Gaali-highest peak on Vhiliinyar, never scaled by the Linyaari people. The official marker for Vhiliinyar's date line, anchoring the meridian line that sets the end of the old day and the beginning of the new day across the planet as it rotates Our Star at the center of the solar system. With nearby peaks Zaami and Kaahi, the high mountains are a mystical place for most Linyaari.
ghaanye (pl. ghaanyi)-a Linyaari year. gheraalye malivii-Linyaari for Navigation Officer. gheraalye ve-khanyii- Linyaari for Senior Communications Officer. giirange-office of toastmaster in a Linyaari social organization.
GSS - Gravitation Stabilization System.
Haarha Liirni-Linyaari term for advanced education, usually pursued during adulthood while on sabbatical from a previous calling.
Hafiz Harakamian-Rafik's uncle, head of the interstellar financial empire of House Harakamian, a passionate collector of rarities from throughout the galaxy and a devotee of the old-fashioned sport of horse racing. Although basically crooked enough to hide behind a spiral staircase, he is genuinely fond of Rafik and Acorna.
Highmagister HaGurdy-the Ancestral Friend in charge of the Hosts on old Vhiliinyar.
Hissim-the biggest city on Makahomia, home of the largest Temple.
Hraaya-an Ancestor.
Hrronye-Melireenya's lifemate.
Hrunvrun-the first Linyaari Ancestral attendant. liiliira - a Linyaari ship.
Iirtye - chief aagroni for narhii-Vhillinyar.
Ikwaskwan - self-styled leader of the Kilumbembese Red Bracelets. Depending on circumstances and who he is trying to impress, he is known as either General Ikwaskwan or Admiral Ikwaskwan, though both ranks are self-administered. Entered into devious dealings with Edacki Ganoosh that led to his downfall.
Johnny Greene-an old friend of Calum, Rafik, and Gill; joined the Starfarers when he was fired after Amalgamated Mining's takeover of MME.
Jonas Becker - interplanetary salvage artist; alias space junkman. Captain of the Condor. CEO of Becker Interplanetary Recycling and Salvage Enterprises Ltd.-a one-man, one-cat salvage firm Jonas inherited from his adopted father. Jonas spent his early youth on a labor farm on the planet Kezdet before he was adopted.
Judit Kendoro-assistant to psychiatrist Alton Forelle at Amalgamated Mining, saved Acorna from certain death. Later fell in love with Gill and joined with him to help care for the children employed in Delszaki Li's Maganos mining operation.
Kaahi-a high mountain peak on Vhiliinyar.
Kaalmi Vroniiyi-leader of the Linyaari Council, which made the decision to restore the ruined planet Vhiliinyar, with Hafiz's help and support, to a state that would once again support the Linyaari and all the life forms native to the planet.
Kaarlye-the father of Aari, Maati, and Laarye. A member of the Nyaarya clan, and life-bonded to Miiri.
ka-Linyaari - something against all Linyaari beliefs, something not Linyaari.
Karina -a plumply beautiful wannabe psychic with a small shred of actual talent and a large fondness for profit. Married to Hafiz Harakamian. This is her first marriage, his second.
Kashirian Steppes-Makahomian region that produces the best fighters.
Kashirians-Makahomians from the Kashirian Steppes.
kava-a coffee-like hot drink produced from roasted ground beans.
KEN-a line of general-purpose male androids, some with customized specializations, differentiated among their owners by number (for example, KEN637).
Kezdet - a backwoods planet with a labor system based on child exploitation. Currently in economic turmoil because that system was broken by Delszaki Li and Acorna.
Khaari-senior Linyaari navigator on the Balakiire.
Khleevi - name given by Acorna's people to the spaceborne enemies who have attacked them without mercy.
kii-a Linyaari time measurement roughly equivalent to an hour of Standard Time.
ki-lin - Oriental term for unicorn, also a name sometimes associated with Acorna.
Kilumbemba Empire-an entire society that raises and exports mercenaries for hire-the Red Bracelets.
Kisla Manjari - anorexic and snobbish young woman, raised as daughter of Baron Manjari; shattered when through Acorna's efforts to help the children of Kezdet her father is ruined and the truth of her lowly birth is revealed.
Kubiilikaan, the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.
Kubiilikhan - capital city of narhii-Vhiliinyar, named after Kubiilikaan, the legendary first city on Vhiliinyar, founded by the Ancestral Hosts.
LAANYE - sleep-learning device invented by the Linyaari that can, from a small sample of any foreign language, teach the wearer the new language overnight.
Laarye- Maati and Aari's brother. He died on Vhiliinyar during the Khleevi invasion. He was trapped in an accident in a cave far distant from the spaceport during the evacuation, and was badly injured. Aari stayed behind to rescue and heal him, but was captured by the Khleevi and tortured before he could accomplish his mission. Laarye died before Aari could escape and return.
Laboue-the planet where Hafiz Harakamian makes his headquarters. lilaala - a flowering vine native to Vhiliinyar used by early Linyaari to make paper.
Liriili-former viizaar of narhii-Vhiliinyar, member of the clan Riivye.
Linyaari-Acorna's people.
Lukia of the Lights - a protective saint, identified by some children of Kezdet with Acorna.
Ma'aowri 3-a planet populated by cat-like beings.
Maarni-a Linyaari folklorist, mate to Yiitir.
Maati - a young Linyaari girl of the Nyaarya clan who lost most of her family during the Khleevi invasion. Aari's younger sister.
MacKenZ - also known as Mac, a very useful and adaptable unit of the KEN line of androids, now in the service of Captain Becker. The android was formerly owned by Kis la Ma njari and came into the captain's service after it tried to kill him on Kisla's orders. Becker's knack for dealing with salvage enabled him to reprogram the android to make the KEN unit both loyal to him and eager to please. The reprogramming had interesting side effects on the android's personality, though, leaving Mac much quirkier than is usually the case for androids.
madigadi-a berry-like fruit whose juice is a popular beverage.
Maganos - one of the three moons of Kezdet, base for Delszaki Li's mining operation and child rehabilitation project.
Makahomia-war-torn home planet of RK and Nadhari Kendo.
Makahomian Temple cat-cats on the planet Makahomia, bred from ancient Cat God stock to protect and defend the Cat God's Temples. They are-for cats-large, fiercely loyal, remarkably intelligent, and dangerous when crossed.
Makavitian Rainforest-a tropical area of the planet Makahomia, populated by various warring jungle tribes.
Manjari-a baron in the Kezdet aristocracy, and a key person in the organization and protection of Kezdet's child-labor racket, in which he was known by the code name Piper. He murdered his wife and then committed suicide when his identity was revealed and his organization destroyed.
Martin Dehoney-famous astro-architect who designed Maganos Moonbase; the coveted Dehoney Prize was named after him.
Melireenya-Linyaari communications specialist on the Balakiire, bonded to Hrronye.
Mercy Kendoro-younger sister of Pal and Judit Kendoro, saved from a life of bonded labor by Judit's efforts; she worked as a spy for the Child Liberation League in the offices of Kezdet Guardians of the Peace until the child labor system was destroyed.
Miiri - mother of Aari, Laarye, and Maati. A member of the Nyaarya clan, life-bonded to Kaarlye. mitanyaakhi-generic Linyaari term meaning a very large number.
Miw-Sher-a Makahomian Keeper of the sacred Temple cats. Her name means kitten in Makahomian.
MME-Gill, Calum, and Rafik's original mining company. Swallowed by the ruthless, conscienceless, and bureaucratic Amalgamated Mining.