The Gilded Ones: Chapters 10–18

by Namina Forna
After learning that her blood is gold instead of red, sixteen-year-old Deka is forced to fight for the emperor of Otera by joining the alaki — an army of nearly immortal girls with golden blood and superhuman gifts.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–18, Chapters 19–26, Chapters 27–37
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. warren
    a complex system of paths or tunnels
    The realization roils inside me, a nausea that builds as the matrons and their assistants usher us down the building’s warrenlike corridors into a massive central hall.
  2. exploit
    a notable achievement
    We have all earned notable places in the Heraldry of Shadows, the book that lists the exploits of our kind—the book that sits here, in the famed Warthu Bera, the House of Women.
  3. shorn
    having the hair, fur, or wool cut short
    Now she’s as bald as the rest of us, even her eyebrows shorn from her face.
  4. resilience
    the ability to recover readily from adversity or change
    You all showed promise. Strength, cunning, resilience—much more than the average alaki.
  5. deferential
    showing courteous regard for people's feelings
    I barely see the novices hefting the unconscious deathshriek and returning it to its cage, barely notice as Matron Nasra closes the floor behind them, then bows deferentially to the karmokos.
  6. periphery
    the outside boundary or surface of something
    It seems far-fetched—impossible even—but it would explain so many things: the reason she was always so careful to remain at the periphery of the village, the fact that she moved all the way to Irfut in the first place.
  7. dispensation
    an exemption from some rule or obligation
    Some of the village men back in Irfut used to gossip that the emperor collects strange people to serve him, people who defy the natural order but have been granted special dispensation by the priests.
  8. steadfast
    firm and dependable especially in loyalty
    Want to survive long enough to experience that kind of love: loyal, unflinching, steadfast.
  9. unwavering
    not showing abrupt variations
    It starts with a sea of unwavering black, ancient yet familiar.
  10. cherubic
    having a sweet nature befitting an angel
    One of them is the scarred girl from last night, the other a plump, almost cherubic-looking brown girl with dark, loosely curled hair.
  11. heraldry
    an emblem, insignia, or symbol on a coat of arms
    The umbra carved into the archway seems to glare at me as I walk under it, a reminder that I have to read the Heraldry of Shadows to discover whatever I can about Mother’s past.
  12. compliance
    a disposition or tendency to yield to the will of others
    We quickly do as we’re told, Jeneba checking us to ensure our compliance.
  13. sedate
    characterized by dignity and propriety
    Women aren’t allowed to run in Otera. Any girl caught walking faster than at a sedate pace is whipped for her insolence.
  14. incredulity
    doubt about the truth of something
    As incredulity mottles her face, and the others turn to me with identical expressions of shock, I explain: “I was subjected to the Death Mandate before I came. Only they couldn’t find my final death, so they tried again and again—”
  15. barrage
    address continuously or persistently
    "Bloodsisters?" I ask, a thousand thoughts barraging my mind.
  16. tenure
    the term during which some position is held
    Together, we’ll lead you through your first week at the Warthu Bera and, in time, your entire tenure at this training ground.
  17. balmy
    mild and pleasant
    Even then, it’s nice and warm, the early morning air balmy with the scent of exotic flowers.
  18. venture
    proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
    But then, they’re Nibari—their tribe only ever pretends to obey the Infinite Wisdoms when priests or emissaries venture into their deserts.
  19. intimate
    marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
    “In order to engage in combat, you must first know your forms. Forms are battle stances—each one a tiny part of the dance you will soon become intimately familiar with. The dance of death.”
  20. rapt
    feeling great delight and interest
    He launches into an attack, and we all watch, rapt.
  21. infallible
    incapable of failure or error
    No opponent is infallible, no matter how big he is.
  22. oblivion
    total forgetfulness
    They’ve never experienced the icy coldness of a sword as it slices into the flesh, never had to endure those long and terrifying moments before merciful oblivion.
  23. nettle
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    The calm assuredness in his eyes nettles me, but I know better than to show it.
  24. bolster
    support and strengthen
    Perhaps I should have bolstered my courage and spoken to Matron Nasra or Karmoko Thandiwi about my suspicions.
  25. sconce
    a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights
    Flames flicker from the sconces, and an umbra has been carved into the floor.
  26. flay
    strip the skin off
    The novices who didn’t kill their share are being flayed.
  27. macabre
    shockingly repellent; inspiring horror
    “Suffering makes demons stronger,” the matron always explains, a macabre smile slicing her lips.
  28. sanctimonious
    excessively or hypocritically pious
    A tall, burly Northerner, he has a sour, pious look that reminds me of Elder Durkas when he’s feeling especially sanctimonious.
  29. rend
    tear or be torn violently
    Leapers: the deathshrieks that jump onto their victims and rend them apart using claws and teeth.
  30. bluster
    a swaggering show of courage
    “But—” Acalan begins, bluster in his voice.
  31. fanciful
    indulging in or influenced by the imagination
    I don’t know whether this is fanciful thinking or not, but it drives away the metallic odor of blood from my nostrils, the lingering memory of her ripped-out spine, the look in the deathshriek’s eyes when I addressed it—the same look I saw in the Irfut deathshriek’s eyes.
  32. projection
    any solid convex shape that juts out from something
    A subtle hissing starts between the cages as this one’s occupant slowly rises, distinctive, silvery quill-like projections on its back immediately recognizable from our first evening at the Warthu Bera.
  33. trough
    a long narrow shallow receptacle
    I empty the bucket in a nearby trough, then inhale to compose myself.
  34. pendulous
    hanging loosely or bending downward
    There are four of them: one so white she’s glowing, the other brown with a pendulous belly, the third red and scaled over with wings like a dragon, and the fourth amorphous in shape and as dark as an inkblot.
  35. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    I stop, apprehensive.
  36. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
    She looks me up and down, then adds, “You’ve certainly become more exuberant these past days. The Warthu Bera must be good for you.”
  37. appall
    strike with disgust or revulsion
    “Well, that’s that. Unless you want to remain here and smoke with us.”
    The very thought appalls me.
  38. purge
    rid of impurities
    Gazal needs to purge her pain, and I’m the one she’s selected to help her do so.
  39. noncommittal
    refusing to bind oneself to a particular course of action
    She says it in that noncommittal way of hers, so I can’t tell whether she’s lying or not.
  40. dissipate
    go away, scatter, or disappear
    Just like that, the wail dissipates, and I can breathe again.
Created on Mon Jan 10 10:18:02 EST 2022 (updated Fri Jan 14 10:42:14 EST 2022)

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