The Circle - the ether of energy that is created by the spirits of deceased vandu.
ii - the supernatural power that is generated by accessing the Circle. Allows the use of the 62 feats that the vandu are capable of.
li - unit of distance that is roughly equivalent to half a kilometer
machina - instruments and machines from a foreign land that are threatening to destroy the power of the ii.
The Second Cycle - the present era that this novel takes place in.
shranur - a kind of tree that produces wood that cannot be burned. Grows in abundance near Taran.
vandu - an elite class of warriors and clerics who are capable of accessing the power of the ii.