Dragonclaw (53 page)

Aedan MacCuinn:
the first Rìgh, High Lord of Eileanan. Called Aedan Whitelock, he was directly descended from Cuinn Lionheart (see
First Coven
). In 710 he united the warring lands of Eileanan into one country, all except for Tìrsoilleir and Arran.

Aedan's Pact:
Aedan MacCuinn drew up a pact between all inhabitants of the island, agreeing to live in harmony and not to interfere in each other's culture, but to work together for peace and prosperity. The Fairgean refused to sign and so were cast out, causing the Second Fairgean Wars.

ahdayeh:
the art of fighting.

Alba:
the ‘mythical' homeland, the land from which the First Coven escaped.

Anghus MacRuraich:
Prionnsa of Rurach.

Arran:
southeast land of Eileanan, owned by Nic-Foghnan clan.

Aslinn:
deeply forested land owned by the MacAislins.

auld mother:
a Khan'cohban term for wise woman of the pride.

Awl:
Anti-witchcraft League set up by the Banrìgh Maya.

 

Bacaiche the Hunchback:
Meghan's great-grand-nephew.

banprionnsa:
princess or duchess.

banrìgh:
queen.

Beltane:
May Day; the first day of summer.

Berhtfane:
sea loch in Clachan.

Berhtildes:
the female warriors of Tìrsoilleir, named after the country's founder (see
First Coven
).

blaygird:
evil, awful.

Blèssem:
The Blessed Fields. Rich farmland lying south of Rionnagan, owned by MacThanach clan.

blizzard owls:
giant white owls that inhabit the wild mountain regions.

The Book of Shadows:
an ancient magical book thought to be destroyed on the Day of Reckoning.

 

Caeryla:
the major town in the highlands of Rionnagan. Built on the shores of the Tuathan Loch, famous for its loch serpent. Ruled by MacHamell clan.

Candlemas:
the end of winter and beginning of spring.

Carraig:
Land of the Sea Witches. Most northerly county of Eileanan, owned by MacSeinn clan, who were driven out by the Fairgean, taking refuge in Rhyssmadill.

Celestines:
race of faery creatures, renowned for empathic abilities, and knowledge of stars and prophecy.

Circle of Seven:
ruling council of dragons, made up of the oldest and wisest females.

Clachan:
southernmost land of Eileanan, a province of Rionnagan ruled by the MacCuinn Clan.

clàrsach:
stringed instrument like a small harp.

claymore:
a heavy, two-edged sword, often as tall as a man.

cluricaun:
small woodland faery.

craft:
applications of the One Power through spells, incantations and magical objects.

Cripple, the:
leader of the rebellion against the Rìgh and Banrìgh.

Cursed Peaks:
what the Khan'cohbans call Dragonclaw.

Cuinn Lionheart:
leader of the First Coven of Witches. Descendants called MacCuinn.

cunning:
applications of the One Power through will and desire.

cunning man:
village wise man or warlock.

 

Day of Betrayal:
The day the Rìgh turned on the witches, exiling or executing them, and burning the Witch Towers. Called Day of Reckoning by the Awl.

Deus Vult:
War cry of the Berhtildes, meaning ‘God wills'.

Dide:
a jongleur and member of the Underground.

donbeag:
small, brown shrewlike creature that can fly short distances due to the sails of skin between its legs.

Dragonclaw:
a tall, sharply pointed mountain in the northwestern range of the Sithiche Mountains. Called the Cursed Peaks by the Khan'cohbans.

dragonbane:
a rare and deadly poison capable of killing a dragon.

dragon-fear:
uncontrollable terror caused by proximity to dragons.

Dragon-Star:
comet that comes by every eight years. Also called Red Wanderer.

Dream-Walkers:
name for witches from the Tower of Dreamers in Aslinn. Some can see the future and the past in dreams.

dùn:
hill-fort, city.

Dùn Gorm:
the city surrounding Rhyssmadill.

 

Eà:
the Great Earth-Goddess, mother and father of all.

Eileanan:
largest island in the archipelago called the Far Islands.

Elemental Powers:
the forces of air, earth, fire, water and spirit.

elven cat:
small, fierce wild cat that lives in caves and hollow logs.

Enit:
a jongleur; grandmother of Dide and Nina.

 

Fairge; Fairgean (pl):
faery creatures who need both sea and land to live.

Feld:
studies dragonlore, mentor to Khan'gharad at Tower of Two Moons, now lives at the Towers of Roses and Thorns.

fiadhaich:
wild, angry

Firemaker:
descendant of Faodhagan (see
First Coven
) and a Khan'cohban.

First Coven:
thirteen witches who fled persecution and witch-hunts in their land, invoking a great spell that folded the fabric of the universe and brought them and their dependants to the Far Islands. The ten great families of Eileanan are all descended from the First Coven, with the MacCuinn clan being the greatest of the ten. The thirteen witches were Cuinn Lionheart, his son Owein of the Longbow, Aislinna the Dreamer, Ahearn the Horse Laird, Berhtilde the Bright Warrior, Fóghnan the Thistle, Rùraich the Searcher, Seinneadair the Singer, Sian the Storm-Rider, Tuathanach the Farmer, Brann the Raven, Faodhagan the Red and his twin sister Sorcha the Red.

Finn:
beggar girl in Lucescere.

fraitching:
arguing.

frost giant:
huge snow-dwelling faery that lives on Spine of the World.

 

geas:
an obligation due to debt of honour.

geal'teas:
long-horned snow-dwelling creatures which provide Khan'cohbans with food, milk and clothing. Their very thick, white fur is much prized.

Gitâ:
a donbeag; Meghan's familiar.

Gladrielle the Blue:
the smaller of the two moons, lavender-blue in colour.

Glynelda:
Grand-Seeker of the Awl, and Regent of Caeryla.

Great Crossing:
when Cuinn led the First Coven to the Far Islands.

Great Stairway:
the road which climbs Dragonclaw, leading to the palace of the dragons and then down the other side of the mountain to Tìrlethan.

greygorse:
a sweet-smelling, grey-leaved plant with sharp spikes.

 

Haven:
large cave where the Pride of the Red Dragon spend their summer.

holt:
place of refuge

Horned Ones:
a race of fierce horned faeries.

 

Isabeau the Foundling:
apprentice to Meghan of the Beasts.

Iseult of the Snows:
twin sister of Isabeau, also named Khan'derin.

Ishbel the Winged:
wind witch who could fly. Mother of Iseult and Isabeau.

 

Jaspar:
Rìgh of Eileanan, married to Maya the Unknown.

Jay the Fiddler:
a beggar boy of Lucescere.

Jesyah:
Jorge's familiar, a raven.

jongleur:
a travelling minstrel, juggler, conjurer; jester.

Jor:
god of all the seas.

Jorge the Seer:
A blind witch who can see the future.

 

Khan'gharad the Dragon-Laird:
Scarred Warrior of the Fire-Dragon Pride, lover of Ishbel the Winged, father of Isabeau and Iseult.

Khan'cohbans:
Children of the Gods of White. A faery race of snow-skimming nomads who live on the Spine of the World. Closely related to the Celestine.

the Key:
the sacred symbol of the Coven of Witches, a powerful talisman carried by the Keybearer, leader of the Coven.

 

Lachlan:
youngest son of Parteta the Brave.

Lammas:
first day of autumn; harvest festival.

Latifa the Cook:
fire witch, cook and housekeeper at Rhyssmadill.

Lavinya:
Parteta's wife, Jaspar's mother.

loch serpent:
faery creature that lives in lochan.

Lodestar:
the heritage of all the MacCuinns, the Inheritance of Aedan. When they are born their hands are placed upon it and a connection made. Whoever the magic stone recognises is the Rìgh or Banrìgh of Eileanan.

Lost Prionnsachan of Eileanan:
the three brothers of the Rìgh Jaspar—Feargus, Donncan and Lachlan—who all disappeared from their beds one night.

Lucescere:
ancient city built on island above the Shining Waters. The traditional home of the MacCuinns and the Tower of Two Moons.

 

Mac:
son of.

MacAislin:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Aislinna the Dreamer.

MacAhern:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Ahearn the Horse Laird.

MacBrann:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Brann the Raven.

MacCuinn:
one of the ten great families, descendants of Cuinn Lionheart.

MacFóghnan:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Fóghnan the Thistle.

MacHilde:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Berhtilde the Bright.

MacRuraich:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Rùraich the Searcher.

MacSeinn:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Seinneadair the Singer.

MacSian:
one of the ten great families; descendants of Sian the Storm-Rider.

MacThanach:
one of the ten great families, descendants of Tuathanach the Farmer.

Magnysson the Red:
the larger of the two moons, a crimson red, commonly thought of as a symbol of war and conflict.

Maya the Ensorcellor:
Banrìgh of Eileanan, wife of Jaspar.

Manissia:
a skeelie.

Meghan of the Beasts:
wood witch, sorceress of seven rings: can speak to animals. Keybearer of the Coven of Witches before and after banishment of Tabithas.

Mesmerd; Mesmerdean (pl):
a winged ghost or Grey One; faery creature from Murkmyre that hypnotises its prey with its glance and then kisses away its life.

mithuan:
a healing liquid designed to quicken the pulse and numb pain.

moonbane:
a hallucinogenic drug distilled from the moonflower plant.

Murkmyre:
the marshes and fens of Arran.

murkwoad:
a rare herb only found in Murkmyre. Grows on trees and heals anything.

 

Nic:
daughter of.

nisse:
small woodland faery.

nixie:
water-sprite.

nyx:
night spirit. Dark and mysterious, with powers of illusion and concealment.

 

One Power:
the life-energy that is contained in all things. Witches draw upon the One Power to perform their acts of magic. The One Power contains all the elemental forces of air, earth, water, fire and spirit.

 

Parlen:
a beggar boy in Lucescere.

Parteta the Brave:
previous Rìgh of Eileanan, died at the Battle of the Strand repelling the invasion of Fairgean in the Third Fairgean War.

pilliwinkes:
instrument of torture similar to thumbscrews.

prides:
the social unit of the Khan'cohbans, who live in nomadic family groups.

prionnsa; prionnsachan (pl):
prince, duke.

 

Ravenshaw:
deeply forested land west of Rionnagan, once owned by MacBrann Clan.

Red Guards:
soldiers in service to the Banrìgh.

Red Wanderer:
comet that appears every eight years. Also called Dragon-Star.

Rhyssmadill:
the Rìgh's castle by the sea.

Rhyllster:
the main river in Rionnagan.

rìgh; rìghrean (pl):
king.

Rionnagan:
together with Clachan and Blèssem, the richest lands in Eileanan. Owned by MacCuinns, descendants of Cuinn Lionheart, leader of the First Coven.