Ken Liu - The Wall of Storms

Many names in Dara are derived from Classical Ano. The transliteration for Classical Ano in this book does not use vowel digraphs; each vowel is pronounced separately. For example, Rfiroa has four distinct syllables: R-fi-ro-a. Similarly, Na-aronna has five syllables: Na-a-ro-n-na.

The i is always pronounced like the i in English mill.

The o is always pronounced like the o in English code.

The is always pronounced like the umlauted form in German or Chinese pinyin.

Other names have different origins and contain sounds that do not appear in Classical Ano, such as the xa in Xana or the ha in Haan. In such cases, however, each vowel is still pronounced separately. Thus, Haan also contains two syllables.

The representation of Lyucu and Agon names and words presents a different problem. As we come to know them through the people and language of Dara, the names given in this work are doubly mediated. Just as English speakers who write down Chinese names and words they hear will achieve only a rough approximation of the original sounds, so with the Dara transliteration of Lyucu and Agon.

KUNI GARU: Emperor Ragin of Dara.

MATA ZYNDU: Hegemon of Dara (deceased).

JIA MATIZA: Empress of Jia; a skilled herbalist.

CONSORT RISANA: an illusionist and accomplished musician.

COGO YELU: Prime Minister of Dara.

GIN MAZOTI: Marshal of Dara; Queen of Gjira; the greatest battlefield tactician of her age. Aya Mazoti is her daughter.

RIN CODA: Imperial Farsight Secretary; childhood friend of Kuni.

MN AKRI: First General of the Infantry.

THAN CARUCONO: First General of the Cavalry and First Admiral of the Navy.

PUMA YEMU: Marquess of Porin; practitioner of raiding tactics.

THCA KIMO: Duke of Arulugi.

DAFIRO MIRO: Captain of the Palace Guards.

OTHO KRIN: Chatelain to Emperor Ragin.

SOTO ZYNDU: Jias confidante and adviser.

PRINCE TIMU (nursing name: Toto-tika): Kunis firstborn; son of Empress Jia.

PRINCESS THRA (nursing name: Rata-tika): daughter of Empress Jia.

PRINCE PHYRO (nursing name: Hudo-tika): son of Consort Risana.

PRINCESS FARA (nursing name: Ada-tika): daughter of Consort Fina, who died in childbirth.

LUAN ZYA: Kunis chief strategist during his rise, who refused all titles; Gin Mazotis lover.

ZATO RUTHI: Imperial Tutor; leading Moralist of the age.

ZOMI KIDOSU: prized student of a mysterious teacher; daughter of a farming-fishing family in Dasu (Oga and Aki Kidosu).

KON FIJI: ancient Ano philosopher; founder of the Moralist school.

RA OJI: ancient Ano epigrammatist; founder of the Fluxist school.

NA MOJI: ancient Xana engineer who studied the flights of birds; founder of the Patternist school.

GI ANJI: modern philosopher of the Tiro states era; founder of the Incentivist school.

PKYU TENRYO ROATAN: leader of the Lyucu.

PRINCESS VADYU ROATAN (nicknamed Tanvanaki): the best garinafin pilot; daughter of Tenryo.

PRINCE CUDYU ROATAN: son of Tenryo.

KIJI: patron of Xana; Lord of the Air; god of wind, flight, and birds; his pawi is the Mingn falcon; favors a white traveling cloak.

TUTUTIKA: patron of Amu; youngest of the gods; goddess of agriculture, beauty, and fresh water; her pawi is the golden carp.

KANA AND RAPA: twin patrons of Cocru; Kana is the goddess of fire, ash, cremation, and death; Rapa is the goddess of ice, snow, glaciers, and sleep; their pawi are twin ravens: one black, one white.

RUFIZO: patron of Faa; Divine Healer; his pawi is the dove.

TAZU: patron of Gan; unpredictable, chaotic, delighting in chance; god of sea currents, tsunamis, and sunken treasures; his pawi is the shark.

LUTHO: patron of Haan; god of fisherman, divination, mathematics, and knowledge; his pawi is the sea turtle.

FITHOWO: patron of Rima; god of war, the hunt, and the forge; his pawi is the wolf.

The sky was overcast, and the cold wind whipped a few scattered snowflakes through the air. Carriages and pedestrians in thick coats and fur-lined hats hurried through the wide avenues of Pan, the Harmonious City, seeking the warmth of home.

Or the comfort of a homely pub like the Three-Legged Jug.

Kira, isnt it your turn to buy the drinks this time? Everyone knows your husband turns every copper over to you.

Look whos talking. Your husband doesnt get to sneeze without your permission! But I think today should be Jizans turn, sister. I heard a wealthy merchant from Gan tipped her five silver pieces last night!

Whatever for?

She guided the merchant to his favorite mistresss house through a maze of back alleys and managed to elude the spies the merchants wife sicced on him!

Jizan! I had no idea you had such a lucrative skill

Dont listen to Kiras lies! Do I look like I have five silver pieces?

You certainly came in here with a wide enough grin. Id wager you had been handsomely paid for facilitating a one-night marriage

Oh, shush! You make me sound like Im the greeter at an indigo house

Ha-ha! Why stop at being the greeter? I rather think you have the skills to manage an indigo house, or a scarlet house! Ive certainly drooled over some of those boys. How about a little help for a sister in need

or a big help

Cant the two of you get your minds out of the gutter for a minute? Wait Phiphi, I think I heard the coins jangling in your purse when you came indid you have good luck at sparrow tiles last night?

I dont know what youre talking about.

Aha, I knew it! Your face gives everything away; its a wonder you can bluff anyone at that game. Listen, if you want Jizan and me to keep our mouths shut in front of your foolish husband about your gaming habit

You featherless pheasant! Dont you dare tell him!

Its hard for us to think about keeping secrets when were so thirsty. How about some of that mind-moisturizer, as they say in the folk operas?

Oh, you rotten Fine, the drinks are on me.

Thats a good sister.

Its just a harmless hobby, but I cant stand the way he mopes around the house and nags when he thinks Im going to gamble everything away.

You do seem to have Lord Tazus favor, Ill grant you that. But good fortune is better when shared!

My parents must not have offered enough incense at the Temple of Tututika before I was born for me to end up with you two as my friends.