Crimson Fire (2 page)

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: Arthur’s guardian,

Gwydion’s uncle, Dinaswyn’s brother

Rhiannon ur Hefeydd var Indeg: former heir to the Ar- dewin, mother of Gwenhwyfar

Cynan ap Einon var Darun: Ardewin, uncle to Gwydion, Rhiannon and Arianrod

Elstar ur Anieron var Ethyllt: Myrrdin’s heir, daughter of Anieron, wife to Elidyr

Llywelyn ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elstar’s oldest son and heir Arianrod ur Brychan var Arianllyn: cousin to Gwydion and Rhiannon

The Druids

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

The Bards

Anieron ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Master Bard, Rhi- annon’s uncle

Elidyr ap Dudod var Llawen: Anieron’s nephew and heir, husband to Elstar

Dudod ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Anieron’s brother, Elidyr’s father, Rhiannon’s uncle

Cynfar ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elidyr’s youngest son and heir

IN GWYNEDD

Uthyr ap Rathtyen var Awst: King of Gwynedd (House of PenHebog), Lord of Rhos, half-brother to Gwydion and Madoc

Ygraine ur Custennin var Elwen: Uthyr’s Queen, sister to Queen Olwen of Ederynion

Arthur ap Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyr’s son Morrigan ur Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyr’s daughter

Madoc ap Rhodri var Rathtyen: Lord of Rhufonoig, half brother to Uthyr

Cai ap Cynyr: Uthyr’s Captain; the PenGwernan; his wife Nest and his son Garanwyn

Bedwyr ap Bedrawd: Cai’s nephew and Lieutenant

Susanna ur Erim: Uthyr’s Bard Grif
fi
ap Iaen: Uthyr’s Druid

Gwrhyr: Bard, son of Grif
fi
and Susanna Neuad ur Hetwin: Uthyr’s Dewin

Arday ur Medyr: Uthyr’s steward

IN PRYDYN

Rhoram ap Rhydderch var Eurneid: King of Prydyn (House of PenBlaid), Lord of Dyfed

Geriant ap Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s son and heir by his
fi
rst wife

Sanon ur Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s daughter by his
fi
rst wife

Gwenhwyfar ur Rhoram var Rhiannon: Rhoram’s daughter by Rhiannon

Efa ur Nudd: Rhoram’s second wife, sister to Er
fi
n

Achren ur Canhustyr: Rhoram’s Captain, the PenCollen Aidan ap Camber: Achren’s Lieutenant

Cian ap Menw: Rhoram’s Bard Ellywen ur Saidi: Rhoram’s Druid Cadell ap Brathach: Rhoram’s Dewin

Er
fi
n ap Nudd: Lord of Ceredigion, Queen Efa’s brother

Dafydd Penfro: Rhoram’s counselor Tallwch ap Nwyfre: Rhoram’s doorkeeper Tegid ap Trephin: Gward of Mallean

IN RHEGED

Urien ap Ethyllt var Gwaeddan: King of Rheged (House of PenMarch), Lord of Amgoed

Ellirri ur Rhodri var Rathtyen: Urien’s Queen, sister to Madoc, half-sister to Uthyr

Elphin ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s oldest son and heir Owein ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s second son Rhiwallon ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s youngest son Enid ur Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s daughter

Trystan ap Naf: Urien’s Captain, the PenDraenenwen Teleri ur Brysethach: Trystan’s Lieutenant

Esyllt ur Maelwys: Urien’s Bard, March’s wife Sabrina ur Dadweir: Urien’s Druid

Bledri ap Gwyn: Urien’s Dewin

Isgowen Whledig: Urien’s steward, sister to Morcant Wheldig

March Y Meirchion: Urien’s hunstman, Esyllt’s husband Morcant Whledig: Lord of Penrhyn

Hetwin Silver-Brow: Lord of Gwinionydd Cadar: Hetwin’s Captain

IN EDERYNION

Olwen ur Custennin var Elwen: Queen of Ederynion(House of PenAlarch), Lady of Ial, sister to Queen Ygraine

Elen ur Olwen var Kilwch: Olwen’s daughter and heir Lludd ap Olwen var Kilwch: Olwen’s son

Angharad ur Ednyved: Olwen’s Captain, the PenAethnen

Emrys ap Naw: Angharad’s Lieutenant Talhearn ap Coleas: Olwen’s Bard Iago ap Cof: Olwen’s Druid

Regan ur Cor
fi
l: Olwen’s Dewin

Llwyd Cilcoed: Dewin of Caerinion, Olwen’s lover

IN GWYTHERYN

Rhufon ap Casnar: a descendent of the Stewards of Cadair Idris

Tybion ap Rhufon: Rhufon’s son Lucas ap Tybion: Tybion’s son

HISTORICAL FIGURES

Bloudewedd ur Sawyl var Eurolwyn: wife of Lleu Lawri- ent, lover to Gowrys, imprisoned in Drwys Idris by Bran the Dreamer

Lleu Lawrient (Silver Hand): last High King of Kymru, murdered by Bloudewedd and Gorwys

Gorwys of Penllyn: consort of Queen Siwan of Prydyn, lover of Bloudewedd, murderer of High King Lleu

Bran ap Iweridd var Fabel: Fifth Dreamer, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

The Shining Ones

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 Annwyn: god of death, Lord of Chaos and the Other- world, husband of Aertan

Aertan: goddess of fate, The Weaver, wife of Annwyn Taran: father god, King of the Winds, god of the Bards, husband of Modron

Modron: mother godess, the Great Mother, mother, god- dess of the Druids, wife of Taran

Mabon: King of the Sun, Lord of Fire, god of the Dream- ers, husband of Nantsovelta

Nantsovelta: Queen of the Moon, Lady of the Waters, goddess of the Dewin, wife of Mabon

Camulos: god of war, twin to Agrona, Y Rhyfelwr — the

warrior twin

Agrona: goddess of war, twin to Camulos, Y Rhyfelwr

— the warrior twin

Sirona of the Stars: goddess of stars, wife to Grannos 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

IN CORANIA

The Warband

Havgan: the Golden Man, aspirant to position of Warleader (Bana)

Sigerric: son of the Alder of Apuldre Baldred: son of the Eorl of Tarbin Talorcan: son of the Eorl of Bernice Catha: brother of the Eorl of Pecsaetan Penda: son of the Eorl of Lindisfarne

The House of Aelle
Athelred: Emperor of Corania Athel
fl
ead: Empress of Corania

Aelfwyn: Athelred’s daughter and sole offspring, also called Steorra Heofen

Aesc: Anweal of Coran, brother of Emperor Athelred Aesthryth: Athelred’s sister, the former Queen of the Franks Aescwine: Anweal of Mierce, the Empress’ brother Aelbald: Aescwine’s son, Aelfwyn’s cousin, Havgan’s rival for war leader

Athelric: Bana, brother of Emperor Athelred

IN CANTWARE

Hengist:
fi
sherman of Dorfas Hildegyth: his wife

Eosa of Calne: a wyrce-jaga in Cantware Frithu: a boy from the village of Dorfas

Sigefrith: Alder of Apuldre, Siggeric’s father, Havgan’s

fi
rst lord

Elgiva: the Lady of Apuldre, Sigerric’s mother Wiglaf: Eorl of Cantware, Havgan’s second lord Sledda of Cantware: Master-wyrce-jaga of Ivelas Cenberht: the champion of the Eorl of Ivelas Athelmar: the Alder of Liminae

Horsa: Hengist’s brother, a saltmaker in Angelesford Whitred: the Byshop of Cantware

Wulf: Captain of the warband for the Alder of Liminae Anawin: a valla with the fair

Egwina: a valla with the fair

Guthlac: Master-wyrce-jaga of Cantware

IN ATHELIN

Guido Asti: the name Gwydion uses in Corania Rhea Varins: the name Rhiannon uses in Corania Whitgar of Mimmas: Archpreost

Ethbrand: Arch-wyrce-jaga of Coran Sethwald: Archbyshop of Coran Gytha: a valla in Athelin

An
fl
aeth: a famous valla in Athelin

Euric Gildmar: an Austarian sea Captain Theo: his
fi
rst mate

IN DERE

Ingilda: Talorcan’s mother, a descendant of the last King of Dere

Talmund: Talorcan’s father, Eorl of Bernice Torhtmund: Talorcan’s younger brother Hensa of Dorsetas: Arch-wyrce-jaga of Dere Lingyth: a Godia in Dere; her husband Egild Berwic: Archbyshop of Dere

Oswy: Byshop of Bernice

IN MIERCE

Peada: Penda’s father, the Eorl of Lindisfarne Readwyth: Penda’s son and heir

Oswald: abbot of Hearth Beranburg in Mierce

The New Gods

Lytir: the One God, ruler of Heofon

Sceadu: Lytir’s brother, the Shadow, who rules in Hel

The Old Gods

Wuotan: one of the Ostar, god of Magic, with Holda leads the Wild Hunt

Holda: one of the Ercar, goddess of the Waters, with Wuotan leads the Wild Hunt

Donar: one of the Ostar, god of Storms Narve: chief of the A
fl
iae, god of Death Nerthus: one of he Ostar, goddess of Earth Tiw: one of the Ostar, god of War

Fro: one of the Ercar, twin to Freya, god of Peace and Plenty

Freya: one of the Ercar, twin to Fro, goddess of Fertility The Wyrd: the three goddesses of fate

As for what may be, it will not be.

It will not be, because it may not be.

Taliesin

Fifth Master Bard Circa 270

Dorfas, Marc of Cantware Weal of Coran, Coranian Empire

Natmonath, 458

S

Sweltan Daeg—night

he was barely alive when her body, battered by the relentless waves, washed up on the sands. Slowly she dragged herself farther up the deserted beach, clutching

at the sand with her hands, pulling herself away from the swirl- ing, black water inch by precious inch.

Her breath came and went in harsh gasps as she coughed weakly, expelling water, blood, and bile from her aching lungs. Her sodden gown, its rich materials in tatters, clung to her body, weighing her down unbearably. Blood dripped slowly from her matted hair down her once-beautiful face.

After an eternity she stopped moving and lay on her side, clutching her swollen belly, her face buried in the rough sands. A spasm rippled through her, and she clenched her teeth against the pain. She shuddered as the cold night wind whipped around her and whispered, “No, no,
bachen
. For pity’s sake, wait. Not here. Not here.”

Slowly she lifted her head to the night sky. The stars were cold and clear and the rays of the waxing moon spilled over her, wrapping her in cold, silvery
fi
re. She wondered vaguely if the Lady of the Moon could see her lying here; wondered if Nantsovelta would take pity on her and send someone, anyone, to help her live through the storm’s sullen wake. Another spasm rippled through her pain-wracked body. “No, no, not yet,” she whispered. “Wait. Wait.”

She had to
fi
nd help. She closed her eyes. A tiny tug, a feel- ing of separation, and she was leaving her body behind on the chilled sands. Her soul Rode the Wind as best she could in her weakened state. Knowing she could not go far, she searched for a source of light, of warmth, for someone to help her.

There—to the east—a glimmer of light. Spiraling down, she saw a tiny cottage at the edge of the cliffs and a woman sit- ting by the hearth
fi
re, humming softly to herself.

She had seen enough. As quickly as she could, she returned her spirit to her body, blinking salt-encrusted lashes and rub- bing her eyes. Drawing herself to her knees and clutching her swollen belly, she willed the child not to come now, on this cold beach in this strange land. So intent on this thought was she that she did not even sense the man who was making his way toward the cottage along the cliffs.