Swears

 A list of curses, exclamations, and the like as found in the Prism Pentad.

Swearing, swears. I was surprised to find so many having to do with the moons, specifically Ral.

1

Ktandeo motioned for Agis to open the doors of the temple. The noble obeyed, then stepped backward in alarm. "By Ral!"

"Are we concerned about nothing but gold and protecting our own fat necks?" he demanded. "By the moons, I can't believe what I'm hearing!"

"We need a better plan," Neeva complained. "There's no way under the two moons we'll sneak that thing over the wall."

A nearby templar scooped three stones off the ground. "In the name of Mighty Kalak, let these missiles strike dead the enemies of the king!"

"In the name of" Sadira hissed, cursing her bad luck.

2

By the light of Ral! Rikus growled. Because Tamar still controlled his body, he could not look around to see how the Urikites were responding.

When the mul stepped through the gateway, he saw Styan leading a mob of gladiators toward him. "By the light of Ral!" he cursed.

"We can thank the moons for small favors, can we not?" Er'Stali said. Again, he tried to guide Rikus toward the far side of the wall.

The mul stopped in midsentence as the distant voice of Maetan's templar came to him. "In the name of Mighty Hamanu, the slopes of this mountain shall cascade down upon our enemies."

A foot scraped the stones at his back. The mul tucked the blade under his armpit and thrust it backward. A Urikite screamed and died.

"In the name of Haman"

3

"By Ral!" he cursed, his angry voice echoing off the stone walls. "I should have them all killed!"

"In the name of Ral!" she gasped. "Is there no magic that will stop you?"

"By the moons!" Sadira gasped. On Athas, metal was more precious than water, and the mound of armor represented an unimaginable treasure. "Where did all that come from?"

The elf's gray eyes bugged out. "By the sun, I am careless!"

Only Faenaeyon seemed to resent the greeting, continuing toward the city at the unrelenting pace Sadira had set earlier. "By the wind, I hate this place," he growled.

"In the name of the Silt Wind, what have you done?"

"In the name of Tithian the First, stand aside" ordered a man.

"In the name of the wind, what's wrong?" boomed Magnus.

4

"Ral protect us!" gasped Kester. "A bear!"

"By Ral, not a flaw anywhere!" Tithian cried, his voice trembling not with agony, but exhilaration.

"In the name of Ral!" the noble gasped.

The king raised a hand to shield his face and looked away, unable to bear the sight. "In the name of our ancestors!"

"Seize that man!" yelled the female templar, pointing at Agis. "I command it in the name of King Andropinis!"

5

At Rikus's side, Neeva suddenly cried, "Suit? Where in the name of Ral are you?"

"By Ral!" The mul was so shocked he could do little but gape at the immense hole. "Sadira!"

"By Ral!" Rikus cursed. "What's that?"

The scorpion itself turned gold and began to shrink, until it was so small that its pincers would no longer fit around the mul's thick fingers. It fell free and tumbled away, its tiny body vanishing from sight long before it hit the ground. "By the sun!" cursed Caelum.

"By the sun!" gasped Caelum. "What's happening to me?"

"By the wind!" Magnus gasped. "That leaves no doubt that Abalach-Re is with them."

When Tithian's gaze fell on the quarterdeck, his stomach coiled into a tight knot. "In the name of Rajaat!" he cursed. "It can't be!"