A Parliament of Owls
Copyright 2015 Beth Hilgartner
Published by Beth Hilgartner at Smashwords
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For Dad and Martha—the next installment
Table of Contents
Author's Note
Dramatis Personae
Prologue
Chapter One—Gathering the Players
Chapter Two—The Woman with the Red Hair
Chapter Three—The Windbringer's High Priest
Chapter Four—Assembling Pieces
Chapter Five—Lynx
Chapter Six—A Visit to the Queen
Chapter Seven—Assassins
Chapter Eight—Feint and Thrust
Chapter Nine—Parry and Riposte
Chapter Ten—Followers of the Bone King
Chapter Eleven—Sorting Fragments
Chapter Twelve—Blood Rites
Chapter Thirteen—Binding
Chapter Fourteen—Blade and Venom
Chapter Fifteen—Repercussions
Chapter Sixteen—More Puzzle Pieces
Chapter Seventeen—Ambush
Chapter Eighteen—Gossip and Speculation
Chapter Nineteen—The Emperor's Dreaded Reception
Chapter Twenty—Arguments and Councils
Chapter Twenty-one—Analysis
Chapter Twenty-two—Schemes and Schemers
Chapter Twenty-three—Yverri
Chapter Twenty-four—Trouble at the Ivory Comb
Chapter Twenty-five—Complications
Chapter Twenty-six—Warrant
Chapter Twenty-seven—Fourth Attempt
Chapter Twenty-eight—Petitions
Chapter Twenty-nine—The Upper Town House
Chapter Thirty —Klarhynne
Chapter Thirty-one—The Pastry Cook
Chapter Thirty-two—Mounting Tensions
Chapter Thirty-three—Temple War
Chapter Thirty-four—Aftermath
Chapter Thirty-five—Pulling the Strings
Chapter Thirty-six—Propositions
Chapter Thirty-seven—Decisions
Chapter Thirty-eight—Reaction
Chapter Thirty-nine—Tidying Up
Epilogue
Other Books by this Author
Connect with Beth Hilgartner
Author's Note
When the first two books of the Bharaghlafi series were published—in 2000 and 2002, respectively—with the third (unwritten) volume under contract, I thought I had finally found a permanent publishing home. Unfortunately, before the third volume of this series (which wasn't written)—or, for that matter, the sequel to Cats in Cyberspace (which was)—could be published, the publisher went out of business, casting me and my books adrift. My search for a traditional publishing house to pick up the Bharaghlafi series was unsuccessful, so I set the project aside until a later time. The publishing industry as a whole went through a period of turmoil, which corresponded with deep changes in my life situation—with the result that my time and creative energies were absorbed by things other than writing novels. While A Pariliament of Owls doesn't have a cliff-hanger of an ending, it's nonetheless clear there is more story left to tell. I have felt a certain amount of guilt for leaving readers hanging, and have had to respond to many, many queries from readers wanting to know whatever happened to Ferret, Owl, and their friends.
One of the reasons I am putting my "backlist" books into e-book format is because I hope that making these titles available will provide sufficient income to justify my spending a greater part of my time actually writing—and An Ambush of Tigers is a top priority for that writing time. That said, I'm not a particularly fast writer, and it is a complicated story, so it won't be out this year. But I am committed to getting it written, so, while you shouldn't hold your breath or go on a hunger strike, you also should not lose hope. I wouldn't make this effort to introduce a new generation of readers to the world of the Bharaghlafi Empire if I didn't intend to continue the story arc in subsequent volumes.
The two most common questions I receive from fans of the Bharaghlafi series are: 1. When is An Ambush of Tigers coming out? and 2. How do you pronounce the names? I'm fairly sure that the uncomplicated-but-true answers to these two questions (1. Well, sometime after I finish it; and 2. However you like.) are not satisfying; I trust that this author's note will provide a more nuanced response.
So: about the names... If you're not one of those people who needs to know how the author pronounces her characters' names, feel free to skip this part; but for the curious, here's my attempt at a pronounciation guide. The weird-looking consonant combinations (kh, zh, bh, etc.) approximate sounds that don't exist or are uncommon in English. Kh is a back-of-the-throat gutteral, much like ch in German (ach); zh is a voiced sh-sound (as in azure); bh falls somewhere between (in English) b and p; c is pronounced as English ch (church), cc is a k'ch sound (as in the phrase slick chimp), dh as in the phrase ad hoc; rh denotes a flipped r sound and rr a rolled r. The vowel y is usually a short i sound (as in bit), except as an initial letter, where it is closer to a long e (beet), or after kh, where it has a long i sound (wild); a is either an ah sound or short (as in cat); e is usually eh (as in best), and is pronounced (though never stressed) when it is the last letter in a word; i is pronounced ee, and o as in overt. There is (alas) no consistent rule for which syllable is stressed, though in two syllable names, it's generally the first (RHY-dev, CYF-fe); in three syllable names, either the first syllable (KHE-thy-ran AN-zhi-bhar, VEN-y-khar) or the second (y-CE-vi ghyt-TE-ve, ci-THAN-ekh) is stressed.
Beth Hilgartner, July 2015
Dramatis Personae
At the Court
The Emperor's Household
Emperor Khethyran Anzhibhar (the Scholar King) • Emperor of Bharaghlaf
Queen Celave Azhere Anzhibhar • the Emperor's wife
Khecelle Anzhibhar • eldest of the Emperor's daughters
Thylave Anzhibhar • the Emperor's second daughter
Ranve and Khece Anzhibhar • the Emperor's twin daughters
Khethcel Anzhibhar • the Emperor's infant son
Arre of Kalledann • a Seer and bard of the Kellande School; the Emperor’s lover
Thantor (Donkey) • the Emperor's spymaster
Bhenekh (Commander) • Commander in the Imperial Guard
The Queen's Household
Azhine Azhere Glakhyre (Lady) • the chief among Queen Celave's ladies in waiting; Ymlakh Glakhyre's wife
Yverri Ambhere • one of Queen Celave's ladies in waiting
Centyffe Azhere • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting
Klarhynne Dhenykhare • one of Queen's ladies in waiting
Lyssemarhe Ghytteve • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting; Marhysse
Ghytteve's sister
Zhylande Glakhyre • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting
Ceghorre Khyghafe Glakhyre • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting
Averhacce Mebhare • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting
Pakhrielle Ykhave • one of the Queen's ladies in wai
ting
Elyrrothe Ythande Mebhare • one of the Queen's ladies in waiting
Ysmenarr (Captain) • Captain of the Queen's Guard
Council Houses
Anzhibhar • the Royal House
Ambhere • Mining
Azhere • Silk
Dhenykhare • Shipbuilding
Ghytteve • Coffee (drugs)
Glakhyre • Wool
Mebhare • Farming
Ykhave • Artisans
Ythande • Woodsdwellers/timber
Khyghafe • Nomads/horses
The Council of Advice
Mylazhe Ambhere (Lady) • Councilor for House Ambhere
Cithanekh Anzhibhar-Ghytteve • Councilor for House Ghytteve
Rhydev Azhere • Councilor for House Azhere
Dhyrakh Dhenykhare (Duke) • Duke and Councilor for House Dhenykhare
Venykhar Ghobhezh-Ykhave • Councilor for House Ykhave
Ymlakh Glakhyre • Duke and Councilor for House Glakhyre
Enghan Mebhare • Councilor for House Mebhare
Khycalle Ynghorezh Ythande (Lady) • Councilor for the Ythande (forest dwellers)
Dharyan (Master) • Master of the Caravan Guild; Council representative from the Guilds
Bishop Anakher • Bishop of the Horselord's Temple; Council rep. from the Temple District
Zherekhaf Azhere • the Prime Minister; Rhydev’s uncle
Cithanekh Ghytteve's household
Owl Ghytteve • a Seer trained at the Kellande School; Cithanekh's lover
Cezhar Ghytteve • the chief of the Ghytteve bodyguards
Rhan Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Cezhar's brother
Marhysse Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Lyssemarhe Ghytteve's older sister
Effryn (Squirrel) • the Ghytteve steward
Yrhenne Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Yrhazh's sister
Lynx • a renegade Eschaddande; Owl's bodyguard
Khofyn Ghytteve • a bodyguard
Yrhazh Ghytteve • a bodyguard; Yrhenne's brother
Pazhref Ghytteve • the Ghytteve cook
Rhydev Azhere's household
Ancith Anzhibhar-Ghytteve • Rhydev's young lover; Cithanekh's brother
Ghorran Azhere • an Azhere bodyguard
Hassyn Azhere • an Azhere servant/bodyguard
Duke Dhyrakh Dhenykhare's household
Morekheth Anzhibhar-Azhere Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral; possible royal contender
Rhyazhe Dhenykhare • Dhyrakh's niece; currently living in Cynteffarhe
Zhentalle Pykhatheth-Ythande Dhenykhare • Rhyazhe's mother (deceased)
Khamarh Dhenykhare • the Dhenykhare steward
Pezh Dhenykhare • a bodyguard and friend of exiled Rhyazhe Dhenykhare
Zhedhyn Dhenykhare • a bodyguard
Varykh Dhenykhare • the Admiral
Akhatheraf Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral (dissolute and quarrelsome)
Myrhaf Dhenykhare • candidate for Admiral (rumored senile)
Krassykh Dhenykhare (Honorable) • corrupt judge of the Fourth Court
Other Court personages
Amynne Ykhave (Mouse) • the ward of the Ykhave Councilor; director of the Free School
Essekh • a Glakhyre bodyguard
Yverakh Ambhere • Yverri Ambhere's father.
Arrekh Ambhere • one of Mylazhe Ambhere's bodyguards
Tharhyll • a pastry chef in the Palace kitchens
Orandhar Mebhare • a gentleman farmer from the region north of Cynteffarhe.
Alghaffen Ghytteve (Duke) • Duke of House Ghytteve
In the Temple District
Kerigden • High Priest of the Windbringer
Assakh • Kerigden's assistant
Lyffath • an acolyte of the Windbringer with Sight Gifts
Anakher (Bishop) • Bishop of the Horselord’s Temple
Razhynde • Healer priest attached to the Windbringer Temple
Thyzhecci • High Priestess of the Dark Lady
Anesstri • Priestess of the Dark Lady
Dedemar • a foreign mercenary in the Temple Guard
Sakhass (Captain) • head of the Temple Guard
Followers of the Bone King
Hassyth/Hassythe • an Adept of the Bone King who is able to appear either as a young man or a woman.
In the City
Captain Mannakh • a captain of the Watch, familiar with and sympathetic to the Free School.
Falkhan • a Watchman secretly in the pay of Rhydev Azhere
At the Free School
Mouse (Amynne Ykhave) • director and teacher at the Free School; ward of the Ykhave Councilor
Ghynna • a student at the Free School who was sold to the Dark Lady's Temple.
Penarh • a student at the Free School
Ghysse • a student at the Free School
Eghan • a student at the Free School
In the Slums
Anthagh • wealthy slave dealer
Arkhyd • tavern master of The Trollop's Smile; Thantor's uncle
Ferret • Master in the Thieves Guild
Khather • one of Ferret's bravos
Khorvan Nakhar • a waterfront tough in the pay of the Dhenykhare
Rhodh • one of Ferret's bravos
Rhynne • barmaid at the Rusty Anchor
Vekh • one of Khorvan Nakhar's sneaks
Vixen • Ferret's most promising Journeyman
Places
Slum/waterfront taverns
Trollop’s Smile
Beaten Cur
Ivory Comb (waterfront)
Rusty Anchor (waterfront)
Replete Feline (waterfront)
Kalledann • an island kingdom across the Sleeping Sea from Yrkhaffe; home of the Kellande School
The Kellande School • a college specializing in the training of magical, musical, philosophical and poetic talents
Fytria • a distant land on the continent beyond Kalledann
Eschadd • an ancient empire; modern Eschadd borders Fytria
Yrkhaffe • the capitol city of the Bharaghlafi Empire
Amarta (the Federated States of) • kingdom northeast of Bharaghlaf
Cynteffarhe • a northwestern port city, in Mebhare lands
Kharymasse • the Duke of Ghytteve's estate
Prologue
The Windbringer stood in the Hall of Stars; in the lofty dark and silence, her cloak and hair flapped in response to her private tempest. At the end of the Hall, the arched Worldgate was opaque as storm clouds.
"Your champion is dead." The Windbringer's voice was supple as melody. "Do you concede?"
"No." Her brother's tone was flat. "She was a piece on the khacce table; no more. And you have lost one of your precious children, as well. Even with your penchant for optimism, Sister, you can hardly argue that the Emperor of Bharaghlaf is secure on his throne. I say the matter is not decided; the results are—inconclusive."
The Windbringer smiled sourly. "What evidence of security will you accept? Mortals die, and their influence fades. How long must my champions hold against yours before you will admit defeat?"
"Longer than this. Look," he said, sweeping an arm toward the Worldgate; the heavy grayness paled like the coming of dawn, and a shadowy scene filled its heavy arch. "Even now, power and ruthlessness reassert their mastery. Come, Sister: agree to another round; for if we declare the contest a draw, then nothing changes. And surely, the status quo favors me and mine."
"I will agree to another round, but with conditions: if you will not acknowledge my Ferret's triumph as anything more than a temporary setback, then I, too, must be allowed to disqualify any gains your players make, and proclaim that there is still hope. Hear my conditions: first, the contest isn't over until both of us agree that it has reached a resolution; and second, there shall be no stalemate, no draw. Whatever happens, Broth
er, the status quo is dead. Are we agreed?"
"Not without a third condition: there shall be no direct interference; no visitations unbidden; no miraculous weather, neither fair nor foul. Priests and seers may have what aid their faithfulness and talents demand, but no more. Now, Sister, is it a wager?"
She nodded and they touched palms to signify the binding. The Windbringer's face was somber, but her brother laughed.
"Haven't you learned, even yet, Sister, not to give your heart to your causes?"
She managed a thin smile. "It isn't the causes I love, but the people who embrace them."
He turned away, still laughing. "More fool you. Mortals are too weak to bear a god's love. Use your people: teach them, challenge them, inspire them, even—but don't love them. Mortals die; it is their nature. They live their brief span and are forgotten. And then your love is wasted." He swept out of the Hall without waiting for her answer.
The Windbringer smiled faintly. "You're wrong," she said to the empty hall. "They die—oh yes, they die; but I remember. And love is never wasted."
From under her cloak, the Windbringer took a harp and pulled a phrase of music, poignant as memories, from the silvery strings. Under its stone arch, the Worldgate blazed gold, and the Windbringer stepped through into light.
Chapter One—Gathering the Players
With a carefully inaudible sigh, Khethyran, Emperor of Bharaghlaf, pushed back his chair and stood. He swept his amber gaze around the gathered Council and said quietly, "That's enough for today. Thank you all." He moved to the window. The meeting broke up into small, milling eddies of power and politics as the twelve Council members began to leave. "Cithanekh," the Emperor said without turning, "stay."
The Council Lord for House Ghytteve, Cithanekh Anzhibhar-Ghytteve, returned to his seat as he waited for the room to empty. He was a tall young man, rather too thin; his sharp-chiseled features and expressive blue eyes showed strain and sleeplessness. His long-fingered hands moved restlessly on the polished mahogany surface of the table, making the green-gemmed ring he wore glint in the light.