The Pearl of the Soul of the World - By Meredith Ann Pierce Page 0,72

life."

For a moment, Erin cast her gaze to the sword whispering at her side, then looked up, bold.

"I care not whether some now call you Ravenna's daughter or that you have no shadow and wear a burning crown. You are the only light I know. I want no other fellowship than yours. It seems that I alone of all this throng have it in my power to choose my road. Aeriel, I would go with you."

Aeriel closed her eyes. She would not be alone then, after all. Here at the beginning, at least, one companion would accompany her.

"The Flame in Orm robbed me of my shadow," she whispered, "but I am not without one, ever. If not for you, Erin, I would be lost."

Fearlessly, the dark girl put her arms around her.

"My darkness," breathed Aeriel.

Erin answered, "My light."

Aeriel turned and faced them all.

"Fare you well," she told them. No more remained to be said.

Palms together, Syllva and her Istern sons bowed to her. Talb, Roshka, and the duaroughs made reverence. The islanders, the bowwomen, even Sabr's dismounted cavalry knelt. Orrototo's desert folk gravely nodded. Even Pendarlon and Avarclon and the other Ions saluted her. All paid homage but the king of Avaric, who wept, and the bandit queen who could not console him.

Erin still had hold of her hand. The burning crown's fire seemed to affect her no more than the fire of the sword. Aeriel was glad of it, for someone bold enough not to let her go. It would be a long road to NuRavenna. The light of the crown blazed bright against the night. As she and Erin set out, she heard Brandl's bell-sweet harp behind them, his clear, young voice raised in song:

"On Avaric's white plain,

where an icarus now wings

To steeps of Terrain

from Tour-of-the-Kings,

And damozels twice-seven

his brides have all become:

A far cry from heaven,

a long road from home—

Then strong-hoof of a starhorse

must hallow him unguessed

If adamant's edge is to plunder

his breast.

Then, only, may the Warhorse

and Warrior arise

To rally the warhosts, and thunder

the skies.

But first there must assemble

those the icari would claim.

A bride in the temple

must enter the flame,

With steeds found for six brothers, beyond

a dust deepsea,

And new arrows reckoned, a wand

given wings—

That when a princess-royal's

to have tasted of the tree,

Then far from Esternesse's

city, these things:

A gathering of gargoyles,

a feasting on the stone,

The Witch of Westernesse's

hag overthrown.

Whereafter shall commence

such a cruel Sorceress War,

To wrest recompense

for a land leaguered sore.

With her broadsword Bright Burning,

the shadow Black-as-Night,

From exile returning,

shall dare dragons' might

For love of one above who, flag unfurled,

lone must stand,

The pearl of the soul of the world

in her hand.

When Winterock to water

falls flooding, foes to drown,

Ravenna's own daughter

shall kindle the crown."

_________________________________________

Pronunciation Guide

[paedanwnt]

adamant

ADD-uh-munt (accent first syllable)

[fa'daemsntin]

Adamantine nh-DAMM-unn-teen (accent second syllable, i as in "machine")

[fasriEl]

Aeriel

AIR-ee-ell (short a as in "arrogant")

[faidsrlan]

[Aiderlan

EYE-dur-lann (at as in "nazad," final a-sound midway between "land" and "swan") Arat

AIR-ratt

[arl]

Arl

AHRL

[farlis]

Arlish

[AHR-lish faevarclon]

Avarclon

AV-ur-clawn (short first a as in "avenue," short a as in "cloth")

[fasvaRik]

Avaric

AV-uh-rick (short first a as in "average," may roll r)

[bArn]

Bern

BURN

['bArnalon]

Bernalon

BURN-uh-lawn

[pbArnian]

Bernean

BURN-ee-unn

['bsmba]

Bomba

BAWM-buh

[bRasndsl]

Brandl

BRAND-ull (two syllables, rhymes with "candle," may rollr)

[Pkolam]

Collum

CALL-umm

(short o as in "cost")

[krAndsm]

corundum core-RUN-dumm (accent second syllable)

pdArna]

Dirna

DUR-nuh (rhymes with

"Smyrna")

[daunwEndü]

Downwen-down-WENN-ding (accent ding second syllable)

[dnegk]

dracg

DRA(g)CK (midway between "drag" and "rack")

[diTaüaf]

duarough doo-AH-ruff (accent second of three syllables, several pronunciations possible, may rollr)

[dtfaRux]

doo-AHR-ookh

[NElvar]

Elver

ELL-vur

[Elvorlon]

Elverlon

ELL-vur-lawn

['Eodu in]

Eoduin

EH-oh-doo-inn (major accent on first and minor accent on last of four syllables)

[pEkwsstEl]

equustel

ECK-wuss-tell (two short e's)

[j^Erm]

Erin

EH-rinn

[Ester* nEssce]

Esternesse ess-tur-NESS-suh (accent third of four syllables)

["gaelnor]

Gahor

GAL-nor (short a as in "pallid")

[Tgokm]

golam

GOLL-umm (like "golem")

[rxadin]

Hadin

(k)HAH-deen (accent first syllable, h is strongly aspirate, broad a as in "father," i as in "machine")

[lkarE]

icare

ICK-uh-reh (short e, as in "red")

[fikarai]

ICK-uh-rye Qong final i as in "npe")

[pkares]

icaras

ICK-uh-russ

[mylae]

Irrylath

IH-rrew-lahth (r is rolled; pronounce y by pursing lips to say "ooh," but say "ee" instead; last syllable rhymes with "swath")

[pistsrn]

Istern

ISS-turn (pronounced like "eastern," but with short i) fisternsr]

Isterner

ISS-turn-ur (pronounced like "easterner," but with short i)

[ister'nEs]

Esternesse iss-tur-NESS (accent last syllable, rhymes with "sister Bess")

[Paiu]

Lern

LURN (sounds like "learn")

[Ion]

Ion

LAWN (short o, as in "gone")

['larelai]

lorelei

LORE-uh-lye (« sounds like long piaisn)

lyon

LYE-unn (like "lion")

[maam'bai]

Ma'a-mbai

MAH-ahm-BYE (accent both first and last of three syllables, at as in " naiad")

[masr]

Mare

MAIR (rhymes with "care")

["maRalan"]

Marelon

MARR-uh-lawn (three syllables, broad a as in "march")

[masnnar]

Mariner

MAIR-inn-ur (like "mariner")

['manea]

Marrea

MARR-ay-uh (accent first syllable, roll r, e as in "rain")

[ma'Ruha]

Maruha muh-RROO-ha (accent second syllable, roll f)

SOO

['mElkior] Melkior MEL-kee-ore

[mir] Mere MEER (rhymes with "seer")

Pmirgmt] mereguint MEER-ghint (hard g, silent)

[nar] Nar

[nat] Nat

[nuRaNvEna] NuRavenna

NARR

NAHT (rhymes with "swat")

noo-ruh-VENN-uh (pronounced like "New Ravenna")

[ose'aenus] Oceanus oh-say-ANN-noose (two pronunciations possible)

[osi"aenss] oh-shee-ANN-uss

['ariEnkar] Oriencor ORE-ee-eng-core

[arm] Orm ORM

[Vrototo] Oroto-to ore-RROE-toe-toe (accent second syllable, roll r)

['pEndar] Pendar fpEndarbn] Pendarlon [pArs] Pirs

["pArsalon] Pirsalon Pirsean

PENN-dar PENN-dar-lawn PURSE

PURSE-uh-lawn PURSE-ee-unn (three syllables, keep s unvoiced, long e as in "seeing")

[paRa'tun] Poratun porr-uh-TOON (roll r and accent last syllable, which rhymes with "moon")

['Rani] Rani RAH-nee (rhymes with "Suwannee," r may be rolled)

['Ranibn] Ranilon

[Ra'vEna] Ravenna

RAH-nih-lawn ruh-VENN-uh (r may be rolled) [hRuk] rhuk HRROOK (rhymes with "hook," rh is breathy and rolled) ['R3ska] Roshka RROSH-kah (roll r)

[PsabR]

Sabr

SAH-brr (two syllables, r is breathy and rolled, final syllable contains no vowel sound)

[skasbard]

Scabbird

SCABB-urd (like "scabbard")

[sfinks]

sfinx

SFINKS (like "sphinx")

[solstar]

Solstar

SOLE-star

['solstaraiz]

Solstarrise

SOLE-star-eyes

['solstarsEt]

Solstarset

SOLE-star-sett

['sulva]

Syllva

SOOLL-vah (first syllable rhymes with "pull," broad a as in "wander")

[vsyroel]

Syril

SEWE-rull (pronounce y by pursing lips to say "ooh." but say "ee" instead)

[talb]

Talb

TAHLB (a-sound midway between "shall" and "wallow")

[celis]

Talis

TAL-iss (short a as in "palace")

[tErren]

Terrain teh-REIGN (like "terrain")

[tE'renian]

Terrainean teh-REIGN-ee-unn (as in "subterranean")

[vampair]

vampyre

VAMM-pire (like "vampire")

[wEstsr'nEssce]

Westernesse west-ur-NESS-suh (accent third of four syllables)

[wEstran]

Westron

WEST-runn (rhymes with "BEST-run")

[wintBrok]

Winterock

WINN-tur-ock (like "winter rock")

[zaembul]

Zambul

ZAMM-bool (short a as in "amber," last syllable rhymes with "cool")

[zaembufen]

Zambulan

[ZAAM-boo-lunn fzembubn]

Zambulon

ZAMM-boo-lawn (short first a as in "ample," short o as in "on")

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