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. Fennel Field-A battle in which Men of Thought repelled a seaborne invasion by the Empire. Fingers-Dectuplets borne by Gaea, five boys and five girls. They are friendly to metal-workers and magic-workers. Gaea-The eldest of all goddesses, worshiped by the aboriginal inhabitants of Redface Island and in many other places. The lion is her cat, the wolf her dog; she is also associated with pigs, cats, snakes, and bulls. She once spoke at Dolphins, but has been driven out by the Shining God. Her name means "earth." Gates to the Hot Springs-A point in the northeastern coast of Cowland where cliffs wall the beach. A traveler walking north reaches thermal springs soon after passing them. Gello-A freedman formerly employed by Kalleos to keep order. Goodcattle Island-A long, narrow, rocky island northeast of the Long Coast. Gorgo-The most distinguished woman in Rope, a princess, the widow of its heroic King Leonidas, the mother of its boy-king Pleistarchos, and the chief priestess of Orthia. Gridelin-The color of dried flax, a light gray-violet. Gulf-A body of water west of Tower Hill, open to the sea only at its western end. Hebetic-Suggesting Hebe, the goddess of youth. Suggestive of a youthful cupbearer at a banquet. (Hebe is a cupbearer to the elder gods.) Helle-The long-ago princess who gave her name to Helle's Sea by drowning in it. Her name presumably means "daughter of Hellen." Hellen-The eponymous ancestor of the Hellenes. Helle's Sea-A narrow strait between the Water and the First Sea. Sestos is on Helle's Sea. Heracles-An ancient hero possessing great strength, who purged Hellas of monsters and was made immortal after his death. Heraclids-Royal or aristocratic persons descended from Heracles. Herodotos of Halicarnassos-Called "the father of history." He titled his book Historia, which means "inquiry." Hilaeira-The young woman who joins Latro, Pindaros, and Io at Lake Copais. Her name means "brightness." Hill-The dominant city of Cowland. It is walled, and has seven gates. Hippocleides-The epitome of insouciant indifference. One of the eighteen suitors of an heiress, he performed a comic dance at their betrothal party. On being told by her father that his absurd capering had cost him his marriage, Hippocleides replied that it made no difference to him and continued to dance. Hippagretas-Lochagos of the City Guard of Tower Hill. Hoplon-A circular shield of wood lined with leather and faced with bull's hide or bronze. A letter or symbol identifying the soldier's city is usually painted on the face-a club for Hill, for example. Horseland-Thessaly, the country north of the Gates to the Hot Springs, famous for its cavalry. Hot Gates-The Gates to the Hot Springs. [Thermoplyae -ECS] Hundred-Eyed-A major city on the east coast of Redface Island. Hypereides-A leather merchant from Thought, and the captain of the Europa. Hysiae-A village on the road from Thought to Hill. Hysiai-A town on the road from Rope to Hundred-Eyed. Ialtos-An officer in the army of Thought. Iamus-The founder of a family of prophets. Ilissus-A stream of the Long Coast; it empties into the Strait of Peace near Tieup. Ino-An ancient princess of Hill, the stepmother of Helle and Phrixos. She is worshiped in many places on Redface Island. Her name probably means "my daughter." Io-The child slave who attaches herself to Latro at Hill. As she tells Latro, her name means "joy." Island Sea-A landlocked sea east of the Euxine. Issedonians-A barbarian tribe of the remote northeast. Ister-A great river emptying into the Euxine. Kalleos-A hetaera of Thought. Her name means "my beauty." Kallidromos-The mountain whose cliffs form the Gates to the Hot Springs. Keiros-A slave belonging to Pasicrates. Kekrops-The sailor killed by the Neurian. Khshayarsha-The Great King. Kichesippos-Pausanias's slave physician. Kopis-A heavy, curved, single-edged sword having its edge on the inside of the curve. Latro's sword appears to be a kopis. A large knife of similar pattern, used by hunters to skin and cut up game. Kore-The Queen of the Lands of the Dead, Gaea's daughter. Her name means "maiden." Lalos-One of Kalleos's cooks. Lar-A household spirit. Latro-A wounded mercenary. Lebadeia-A small city west of Lake Copais, the site of the oracle of Trophonius. Leon-Kalleos's other cook. Leonidas-A heroic Agid king. A small force under his command fought to the last man at the Gates to the Hot Springs. Gorgo is his widow. Leotychides-The King of Rope who commanded the combined fleets at Mycale. He is from the younger (Eurypontid) royal family. Lochagos-The officer commanding a lochos. Roughly, a captain. Lochos-A military unit of one hundred men. Long Coast-A more or less triangular peninsula extending from the mainland between Peace and Goodcattle Island; Advent, Tieup, and Thought are on this peninsula. Its name is probably derived from the long and relatively straight coastlines of its eastern and southwestern sides. Lycurgus-The chief author of the legal code of Rope. He was a prince of the younger (Eurypontid) royal family. Lyson-A sailor assigned to guard Latro and the black man. Malea-A rocky cape, the southernmost point of Redface Island, famous for storms. Mardonius-The commander of the Great King's army killed at the battle of Clay. A man of great strength and courage, he led the Great King's bodyguard in person. Medes-A nation closely related to the People from Parsa but subject to them. Because the Medes are more numerous, they are often confused with the People from Parsa. Megara-A small city on the eastern side of the isthmus linking Redface Island with the mainland. Megareos-Captain of the Eidyia. Megaron-The public room of a type of ancient palace. (The word is sometimes used for the palace itself as well.) Megistias-King Leonidas's seer and sorcerer. Miletos-A coastal city of the Empire, inhabited by Hellenes. Molois-A stream in Cowland. Mormo-A servant of the Dark Mother. Mycale-The battle in which that fraction of the Great King's navy which had survived the battle of Peace was burned. Myrrha-A Cypriot princess, mother of the most handsome of men. Naxos-An island in the Water, belonging to the Empire. Nepos-Captain of the Nausicaa. Neuri-A tribe of barbarian sorcerers and werewolves. Nike-The goddess of victory. Nysa-The black man's country, south of Riverland. Oior-A bowman aboard Europa. Orthia-The Huntress, called so in the Silent Country. The famous wooden figure from which this name is derived originally represented Gaea. It means "upright." Oschos-An armorer of Sestos. Ouragos-The second in command of an enomotia. Roughly, a platoon sergeant. Parsa-The country of the Great King, the location of Persepolis and Susa. [Persia-ECS] Pasicrates-Pausanias's runner. Patroklos-An ancient hero, slain at the siege of Ilion. Pausanias-The Agid regent of Rope. Peace-An island south of the Long Coast. Also the largest town on the island, the narrow channel separating the island from the mainland [Salamis] Pelta-A light shield in the form of a thick crescent, of wicker covered with leather. Persepolis-The capital of the Empire, largely a governmental and religious center. Phanes-An eastern god, said to be the creator of the universe. This name means "revealer." Phrixos-Helle's brother. Phye-The most important courtesan employed by Kalleos. Her name means "tall." Pindaros-The poet chosen by the citizens of Hill to guide Latro. Pitana-One of the villages making up Rope. Pleistarchos-The Agid boy-king of Rope. Pleistoanax-Pausanias's son. Polycrates-An ancient king, long famous for good fortune. Polyhommes-A priest of the Grain Goddess at Advent. Propontis-The First Sea. It links Helle's Sea with the Euxine. Redface Island-A large island south of the mainland, linked with it by an isthmus. The Silent Country and Bearland are regions of Redface Island. Tower Hill is on the western side of the isthmus. Rhoda-One of the courtesans employed by Kalleos. Her name means "rose." Riverland-Kernel, the most ancient of all nations. Rope-The dominant city of the Silent Country. Its soldiers are said to be invincible. [Sparta, of course-ECS] Sabaktes-A servant of the Dark Mother. Sacred Way-The road from Thought to Advent. Samos-An island of the Empire, inhabited by Hellenes. Saws-The gulf or sea separating Argolis from Peace. (Also a ruined city on the coast of Redface Island that once controlled this sea.) Scoloti-An ancient barbarian king. Selene-The bright aspect of the Triple Goddess. The others are the Huntress and the Dark Mother. Semele-A princess of Hill, mother of the Kid. Sestos-A walled city on Helle's Sea. [Thebes?-ECS] Silent Country-The fertile portion of the Eurotas valley. It is guarded by mountains to north, east, and west; its southern side is protected by a swamp. The Silent Country is dominated by Rope. Simonides-An elderly poet and sophist. He wrote the verses inscribed at the Hot Gates. Solon-The chief author of the legal code of Thought. Spercheius-The river separating Cowland from Horseland. It was forded by the Great King's Army on its way to the Hot Gates. Spu-The bowman killed by the Neurian. Stephane-A gold or silver headband, widest across the forehead. Susa-The largest city in Parsa. Taksis-A large infantry unit of variable size. Roughly, a division. Its commander is one grade below a strategist. Tekmaros-A slave belonging to Pasicrates. Teleia-The queen of the gods. Teuthrone-A fishing village on the coast of Redface Island. Themistocles-Thought's most famous and influential politician and strategist. Thoe-The youngest of the Nereids. Her name means "swift." Thought-The chief city of the Long Coast and the intellectual capital of Hellas. [Athens-ECS] Thygater-The woman reanimated by Latro and Eurykles. Her name means "daughter." Tieup-The chief port of Thought. [Piraeus-ECS] Tisamenus-Pausanias's seer and sorcerer. Tower Hill-The richest city in Hellas. It is on the gulf, on the west side of the isthmus. Tower Hill built and controls the skid used to take ships across the isthmus. Triacontor-A small warship, rowed with 30 oars. Trioditis-The Triple Goddess: Selene, the Huntress, and the Dark Mother. Triple Goddess-Trioditis, the twin sister of the Shining God. Fundamentally a deity of night, she is particularly associated with dogs, which bay at the full moon, course game under the crescent moon, and rush unseen at benighted travelers on the dark roads of Hellas. Trireme-A large warship, rowed by 170 oars. Trophonius's Cave-One of the many entrances to the Land of the Dead. Umeri-One of Latro's comrades. Water-The sea east of Hellas. It contains the Circling Isles and many other islands. [Aegean-ECS] Xanthippos-The strategist in charge of the siege of Sestos, an aristocratic soldier-politician from Thought. Zoe-One of the courtesans employed by Kalleos. Her name means "life."