Meuric Read online
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 O
ak 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
Prot
ectorate – 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