The Subtle Beauty (23 page)

“What have you done?” Aowyn cried.

Five-year-old Aonwys appeared in the hall, rubbing his eyes sleepily. “What’s going on?”

Another bolt of blue burst from Ciatlllait’s hand.

Aonwys fell to the floor.

“Aonwys!” Aowyn yelled. She looked back to Aogán who was beginning to change. He howled as his arm twisted behind him. White feathers began to sprout from his skin. Ciatlllait started cackling. Aonwys squeaked weakly from the floor. Aowyn turned and watched in horror. Aonwys shrank as he wept in pain. Soft grey down covered his body. Aowyn ran and fell beside him. She scooped up his limp, fuzzy body. His neck twisted and lengthened. His face contorted. All humanism left him as a small beak protruded. Aowyn rose and turned to Aogán who lay still on the floor. Ciatlllait towered over him. Aogán had grown wings and a similar beak. Ciatlllait was chanting under her breath. “Twist the neck and break the back… twist the neck and break the back.”

The shriek that Aogán tried to release came out as a
Honk!

Aowyn clutched the transformed Aonwys close to her heart and charged toward Aogán. She barreled into Ciatlllait, knocking her back. Aowyn reached for Aogán to help him up as his transformation completed. “Get up!”

Ciatlllait huffed and rose just as the children bolted down the hall. Aogán banged and bashed against the walls clumsily, honking with disorientation. Their elder brothers, Aodan and Aohearn, appeared in the hallway with bewildered looks. Aowyn blew past them. “
Run!
”

The princes looked behind them.

A shock of blue darted toward them.

Aodan was thrown through the air as the bolt made contact with his heart. Aowyn and Aohearn grabbed him and tossed him to his feet, even as his arms began to form into wings. Ciatlllait stomped after them, her magic shooting and whizzing every which way through the castle. It pummeled its way into Aohearn just as Aodan was finding his webbed feet. Aogán gained speed and began flapping his wings. They bounded through the kitchen into the open yard. Second-born Aodh sat outside strumming a Celtic harp. Ciatlllait’s eyes narrowed as she aimed for him. Aodh reeled back in a heap of feathers. Aogán took flight into the vast darkness overhead, followed soon after by Aodan and Aohearn. Tears formed in Aowyn’s eyes as she ran. Aonwys peeped softly in her arms.

Aodh came to and began waddling quickly after his sister, honking helplessly.

“Run!” Aowyn cried, “run!”

Aodh honked and picked up speed. His black neck stretched out. His wings spread. He began flapping until the wind slid under him and carried him skyward. Aowyn stared as he flew, lost to the sights of Ciatlllait. Aowyn looked behind her. Ciatlllait stood near the castle doors, shoulders squared, triumphant. Aowyn bounded over the green hills and through wide fields, around dell and into glade. She ran with little Aonwys to the one place she thought they and their brothers could find safety.

An Cuan Áille.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE FOR MOONLIGHT

Provided by
http://www.abair.tcd.ie/?lang=eng

Aodhagáin
“Eed-gun”

Áodhán
“Eye-oh-wan”

Aodh
“Eed”

Aodan
“Eden”

Aohearn
“Ee-han”

Aogán
“Ee-gahn”

Aowyn “A-oh-win”

Aonwys
“Ain-wis”

Ciatlllait
/
Crwys
“Key-at-el-let” (sounds a little like Cadillac)/“Crew-is” (Sounds a little like Chris)

Sulwen
“Soul-win”

An Cuan Áille
“Ahn Coo-an Ale-ya”

BIRTH ORDER (And one-line character sketch)

Áodhán (19 at beginning of book), crown prince of the Summer Isle

Aodh (18 at beginning of book), the bard/poetic soul of the family

Aodan (17 at beginning of book), like that one cool guy you know in real life and wished you were friends with, but secretly flighty

Aohearn (16 at beginning of book), middle sibling syndrome

Aogán (15 at beginning of book), wise and scholarly, old soul

Aowyn (13 at beginning of book), our heroine. Moody like her fiery father, Aodhagáin,

Aonwys (5 at beginning of book), the baby of the family

About The Author

Ann Hunter wrote her first multi-award winning story at age 12. She is the author of the young adult fantasy novels The Subtle Beauty, Moonlight, The Rose In The Briar, and Ashes. The Subtle Beauty is her first novel-length story to be published. She likes cherry soda with chocolate ice cream, is a mom first and a writer second, has a secret identity, and thinks the Twilight movies are cheesier than cheez whiz (which is why they are her guilty pleasure!)

She lives in a cozy Utah home with her two awesome kids and epic husband.

PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

Correct Pronunciation Provided by
http://www.abair.tcd.ie/?lang=eng

The author wishes to include the way she says it in case you’re also a goof like she is. You can pronounce it in your head in any way that increases your reading enjoyment.

AP = Author Pronunciation

If the phrase or word is underlined below, you can click it for an audio pronunciation! Be sure your tablet/reading device’s speakers are not muted.

Unfortunately it won’t work in kindle touch

Aowyn
“A-oh-win”

Xander
“Sander”
(
Xander’s full name is
Barwn
Xander Blacksteed of Blackthorn. Barwn Blackthorn is a shortened title)

Aodhagáin
“Eed-gun”
(AP: “Owed-a-gan”)

Eoghan
“Own”
(AP: “Ee-gun”)

Maeb
“May-b”

Rhun
“Roon”
(The author loves Friesian horses. Xander’s ancestors perpetuated a Friesian-like breed long ago. Rhun is a descendant of that line.)

River
Trefnwy
“Tref-nu-way”

Sylas Mortas
“Syl-loss Mart-us”
(AP: “Sigh-lus Mort-us”)

Idegwaed
“Ed-ah-gwed”
(AP: “Eye-da-gwed” Alternative: “Eed-a-gweed”)

Archduges
“Ar-ock-do-jus”
(AP: “Arc-do-jus”. A Duke or Archduke)

Iarlls
“Yells”
(AP: “Yarls”. An Earl)

Tywysogion
“Tee-wee-saigon”
(AP: “Twy-sog-on”. Plural form of
Tywysog
, a Celtic Prince)

Barghest
“Bar-yesht” (AP: “Bar-guest”)

Balthazaar
“Bal-the-zar”

Ilyndiil
“Ill-in-dale”
(AP: “Ill-in-dill” One of the shards of Idegwaed)

Donestre
“Doe-nes-tre”
(AP: “Duh-nos-tree”)

***

During the chapters “Too Late for Curses” and “The Man and the Monster” several Celtic words are used. The author does not feel a translation is necessary, because the meaning is repeated almost immediately after the word is spoken. However, the author has attached the following for your convenience.

TOO LATE FOR CURSES

Fíorghrá
“Fewer-grey”

Is liomsa mo ghrá
“Is lum-sa ma grey”

Breátha
“Brey-ha” (AP: “Bree-ah-tha”)

THE MAN AND THE MONSTER

Croí uasal milis
, “Cree wassal milish”
gearrtha ag grá agam
, “Gare-ag grey-gum”
Míshásta agus tá mé ciúin
,”Me-asta gus-ta mic-yoon”
Ná aon áthas nó pléisiúir dóigh liom gur
. “Nigh-in hast no pleasure doy lom-gur”

Le haghaidh a thabhairt duit
“Le hey-ah ah-hort dwit”
mo anam cara is grá
, “Mo-an-em caress-grey”
Tá mé mo chroí a thabhairt dá bhrí sin
“Ta-mah ma-cree a-hort da-bree-shun”

***

PRONUNCIATIONS TO ACCOMPANY TRANSLATION GUIDE

1.
Ní hea
“Nee-ha”

2.
Do locht
“Doe-locked”

3.
Do mhac
“Doe-mock”

4.
An í seo an cailín
“On ee-shawn kai-lean”

5.
Is í
“Eh-sea”

6.
Greannmhar
“Gran-more”

Unlisted:
Níl sí tarraingteach dom
“Neel she tarran-ta doom” (Gryphon: She is unattractive)

7.
Labhair ar do shon féin
“Lore dah hon feen”

8.
Dúr
“Do-er”

9.
Ní thuigim tú
“Nee heem too”

10.
A oinseach
“Oun-cha”

Unlisted:
Tá tú dom nimhe
“Tah too doom niv-yah” (Gryphon: You infect me)

11.
Gcroí agus Inní
“Gree gus in-nee”

12.
A chuisle mo chro
.
Mo Breátha
“A hush-el ma-crow. Ma Brey-ha.”

1.
It isn’t

2.
Your fault

3.
Your son

4.
Is this the girl?

5.
It is

6.
That’s odd

7.
Speak for yourself

8.
Stupid

9.
I do not understand you!

10.
You fool

11.
“Gizzards and gullets”

12.
The beat of my heart. My Glory.