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The man-wolf was gone as well. The man lay in his place. When I touched him, his beard was stiff with blood, his back bent like trampled grass. His hands thanked me as he died.
"Lucius… " The call came again. It was only then, too late, that I sought for him.
I found him beside the broken eagle. He wore a lion's skin, but a spear had divided his thigh and a dagger had pierced his corselet of bronze scales. The lion was dying. "Lucius… " He used my own speech. "Lucius, is it really you?"
I could only nod, not knowing what to say; as gently as I could, I took his hand.
"How strange are the ways of the gods!" he gasped. "How cruel."
(These are the last words of the first scroll.)
GLOSSARY
The principal proper names in Latro's account are identified here. A few (such as "Lands of the Living" and "Shining God") have been omitted when their meaning seems obvious. Certain other terms that could pose difficulties for his readers are defined as well. Acetes-The commander of the armored soldiers (hoplites) on Hypereides's trireme. Acharnae-A village roughly midway between Thought and Advent, but farther inland than either. Acheron-A river flowing through both the Lands of the Living and the Lands of the Dead. Advent-A small city near Thought, allied with it. The most famous temple of the Grain Goddess, the Royal House, is there. Aea-The capital of Colchis, an ancient barbarian kingdom far north and east of Thought. Aegae-A small city on the northern coast of Redface Island, the home port of the Nausicaa. Aesculapius-The god of healing, an ancient physician deified. Agamemnon-An ancient king and hero. Agathocles-A famous musician of Thought. Agids-The older royal family of Rope. Ahuramazda-Ahura Mazda. Literally, Wise God or Wise Lord; the chief force for good in a mythology in which evil occupies an equal place. Alcmene-The mother of Heracles. Amompharetos-An officer (roughly a colonel) in the army of Rope. Anadyomene-One of the names of Kalleos's goddess; it means "Sea-Born." Angra Manyu-The evil god who opposes Ahura Maidk. Antaeus-A Libyan giant, a son of Gaea. Apia-The name given Gaea by the Sons of Scoloti. Apollodoros-A famous choirmaster. Aram-A country lying between the Cities of the Crimson Men and Babylon. Its language is understood in most parts of the Empire. Archilichos-A poet and freebooter. Archimage-Great magician. Areopagus-A hill in Thought, the site of murder trials. Argiopium-A village near Clay. Argives-The people of Hundred-Eyed. Argolis-A peninsula southwest of Thought, to which wealthy families fled when it became apparent the Great King's army would capture their city. Artabazus-The wily general who took command of the Great King's army following the death of Mardonius. Artayctes-The governor of Sestos, appointed by the Great King. Artemisium-The northernmost point of Goodcattle Island. Artimpasa-The name given the Triple Goddess by the Sons of Scoloti. Asopus-A god of rivers, the father of numerous nymphs. Live coals are discovered in the beds of his streams, which are also called Asopus. Auge-The Huntress. This is the name by which she is known in Bearland; it means "bright light." Basias-An ouragos in Eutaktos's lochos. Bearland-A primitive mountainous area in the middle of Redface Island. It is technically independent of Rope. Boat-A volcanic island in the Water. The metal-workers' god maintains a forge there. Boreas-The god of the north wind. Budini-Fair-haired barbarians inhabiting a densely forested tract northeast of the plains now held by the Sons of Scoloti. Celeos-An ancient king of Advent. The present Royal House is built upon the ruin of his palace and takes its name from it. Cerdon-One of the many slaves who work Pausanias's estate. Cerdon talks with Latro beside the fire on the evening of his capture. Chalets-A bird that never wakes, but flies in its sleep. Its proximity induces sleep in others. Chersonese-The peninsula separating Helle's Sea from the Water. Chios-An isle of the Empire, peopled by Hellenes. Chthonios-The underground Land of the Dead. Cimmer-The eponymous founder of the barbarian tribe displaced by the Sons of Scoloti. Circling Isles-A group due east of Redface Island; they form a rough oval. Clay-A small city near Hill, allied with Thought. It gives its name to the battle in which Latro was wounded. Copais-A large lake northwest of Hill; its waters enter the Lands of the Dead. Coronis-A princess of Horseland, the mother of Aesculapius. The literal meaning of her name is "crooked horned." A more plausible meaning is "of the broken tower." Corustas-A strategist of Tower Hill. Cowland-The area northwest of the Long Coast. It is dominated by Hill. Crimson Country-A coastal strip to the northeast of Riverland, dominated by the cities of the Crimson Men. Crotali-Musical rattles normally consisting of tuned lengths of bone or hardwood suspended at one end from a hand-held frame. Delian-Usually the Shining God, but also his twin the Huntress; from their place of birth. Demaratus-The rightful claimant to the younger (Eurypontid) crown of Rope, now in exile at the court of the Great King. Demophon-An infant prince whom the Grain Goddess wished to render immortal by bathing in fire. Her good intentions were frustrated by the arrival of his mother. Priests of the Grain Goddess at Advent must be of his family. Dog's Tail-A sand spit extending from the island of Peace. Dolphins-A mountain town on the mainland west of Tower Hill. Its oracle is the most famous in the world. Drakaina-A lamia. Her name means "she-serpent." Eleonore-One of the courtesans employed by Kalleos. Her name means "merciful." Eleusis-Advent. Enodia-A name of the Dark Mother; it means "of the roads." enomotia-A military unit of 24 men and an officer. Roughly, a platoon. Ephesos-A coastal town of the Empire, inhabited by Hellenes; it is a short distance north of Miletos. Euboea-Goodcattle Island. Eumolpides-The leading family of Advent-once its royal family. Eurotas-A river on Redface Island. It flows almost due south and empties into the sea. Rope is on this river. Eurybiades-A strategist of Rope. Eurykles-A sorcerer and self-appointed priest of the Dark Mother. Kalleos's lover. Eutaktos-A lochagos (roughly a captain) in the army of Rope. Euxine-An extensive inland sea northeast of Helle's Sea. It is linked with Helle's Sea by the First Sea, and is far larger than both. Falcata-Latro's sword. Fe