Word of Traitors_ Legacy of Dhakaan - Don Bassingthwaite [175]
Ashi opened her eyes to the bulk of Khaar Mbar’ost against a twilight sky. A silhouette moved over her. Tariic.
She bared her teeth and tried to grab at him, but her arms moved less than a handspan. Ropes cut into her wrists. Tariic held out the Rod of Kings. “Be still!”
The command skittered over the shield of her dragonmark. “Blood in your mouth,” she snarled at him. She raised her head. She was still on the platform before the gates of Khaar Mbar’ost, though the plaza was empty now.
Dagii stood at her feet, standing stiffly in the presence of the lhesh, but his ears flicked a little when he met her eyes and his mouth twitched.
Makka crouched next to him, kneeling, yet at the same time almost straining to stand upright. Ashi recognized the power of the rod and allowed herself a little smile. She looked back up at Tariic. “Where’s Vounn?”
Tariic flicked his ears and gestured to her right with the rod. Ashi turned her head—and caught her breath. Vounn lay rolled onto her side just a few paces away from her. Her eyes were wide and staring, the wound inflicted by the Deneith honor blade gaping and ugly in her belly. The sword itself lay beside her, bright blade still stained with blood.
Pradoor had said “the other one” would live too. Who? Ashi twisted her head to the other side, wondering who else had survived, dreading the possible sight of more friends dead.
Midian’s bright blue eyes stared back at her from a face marked by the fading bruises of a savage beating. Hatred rose like bile in Ashi’s throat.
Tariic crouched down between the two of them. “Now,” he said, “what are we going to say really happened here?”
Raat shan gath’kal dor.
“The story stops but never ends.”
—Traditional closing of hobgoblin legends.
GLOSSARY
Aguus: The hobgoblin warlord of the Traakuum clan. A contender for the throne of Darguun upon Haruuc’s death.
Aram: see Wrath
Aruget: A hobgoblin warrior in the service of Haruuc, assigned to guard Vounn and Ashi d’Deneith.
atcha: The goblin concept of personal honor, something which is earned and carefully protected. Compare with muut.
ban: Goblin expression of noncommittal agreement, roughly equivalent to “yeah, all right,” or “your funeral.”
Bloody Market, the: The largest market in Rhukaan Draal, the Bloody Market (Khaari Batuuvk in Goblin) is a chaotic mass of tents and stalls in a milling sea of bodies. Because the laws of Rhukaan Draal and Darguun are lax, nearly anything can be found for sale in the market, including slaves.
Breland: One of the original Five Nations of Galifar. Breland is a tolerant country with a keen interest in trade and commerce.
byeshk: A rare metal, hard and dense with a purple sheen.
chaat’oor: Goblin term for any species not native to Khorvaire, especially humans, but with the exception of elves. It is often loosely translated as “defiler.”
Chetiin: A goblin and an elder of the shaarat’khesh. Chetiin carries two daggers sheathed on his forearms, one of which (the dagger named Witness carried on his right arm) is a dangerous “Keeper’s Fang” weapon capable of capturing the soul of a slain enemy.
chib: Goblin for “boss” or “big man.” Used colloquially by goblins outside of Darguun to refer to any taller humanoid, including hobgoblins, humans, and dwarves.
Chiitgath’muut. Chiitgath’atcha. Chiitgath’piir.: A goblin formula of complete submission. “I am without duty. I am without honor. I have nothing.”
cho: Goblin expression of informal agreement with or acknowledgement of a statement made, roughly equivalent to “yes” or “yeah.”
daashor: A goblin artificer, especially one from the time of the Empire of Dhakaan. The secret knowledge of the daashor has largely vanished, but at one time, they were capable of creating wonders. Most daashor were male.
Daavn: The hobgoblin warlord of the Marhaan clan and an advisor to Tariic.
Dagii: The young hobgoblin warlord of the small but highly honored Mur Talaan clan.
dar: Goblin for “the people.” It is the ancient collective term for the hobgoblin, goblin, and bugbear races.
Darguul: A goblin inhabitant