Redemptor: Part I

by Jordan Ifueko
In this sequel to Raybearer, seventeen-year-old Tarisai Kunleo, as the Empress of Aritsar, makes a deal with demons to stop the annual sacrifices of two hundred children.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. griot
    a storyteller in West Africa
    Griots, the sacred storytellers of our empire, shaped the histories we believed with their music.
  2. sate
    fill to contentment
    Enoba achieved peace through a treaty, sating the abiku by sending children into the sulfurous Oruku Breach—two hundred living Redemptors, or sacrifices, per year.
  3. lurid
    shining with an unnatural red glow
    The strongest proof of my legitimacy, however, shimmered in lurid patterns on both my forearms: a living map of the Underworld, marking me as a Redemptor.
  4. devious
    characterized by insincerity or deceit
    For too long, Aritsar believed girls could only be two things: virtuous servants of the empire, or devious villains, like The Lady.
  5. precarious
    not secure; beset with difficulties
    Your position is precarious enough. Do not join me in my ruin and make Aritsar lose faith in your legitimacy.
  6. protege
    a person who receives support from an influential patron
    Leave me to my fate, protégé.
  7. deadpan
    speak in a deliberately impassive or serious manner
    “That’s insane.”
    “No,” Mbali deadpanned. “That’s just Thaddace.”
  8. livid
    discolored by coagulation of blood beneath the skin
    Livid burns speckled his pale skin.
  9. brogue
    a strong regional accent, especially an Irish or Scottish accent
    “I have not spent my life,” said Thaddace in his thick Mewish brogue, “enforcing the laws of this empire to flout them now. In a few hours, I will lay my head on that chopping block. And so help me gods, I will settle my debts at last...”
  10. bumpkin
    a person who is awkward, uncultured, or unsophisticated
    The cold, green kingdom of Mewe was thousands of miles north of Oluwan, but most realms weakened their regional dialects in favor of the imperial tongue, for fear of sounding like country bumpkins.
  11. undulate
    increase and decrease in volume or pitch
    Griot voices undulated in the dark courtyards far below, and moonlight glowed through the halls of our council’s new home: the private Imperial Suite of An-Ileyoba.
  12. vassal
    a person who owes allegiance and service to a feudal lord
    “But the more you hide, the worse people will gossip. Besides...what will all the vassal rulers think if you’re late to your own banquet?"
  13. haphazardly
    without care; in a slapdash manner
    She wore a jade tunic and matching headscarf, trimmed in the silver coins of her home realm, Blessid Valley. In contrast, I wore only a linen undershift and sandals, my cloud of coils wrapped haphazardly in a black silk sleeping scarf.
  14. dappled
    having spots or patches of color
    The dappled tones of their skin glowed in the flickering sconce light.
  15. imperious
    having or showing arrogant superiority
    Ai Ling cleared her throat, then lifted her hands as if addressing a throne room, her voice cool and imperious.
  16. thoroughfare
    a public road from one place to another
    I’ve doubled defenses at every palace entrance. Posted Imperial Guard warriors in every major thoroughfare.
  17. festoon
    decorate or adorn
    Ai Ling straightened the cowrie shell necklaces festooning my shoulders and adjusted the ivory adornments in my hair.
  18. petulant
    easily irritated or annoyed
    He nodded once, looking petulant. “Because...because I won’t get coronated. Not until you return.”
  19. accost
    approach and speak to someone aggressively or insistently
    A solid wall of music and light accosted us, briefly blinding me.
  20. effigy
    a representation of a person
    Whenever Dayo and I left the palace, children sang to us in the streets, tossing petals and handmade effigies onto the roof of our palanquin.
  21. tincture
    a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution
    We had taken tinctures before the banquet to suppress our appetites, as it was considered a display of weakness for Raybearers to eat or drink in public, or to leave a function to relieve ourselves.
  22. retinue
    the group following and attending to some important person
    The rulers and their retinues roared over one another, shaking their heads and gesturing in protests that upset platters and toppled chalices.
  23. appraise
    consider in a comprehensive way
    Silvery white Iocs shone in intricate patterns on her head, and she appraised Ai Ling with keen eyes.
  24. jaded
    bored or apathetic after experiencing too much of something
    She had the satiny black hair and fine bone structure of her younger brother, Woo In, and shared the same glint in her jaded dark eyes.
  25. ruse
    a deceptive maneuver, especially to avoid capture
    How do I know this isn’t just another Kunleo ruse? A trick to gain control of my people again.
  26. rheumy
    watery and red, as of the eyes
    I nodded shyly at the old Queen Hye Sun, who blinked back at me with rheumy, absent eyes.
  27. chasten
    correct by punishment or discipline
    As the woman spoke, Min Ja looked chastened, eyeing her companion with annoyed vulnerability.
  28. fealty
    the loyalty that one owes to a country, sovereign, or lord
    “Anointed Ones swear fealty to their Raybearer, no? In mind and in body. But some of us already have spouses. Concubines.”
  29. strident
    being sharply insistent on being heard
    A strident tenor remarked, “How disappointing.”
  30. affectation
    a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display
    Queen Beatrix of Nontes fluttered two lace fans, an affectation of distress.
  31. revel
    celebrate noisily or engage in uproarious festivities
    Instead, Ai Ling rose and dismissed the tables, gesturing for the court musicians to play...and the reveling portion of my Peace Banquet to begin.
  32. testy
    easily irritated or annoyed
    I will dance in front of these people, I replied testily, when it snows in the Blessid Desert.
  33. decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
    The servant had clearly approached out of concern, offering me a chalice of wine, though she knew decorum forbade me from drinking it.
  34. chagrin
    strong feelings of embarrassment
    The color had drained from her face, and I realized with chagrin that she’d seen me talking to myself.
  35. facetious
    cleverly amusing in tone
    They had begun to sing in brassy voices, grinning at me facetiously.
  36. fop
    a man who is overly concerned with his dress and appearance
    Zuri—this cheeky, empty-headed fop of a king—had dragged me into a courting game.
  37. presumptuous
    going beyond what is appropriate, permitted, or courteous
    I narrowed my eyes at him, determined now to win the game, if only to demand what made him so presumptuous.
  38. vapid
    lacking significance or liveliness or spirit or zest
    But after shooting me a guilty glance, his face went blank...and his signature expression of vapid cheer returned.
  39. guileless
    innocent and free of deceit
    Instead, his broad, guileless features creased in a peaceful smile, and tears filled his pure dark eyes.
  40. prostrate
    lying face downward
    Half the hall had fallen, prostrate on their faces. The rest were on their knees, brushing their chins in the sign of the Storyteller.
Created on Wed Nov 09 10:15:51 EST 2022 (updated Wed Aug 30 10:48:49 EDT 2023)

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