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"No."
"Can you explain it to me?"
"The Magic is what makes people want to say 'I love you.' "
Ixpar's eyes felt hot. "You think your father had that with me?"
"I felt it." She spread her small arms as if encompassing the world.
"Everywhere."
Ixpar cradled the girl, aching to believe her. Could it be true what Kelric
had told her, that his daughter was a telepath? Rhon child, he called her.
Rhon. Child of a House that ruled an interstellar empire.
Through his daughter, Kelric had left them a priceless legacy. Ixpar had seen
it the moment Stahna Varz stated her condition for relinquishing the Ministry.
In that instant Ixpar had chosen her successor.
Stahna believed Varz had triumphed, but in truth all Coba had won. The
Restriction wouldn't last forever. Someday the Imperialate would come. But
Coba would be ready. The conquerors would find this world ruled by a
golden-eyed woman who bore the right to claim her place among the Rhon.
Por she who will lead my people, Ixpar thought, is heir to e stars.
Appendix I
the Estates
Quis rank first tier: Kam, Varz
second tier: Haka, Dahl third tier: Ahkah, Bahvia, Viasa fourth tier: Miesa,
Shazoria fifth tier: Eviza, Tehnsa, Lasa.
First tier Estates have the strongest Quis and thus the most power. Second
tier Estates are also forces to be reckoned with. Third tier has less clout
but still considerable influence. Fourth has respectable Quis with moderate
influence. Fifth is weak. Prior to its destruction, Hahvna was third tier. Kej
was destroyed before Quis became prominent.
Primary Estates, in order of influence: (Kej), Kam, Varz, Haka, Dahl, Viasa,
Bahvia, Ahkah, (Hahvna), Shazoria, Miesa. The HakaDahl and ViasaBahvIa
rankings are close and hotly contested.
Secondary Estates, in order of influence: (Primary in parentheses): Eviza
(Shazoria), Tehnsa (Viasa), Lasa (Ahkah).
Estate symbols:
Ahkah: A stalk of silkcom grain crossed by a neede threaded with blue silkcom
yam.
Bahvia: A rosewood tree: black bark, rose highlights, emerald leaves.
Dahl: A suntree: gold bark, pale green leaves, gold fruit.
446Catherine Asaro-
Eviza: A jahalla tree plumped by water: yellow bark, greengray leaves, red and
yellow flowers. Hahvna: Two children holding hands, a girl and boy, each in [
blue pants, a white shirt, and gray boots. Haka: A large red-gold sun rising
over a red desert. Karn: A giant althawk in flight, with black wings edged by
red feathers and gold eyes.
Kej: A warrior's spear with a jahalla shaft and a stone spearhead. Lasa: An
airbug. Miesa: The sungoddess Savina in her sky-blue althawk,
puling the gold chariot that carries the sun. Shazoria: A crystal carafe edged
with gold and full of
rosewine. Tehnsa: A grayrock castle high in the mountains, wreathed in
mist.
Viasa: The Grayrock Palls, a spectacular mountain waterfall. Varz: A clawcat
on a mountain cliff, silhouetted against the sky.
THE ESTATES
Ahkah: a sprawling eastern Estate with a large popuation. ts Managers are
infamous for their business acumen. Primarily agricultural, Ahkah is also
known for its garment industry and pleasant climate. It allies with Varz.
Bahvia: a small northern Estate in a region of dense forest. It derives most
of its support from its lumber industry, in particular the sale of rosewood.
Bahvia and Viasa are the only Primary Estates within visible distance of each
other, and they maintain a long-standing feud, though no one remembers exactly
why. Bahvia is a strong Kam ally.
Dahl: an attractive holding about midway between Shazoria and Ahkah. Known for
its lovely climate, it supports a number of industries including orchards,
carpentry, and tourism. A powerful Estate, on par with Haka, it has long been
Kam's strongest ally.
-The Last Hawk 447
Eviza: a small agricultural holding near Shazoda, with a population similar to
Haka but less conservative. Secondary to Shazorla.
Hahvna: formerly northwest of Dahl, Hahvna was destroyed by an earthquake in
year 422 of the modern Age. Most survivors went to Dahl, a few to Bahvla.
Until its demise, it was the largest exporter of ceramics and goods for
Children's Cooperatives. It allied with Kam.
Haka: a desert holding legendary for the ferocity of its Old Age warrior
queens and the mystique of its men. It exports silicate compounds and is known
for exquisite stained glass. The most conservative Estate, it still enforces
laws from the Old Age, including the Propriety Laws for men. The Hakabom,
those with a long Haka lineage, top its hierarchies. The black eyes, glossy
black hair, and dusky complexion of the Hakabom is one Coban standard for
beauty (the other being Miesan).
Haka is a powerful Estate, on par with Dahl. In the Old Age it was a staunch
Kej ally. After Kam destroyed Kej, Haka swore allegiance to Varz, which was
just beginning its rise to power and its millennia-long challenge of Kam.
Karn: a large cosmopolitan Estate generaly considered the center of
civilization. It is known for scholars and accomplished Quis payers, exports
most machinery used among the Estates, and draws many tourists. Its autumn
foliage displays spectacular colors, and in spring plumberry vines cover the
city in flowers.
Year One of the Old Age dates from the year Kam was built. Its Manager also
serves as Minister and as such rules the Estates. Throughout history, Kam and
Varz have been bitter enemies.
Kej: an ancient holding south of Haka, the only Estate ever built entirely in
the desert. At its height, Kej surpassedall other Estates in power. It existed
in an almost continual state of warfare and fought Karn in a savage series of
battles known as the Desert Wars. They ended in Year 632 of the Old Age, when
Queen Odana Kej kidnapped a Kam Akasi and made him her Akasi. In retaliation,
the Kam queen raised one of the largest
448 Catherine Asaro
armies ever known among the Estates and burned Kej to the| ground.
11
Lasa: a small holding near Ahkah. Notorious for seamy gam-1 bling houses and
corrupt Quis, it is considered the least desir- ' able Estate. Secondary to
Ahkah. '':
Miesa: a small northern Estate. Among the oldest holdings, it | dates from the
early Old Age. Miesans tend to be small and are known for breathtaking beauty,
with exotic yellow hair and blue or gray eyes. During the Old Age, warriors
often came , down from Varz to raid Miesa and kidnap its men, though prisoners
were usually released after a few days. The raids continued well into the
modern Age, until finally Miesa appealed to .:
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