Endling: The Only: Chapter 34–Epilogue

by Katherine Applegate
In this final book of the trilogy, Byx needs more than her truth-finding power to unite the different species and prevent two tyrants from destroying everything that stands in their way.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–4, Chapters 5–10, Chapters 11–23, Chapters 24–33, Chapter 34–Epilogue

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. fester
    generate pus
    “I have the theurgy I picked up as a thief, but healing’s not my specialty. If the wound doesn’t fester, she’ll probably survive. But it will be a while before her sword arm is useful. She may never regain its full strength.”
  2. paddock
    a pen for horses
    I saw well-tended wooden fences, low barns, and paddocks.
  3. harbinger
    something indicating the approach of something or someone
    Now, war was coming and we were its harbingers.
  4. prod
    poke or thrust abruptly
    In the morning I woke to the prodding of a toe in my back.
  5. parched
    toasted or roasted slightly
    We drank water from the river and ate a quick, cold breakfast of parched oats.
  6. inadequate
    lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
    “Even with your inadequate eyes,” said Sabito, “you have seen the Murdano’s army, no doubt?”
  7. lunacy
    foolish or senseless behavior
    “My lady, forgive me, but this is lunacy,” Sabito exclaimed.
  8. pillage
    steal goods; take as spoils
    “If the Murdano’s deprived of battle, he’ll let his men loose to pillage. Yes, even his own people.”
  9. render
    give or supply
    “What service can I render, my lady?”
  10. dwindle
    become smaller or lose substance
    “Then fly, my friend. Time is short. And hope dwindles.”
  11. alight
    settle or come to rest
    He didn’t even bother to alight, simply screeching over our heads, “The terramants! They’ve broken through! The Kazar’s army is right behind them, cavalry and foot! They’re moving fast.”
  12. trebuchet
    a heavy war engine for hurling projectiles such as stones
    Behind us, he said, came twenty thousand of the Murdano’s men on foot, along with another three thousand mounted cavalry, platoons of archers, and powerful beasts pulling siege towers, trebuchets, and war wagons.
  13. bucolic
    idyllically rustic
    This peaceful, bucolic place was about to become a land of horrors.
  14. infantry
    an army unit consisting of soldiers who fight on foot
    The Murdano’s army had spotted them, too. They rushed to form ordered infantry squares, creating a kind of massive, moving chessboard.
  15. palanquin
    a closed litter carried on the shoulders of four bearers
    And behind them was a gaudy, wheeled palanquin drawn by thralls in rough hemp harnesses, on which a huge felivet paced back and forth.
  16. sentient
    endowed with feeling and unstructured consciousness
    Living fire, sentient and lethal, dripped from their lowered lance points.
  17. nicker
    make a soft sound characteristic of a horse
    “Are you ready, boy?” she whispered to Victory, who nickered his response.
  18. whinny
    make a characteristic sound, of a horse
    He whinnied in terror and did what any frightened horse would do under the circumstances: he followed the mighty steed galloping away.
  19. restive
    impatient especially under restriction or delay
    On our left, the endlessly restive terramants, grinding their enormous jaws.
  20. invoke
    cite as an authority
    “I invoke the ancient rituals of combat!” Khara said.
  21. latter
    the second of two or the second mentioned of two
    But he had the choice of whether to accept combat himself or name a champion. Coward that he was, he chose the latter.
  22. doublet
    a man's close-fitting jacket, worn during the Renaissance
    He wore a quilted doublet covered by gleaming, golden chain mail.
  23. abomination
    an action that arouses disgust or abhorrence
    “You and your wizards have created this abomination, even as you plot the destruction of every species that refuses to bow to you.”
  24. filigree
    delicate and intricate ornamentation
    Around their necks, both wore gold chains, featuring filigree badges with the letter K.
  25. insignia
    a badge worn to show official position
    K for Kazar. The same insignia his personal armed guards wore on their uniforms.
  26. mortified
    made to feel uncomfortable because of shame or wounded pride
    The word was out of my mouth before I could stop it. I cast a mortified look at Khara, but she nodded very slightly, urging me to continue.
  27. indomitable
    impossible to subdue
    The Kazar was wounded. So was Chimera. But Khara was, too, though she concealed it miraculously well, drawing power from her sword and her own indomitable will.
  28. saturate
    infuse or fill completely
    Still, I knew that much of the blood saturating her jerkin was her own.
  29. grudgingly
    in a reluctant manner
    It takes stupidity or sheer madness to fight six felivets, and the guards were neither stupid nor mad. They receded grudgingly, dragging along what was left of the soldier who’d fought Naleese.
  30. feint
    any distracting or deceptive maneuver
    Chimera took a step forward, as if he planned to charge, but it was a feint. Instead, he hurled his short spear.
  31. preen
    pride or congratulate oneself for an achievement
    Chimera waved to the crowd, victorious and preening.
  32. concoction
    any foodstuff made by combining different ingredients
    “She was injured with both arrow and sword. But just an hour ago, I had to soothe a Dreylander doctor who was fleeing her tent. She threatened to disembowel him if he gave her one more foul-tasting concoction to drink.”
  33. incredulous
    not disposed or willing to believe; unbelieving
    General Varis and Bodick exchanged an incredulous look. “Impossible,” said the general.
  34. indelible
    not able to be forgotten, removed, or erased
    I would have to live with the indelible memory of leaning into the hilt of Khara’s sword.
  35. expedite
    speed up the progress of; facilitate
    “We asked them—politely, I assure you—to use their tunneling skills to dig a short channel to the river. It will expedite the arrival of the natites.”
  36. strife
    bitter conflict; heated or violent dissension
    On this day, after much strife and bloodshed, we, the council representing all governing species, do most solemnly vow that from this day until the end of all things, we shall nevermore make war upon one another.
  37. consort
    the spouse or companion of a reigning monarch
    Until something called an “election” could be held, Dreyland would be ruled temporarily by Naleese and her consort, Gambler.
  38. melancholy
    characterized by or causing or expressing sadness
    It was a melancholy feeling. I’d been raised in this part of Nedarra, but we’d had to stay on the move constantly. No one place had ever truly been home.
  39. beset
    assail or attack on all sides
    “I was contemplating the nature of the universe,” Tobble grumbled, “when I was beset by these young hooligans!”
  40. dote
    shower with love; show excessive affection for
    Despite his complaints, he doted on the twins.
Created on Fri Oct 07 10:40:49 EDT 2022 (updated Wed Jul 12 15:35:39 EDT 2023)

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