The Gates of Night_ The Dreaming Dark - Keith Baker [127]
Lei. Return. There is danger. Pierce’s thoughts flowed into her mind, and his concern shattered her sense of elation. She turned, and walked over to Pierce … and stopped short in surprise.
Xu’sasar was sprawled on the ground.
“What happened?” Lei said.
“I do not know. She is alive, but unconscious. Kin is nowhere to be seen.”
“What about … Shira?”
Pierce looked away. “Shira is no more. We have other concerns. Look to Daine.”
Lei’s heart raced. She looked across the floor and saw him still stretched out on the ground. Panic rose as she moved to his side, but she could see his chest rising and falling. He was alive.
Then Lei saw what Pierce was talking about. There was a circle around Daine, a pattern painted in silver and gold. It was a summoning circle, designed to aid in the conjuring or binding of spirits. Then Lei noticed something else. Daine’s sword … his scabbard had been replaced, and his sword now rested in the jeweled sheath Daine had taken from the Bier of the Sleeper.
Daine stirred. His eyes opened and he sat up with a start, glancing about wildly. Lei reached out to him, and he seized her hand as if it were a rope that might pull him from a stormy sea. Then he took a deep breath and smiled at her.
“It’s good to be home,” he said.
Glossary
aberrant dragonmark: There are twelve dragonmarks, but stories say that when dragonmarked bloodlines mingle, they can produce warped marks. Like the true dragonmarks, these bestow magical powers, but these powers are dark and dangerous and said to take a terrible toll on the mind and body of the bearer.
adamantine: An alloy of astonishing strength, adamantine can only be forged through the use of magic. Adamantine weapons are virtually indestructible and can cut through any lesser material.
Alina Lorridan Lyrris: A gnome wizard with considerable wealth and influence. Whether she is a true criminal or simply amoral, Alina is a dangerous woman who usually works in the shadows. Once she lived in the city of Metrol, where she employed Daine. Currently she resides in the Den’iyas district of Sharn.
Argonnessen: A large continent to the southeast of Khorvaire, said to be the home of dragons.
artificer: A spellworker who channels magical energy through objects, creating temporary or permanent tools and weapons.
Aureon: The Sovereign of Law and Lore, the source of order and knowledge. Followers of the Sovereign Host say that Aureon gives guidance to rulers and those who pass judgment, guides the scribe and the student, and is said to have devised the principles wizards use to work their spells. Aureon is occasionally depicted as a noble blue dragon.
Balinor: The Sovereign of Horn and Hunt. Followers of the Sovereign Host say that Balinor guides anyone who must interact with the animal world, both hunter and farmer. A common oath is Balinor’s bow!
Blacklion: A forgehold of House Cannith. During the Last War, Aleisa and Talin d’Cannith worked on warforged at the Blacklion Forgehold.
“breather”: A derogatory term used by the warforged to describe non-construct creatures, i.e., elves, humans, halflings.
Breland: The largest of the original Five Nations of Galifar, Breland is a center of heavy industry. The current ruler of Breland is King Boranel ir’Wynarn.
Broken Oath: See Qaltiar.
Cannith, House: The dragonmarked House of Making.
Casalon: A fortified city in Cyre, destroyed by the Mourning.
changeling: Members of the changeling race possess a limited ability to change face and form, allowing a changeling to disguise itself as a member of another race or to impersonate an individual. Changelings are said to be the offspring of humans and doppelgangers. They are relatively few in number and have no lands or culture of their own but are scattered across Khorvaire.