disinter
unbury, reveal
impetus
encouragement, goad
crook
the curved stick used by a shepherd
infidels
unfaithful ones or nonbelievers
levanter
a wind that comes from the eastern end of the Mediterranean, near Turkey, which is sometimes called the Levant
Moorish
relating to the Moors, the Arab/Berber Muslim people who arrived from Northern Africa and conquered Spain in the 8th century
sacristy
a room in a church used to store sacred vessels for communion
scabbard
the metal case used to hold a sword
seminary
school, especially one in which students study to become priests
alchemy
a medieval philosophy and science with the goal of changing common metals into gold, finding a universal cure for illness, and discovering methods of halting the aging process to prolong life
Bedouins
nomadic Arab peoples who lived in bands in the Arabian Peninsula's desert
capricious
given to whimsical decisions, unpredictable
divination
the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means
prognostications
predictions, statements telling of the future
scimitar
very sharp knives with curved blades
Coptic
Egyptian form of Christianity
scarab
a beetle used in Egyptian art as a symbol of the after-life or of God; among Egyptians, scarabs are seen as lucky charms or omens
simun
a wind-borne sand storm
sirocco
a wind that blows from the oceans over the land, bearing moisture
conquistador
Spanish soldiers, so named because they conquered their enemies