drelb
A dwarfish people inhabiting the countries of Transilia, Intralia, Cisilia, Drelbhaven, and the Drelbmarch.
Dragonsdeep
Capital city of Elandris under Gloroc's rule. Originally called Wizardsdeep, it was the last city built by Alemar Dragonslayer, and served as capital of his empire for many centuries. eret-Zyraii The western fringe of Zyraii territory, uninhabitable because of its extremely arid climate.
erron
Small copper coin, smallest monetary unit of some of the Old Kingdoms.
Faroc
The male of the pair of dragons that once ruled the Dragon Sea, slain by Alemar the Great.
Fhali
A Vanihr tribe of the southern Wood, to which Toren belongs.
Firsthold
Original capital of Elandris.
the Flat
An unforested region in the center of the Wood, home of the Alahihr.
forest stalker
A very large, highly venomous spider indigenous to the Wood, known for stalking and killing large mammals.
Garthmorron
A large barony in central Cilendrodel, birthplace of Alemar and Elenya.
Hab-no-ken
Healing sect of the Zyraii priesthood, distinguished by their green clothing.
hai-Zyraii
A state conferred upon an individual through blood ritual, in recognition of deeds that greatly benefit the Zyraii nation.
hayeri
A small, deerlike animal of the Wood.
High Speech
Originally the formal court language of the Calinin Empire, now the lingua franca of the civilized lands.
Ijitia
1. A nation along the east bank of the River Sha. 2. The ancient empire originating along the Sha, spreading over the Mountains of the Gods into Agon, Tanjand, and Aleoth. Also included Tunaets and Fornaets.
Lerina
Mother of Alemar and Elenya.
Miranda
Sister of Alemar Dragonslayer; inventor of the airmaker; co-founder of Elandris.
modhiv
The warrior caste within the southern and central Vanihr tribes of the Wood. Pluraclass="underline" modhiv.
mong
A huge, man-eating fish indigenous to the River Sha.
Motherworld
The gas giant planet around which Tanagaran revolves.
New Kingdoms
The countries which were part of the Calinin frontier at the time of its greatest expansion, including Irigion, Numaron, Rhada, Rhida, and Moin.
oeikani (wah-kah-nee)
A large, herbivorous mammal found throughout Tanagaran, used as a saddle and pack beast, and occasionally as a source of food. Pluraclass="underline" oeikani.
Ogshiel
A Vanihr tribe of the northern Wood, bordering the River Sha. Legendary enemies of the Shagas.
Old Kingdoms
The northern continent monarchies conquered early by the Calinin, consisting of Riannehn, Neith, Sirithrea, Tiandria, and Serthe.
opsha
The military leader of the Zyraii nation. Until Lonal's ascendancy, it was considered a mythical title, because of internecine rivalry among the various tribes.
Po-no-pha (Po-no-fa)
The warrior class among the Zyraii, distinguished by their white clothing.
Retreat
A ritual hermitage observed by Hab-no-ken in order to recuperate from overuse of their powers.
the Ril
Gloroc's elite cadre of sorcerers.
Serpent Moon
A moon of Motherworld, original home of dragons and shagas.
Shaga
A race of lesser dragons, roughly man-size, that came from the Serpent Moon. They built a great civilization along the River Sha, which thrived until overrun by Ijitians from the north and Vanihr from the south. The refugees relocated in the Valley of Serpents.
Shahera
A prophet who lived at the height of the Calinin Empire, a century before the founding of Elandris. Considered the greatest master of the Sight ever to have lived, her auguries often dealt with the fate of nations and entire peoples. Her declaration that the Calinin Empire had already reached its maximum extent earned her the wrath of the emperor, who had her executed.
the Sister
Achird's orange companion star, visible from Tanagaran even in daylight.
Tanagaran
The world. Fifth moon of Motherworld.
thrijish
A type of coral whose proximity negates a dragon's ability to absorb sorcerous power from water.
T'lil
The second largest tribe of modern Zyraii, descended from Cadra's seventh son, Lil. Lonal's tribe.
Triss
Female of the pair of dragons that once ruled the Dragon Sea.
Urthey
Smallest major moon of Motherworld.
Vanihr
A golden-skinned, blond-haired race inhabiting the Wood, the archipelagoes, and much of the Far Western Lands. Disdaining large-scale agriculture and deeply devoted to traditional ways of life, the Vanihr have remained a Stone Age culture, separated into many small tribes. Pluraclass="underline" Vanihr.
vartham
A transparent, incredibly strong substance created by Miranda and Alemar the Great, used to form the domes that enclose the underwater cities. Like the airmakers, the secret of its creation was lost with the two great sorcerers.
Xais
1. Capital of the Calinin Empire. 2. Ancient capital of Aleoth. 3. Former northern capital of the Ijitian Empire; its conquest by the Calinin drastically altered the balance of power in the regions surrounding the inner sea.
Yent
A province in central Cilendrodel.
Yetem
A false name used by Elenya during her years in the Eastern Deserts.
Zee-no-ken
Monastic sect of the Zyraii priesthood, uninvolved in political and social life, often hermits. Many are skilled sorcerers.
Zyraii
1. A nomad nation of the Eastern Deserts. 2. The people or language of the Zyraii nation.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would not have been the same without the contributions of the following people.
For material and financial support: Connie Willeford Smeds; Bob Fleming amp; Cherie Kushner; Alfred, Josephine, Fred, and Paula Smeds.
For commentary on the manuscript: First of all, to the Spellbinders, Inc.: Deborah L. Sweitzer, Shirley Johnston, Brian Crist, Bob Fleming, Marian Gibbons, Pras Stillman, Cherie Kushner, P.M.S. Faught, Jonathan Sachs, Walter Sauers, Lucy Buss, Dinaan McClure, Ken Macklin, Steve Swenston, Marge Windus, Jon James, Hank Roberts, James D. Hudnall, James Ellison. And to the others: Connie Willeford Smeds, Rebecca Priest, Paul Avellar, Jim Musto, Sheri Cohen, Robbyn Fenster, Kathy Payne, Sasha Miller, Joel Fruchtman, Obert Sonsten, Jamie Willeford.
For the cartography, astronomy, and some of the place names: John Gast.
About the Author
Dave Smeds is a Nebula Award finalist, and author of books such as Piper In The Night, X-Men: Law Of The Jungle, Martial Arts Masters: Chuck Norris, as well as The War of the Dragons trilogy. His short fiction has appeared in magazines, including Asimov's Science Fiction, Realms of Fantasy, and The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and anthologies, including In the Field of Fire, Full Spectrum IV, Peter S. Beagle's Immortal Unicorn, and the erotic fantasy anthology Sirens and Other Demon Lovers. His writing has been translated into more that a dozen languages. Dave holds a black belt in goju-ryu Karate, and when he's not writing he can often be found teaching martial arts. The Sorcery Within, Book One of The War of the Dragons, is also published by Scorpius.
Photo by Shel Waggener
An Excerpt from The Sorcery Within
Book One of The War of the Dragons
under the sword lifted high
There is hell making you tremble;
But go ahead
And you have the land of bliss.
Musashi Miyamoto (1582-1645)
I
THE WATER HOLE WAS A TINY POOL virtually hidden in the rocks, an unexpected blessing in the middle of tracts of scoured hardpan and powder-dry arroyos. The lichen growing on the stone at the water's edge was the only green growth they had seen for two days. In the far west, barely visible as early morning sun illuminated their slopes, the Ahrahikte Mountains lay across their rearward trail.