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  Vanti: Guardian for the Savanti of the Sacred Pool of Baptism on the River Zelph of far Aphrasöe.

  Varkwa the Open-Handed: Spirit of generosity called upon in Vallia.

  Vel’alar: One of the Hills of Vondium. The villa of the Stromnate of Valka is situated on this hill.

  Veliadrin: Large island high kovnate to the east of Vallia whose name was changed from Can-thirda in remembrance.

  Velyan techniques: Mystic martial disciplines of the Martial Monks of Djanduin.

  vener: Collective name for the vens and venas of the Canals.

  Vennar: Kovnate province of Vallia between the Black Mountains and Falinur.

  ver: Title of pledge of loyalty of Kroveres of Iztar similar to the pur of the Krozairs.

  Vessler, Barty, Strom of Calimbrev: Amiable, chivalrous, brave young man befriended by Prescot. Desperately in love with the Princess Dayra. (CPS GOS)

  Vetal: Island Stromnate to the east of the Czarin Sea.

  Vikatu: The Old Sweat, The Dodger, the archetypal old soldier of Paz on Kregen, paragon of the military vices, legendary figure of myth and romance loved and sworn on by the swods.

  Vinnur’s Garden: Rich area in loop of Great River between Falinur and Vindelka whose ownership is contested by both.

  volmen: Volim, crewmen of fliers.

  Volodu the Lungs: Prescot’s trumpeter in the choice band who followed him in the time of Troubles in Vallia. (GOS)

  Vend: Imperial province to the west of Vondium.

  Vondium Khanders: Political party of Vallia who looked to the business community for combined strength.

  voswod: Aerial soldier of the vollers.

  Voxyri: Complex of Drinnik, Gate and Bridge over two canals providing the easiest entrance to Vondium.

  vydra tea: An excellent brew of the famed Kregen tea.

  W

  Walls of Larghos Risslaca: Inner defensive wall of the imperial deren Vondium.

  wallpitix: Furry, bright-eyed household scavengers living in nest in hidden places of villas and houses.

  Wellon, Nankwi, High Kov of Sakwara: A prickly kov who took the lead in Hawkwa after the disappearance of Trylon Udo and who was confirmed in his position by Prescot. (GOS)

  “When the Fluttrell Flirts His Wing”: A song of Hamal detailing the misadventures of an inexperienced fluttrell flyer.

  Whiptail: Slang term for a Kataki.

  Y

  Yasi, Ranjal, Stromich of Morcray: Twin brother of Rosil Yasi, Strom of Morcray, in the pay of Phu-si-Yantong and bitter foe to Prescot.

  yasticum: An expensive and rare delicacy spread on the superb Kregan bread.

  Yellow-tuskers: Slang term for Chulik.

  Ystilbur: An ancient nation of the Dawn Lands of Havilfar.

  Z

  Zankov: Use-name of Hawkwa determined to overthrow empire, origins secret but subject to many rumors; slender, brittle; the man who slew the Emperor of Vallia. The Princess Dayra’s name is coupled with his in unsavory ways. Zankov, the Tenth Duke, is almost a meaningless name.

  Zarado: A Krozair of Zy who through some peccadillo wandered from the inner sea and hired out as a Paktun to assist Prescot in the defense of Therminsax. (GOS)

  zim-korf: Bird of Valka with rose-red feathers whose quality is equal or superior to the blue fletchings of the king korf of Erthyrdrin.

  Zunder: Krzy with the same history as Zarado with whom he is always in arguments.

  Notes

  [i] Tikshim. The form of address used by the higher to the lower orders. The higher consider it neutral. As it probably equates with “my man” or even “my good man” the lower orders are almost invariably provoked by its use although quite unable to articulate their reaction or to explain it. Prescot has used the word rarely, but here it fits perfectly. A.B.A.

  About the author

  Alan Burt Akers was a pen name of the prolific British author Kenneth Bulmer, who died in December 2005 aged eighty-four.

  Bulmer wrote over 160 novels and countless short stories, predominantly science fiction, both under his real name and numerous pseudonyms, including Alan Burt Akers, Frank Brandon, Rupert Clinton, Ernest Corley, Peter Green, Adam Hardy, Philip Kent, Bruno Krauss, Karl Maras, Manning Norvil, Chesman Scot, Nelson Sherwood, Richard Silver, H. Philip Stratford, and Tully Zetford. Kenneth Johns was a collective pseudonym used for a collaboration with author John Newman. Some of Bulmer’s works were published along with the works of other authors under "house names" (collective pseudonyms) such as Ken Blake (for a series of tie-ins with the 1970s television programme The Professionals), Arthur Frazier, Neil Langholm, Charles R. Pike, and Andrew Quiller.

  Bulmer was also active in science fiction fandom, and in the 1970s he edited nine issues of the New Writings in Science Fiction anthology series in succession to John Carnell, who originated the series.

  More details about the author, and current links to other sources of information, can be found at

  www.mushroom-ebooks.com, and at wikipedia.org.

  The Dray Prescot Series

  The Delian Cycle:

  1. Transit to Scorpio

  2. The Suns of Scorpio

  3. Warrior of Scorpio

  4. Swordships of Scorpio

  5. Prince of Scorpio

  Havilfar Cycle:

  6. Manhounds of Antares

  7. Arena of Antares

  8. Fliers of Antares

  9. Bladesman of Antares

  10. Avenger of Antares

  11. Armada of Antares

  The Krozair Cycle:

  12. The Tides of Kregen

  13. Renegade of Kregen

  14. Krozair of Kregen

  Vallian cycle:

  15. Secret Scorpio

  16. Savage Scorpio

  17. Captive Scorpio

  18. Golden Scorpio

  Jikaida cycle:

  19. A Life for Kregen

  20. A Sword for Kregen

  21. A Fortune for Kregen

  22. A Victory for Kregen

  Spikatur cycle:

  23. Beasts of Antares

  24. Rebel of Antares

  25. Legions of Antares

  26. Allies of Antares

  Pandahem cycle:

  27. Mazes of Scorpio

  28. Delia of Vallia

  29. Fires of Scorpio

  30. Talons of Scorpio

  31. Masks of Scorpio

  32. Seg the Bowman

  Witch War cycle:

  33. Werewolves of Kregen

  34. Witches of Kregen

  35. Storm over Vallia

  36. Omens of Kregen

  37. Warlord of Antares

  Lohvian cycle:

  38. Scorpio Reborn

  39. Scorpio Assassin

  40. Scorpio Invasion

  41. Scorpio Ablaze

  42. Scorpio Drums

  43. Scorpio Triumph

  Balintol cycle:

  44. Intrigue of Antares

  45. Gangs of Antares

  46. Demons of Antares

  47. Scourge of Antares

  48. Challenge of Antares

  49. Wrath of Antares

  50. Shadows over Kregen

  Phantom cycle:

  51. Murder on Kregen

  52. Turmoil on Kregen

  Copyright © 1978, Kenneth Bulmer

  Alan Burt Akers has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, to be identified as the Author of this work.

  First published by Daw Books, Inc. in 1978.

  This Edition published in 2007 by Mushroom eBooks, an imprint of Mushroom Publishing, Bath, BA1 4EB, United Kingdom

  www.mushroom-ebooks.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN 1843195801

  Contents

  Dray Prescot

  One – Dragons in the Fire

  Two – The Folly of Empire

 
Three – Delia Looses an Opinion at the Star Lords

  Four – Jak the Drang Encounters the Iron Riders

  Five – Of a Rout After Breakfast

  Six – Of the Scorpion and the Ring of Destiny

  Seven – In the Camp of the Iron Riders

  Eight – Korero

  Nine – Bird of Ill Omen

  Ten – “Give me your sword, jen, and you would see!”

  Eleven – Sport for Flutsmen

  Twelve – We Shut the Gates

  Thirteen – The Raid Against the Radvakkas

  Fourteen – News of Pur Zeg, Krzy and Pur Jaidur, Krzy

  Fifteen – Firebrands

  Sixteen – In Crimson and Bronze the Brumbytes Form

  Seventeen – The Battle of Therminsax

  Eighteen – Nath Nazabhan

  Nineteen – In the Name of Jak the Drang

  Twenty – Fire Over Vallia

  Twenty-one – Vision at Voxyri

  A Glossary to the Vallian Cycle of the Saga of Dray Prescot

  Notes

  About the author

  The Dray Prescot Series