courtier
One who attends a royal court looking for favors from the aristocracy.
tepid
Lukewarm; applicable both to liquid and opinions.
vanquished
Totally subdued by an opponent.
subvert
Overturning or undermining original intent.
cipher
A secret code that must be deciphered to unlock its meaning.
billeted
Official military order allowing for the lodging of soldiers in privately owned domiciles.
perjury
The criminal offense of lying under oath.
coolies
Derogatory term for unskilled, low-wage laborers from the Far East.
disperse
Moving away from the center in a different directions.
dolorous
Characterized by grief and misery.
impudence
Contemptuous or scornful disregard.
placid
Serene and free of worry.
barouche
A four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage of the kind usually seen in western films with a driver's seen high on the front and two interior seats facing each other.
sporadic
Occasionally.
courtesan
A more sophisticated level of prostitute.
rupee
The basic monetary unit of the story’s setting, India.
ascribe
To attribute or assign credit.
shamble
To walk with great effort caused by the dragging of one’s feet.
ritual
Formal ceremonial routine usually with a sacramental dimension.
counselor
Someone who provides advice or offers therapeutic relief to alleviate a situation causing anxiety.
