Trudi Canavan - The High Lord

To Rothen’s amazement Sonea blushed a furious scarlet.

“It seems that it’s better if women do... that sort of care-taking. Apparently men aren’t taught the skill unless they request it,” she said. “Girl novices are taken aside as soon as the Healers feel they’re likely to be showing an interest in boys, but I was so unpopular that nobody thought of teaching me. Akkarin,” Sonea paused and swallowed, “must have assumed they had. And I assumed he was taking care of things.”

As understanding dawned, Rothen stared at Sonea. He found himself counting the months since her exile. Three-and-a-half, maybe four. The robes would hide it well...

She looked at him and then grimaced apologetically. “I’m sorry, Rothen. I was going to tell you, at a better moment, but when I saw Jonna I just had to take advantage of—”

They both jumped as Jonna burst into laughter. She was pointing at Rothen. “I haven’t seen that look since I told Ranel I was expecting our first! I think, perhaps, these magicians aren’t as smart as they make themselves out to be.” She grinned at Sonea. “So. You’re to have a baby, then. I can’t imagine the child growing up with his or her head on right surrounded by magicians.”

Sonea smiled crookedly. “Nor I. So, will you reconsider?” Jonna hesitated, then nodded once. “Yes. We’ll stay a while.”

blood money — payment for assassination

boot — refuse/refusal (don’t boot us)

capper — man who frequents brothels

clicked — occurred

client — person who has an obligation or agreement with a Thief

counter — whore

done — murdered

dull — persuade to keep silent

dunghead — fool

dwells — term used to describe slum dwellers

eye — keep watch

fired — angry (got fired about it)

fish — propose/ask/look for (also someone fleeing the Guard)

gauntlet — guard who is bribeable or in the control of a Thief

goldmine — man who prefers boys

good go — a reasonable try

got — caught

grandmother — pimp

gutter — dealer in stolen goods

hai — a call for attention or expression of surprise or inquiry

heavies — important people

kin — a Thief’s closest and most trusted

knife — assassin/hired killer

messenger — thug who delivers or carries out a threat

mind — hide (minds his business, I’ll mind that for you)

mug — mouth (as in vessel for bol)

out for — looking for

pick — recognize, understand

punt — smuggler

right-sided — trustworthy/heart in the right place

rope — freedom

rub — trouble (got into some rub over it)

shine — attraction (got a shine for him)

show — introduce

space — allowances/permission

squimp — someone who double-crosses the Thieves

style — manner of performing business

tag — recognize (also means a spy, usually undercover)

thief — leader of a criminal group

watcher — posted to observe something or someone

wild — difficult

visitor — burglar

aga moths — pests that eat clothing

anyi — sea mammals with short spines

Ceryni — small rodent

enka — horned domestic animal, bred for meat

eyoma — sea leeches

faren — general term for arachnids

gorin — large domestic animal used for food and to haul boats and wagons

harrel — small domestic animal bred for meat

inava — insect believed to bestow good luck

limek — wild predatory dog

mullock — wild nocturnal bird

rassook — domestic bird used for meat and feathers

ravi — rodent, larger than Ceryni

reber — domestic animal, bred for wool and meat

sapfly — woodland insect

sevli — poisonous lizard

squimp — squirrel-like creature that steals food

yeel — small domesticated breed of limek used for tracking

zill — small, intelligent mammal sometimes kept as a pet

anivope vines — plant sensitive to mental projection

bol — (also means “river scum”) strong liquor made from tugors

brasi — green leafy vegetable with small buds

chebol sauce — rich meat sauce made from bol

crots — large, purple beans

curem — smooth, nutty spice

curren — coarse grain with robust flavor

dull — long fruit with tart orange, seedy flesh

gan-gan — flowering bush from Lan

iker — stimulating drug, reputed to have aphrodisiac properties

jerras — long yellow beans

kreppa — foul-smelling medicinal herb

marin — red citrus fruit

monyo — bulb

myk — mind-affecting drug

nalar — pungent root

nemmin — sleep-inducing drug

pachi — crisp, sweet fruit

papea — pepper-like spice

piorres — small, bell-shaped fruit

rakaIsuka — stimulating drink made from roasted beans, originally from Sachaka

shem — edible reed-like plant

sumi — bitter drink

telk — seed from which an oil is extracted

term — grain that can be cooked as is, broken into small pieces, or ground to make a flour

tiro — edible nuts

tugor — parsnip-like root

vare — berries from which most wine is produced

incal — square symbol, not unlike a family shield, sewn onto sleeve or cuff

kebin — iron bar with hook for catching attacker’s knife, carried by guards

longcoat — ankle-length coat

bathhouse — establishment selling bathing facilities and other grooming services

bolhouse — establishment selling bol and short-term accommodation

brewhouse — bol manufacturer

hole — building constructed from scavenged materials

stayhouse — rented building, a family to a room

Elyne — closest to Kyralia in position and culture, enjoys a milder climate

Kyralia — home of the Guild

Lan — a mountainous land peopled by warrior tribes

Lonmar — a desert land home to the strict Mahga religion

Vin — an island nation known for its seamanship

cap — coins threaded on a stick to the value of the next highest denomination

dawnfeast — breakfast

midbreak — lunch

simba mats — mats woven from reeds