Glossary
Affinites: humans with a specific affinity any particular skill.
Asters: five humans each with a specific type of magic, bestowed on one of each of their ancestors 500 years ago and living on through the generations.
Ceders: the parent-generation of Asters.
Elders: the grandparent-generation of Asters.
Dark Disciples: Affinites who, in the Dark Ages, chose to lose part of their souls and serve one of the seven Dark Kings.
Dark Kings: seven powerful immortals, each reigning over their own Underworld territory, each underneath one of the seven continents. They each dream of reclaiming power over the Surface of the earth and rule it like their ancestors did in the Dark Ages. When one is killed, a male Disciple born on that same day is born with the dead King’s magic and is his successor.
Watchers: Affinite spies who live on one of the seven continents and who send back information on Disciple movements to Salutana’s Spymaster.
Mergers: Affinite spies who integrate in life in the Underworld to send back information on Disciple and King movements to Salutana’s Spymaster.
Salutana: the magically protected and undetectable island that the Original Queen Aiyana created in the Dark Ages
The Small Council: the small body of government of the Asters and Affinites that is in charge of Aster missions and Affinite internal and external affairs. Consists of the Ambassador, the Consul, the Emissary, the Commanding Chief and the Spymaster.
Characters
Queen Aiyana: the Original Queen, alive 500 years ago, possessing such strong magic that she bestowed part of it to create the Asters.
Sky Mayne: the Aster of Speed and Flight.
Sophie Griffiths: the Aster of Health and Knowledge.
Nathan Radbourne: the Aster of Nature (Flora).
Lian Fai: the Aster of Analgesia.
Matu Madaki: the Aster of Strength.
Jacob Henderson: an Affinite, with the affinity for strategy. He is one of the strongest Affinite soldiers today. He occasionally trains with the Asters and dreams of fighting alongside the soon to be ascended Queen.
Jackson Kelly: the Commanding Chief and member of the Small Council. He is a retired Affinite soldier, with the affinity for bravery. He and his brother, Percy, were the strongest soldiers in the war twenty-five years ago. He is now in charge of the Aster and Affinite training programmes on Salutana.
Axel Reed: the Ambassador of Salutana and head of the Small Council.
Sylvia Allen: Salutana’s Consul and member of the Small Council.
Felix Hauser: Salutana’s Spymaster and member of the Small Council. He is in contact with every spy Affinite – whether Watcher or Merger – so he and the Small Council are always on top of Disciple movements and possible uprisings.
Nicholas Nelson: Salutana’s Emissary and member of the Small Council. He is in contact with every Affinite who lives on one of the continents but who isn’t a Watcher
Gayle Mendosa: the reincarnation of Queen Aiyana and the future Queen of Asters and Affinites.
Cecilia Mendosa: the Ceder of Mind, and the future Queen’s mother. She is Tomas’ wife.
Tomas Mendosa: the Ceder of Endurance, and the future Queen’s father. He is Cecilia’s husband.
Madeleine Mayne: the Ceder of Speed and Flight, and Sky’s mother
Katherine Griffiths: the Ceder of Health and Knowledge, and Sophie’s mother
Rose Radbourne: the Ceder of Nature (Flora), and Nathan’s mother
Diallo Madaki: the Ceder of Strength, and Matu’s father
Diana Griffiths: the Elder of Health and Knowledge