Hearts in Zenith: Four Husbands and a Lover, Book 2

Years 7039-7040

Who would resist when torn apart,

who would reject a fresh new face,

and siren's call of ennui and lust,

and wistful dreams’ self-serving pace?

M. Lermontov

The Knowable World of this book is matriarchal, duh. The core content mixes Hindu-Hellenistic influences with a Mediterranean feel. Here is what I thought of when writing, though I didn’t try to recreate a specific country or culture, just used it as an inspiration.

Palmyr is Syria, Venice and India. Tverizh is Muskovia and Latvia. Bhar is Sudan and Ethiopia. Char-Kermen is Babylon and Ayutthaya. Idezza and Patchwork Courts are the City of Faenza (Italy), Papal States and India.

The technology didn’t develop in parallel to the Earth history, so the weaponry is more twelfth-thirteenth century and the rule of cool, while the mindset anticipates Renaissance individualism, artistic expression and brutality.

Weird Words

Captain-Commander- a chief captain of a mercenary company, with the title Your Maxima

High Scribe - a sage dabbling in magic and an advisor to those who could afford such advice

A Bhuta - a demon

A Scorpia - an assassin belonging to the Cult of Scorpia

Ina’amatus, ina’guarda, ina’Yansara - ‘guarded by thy love and Yansara’s’, words of a wedding vow

Divines:

Mythra, the Divine of War and Underworld

Gala, the Divine of Wisdom, Healing and Mourning,

Yansara, the Divine of Moon and Night Sky,

Tashaya, the Divine of Sun, Fire and Day Sky,

Mansoora, the Divine of Wind, Rain and Life

Indara, the Divine of Passion and Lies

Timeline:

7017: Ismar is born in the city of Palmyr, capital of the Palmyran Queendom.

7019-7034: After her mother’s death Ismar grows up in the Temple of Gala with other orphans, including Kozima.

7035: The events of Her First Husband. Ismar becomes the Deadhead mercenary, meets Parneres for the first time and marries Kozima. She is 18.

7036-7039: Ismar lives in Palmyr and climbs the ranks of the Deadhead Company. She searches for Parneres, unsuccessfully.

7039-7040: The events of Son of a Bhuta. Nortlungen Campaign, Battle of Ratne, Ismar meets and marries Ondrey. Ismar is 22.

7040: Marezhka (with Ondrey) is born in Palmyr. Ismar is 23.

7041-7045: Ismar becomes a Commander of the Deadhead Company’s division stationed in Char-Kermen. She leaves Ondrey and Marezhka behind in Palmyr to spend one year with Kozima as a self-imposed penance for breaking her promise to Kozima.

7042: Xenophonta (with Kozima) is born. Ondrey brings Marezhka to Char-Kermen in 7043. Ismar is 25.

7046-7048: The events of The Scorpia’s Brand. Ismar brutally suppresses a rebellion against Southern Empire, executing Peleth. With Taffiz’s help, she saves Parneres and marries him in Char-Kermen (at the time of the wedding, she is married to Kozima for 11 years). She earns her nickname ‘She who kills the Elephants’.

7049: Basilissa (with Parneres) is born. Ismar is 32.

7048-7056: Ismar lives in Char-Kermen, keeping Taffiz as a concubine and denying him the social status of a husband.

7057-7058: The events of the Cloak of Peacock Feathers. Idezza Campaign, the affair with Nirav. She defeats the Young Tigress. Ismar is 40, Marezhka is 17, Xenophonta is 15, Basilissa is 8. By the end of the story, she is married to Kozima for 25 years.

7058: Ismar marries Taffiz, her fourth husband, and is elected the Captain-Commander of the Deadhead Company. She is 41.