"Xeethra" by Clark Ashton Smith

Subtle and manifold are the nets of the Demon, who followeth his chosen from birth to death and from death to death, throughout many lives.
-The Testaments of Carnamagos

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As with many of Smith's stories, we have a plethora of strange names with no obvious pronunciation, and no hint or guide as to what he had in mind. And less than perfect consistency in pronunciation on my part. I expect we're going to have a very great deal of that in this Zothique cycle...

combe: this could mean either "a short valley or hollow on a hillside or coastline" if you are British, or "a dry valley in a limestone or chalk escarpment" if you are a geologist. Either way, some sort of valley. There are two accepted pronunciations for this word, perhaps depending on whether you use British English or American English?

pleasance: a secluded enclosure or part of a garden, especially one attached to a large house

straiten: become narrow

gorge: in this context: throat

coigns: a projecting corner

sward an expanse of short grass

puissant: having great power or influence

covert: in this context: a thicket in which game can hide

levin: lightning

odalisque: a female slave or concubine in a harem, especially one in the seraglio of the Sultan of Turkey

wot: have knowledge

senescence: the condition or process of deterioration with age

objurgation: a harsh rebuke

cirque: circle

league: for English units of measurement, this would normally be 3 miles (4.8 km) (or 3 nautical miles (5.56 km) in a maritime context).

Canopus: the brightest star in the southern constellation of Carina and the second-brightest star in the night sky.

midden: refuse heap

marmorean: of, relating to, or suggestive of marble or a marble statue especially in coldness or aloofness

mummery: ridiculous ceremonial, especially of a religious nature

plaint: complaint, lamentation

leman: lover or mistress

murrain: a plague, epidemic, or crop blight

divertissement: minor entertainment or diversion

mummer: pantomimist (an actor in a traditional masked mime, especially of a type associated with Christmas and popular in England in the 18th and early 19th centuries)

guerdon: reward or recompense

zephyr: a soft gentle breeze

mufti: plain clothes worn by a person who wears a uniform for their job, such as a soldier or police officer

recreancy: shameful cowardice; perfidy

The picture used is an illustration from the original Weird Tales publication in the 1930s.

To follow along: http://www.eldritchdark.com/writings/short-stories/250/xeethra

Well, at least Xeethra wasn't a sore loser about the whole thing, eh?