Born For Lace (The Cradled Common #2)
Glossary
If you do not like glossaries, feel free to skip it, and refer to it should you need further definitions.
The Cradle: A dystopian land governed by a socialist-inspired regime called The Trade. It comprises three separate land masses, Horizon, The Mainland, and Aquilla.
Horizon: The desert to the North and West of The Mainland Cradle. The Horizon has no mapped landscape. It is thought to be completely uninhabitable.
The Mainland: The largest land mass of The Cradle.
Aquilla: The island south of The Mainland Cradle.
The Strait: A hectic stretch of ocean between The Mainland Cradle and the island Aquilla.
Redwind: A thick, fierce, sand-laden gale that blasts The Cradle in its entirety. The desert soil is red in The Cradle; hence, the colour of the wind turns the atmosphere to a haze of crimson— a red wind.
The Trade: A socialist-type government that appoints Trades to citizens at birth. These Trades are, typically but not exclusively, inherited from a birth person.
Trade Man/Woman: A citizen of The Cradle who accepts a life of service to The Trade and The Cradle.
Meaningful Purpose: A spiritual state of enlightenment achieved by a Trade man or woman when they accomplish an act of service predetermined by The Trade.
Tower: A city governed by The Trade.
The Half-tower: A tower on The Mainland that provides The Cradle with ocean food. It transports products from The Mainland to the Half-tower Port on the island of Aquilla. It is known for being corrupt and poorly managed.
The Bite: A secret underground cave town located across the river from the Half-tower. It is a place for runaways. It operates outside of The Trade and is home to Common, Xin De, and Endigo.
Upper-tower port M (Mainland): A small port tower that transports products, typically from the mines, from The Mainland to the Upper-tower Port on the island of Aquilla.
The Compound: A massive secret compound hidden in the mountains that houses, develops, and raises the Shadows and other highly classified species of Xin De. Unmarked on any map.
Ruins E, S, N: Derelict cities/towers.
Gene Age: A historical period characterised by the mass-genetic engineering of humankind. During this time, there was a rapid shift from a natural human conception to an engineered one. In the early years, it was to better improve physical attractiveness or dissolve undesirable traits before birth. Hundreds of years later, technology was used to progress human evolution by engineering animal traits into the human genus that would aid in surviving harsh environmental changes. From this age of engineering came two different classes of humankind—Xin De and Common.
Xin De: The genetically engineered human.
Common: A human without any obvious Xin De genus.
Gene War: The civil war between the two species of human, Xin De and Common, that eventually destroyed the old-world and civilisation as it was.
Nictitating Membrane: A third eyelid not found in Common humans. An engineered design in the Xin De genus. It is a thin membrane at the inner angle or beneath the lower lid of the eye. It can extend across the eyeball. The membrane’s purpose is to clean dust and debris and is organically found in many beasts, including but not limited to, felines and birds.
Xin De Maternal Death: A death during pregnancy or birth due to the Xin De gene producing an oversized baby or incompatible DNA strain with the mother.
The King: A man born the heir to The Cradle. His duty is to support The Trade and give the citizens a figurehead leader and enforcer.
The Trade Master: A man who matches the power and influence of the king, however, he is appointed by the reigning monarch and the lords of The Cradle to uphold The Trade’s Law and Traditions. He is given the key to all Trade secrets and power over the Shadows (secret agents). Once appointed, his title cannot be taken away, even as new monarchs rise.
Shadows: A Trade. A secret, elite group of individuals who are nameless and faceless assassins for The Trade. They are to kill, remove, and dissolve a target or targets.
Lords: Men who govern or manage a catchment of The Cradle within The Trade regime.
Lace Girl: A Trade. The Trade’s first mental health initiative. A girl who is to accompany, relieve, and soothe a Trade man in his time of despair. It is a privilege to be given a Lace Girl. She is given to a Trade man for life and will accept The Deep Sleep (see below) beside him when he pleases. She is to remain wholesome and be shielded from depravities and the ways of men.
The Deep Sleep: A state of heavy unconsciousness associated with a Lace Girl.
Companion Nights: A ritualistic event. A Lace Girl will drink her Lace Girl Tea and fall into The Deep Sleep. Her Ward will undress her with kindness and consideration and use her body for comfort. Whether to relieve his male urges or soothe his heart. He has full access to her body under the condition she is left without physical or emotional trauma. She is to be dressed again before she wakes up to avoid any feelings of discomfort or fragility. Her pure mind and gentle heart are to be protected so she can better bring him joy and tenderness. If she reports any issues of mistreatment to The Trade, she will be taken from her Ward and given to another.
Lace Girl Tea: A mixture of herbs and sedatives, La Mu and Opi Latex, used by a Lace Girl to prevent pregnancy and sedate her for The Deep Sleep. If the Lace Girl’s Ward has the means to provide more, sugar or honey or other spices can be added purely for her enjoyment.
La Mu: A genetically engineered plant that has varying medicinal purposes. The leaf: a sedative and muscle relaxant. The seeds: a powerful contraceptive. The root: in small doses, acts as an anti-inflammatory, but in larger doses is highly lethal.
Common Communit(y(ies): Minor cities for Common who do not serve The Trade and live with their own free will. With this comes minimal support or protection from The Trade, often resulting in a poor quality of life.
Community Protectors: A small Common defence force in the mountains that surround the Common Community in the North most part of The Mainland Cradle. Unmarked on any map.
Endigo: A cannibalistic human-type being. Their modifications are not part of the engineered Xin De genus, but undesirable and unplanned mutations. A byproduct of hundreds of years of corrupted human genetics.
Old-world (colloquial term): The world before The Cradle and The Trade.
First-light: An estimated period of time in the morning—the sun first lightens the hazy sky.
Crown-light: An estimated period of time at the middle of the day—the sun has the least amount of Redwind to penetrate, and its heat can be felt on the top of your head.
Last-light: An estimated period of time in the evening—the sun disappears for the night.
Time-Lamp/ Time-lights/ Time-fireplace: The Cradle uses colours to distinguish the time when clocks are not available. First-light is orange. Crown-light is yellow. Last-light is red. Variations of these colours indicate the time between each major position. Aka, dark red is night.
Missing Moon: The moon has not been seen in hundreds of years, though citizens are taught of its power and influence over the land and sea.
The Crust: Literally: the soil/dirt. Spiritually: a kind of afterlife/paradise/nirvana.
Collective: A group of individuals that work as one unit for a Trade.
Sired Mother: A Trade. Women who protect and raise The Cradle’s babies. In other terms, a child-care Trade. They are retired Silk Girls who have achieved Meaningful Purpose.
Aquilla Cats: A previously extinct, large cat that now runs rampant through The Cradle. It can be identified from other cats by its larger size and stripes along its back.
Marshal Blue: A Trade. A public law enforcer.
Guard: A Trade. Military-trained personnel who guard, defend, and fight for The Trade.
House Girl: A Trade. A woman/girl used for entertainment and/or acts of a sexual nature.
Windmill Farms: Windmill farms cover over 30% of the inhabitable parts of The Cradle. They are the land’s primary source of energy.
Windmill Forest (colloquial term): The stretches of Windmill Farms that feel never-ending, stretching for hundreds of miles.
Opi (colloquial term) Opi Lava: can be applied topically or taken orally. A genetically modified version of the old-world opioid—morphine—used for extreme pain and as a mild sedative.
Modistes Girl: A Trade. A girl responsible for designing, creating, and fitting apparel.
Silk Girl: A Trade. A breeding girl. A girl born of a Silk Girl with no previous miscarriages. She is protected and raised in peace and tranquillity. She is to have no negative experiences in her life in order to prevent the spread of epigenetics—generational trauma.