Authors: Holly Taylor
TABLE OF CONTENTS
From the author of
CRIMSON FIRE, NIGHT BIRDS’ REIGN and CRY OF SORROW
B
OOK
F
OUR OF THE
D
REAMER’S
C
YCLE
Medallion Press, Inc.
Printed in USA
DEDICATION
To Michelle Velona, who fights her battle with courage, dignity and grace. Thank you for teaching me how to be a friend.
Published 2009 by Medallion Press, Inc.
The MEDALLION PRESS LOGO
is a registered trademark of Medallion Press, Inc.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment from this “stripped book.”
Copyright © 2009 by Holly Taylor
Cover Illustration by Arturo Delgado
Interior map by James Tampa
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Typeset in Adobe Garamond Pro
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN#978-193383657-7
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
If I break faith with you,
May the skies fall upon me,
May the seas drown me,
May the earth rise and swallow me.
A Kymric proverb
Gwydion ap Awst var Celemon: Dreamer of Kymru Dinaswyn ur Morvryn var Gwenllian: former Dreamer, Gwydion’s aunt, Myrrdin’s sister
Cariadas ur Gwydion var Isalyn: Gwydion’s daughter and heir
The Dewin
Myrrdin ap Morvryn var Gwenllian: Gwydion’s uncle, Dinaswyn’s brother, former Ardewin and Arthur’s guardian Rhiannon ur Hefeydd var Indeg: former heir to the Ardewin, mother of Gwen
Elstar ur Anieron var Ethyllt: Ardewin, daughter of Anieron, wife to Elidyr
Llywelyn ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elstar’s oldest son and heir Morwen: a former teacher at Y Ty Dewin, a prisoner in Afalon Trephin: an accomplished doctor, a prisoner in Afalon Morgan ap Tud: a prisoner in Afalon
Cathbad ap Goreu var Efa: Archdruid, Myrrdin’s cousin
Aergol ap Custennin var Dinaswyn: Cathbad’s heir, Dinaswyn’s
son
Sinend ur Aergol var Eurgain: Aergol’s daughter and heir
Menw ap Aergol var Ceindrech: Aergol’s son
Ceindrech ur Elwystl: teacher of astronomy, mother of Menw
Aldwr ap Tegid: teacher of mathematics
Madryn ur Dyrys: teacher of religion
Yrth ap Cyndyn: teacher of the almanac
Hywel: assistant teacher of the almanac
Elidyr ap Dudod var Llawen: Master Bard, husband to Elstar Dudod ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Elidyr’s father, Rhiannon’s uncle
Cynfar ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elidyr’s youngest son and heir Elivri: an accomplished harpist, a prisoner in Afalon Maredudd: an old friend of Dudod’s, a prisoner in Afalon
Havgan: the Warleader, Bana of Coriania, conqueror of Kymru, the Golden Man
Sigerric of Apuldre: Over-General of Kymru
Aelfwyn: Princess of Corania, Havgan’s wife
Sledda of Cantware: Arch-wyrce-jaga of Kymru
Eadwig of Pinenden: Arch-byshop of Kymru
Arianrod ur Brychan var Arianllyn: cousin to Gwydion and Rhiannon,Havgan’s mistress
Arthur ap Uthyr var Ygraine: High King of Kymru, Penerydd of Gwytheryn
Gwenhwyfar ur Rhoram var Rhiannon: Rhoram’s daughter by Rhiannon
Torgar: an old sailer in Havgan’s army
Hild: a wyrce-jaga, formerly stationed in Maen, Prydyn
Edwald: a guard at Caer Siddi
Sigald: commander of the guards on Afalon
Rhufon ap Casnar: Steward of Cadair Idris
Tybion ap Rhufon: Rhufon’s son
Lucan ap Tybion: Rhufon’s grandson
Madoc ap Rhodri var Rathtyen: traitorous King of Gwynedd, Lord of Rhos
Tangwen ur Madoc var Bri: Madoc’s daughter Catha of Pecsaetan: Coranian General of Gwynedd Arday ur Medyr: mistress of King Madoc and General Catha Ecgfrith of Deorby: Byshop of Gwynedd
Ygraine ur Custennin var Elwen: King Uthyr’s widow
Morrigan ur Uthyr var Ygraine: true Queen of Gwynedd (House of PenHebog), Lady of Rhos, leader of the Cerddorian
Cai ap Cynyr: Morrigan’s captain
Bedwyr ap Bedrawd: Cai’s nephew and lieutenant
Susanna ur Erim: Morrigan’s bard, mother of Gwyhar
Gwyhar: bard, son of Susanna and Griffi
Neuad ur Hetwin: Morrigan’s Dewin
Duach ap Seithfed: a Cerddorian, Uthyr’s former doorkeeper, Lord of Dunoding
Greid ap Gorwys: Master Smith of Gwynedd
Dywel ap Gwyn: Gwarda of Ardudwy, brother to Bledri of Rheged,a Cerddorian
Isgowen ur Banon: Lady of Arfon, leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Arllech
Menwaed ap Medyr: traitorous Lord of Arllechwedd, brother of Arday
Gildasa ur Caw: Lady of Llyn, Tangen’s aunt, a Cerddorian Cian ap Iaen: Lord of Eyri, brother of Griffi, a Cerddorian Cynwas Cwryfager: Gwarda of Aberffraw, a Cerddorian Teregund ap Moren: Gwarda of Arllech Uchaf, a Cerddorian
Erfin ap Nudd: traitorous King of Prydyn, Efa’s brother Penda of Lindisfarne: Coranian General of Prydyn Eamer of Geddingas: Master wyrce-jaga of Prydyn Whitred of Sceaping: Byshop of Prydyn Ellywen ur Saidi: Erfin’s Druid
Rhoram ap Rhydderch var Eurneid: true King of Prydyn (House of PenBlaid), Lord of Dyfed, leader of the Cerddorian Geriant ap Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s son and heir by his first wife
Efa ur Nudd: Rhoram’s second wife, sister to King Erfin
Achren ur Canhustyr: Rhoram’s captain
Aidan ap Camber: Achren’s lieutenant
Cian ap Menw: Rhoram’s bard, a prisoner in Afalon
Cadell ap Brathach: Rhoram’s Dewin Dafydd Penfro: Rhoram’s counselor
Lluched ur Brathach: Gwarda of Creuddyn, sister to Cadell, a Cerddorian
Siwan ur Trephin: Master Smith of Prydyn
Rhodri ap Erddufyl: former King of Gwynedd, Rhoram’s uncle, father of Madoc and
Ellirri
Marared ur Canhustyr: Lady of Brycheiniog, sister of Achren, coleader of the Cerddorian in Coed Gwyn
Dadweir Heavy-Hand: Lord of Bychan, father of Sabrina of Rheged, co-leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Gwyn
Morcant Whledig: traitorous King of Rheged
Enid ur Urien var Ellirri: Owein’s sister, Queen of Rheged
Baldred of Tarbin: Coranian General of Rheged
Saebald of Laewes: Master wyrce-jaga of Rheged
Oswy of Gwyrin: Byshop of Rheged
Bledri ap Gwyn: Morcant’s Dewin
Owein ap Urien var Ellirri: true King of Rheged (House of PenMarch), Lord of Amgoed, leader of the Cerddorian
Sanon ur Rhoram var Christina: Owein’s wife, Rhoram’s daughter by his first wife
Rhiwallon ap Urien var Ellirri: Owein’s younger brother
Trystan ap Naf: Owein’s captain
Teleri ur Brysethach: Trystan’s lieutenant
Sabrina ur Dadweir: Owein’s Druid
Esyllt ur Maelwys: Owein’s bard, March’s wife
Gwarae Golden-Hair: Gwarda of Ystlwyf, a Cerddorian
Isgowen Whledig: Owein’s steward, sister to Morcant Wheldig
March Y Meirchion: Esyllt’s husband
Hetwin Silver-Brow: Lord of Gwinionydd, a Cerddorian
Cynedyr the Wild: Hetwin’s son, a Cerddorian
Menestyr ap naw: a cloth merchant, a secret Cerddorian
Llyenog ap Glwys: Master Smith of Rheged
Tyrnon Twrf Liant: Lord of Gwent, co-leader of the Cerddorian
in Coed Sarrug Atlantas ur Naf: Lady of Maelienydd, co-leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Sarrug
Feina ur Clustfeind: Gwarda of Llannerch, a Cerddorian Annyaws ur Menw: Gwarda of Iscoed, Cian’s sister, a Cerddorian Brys ap Brysethach: Gwarda of Mabudryd, Teleri’s brother, a Cerddorian
Rhun Rhywdd: Lord of Gwarthaf, a Cerddorian
Elen ur Olwen var Kilwch: captive Queen of Ederynion (House of PenAlarch), Lady of Ial
Talorcan of Bernice: Coranian General of Ederynion Guthlac of Cyil: Master wyrce-jaga of Ederynion Cuthwine of Cyncacestir: Byshop of Ederynion Iago ap Cof: Elen’s Druid Regan ur Corfil: Elen’s Dewin
Lludd ap Olwen var Kilwch: Elen’s brother, leader of the Cerddorian
Angharad ur Ednyved: Lludd’s captain Emrys ap Naw: Angharad’s lieutenant Talhearn ap Coleas: Ludd’s bard
Llwyd Cilcoed: Dewin, Queen Olwen’s former lover, brother to Alun Cilcoed
Alun Cilcoed: former Lord of Arystli, a Cerddorian, brother of Llwyd
Naf: a Cerddorian in Lludd’s teulu
Efrei ap Gwifan: Master Smith of Ederynion
Eiodar ur Ednyved: Gwarda of Iscoed, sister of Angharad, a Cerddorian
Llawra ur Erim: Gwarda of Cynnlaith, sister of Susanna of Gwynedd, a Cerddorian
Drwys Iron-Fist: Lord of Dinan, leader of the Cerddorian in Penbeullt
Sima ur Naw: Gwarda of Is Feychan, sister of Emrys, a Cerddorian Cilyddas ur Cors: Lady of Rhwny, a Cerddorian Meilwen ur Neb: Lady of Cydewain, a Cerddorian
Bran ap Iweridd var Fabel: Fifth Dreamer, Guardian of the Spear, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand
Mannawyddan ap Iweridd var Fabel: Fifth Ardewin, Guardian of the Stone, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand Taliesin: Fifth Master Bard, Guardian of the Sword, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand
Arywen ur Cadwy var Isabyr: Fifth Archdruid, Guardian of the Cauldron, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand Bloudewedd ur Sawyl var Eurolwyn: wife of Lleu Lawrient, lover to Gowrys of Penllyn, imprisoned in Drwys Idris by Bran the Dreamer
Lleu Lawrient (Silver Hand): last High King of Kymru, murdered by Bloudewedd and her lover
Aertan: goddess of fate, The Weaver, wife of Annwyn Agrona: goddess of war, twin to Camulos, Y Rhyfelwr—the warrior twin
Annwyn: god of death, Lord of Chaos and the Otherworld, husband of Aertan
Camulos: god of war, twin to Agrona, Y Rhyfelwr—the warrior twin
Cerridwen: Protectress of Kymru, Mistress of the Wild Hunt, Queen of the Wood, wife of Cerrunnos
Cerrunnos: Protector of Kymru, Master of the Wild Hunt, Lord of
the Animals, husband of Cerridwen
Grannos the Header: god of healing, Star of the North
Gwrach Y Rhibyn: The Washer at the Ford, incarnation of Agrona,a harbinger of war
Mabon: King of the Sun, Lord of Fire, god of the Dreamers, husband of Nantsovelta
Modron: mother godess, the Great Mother, goddess of the Druids, wife of Taran
Nantsovelta: Queen of the Moon, Lady of the Waters, goddess of the Dewin, wife of Mabon
Sirona of the Stars: goddess of stars, wife to Grannos
Taran: father god, King of the Winds, god of the Bards, husband
of Modron
Dormath: the hound the guards the door to Gwlad yr Haf
IN CORANIA
Aesc: brother to Emperor Athelred, Warleader in Havgan’s absence
Peada: Eorl of Lindisfarne, Penda’s father
Readwyth: Penda’s son
Athelred: Emperor of Corania
Athelflaed: Empress of Corania
Aesthryth: sister of Aesc and Athelbald, the former Queen of the Franks