Lupi 09 - Mortal Ties

The press call him the Nokolai prince. Dark
     hair and dark eyes, he is fifty-five, but looks about thirty. He was raised by his
     father at Nokolai Clanhome.
    Ryder: Cynna and Cullen’s new baby daughter.
    Sarah Drummond: Al’s wife, killed by Martha Billings.
    Toby Asteglio: Rule’s son. He’s nine and lives with Rule and Lily.
    Tony Romano: Laban Rho. Tall, muscular, and gorgeous, he suffered brain damage as a child, and
     while First Change enabled him to heal the neurological damage, he still thinks slowly—but
     thoroughly. Often underestimated.
    THE LEIDOLF SQUAD
    Alan
    Barnaby
    Chris
    Ian
    Jeffrey
    Joe
    Marcus
    Mike
    Patrick McCausey
    Scott White (in charge)
    Steve
    Todd
    OFF-STAGE OR BRIEF APPEARANCE
    Arjenie Fox: Benedict’s Chosen; a researcher for the FBI; part-sidhe
    Benedict: Rule’s oldest brother; in charge of security at Clanhome
    Brenda: Questioned by Lily; she talked too much to her Laban lover
    Carl: Isen’s houseman
    Carrie Ann Rucker: “Mule” for drug cartel, fifty-nine, a placid woman with graying blond hair and a
     crooked front tooth
    David: Nokolai guard
    Hank Jamison: Young Laban culprit
    Hannah: Previous Nokolai Rhej
    Isadora Bourque: Nokolai’s chief tender
    Merowitch: Explosives guy
    Mick: Rule’s brother who died
    Pete: Benedict’s second
    Sherrianne: Questioned by Lily at Clanhome
    The Sidhe
    Alycithin: Co-leader of the trade delegation; a halfing with tawny fur, a darker ruff atop her
     head, and bright green eyes. Muscular and about Lily’s height. Came up through the
     warrior class.
    Aroglian: The other elf with Alycithin. An expert spellcaster who specializes in body magic,
     including healing. White hair.
    Benessarai: The other co-leader of the delegation. Son of a sidhe lord, heavily outranks Alycithin
     socially, which means he’s really in charge. Copper-colored hair.
    Dinalaran: One of Alycithin’s assistants; armed with a SIG, does the driving. Creamsicle-orange
     hair.
    Lord Sessena: Benessarai’s mother and Alycithin’s sponsor. Powerful sidhe lord in her realm.
    Lord Thierath: Benessarai’s father.
    GLOSSARY
    Elfin or Sidhe Words
    arguai
: power from an unknown source; not magic, often spiritual
    dielgraf
: soul-enemy
    Rekklat: a catlike race in Alycithin’s realm, known for their skill as warriors and remarkable
     endurance; Alycithin’s father is Rekklat
    seurthurin
: one who practices the arts of the mind (mind-magic, such as illusion)
    so’amellree
: one of the sixteen words for enemy; describes one who might be a friend, were circumstances
     different (fem. form)
    so’elriath
: an enemy for whom one feels no hostility, one who is simply on the other side
    Thalinol: the Queens’ realm
    LUPI WORDS
    Historically, lupus clans in Europe and Britain used Latin to communicate with each
     other for the same reason it was adopted by the Church—the need for a unifying tongue.
     Their version evolved, as languages will, into a thoroughly bastardized tongue likely
     to make classical scholars wince. In addition, there are a few words used by the lupi
     that have no known derivation. Lupi claim these words come from an ancient language
     that predates Latin, but since Latin predates 1000 BCE, experts consider this unlikely.
    The use of Latin to communicate between the clans is dying out now, since so many
     lupi speak English as a first or second language, though it’s still considered essential
     for a Rho and his sons, who must negotiate with other clans. Several of the words
     and phrases remain useful, though, since they have no obvious English equivalent.
     Below are a few of the words and phrases any lupus would know.
    amica
: uncommon, but still used. Means friend/girlfriend (fem.); a lupus might call a male
     friend of the same clan
adun
, from
adiungo
(to join to, connect, associate).
    ardor iunctio
: literally, “fire of joining.” Symbolic fire used at some ceremonies, most notably
     the
gens compleo
.
    certa
: “a place of ice and clarity, where sensation is sharp enough to cut and action flows
     too swiftly for thought.” It’s a battle state; sensations heightened, thought clear
     but altered. Opposite of
furo
.
    drei
: tithe or head tax; it’s a percentage of income or wealth given to the clan.
    du
: honor, face, history, reputation; has magical component. Predates Latin.
    firnam
: derivation unknown; a memorial for one fallen in battle.
    fratriodi
: brother-hate. A grave sin among the lupi.
    furo
: also called “the fury.”