Balmue

Marquis
Nuor
(Noo-OHR)
Alfre
(Ahl-FREH), ambassador of Balmue, Peer of the Domain

Viscount
Halronne
(Hal-RONN)
Deupris
(Deh-oo-PREE), Peer of the Domain

New Characters Introduced in Cobweb Empire

Kingdom of Lethe
(Realm)

Carlinne
(Kahr-LEEN)
Ayren
, wife of Guel, in Fioren

Martin
(MAHR-tin)
Ayren
, Percy’s cousin in Fioren

Mistress
Saronne
(Sah-RONN), tavern proprietress in Duarden

André
(Ahn-DREH)
Saronne
, young boy, her son, dead, in Duarden

Jared
(JEH-red)
Gaisse
(Gah-EESS), dead man in Duarden

Hendrick
(HEN-drik), dead man in Duarden

Faeline
(Fey-LEEN), girl in Chidair Keep

Jacques
(ZHAHK) /
Jack
, the black knight’s horse

Village of Oarclaven (Lethe)

Martha
(MAR-thuh)
Poiron
(Poy-ROHN), old village woman

Rosaide
(Ro-ZAH-eed)
Vellerin
(Vel-leh-REEN), village gossip

Kingdom of Tanathe
(Tah-nah-theh)
(Domain)

Flavio
(FLAH-vee-oh)
San Quellenne
(SAHN Kweh-LENN), young boy on the beach

Jelavie
(Zhe-lah-VEE)
San Quellenne
, his older sister on the beach

Kingdom of Solemnis
(Soh-LEM-niss)
(Domain)

King
Frederick
(Freh-deh-REEK)
Ourin
(Oo-REEN) of Solemnis

Duke
Raulle
(Rah-UHL)
Deotetti
(Deh-oh-TET-tee) of Solemnis

Duchess
Beatrice
(Beh-ah-TRISS)
Deotetti
(deceased, undead), wife of the Duke Deotetti

Kingdom of Balmue
(Domain)

Count
Lecrant
(Leh-CRAH-nt)
D’Arvu
(D’AHR-voo) of Balmue

Countess
Arabella
(Ah-rah-BEL-lah)
D’Arvu
of Balmue

Lady
Leonora
(Leh-oh-NOH-rah)
D’Arvu
of Balmue, their daughter

Lady
Sidonie
(See-doh-NEE), young lady playing in the fields in Elysium

Valentio
(Vah-LEN-tee-oh), young gentleman in the fields in Elysium