Kamliss pl. Kamlissi: Clan, extended family, normally consisting of all four classes of Gostandu society. On their native continent a surviving kamliss has claim to territory: previous to the appearance of the Clattern-y-Clatterni the territory was sovereign unless its drandor had made himself vassal to a canlan from another clan.
Kamliss-demmin: Clan honor.
Kantu-kamliss: Literally “clan-matter.” Kantu-kamliss is a religious taboo invoked to guard diplomatic correspondence between a clan and its ambassadors, with the intent of its preventing dispatches from being read by outsiders.
Lersru pl. Lersri: Assassin. In times of war or declared angu, an honorable occupation.
Meninglu pl. Meningli: Peasant. A member of the third rank of Gostandu society. The Meningli constitute a reserve military force used only in dire emergency; thus the term “summon the Meningli” has a colloquial meaning indicating extreme urgency.
Mardan-clannu: “Thrust of mercy,” coup de grace.
Nartil: Fealty, service, obligation, respect, custom, justice, lawsuit. Usually referring to the mainstay of Gostandu society, the law of obedience, obligation, and respect.
Repinu pl. Repini: Literally “spearman.” Colloquially a term of affection, like “doughboy” or “grognard.” Ordinary soldiers.
Shemmina: Noticing something beneath one’s notice, or killing (noticing) a person whose death cannot bring one honor because he is honor-less himself. (Killing below one’s station.)
Tedec: A five-stringed relative of the guitar or lute.
Tolhostu: Propriety, dignity, gravity. The Brodaini art of proper public performance.
Vail: Approximate translations include “harmony,” “heaven,” “tao.” An ideal condition in which human and cosmic forces are in perfect alignment.
Welldran pl. Welldrani: Literally “elder.” Person, old or young, chosen to sit on the aldran by a vote of its members.
Whelkran pl. Whelkrani: Officer commanding at least 100 soldiers. The term is usually followed by a number to indicate the precise delineation of status and authority, i.e., “a whelkran of five hundreds.”
Other Books by Walter Jon Williams
Novels
Hardwired
Knight Moves
Voice of the Whirlwind
Days of Atonement
Aristoi
Metropolitan
City on Fire
Ambassador of Progress
Angel Station
The Rift
Implied Spaces
Divertimenti
The Crown Jewels
House of Shards
Rock of Ages
Dread Empire's Fall
The Praxis
The Sundering
Conventions of War
Investments
Dagmar Shaw Thrillers
This Is Not a Game
Deep State
The Fourth Wall
Collections
Facets
Frankensteins & Foreign Devils
The Green Leopard Plague and Other Stories
Table of Contents
Copyright (c) 1984, 2012
Dedication
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
CHAPTER 24
CHAPTER 27
CHAPTER 28
CHAPTER 29
CHAPTER 30
CHAPTER 31
CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 34
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APPENDIX: GLOSSARY OF FOREIGN TERMS
Other Books by Walter Jon Williams