The Dragon Eater, page 30
part #1 of The Tharassas Cycle Series
Arsday: Fifth day of the week
Aryx (Cat): One of Breeze’s kits, female
Ast'Una aka Aster (Mim): One of the Temple sisters, head of the Temple stores
Auley Tree: A spindly tree with strong fire-resistant sticks
Aur/Auracinth: Large beasts of burden that don’t develop a gender until their third year
Ay’Oss aka Ayja: God of magic, technology, wisdom, and earth whose sign is the wisp, and who presents as a handsome young man
Ayvin/Aaveen: An alien race that arrived on Tharassas before humanity
Bacca Root: A minty local root that people chew on for flavor with anti-nausea properties
Bandy Fruit: Red fruit with purple spikes, sweet and juicy
Bandy Trees/Heart Trees/Evrit: Native trees with wide red trunks, broad, heart-shaped purple leaves, where heartroot and bandy fruit come from
Beast Guild: The Gullton guild in charge of domesticated beasts (aur, urse, etc)
Black Cheese: A variety of cheese from aur milk, grown in the caverns under Gullton
Breeze aka Kalix (Raven): male verent with a green tinge to his white skin
Builder’s Guild: The contractors’ guild in Gullton
Callasday: Sixth day of the week
Capton: Small oceanfront town north of Gullton
Car’Ost aka Carel (Mim): Junior cook in the Temple
Cayah: Desert dwellers with tan and brown dappled skin and spiral horns
Ce’Faine: Human clans that live in the far east and south, past the borders of the Highlands and the Heartland
Cekya: Temple cook
Cephlant: A grazing herd animal similar to an elephant
Cer’Ella aka Ceryl (Sister): The fourth Hencha Queen, only served for a year
Cheevah: A small flying creature
Cheff: Derogatory name for the Ce’faine
Cherry Fly: Thumb-sized insect with twelve legs
Clayton: Small town in the eastern part of the Heartland
Cleffer Bush: A red-leaved plant with yellow "brush" flowers
Cor’Lea aka Coral (Mim): An initiate at the hencha Temple
Corinth: The small village on the south slopes where Queen Jas came from (Last Run)
Crosston: A small town in the middle of the Heartland
Dalney: Small oceanfront town north of Gullton
Dam, The: A hydroelectric dam built just after landing to power the colony, recently refurbished
Day'Ima aka Daya (Sister): One of Silya’s teachers, ace, wears violet pine perfume
Dem’Errol aka Demtrius (Mas, Ser): Aik’s squad captain
Der'Iza aka Derik (Mas): Tri'Aya's husband and Silya's father
Des’Rya aka Desla (Mim): A Temple initiate originally from Devon
Destrayer’s Song: An old battle song from the Heartlander-Ce’Faine conflict
Devon: Village in the southern part of the Heartland
Dor’Ala aka Doria (Sister): Sister appointed to be Silya’s aide
Ecin: Fifth month of the year
Edgeton: A small town south of Gullton
Edie: Tenth month of the year
Edu: Second month of the year
Eeechiia: Living membranes used to separate spaces
Eemscaap: Digger creatures from Uurccheea
Eesiil: Red, glowing star-like fungus with seven points
Eev-uurccheea: Literally “New Uurccheea,” the aaveen’s second homeworld. Also the name given to Tharassas by the Spore Mother
Eircat: Cat analogues – Highland hunters
El’Oss/Elohim/The Old God: God of the past and love, sign is the cross, once the Christian god, now folded into the local religion
Electrical Guild: A new guild in Gullton responsible for the electric lights and the dam
Elsp River: River that runs from lake Zeraya to Gullton through the Highlands and the Heartland
Em'Asa (Mim): One of Tri'Aya's private guards, born in Dalney
Eneet: A squirrel equivalent
Eno: First month of the year
Eoto: Eighth month of the year
Equa: Fourth month of the year
Erphin: Dolphin equivalent
Esei: Sixth month of the year
Eset: Seventh month of the year
Eshem: The ce’faine equivalent of the Hencha Queen
Etré: Third month of the year
Evro: Ninth month of the year
Fellin Root: a yellow root that serves as an anti-dolorific, also a sleep aid in larger quantities
Fess’Ima aka Fessryn (Mim): One of the Temple initiates
Fexin: Deep purple Highlands herb, used as topical germicide
Flitter: Small helicopters used to transport people in the Heartland; sparkling “wings” (LR)
Flop Trees: Big-leaved trees used to provide islands of shade in the hencha plantations
Flyx (Grey): One of Breeze’s kits, male
Foldovers: A sweet or savory pastry
Fre’Oss aka Freja: God of air, weather, and health, sign is the lightning bold, presents as a child, sometimes male, sometimes female
Fri’Oss aka Frija: God of fertility, birth, the harvest and sex, sign is the leaf, presents as a woman
Gap, the: Pass connecting the Highlands with the Heartland to the East
Gap Station: The way station in the middle of the Gap
Grayleaf: A seasoning often used in steak rubs, also used as an essential oil
Great Southern Desert: The huge desert south of the Heartland, beyond the Onyx Mountains, where the suifaine live
Guard’s Honor: Used to swear something
Gullton/Gullytown: The main city on Tharassas, where the colony was founded
Gully Birds: Black seagull equivalents found in Gullton and the heartland
Gully Fowl: Three-legged chicken equivalents
Gully Rat: Derogatory term for citizens of Gullton
Gully Rats: Larger cousins to the inthym that live in and around Gullton
Gully Weasels: See gully rats, also used as a derogatory term for Gulltoners
Hacka Berries: Highland berries known for their sweet, salty taste
Haifaine: East Valley Clan - Elleck (Enrick)
Harkness Sea: The sea to the west of Gully Town
Heartland: The original colony lands, with Gullton as the capital
Heartlanders: People who live in the Heartland
Heartroot: Spicy highlands herb, similar to cinnamon
Heaven’s Reach: The mountain range along the northern edge of the Heartland
Hel’Oss aka Helja: God of death, war, and problems, sign is the black staff, presents as intersex
Hencha: A food crop that’s also semi sentient, human height with red stalks and purple leaves
Hencha Berries: Berries produced by the hencha plants that are edible by humans - red (sweet), orange, blue (sharp-sweet), and yellow (tart, citrus/vitamin c)
Hencha Leaf Scroll: Paper made from hencha leaves
Hencha Mind: The animating group consciousness of the hencha
Hencha Oil: Used for lanterns
Hencha Queen: The woman who can talk to the hencha; also the animating consciousness of the hencha en masse (see Hencha Mind)
Hencha Tea: A healing tea made from hencha leaves
Henchwine: Wine made from hencha berries
Hera River: The other major river in the Heartland
Hes’Enn aka Hestra (Mim): The Temple sword master
Heurcinth: Purple Highlands flowers that grow with pezzywinkles in matched pairs
Heyfa Weeds: Yellow semi-sentient weeds that strangle the hencha plants for food
Highlanders: People who live in the Highlands; can refer to Steaders or sometimes Ce’Faine
Highlands: Wide valley inland from the Heartland, accessed via the Gap
Highlands Treaty: Treaty signed between Gullton/the Heartland and the Ce’Faine
Iichili/Forerunners/Fireflies: Spies for the Spore Mother
Initiate: An acolytes of the hencha Temple
Inthym/rinkin: Little harmless white mouse-like creatures that hunt insects in packs
Jai (m, reifaine): One of the ce’faine, then a verent rider
Janusday: Fourth day of the week
Jas’Aya aka Jasinaya (Mim): Hencha berry farm worker, later the Hencha Queen; dark hair
Jel’Faya aka Jelin (Mas): Contemporary fantasy author
Jellybug: Small, brightly-colored beetles that inthyms eat
Jer’Est aka Jeryl (Mas): One of Aik’s friends
Jexyn: Hive-minded birds in the Highlands; dangerous when they find fresh meat
Jim’Aza aka Jimey (Mas): Nel’Aza’s son and Raven’s first crush
Jor’Oss aka Jorja (wild nature/unpredictability/luck - dice): God of wild nature, unpredictability and luck, sign is the dice, presents as a scarily beautiful young woman
Jyn'Eln (Doctor): Medic for the Gullton Guard
Keh’Sel aka Kehla (Mas): Temple seamstress
Kek’Aze aka Kerrick (Ser): One of Aik’s superiors in the guard
Kerint: Ocean fish-equivalents with a sweet, tangy meat
Lake Zeraya: The huge central lake that defines the highlands
Lamplighter’s Guild: Gullton guild responsible for lighting the lamps and the natural gas lines
Landfield: The suburb that sprung up on the western side of the old landing field
Lo’Oss aka Loja: God of fire, change, strength and protection, sign is flames, presents as gender-fluid, and can appear in all of the forms
Local Population Contact Regulations (LPCs): Rules governing contact with a local population
Lowlander: Derogatory term the Highlanders use for the Heartlanders
Lyn’Rya (Mim): Des’Rya’s mother, and a tanner in Devon
Machinists’ Guild: Gullton guild responsible for fabricating anything needed by the other guilds
Mad Blade: Aik’s mother’s armory/book shop on Raven Spine
Manor House: Tri’Aya’s home in Heaven’s Reach
Mar'Orn aka Marea (Mim): Raven's mother
Martasday: Second day of the week
Mas: Title for adult men
Meer: Mayor
Menagerie: Bestiary of real and imagined beasts created from Sera’s original works by Sol’Eria
Mes'Ena aka Meslyn (Mim): One of Tri'Aya's guards
Mif (Mas): One of Aik’s friends
Mim: Title for adult women
Mir: Title for adult non-binary/fluid
Mir’Ust aka Mirrel (Mim): One of the Temple initiates
Mohr’Una aka Mohria (Mim): The Temple astrologer
Mountain Ix: Swift-footed mountain animals prized for their colorful green-gold hides
Mountainhome: What the humans call the valley where the verent live
Mudmole: A large rodent equivalent
Mur beatles: Silk-weaving beatles
Mur silk: Silk spun by mur beatles
Nel’Aza aka Nellie (Mim): Raven’s neighbor who takes him in when his mother dies
Noninalya: One of the songs of the Sisters of the Hencha
Nor’Oss aka Norja: God of water, the sea, and prosperity, sign is a wave, presents as an old man
Northlander: A less derogatory term for the Heartlanders and Steaders
Norton: Small town in the middle of the Heartland
Onyx Mountains: The range just south of Gullton and the Heartland
Oosill: Finger-sized uurcheean worms that leave behind fertilizer mucus
Oracle, the: The eshem of the suifaine clan
Orinth Honey: A sweet sticky substance made by orinths in their nest
Orinth: Green and orange insects that nest in muddy columns, analogous to termites
Ost Farm: Vegetable farm outside of Gullton that sells produce to the Temple
Otherlings: What the verent call humans
Pellin: Tharassas’s smaller, pink moon, Erreh in the native tongue
Peregrine Spine: The smallest spine, where many of the rich have mansions
Pes’Osa aka Peslyn (Mir): One of the sisters in the Temple
Pezzywinkles: Orange Highlands flowers that grow with Heurcinths in matched pairs
Puffer Hen: Domesticated fowl; also used to describe gossips
Raising, The: The coronation of a new Hencha Queen
Rav’Orn aka Raven (Mas): Thief from Gullton
Raven Spine: The central “spine” of Gullton where toe Temple and city hall are found
Redflight Mountains: The range that defines the southern edge of the Highlands
Redhawk Spine: The southernmost spine, and also the poorest, home of the Open Market
Reifaine: Red Flight clan of the ce’faine
Ring Tree: Spiral tree with purple fronds found in the foothills of Heaven’s Reach
River Grass: Cattail equivalents that grow along river shores
Rock Ferns: Red ferns that grow along the spines of Gullton
Russet Mold (powdered): Used for fever
Sadie's Cove: Small oceanfront town north of Gullton
Sal’Moya aka Sallia (Mim): One of the Sisters, head of the initiates
Scill'Eya: A homeless woman in Gullton
Sea Guild: The main transportation guild in Gullton
Sera Collins (Ahsera): Pilot of the Spun Diver; black
Sil’Aya aka Silya (Mim): Aik’s old flame and an initiate at the Hencha Temple
Sister: Title for the women who work in the Temple
Skeef: A tick equivillent
Skerit: A bat equivalent
Sol’Eria (Solene): A Sister in the Temple who had a talent for art, and who collected many of Sera’s works into leather-bound volumes
Solsday: First day of the week
Southford: A small town in the southeastern corner of the Heartland
Spin Diver: The last ship to make the run from Earth (LR)
Spin: AI of the Spin Diver
Spore Mother: Mysterious alien entity
Squint aka Sorix: Breeze’s female mate, reddish brown
Steader: Someone from one of the steadings in the Highlands
Stones: A gambling game where flat, etched stones are thrown for points and sets
Suifaine: Desert clan of the ce’faine
Summer Meet: Gathering of the Highlander tribes along the southeastern side of Lake Zeraya
Tarsis: Tharassas’s larger golden moon, dominated by a big heart-shaped crater
Tartan Hills: The hilly region bordering the southern edge of the Heartland
Tel’Esta aka Tela (Sister): One of Silya’s teachers and the Temple archivist
Temple/Hencha Temple: The seat of the Hencha Queen in Gullton
Terasday: Third day of the week
Tess’Esra aka Tesslyn (Initiate): One of the Temple initiates
Tharassas: A human-colonized world
Theolin: A stringed instrument with strings made from aur hair
Thieves’ Guild: Loose, unrecognized Gullton guild comprised of master thieves and apprentices
Tri’Aya aka Triya (Mim): Silyas’ mother, a wealthy merchant with a mansion called the Manor House on the slopes of Heaven’s Reach
Trine Grass: Tri-bladed purple grass that covers the Highlands valley
Tucker Narrows: A narrowing of the Elsp between Raven Spine and Eagle Spine
Umvit/Vrint: Small, fast, nimble three-winged flying creature used as messengers
Urse: A smaller version of an Auricinth, a horse equivalent
Uurccheea: The long-destroyed home world of the Aaveen
Vale: A small town at the eastern edge of the Highlands
Veifaine: the Highlands Valley clan of the ce’faine that no longer exists
Verent/Skirryn (s/pl): Dragon-like native beasts that change gender periodically
Verla’Olk (Mim): Temple cook
Violet Pine: Native tree with spiky needles
Vulture Spine: The northernmost spine, also the location of most of Gullton’s industry
Wil’Ock aka Willem (Mas): Tri’Aya’s husband and Sil’Aya’s father, an artist from Sadie’s cove
Wisps/Esh: Mysterious glowing blue sparks that have suddenly become more common
Yen’Ela aka Yendra (Mim): The previous Hencha Queen
Zelaya: A bustling town on the southeastern shore of Lake Zelaya in the Highlands
Zev’Nek aka Zevrell (Mim, Sea Master): Sea Master of Gullton
About the Author
J. Scott Coatsworth writes stories that subvert expectations, that seek to transform traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something new and unexpected. His writing, whether romance or genre fiction (or a little bit of both), brings a queer energy to his stories, infusing them with love, beauty and power and making them soar. He imagines a world that could be and, in the process, maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
A Rainbow Award-winning author, Scott’s debut novel, Skythane, received two awards and an honorable mention. With his husband, Mark, he runs Queer Sci Fi, QueerRomance Ink, Liminal Fiction, and Other Worlds Ink. Scott is also the committee chair for the Indie Authors Committee at the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA).
You Might Also Enjoy
A Wreck of Dragons
Elaine Isaak
Teens and their giant robots search for a new home for mankind, but the planet they discover belongs to the dragons.
Memory and Metaphor
Andrea Monticue
Civilization fell. It rose. At some point, people built starships.
The Smugglers
from the “Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy”
Vanessa MacLaren-Wray
Attachment is everything.
Available from Water Dragon Publishing in
hardcover, trade paperback, and digital editions.
waterdragonpublishing.com
J. Scott Coatsworth, The Dragon Eater
