Trading in Futures by Steve Miller, Sharon Lee and Steve Miller Page A

had seen
his error. She understood that at the moment of decision he had not
acted for the good of the Clan but from his own sense of injury,
exacting a Balance--a Balance brutal of a halfling's dignity.
    Worse, he had gained an enemy of his own
rank--for he had heard, later, that Jen Dal was Etgora's heir--who
hated him now, and would surely hate him when they both came
Delm-high. All his mother's careful work, undone. Undone, because
Daav could not put the good of all before his own bad temper.
    It must be Er Thom,
now , he thought. With Er Thom as Korval, Etgora may deal without malice,
saving only I'm kept sanely out of sight...
    Belatedly, he became aware of his mother's
eyes upon him, and bowed. "Ma'am...."
    She raised her hand. "Speak not. I will tell
you that the Delm has reviewed her Decision, based on what she has
seen of your understanding and judgment this evening. You acted as
well as inexperience might, preserving both Etgora's heir and the
peace between our Houses. With age will come...tidier...solutions."
She smiled faintly.
    "You are na'delm, my son. Korval-to-be. I
trust you will not feel it necessary to revisit the matter. I doubt
you will find the Delm so accommodating again."
    He stared, speechless. She had seen with
Delm's Eyes, but she had not understood. Korval Herself had erred
in a matter of Clan. He moved his head, trying to clear his vision,
which was abruptly indistinct.
    His mother moved forward, smile deepening.
"Don't look so stricken, child," she said gently. "You'll do very
well." She raised a hand to cup his cheek.
    "Or at least as well as any of us have."
     
     
     

 
     
    A Partial Liaden
Dictionary
    including novels through Plan B
     
    A'nadelmHeir. . . . . . to the nadelm
    A'thodelm. . . . . .Head-of-Line-to-Be
    A'trezla. . . . . .Lifemates
    Al'bresh . . . . . .venat'iFormal phrase of
sorrow for another Clan's loss, as when someone dies.
    Al'kin Chernard'i. . . . . .The Day Without
Delight
    Balent'i Kalandon. . . . . .Our local
galaxy
    Balent'i tru'vad. . . . . .The starweb of all
creation
    Cha'leket. . . . . .Heartkin (heartbrother,
heartsister)
    Cha'trez. . . . . .Heartsong
    Chernubia. . . . . .Confected delicacy
    Chiat'a bei kruzon. . . . . .Dream
sweetly.
    Ckrakec(derived from the Yxtrang). . . . . .
Approximately 'Master Hunter'
    coab minshak'a. . . . . .Necessity exits'
    Conselem. . . . . .An absurdity
    Delm. . . . . .Head of Clan (Delm Korval,
Korval Himself/Herself)
    Delmae. . . . . .Lifemate to the Delm
    Denubia. . . . . .Darling
    Dramliza. . . . . .A wizard. PLURAL: dramliz
(The dramliz...)
    Dri'at. . . . . .Left (direction)
    Eklykt'i. . . . . .Unreturned
    Eldema. . . . . .First Speaker (most times,
the Delm)
    Eldema-pernard'i. . . . .
.First-Speaker-In-Trust
    Entranzia volecta. . . . . .Good greetings
(High Liaden)
    Fa'vya. . . . . .an aphrodisiaclaced wine
sold at Festival
    Flaran Cha'menthi'. . . . . .I(/We) Dare'
    Galandaria. . . . . .Confederate?
Countryperson?
    Ge'shada. . . . . .Mazel tov;
congratulations
    Glavda Empri. . . . . .yo'Lanna's house
    I'ganin brath'a, vyan se'untor. . . . . .Play
with the body, rest the mind
    I'lanta. . . . . .Right (direction)
    Ilania frrogudon palon dox. . . . . .(approx)
Young ladies should speak more gently
    Illanga kilachi. . . . . .(no translation
available)
    Indra. . . . . .Uncle
    Jelaza Kazone. . . . . .The Tree, also
Korval's Own House. Approx. 'Jela's Fulfillment'
    Lazenia spandok. . . . . .Son of a bitch
(REAL approximate)
    Megelaar. . . . . .The Dragon on Korval's
shield
    Melant'i. . . . . .Who one is in relation to
current circumstances. ALSO who one is in sum, encompassing all
possible persons one might be.
    Menfri'at. . . . . .Liaden karate
    Mirada. . . . . .Father
    Misravot. . . . . .Altanian wine; blue in
color.
    Nadelm. . . . . .Delm-to-Be
    Nubiath'. . . . . .aGift given to end an
affair of pleasure
    Palesci modassa. . . . . .Thank you (High
Liaden)
    Prena'ma. . . . . .Storyteller
    Prethliu. . . . . .Rumorbroker
    Qe'andra.