Michael Sullivan - Percepliquis

“I don’t need one,” Nimbus replied.

“I think the empire can spare at least that much,” Modina told him.

“I am certain it can, Your Eminence, but I honestly prefer walking.”

It took another round of hugs, kisses, waves, and wishes of safe travels before Royce, Mercedes, and Nimbus actually started down the slope. Allie ran alongside all the way to the trees and then waved madly before turning and running back to Modina.

Nimbus walked with them and Royce was careful to keep a slow, even pace.

They entered the forest and soon lost all sight of the palace, the city, and the hill. They traveled in silence, listening to the morning symphony of birdsongs and honeybees. Mercedes was mesmerized by her new pet.

“What’s my pony’s name?” she asked.

“I don’t think it has one yet. Would you like to name it?”

“Oh yes… Let me see… What’s yours called, Daddy?”

“Mine is Mouse. The empress gave her that name.”

Mercedes crinkled her nose. “I don’t like that. Is mine a boy or a girl?”

“Boy,” Royce told her.

“Boy… okay, hmm.” She tapped her lips with a perplexed expression, then furrowed her brow in serious thought.

“How about Elias?” Nimbus suggested. “Or perhaps Sterling.”

Royce stared at the ex-chancellor, who smiled pleasantly in return.

“Sterling is nice,” Mercedes said.

The forest thinned and they reached the open field where the old road crossed the new ones, freshly pressed by holiday travelers, leading west to Ratibor and north to Colnora. A short distance away a group of riders in gold and blue on white mounts waited.

“This is where we part,” Nimbus told them.

Royce stared at the thin man in the wig. “Who are you really?”

Nimbus smiled. “You already know that.”

“If it hadn’t been for you…” Royce paused. “I’ve always regretted that I never said thank you.”

“And I wish to thank you as well, Royce.”

He was puzzled. “For what?”

“For reminding me that anyone, no matter what they’ve done, can find redemption if they seek it.”

The thin man turned and walked down the road toward Ratibor. Royce watched him go, then turned to his daughter. “Let’s go visit the elves, shall we?” he asked. Just then, thunder cracked from overhead, shaking the ground and rustling the leaves on the trees.

Royce looked up at the clear blue sky, confused.

“Look!” Mercedes said, pointing down the road.

Royce turned to see Nimbus standing still, his head bent back, his eyes looking up.

A white feather drifted downward. It swirled, blowing on a gentle breeze until it was close enough that the tall spindly man in the white powdered wig reached up and caught it between his fingers. He kissed it gently, then slipped it into his leather pouch. He pulled the bag closed and continued on his way, whistling a merry tune, until he passed behind a hill and was gone.

Abner Gallsworth: Aquesta City Administrator

Adam: Wheeler from Ratibor

Adeline: Queen of Alburn, married to Armand, sons: Rudolf and Hector, daughter: Beatrice

Adwhite, Sir: Knight and poet, wrote The Song of Beringer

Addie Wood: Mother of Thrace/Modina, wife of Theron, killed in Dahlgren

Albert Winslow: Landless viscount used by Riyria to arrange assignments from the gentry

Alburn: Kingdom of Avryn ruled by King Armand and Queen Adeline, member of the New Empire

Alenda Lanaklin: Daughter of the marquis Victor Lanaklin and sister of Myron the monk

Algar: Woodworker in Hintindar

Allie: Daughter of Wyatt Deminthal, half-elf, once held hostage by Merrick Marius

Alric Essendon, King: Ruler of Melengar, brother of Arista, son of Amrath

Alverstone: \al-ver-stone\ Dagger used by Royce

Alysin: Elven afterlife

Amberton Lee: Hill with old ruins not far from Hintindar, site where Arista killed two seret

Ambrose Moor: Administrator of the Manzant Prison and Salt Works

Amilia: Secretary to the Empress, carriage maker’s daughter, bron in Tarin Vale

Amiter, Queen: Second wife of King Urith, sister of Androus, killed by Imperialists

Amrath Essendon, King: \am-wrath\ Former ruler of Melengar, father of Alric and Arista, killed by Nyphron Church

Amril: \am-rill\ Countess that Arista cursed with boils

Androus Billet: Viceroy of Ratibor, murdered King Urith, Queen Amiter, and their children

Ankor: Tribe of Ghazel

Anna: Chamber maid of Empress Modina

Antun Bulard: Historian and author of The History of Apeladorn, passenger on the Emerald Storm, hired to find the Horn of Gylindora

Apelanese: Language spoken by the four kingdoms of men

Apeladorn: \ah-pell-ah-dorn\ The four nations of man, consisting of Trent, Avryn, Delgos, and Calis

Aquesta: \ah-quest-ah\ Capital city of the kingdom of Warric, seat of power for the New Empire

Arbor: Baker in Hintindar, married to Dunstan, shoemaker’s daughter, first love of Hadrian

Arcadius Vintarus Latimer: Professor of Lore at Sheridan University, caretaker of Allie

Archibald Ballentyne: Earl of Chadwick, commander of Sir Breckton, promised providence of Melengar for service to the New Empire, infatuated with Empress Modina, nickname: Archie

Arista Essendon, Princess: Sister of Alric, daughter of Amrath, Princess of Melengar, leader of rebel victory in Ratibor, former mayor pro tem of Ratibor, former Regent of Rhenydd, Witch of Melengar, imprisoned in Aquesta after trying to free Degan Gaunt

Armand, King: Ruler of Alburn, married to Adeline, sons: Rudolf and Hector, daughter: Beatrice

Armigil: Brew mistress of Hintindar, family friend of the Blackwaters

Art, the: magic, generally feared due to superstition

Arvid McDern: Son of Dillon McDern of Dahlgren

Asendwayr: Tribe of elves, hunters

Avempartha: Ancient elven tower, home of Gilarabrywn that attacked Dahlgren

Avryn: \ave-rin\ The central and most powerful of the four nations of Apeladorn, located between Trent and Delgos

Ayers: Proprietor of the Laughing Gnome in Ratibor

Ba Ran Archipelago: Island of the goblins

Ba Ran Ghazel: Goblins of the sea

Backing: Rigging a sail such that it catches the wind from its forward side, having both backed and regular rigged sails can render a ship motionless

Bailiff: Officer who is employed to make arrests and administer punishments

Bailey Inn: Boardinghouse routinely used by Riyria when in Aquesta

Baldwin: Lord whose landholdings include Hintindar

Ballentyne: \bal-in-tine\ The ruling family of the earldom of Chadwick

Banner: Crewmember of the Emerald Storm, one of the few survivors

Barak: Ghetto in Trent inhabited by dwarves

Barkers: Refugee family living in Brisbane Alley of Aquesta, father Brice, mother Lynnette, sons Finis, Hingus, and Wery

Bartholomew: Carriage maker of Tarin Vale, father of Amilia

Bartholomew: Priest in Ratibor

Basil: Officer’s cook on the Emerald Storm, died at sea

Bastion: Servant in the imperial palace

Battle of Medford: Skirmish that occurred during Arista’s witch trial

Battle of RaMar: Bloody fight that Hadrian once fought in

Battle of Ratibor: Rebellion against Imperialists led by Emery Dorn and Arista

Beatrice, Princess: Daughter of King Armand, Princesses of Alburn, Sister to Rudolf and Hector

Belinda Pickering: Extremely attractive wife of Count Pickering, mother of Lenare, Mauvin, Fanen, and Denek

Bella: Cook at the Laughing Gnome in Ratibor

Belstrads: \bell-straads\ Noble family from Chadwick, including Sir Breckton and Wesley

Bernard Green: Candle maker from Dunmore, living in Aquesta

Bendlton, Brother: Cook at the rebuilt Winds Abbey