The Secrets of Amelia Merlin

The Nine Families

Read to Part 67

Monatheon: I just made up this name by myself. It sounds cool but there's literally no meaning behind it.

Gorodetsky: This name is taken from one of the most famous wizards in the fictional world. There's tons of books written about Anton Gorodetsky and he does a lot of really cool things. I like the ancientness of his name and the powerful connotation that went with that.

Fiorvante: Again this name is taken from a wizard that exists in fiction. It is derived from an Italian fairy tale called Cannetella. The Fiorvante family in my series is really lavish which I like in this story, the main character is all gold and kind of crazy which is sort of like the Fiorvante family in my series as well. Here is the story of Fiorvante:

A king longed for a child, and a daughter was born to him, whom he named Cannetella. When she was grown, he wanted to marry her off; she did not want to, but at last consented if her husband would have no like in the world. He presented candidates, and when she found fault with them, concluded she did not want to marry at all. Cannetella said she would marry a man with golden hair and golden teeth.

Fioravante, a mortal enemy of the king's and a magician,  himself into a man with golden hair and golden teeth. The king agreed to their marriage, but Fioravante insisted on carrying off the princess with no attendants or baggage. When they reached a stable, he left her there with strict orders not to leave it or be seen, and to eat only what the horses left. One day, looking through a hole, she saw a garden filled with lemons, flowers, citrons, and vines. A desire for a bunch of grapes seized her, and she stole it. The horses told Fioravante when he returned, and he was ready to stab her, but she pleaded for her life; he set her to the same conditions and left again.

A royal locksmith came by, and Cannetella called to him, persuaded him that it was really her despite her altered looks, and had him smuggle her back to her father. Fioravante came after her. He bribed an old woman to let him see the princess, and Cannetella saw him. She had her father build her a chamber with seven iron doors. Fioravante went back to the old woman and had her go to the castle, selling rouge, and slip a piece of paper in the princess's bed, to charm everyone else asleep. Everyone fell asleep. Fioravante burst through all seven doors to get to the princess, and picked her up, bed clothes and all, to carry her off, but he knocked free the paper, and everyone woke. They pounced on him and cut him to pieces.

Lattantio: Again this is from an Italian fairy tale called Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi. You can read the story if you want but it doesn't have anything to do with the Lattantio family in my series.

Roscureaux: I changed the way this name was spelt but if any of you have read the Tale of Despereuax then you might recognize it as half of the name of Chiaroscuro. I love this name because it translates to the treatment of light and shade in drawing and painting. An effect of contrasted light and shadow created by light falling unevenly or from a particular direction on something. This was so romantic and lovely to me that I couldn't help but use it to describe this family who is famous for their romantic and artistic life style.

Bellgarathon: Derived from Belgarath, the main character in a book series by David Eddings called the Belgariad. I like choosing names that already have a magical background I feel like it makes them more powerful.

Dellisandro: totally made up

Flovios: I can't say yet because SPOILERS so I'll wait to tell you about that.

Merlin: Probably pretty obvious