Dawnflight (The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 1)

by Headlee, Kim

  Scáthach (SKY-ah). Scotti war goddess and Irish folklore character famous for being the warrior-woman who trained the mythological hero Cú Chulainn in the martial arts, and perhaps in “bedroom combat,” as well.

  Scáthaichean (sky-tah-KAY-ahn; “Warriors of Scáthach”). Name the Scotti people apply to their race in honor of their warrior-goddess Scáthach. Also the term they use when referring to their language.

  Scot(s) (Brytonic). Caledonaiche: Scáth (SKATE; poss. Scháth (SCHKATE), pl. Scáthinaich (SKAY-tin-ache), poss. pl. Scháthinaich (SCHKAY-tin-ache)). Terms applied to the inhabitants of the eastern portion of Eireann.

  Scotti (Latin). Caledonaiche: Scáthinach. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of the eastern portion of Eireann.

  sea holly. A plant that can be used as an aphrodisiac.

  seannachaidh (SHAWN-a-kee; pl. seannachaidhean (shawn-ah-KAY-jhayan); Caledonaiche, “storyteller”). The clan’s keeper of law and lore, roughly equivalent to a Brytoni bard. Seannachaidhean only recite the law; priests administer it. This is the Scottish Gaelic word for “male storyteller,” but it appears to be a compound of sean (“old”) and an achaidh (“of the field”), perhaps an echo of the ancient practice of reciting battle tales.

  Seat of Argyll, The. Caledonaiche: Cathair h’Argaillanaich. Clan Argyll’s administrative headquarters at Arbroch, Caledon. Origin: Scottish Gaelic cathair (“chair” and “city”), plus my invented term, h’Argaillanaich (“of Clan Argyll”).

  Seat of Moray, The. Caledonaiche: Cathair na Móranaich. Clan Moray’s administrative headquarters at Dunadd, Dalriada. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic cathair (“chair” and “city”), plus my invented phrase, na Móranaich (“of Clan Moray”).

  seax (Saxon). War-knife, usually measuring 15-18 inches from point to end of hilt.

  Senaudon (Caledonaiche, “Place of Charmed Protection”). Angusel’s birthplace and Alayna’s home fortress located in present-day Stirling, Scotland. Origin: inspired by Scottish Gaelic seun (“a charm for protection” and “to defend by charms”).

  sennight. Measure of time: one week (contraction of “seven nights,” analogous to “fortnight” being a contraction of “fourteen nights”).

  Seven Saxon Sisters, The. Brytoni drinking song that’s not particularly flattering to Saxon women.

  Sight, The. Otherwise known as Extrasensory Perception. This version manifests in prophetic visions and dreams.

  signifer (Latin, “standard-bearer”). The soldier charged with carrying the unit’s banner—and guarding it in battle.

  Silver Wolf, The. Standard of Cuchullain, Laird of the Scáthaichean, a loping silver wolf on a pine-green background; also referred to as “the Wolf.”

  South Wall, The. See Hadrian’s Wall. Caledonaiche: Am Balla Deas. Chaledonaich term for Hadrian’s Wall. Origin: Scottish Gaelic am balla (“the wall”), deas (“south”).

  Stonn. Angusel’s horse (gray stallion).

  stylus (pl. styli; Latin). Pen-like implement used for making impressions on soft clay and wax, usually fashioned of iron or hardwood.

  sundering. Caledonaiche: a’stròic. Annulment of a Caledonach marriage (see Àmbholc). Origin: Scottish Gaelic a’stròic (“tearing asunder”).

  Talarf (TALL-arv; Brytonic, “Silver Hair”). Urien’s horse (chestnut stallion).

  Tanroc. Brytoni-controlled fortress on the western coast of the Isle of Maun and site of the 3rd of Arthur’s twelve battles on my list (technically, Cai leads this one in Arthur’s stead). No present-day equivalent.

  Tarabrogh (TAHrah-broh; Scáthaichean, “Tara’s Settlement”). Cuchullain’s home fortress located at Hill of Tara, County Meath, Leinster, Ireland.

  Tarsuinn (TAR-shoon; “The Crossing People”), Clan. Caledonaiche: Tarsuinnaich Chaledon. Member of the Caledonach Confederacy, so named because they run a large ferry business from several points across the Firth of Forth. Banner: gold falcon in flight, on azure. Cloak pattern: saffron crossed with blue and red. Gemstone: golden beryl. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic tarsainn (“across”).

  tierce. Fourth Christian canonical hour and third hour of daylight, around 9 a.m. Origin: Latin tertius (“third”).

  tòn (TONE; Caledonaiche). A euphemism for a male body part that doubles as an epithet meaning “jerk.” Origin: Scottish Gaelic tòn (“the fundament”).

  trews. Loose-fitting trousers made of leather, wool or linen, worn by Brytoni men and by Caledonaich of both sexes.

  tribune. Latin: tribunus. In Arthur’s army, this is a high-ranking military officer (usually a prefect) of noble birth. Badge: bronze brooch, with appropriately colored enamel ring and the clan’s gemstone.

  turma (pl. turmae; Latin, “squad(s)”). Roman cavalry unit consisting of 10-30 horsemen, commanded by a decurion. In Arthur’s army, the typical size averages 20.

  uisge (OOS-ghee; Northern Brytonic, “water”). A strong alcoholic beverage distilled from barley. I chose to employ a dialectic shortening of Scottish Gaelic uisge-beatha (“water of life;” i.e., whiskey) because humans during that era rarely drank unboiled water lest they run the risk of getting sick.

  Urienfwlch (OO-ree-en-vulk; Brytonic, “Urien’s Bane”). See Caleberyllus, Caledfwlch. A wishful-thinking adjective coined privately by Arthur for Caleberyllus.

  valerian. Medicinal herb.

  vespers. Seventh Christian canonical hour, occurring at sunset. Origin: Latin vespera (“evening”).

  warding-mark. Caledonaiche: seunail. A tattoo believed by Caledonaich to be a physical manifestation of divine protection. Origin: Scottish Gaelic seun (“a charm for protection”), aileadh (“mark”).

  woad. An herb that yields a blue dye.

  Acknowledgments

  FOR MY ORIGINAL bouquet of thanks, please refer to Dawnflight’s first print edition.

  More than a decade has passed since that edition was published, my mother is deceased, some friends have lost touch, professional colleagues have changed, and email loops have yielded to other forms of social networking. My gratitude remains.

  To this list, I wish to add longtime friend and writing pal, Sabrina Chase, without whose invaluable advice and encouragement this ebook edition would not be possible.

  kdh, Wytheville, Virginia

  March 25, 2012

  Mary Stewart, my lifelong literary hero whose novel The Hollow Hills in 1973 inspired me to embark upon my own quest to capture the historical Arthur and his friends & enemies in fiction, I can never thank you enough. Rest in peace, my lady.

  kdh, Baltimore, Maryland

  May 24, 2014

  Interior art and other graphics:

  Argyll Doves (Gyanhumara): original artwork ©1998-2012 by Kim Headlee.

  All other character totems are line-art adaptations ©2012 by Kim Headlee, based on photographs of the following Pictish stones found throughout Scotland: Boar (Urien): the Boar Stone of Clune Farm, Dores, Highland Inverness.

  Bull (Ogryvan): the Burghead Bull, Burghead, Morayshire, Grampian.

  Disc-Cross (Niniane): the Dyce 6 stone, City of Aberdeen.

  Dragon, horizontal (Arthur): the Dragon Stone, Portmahomack, Tarbat, Ross and Cromarty.

  Dragon, vertical (Arthur): detail on the front of stone Meigle 4, Meigle Sculptured Stones Museum, Angus, Perthshire and Kinross.

  Horse (Peredur): stone Inverurie 4, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

  Hound, walking (Cai): detail on the Golspie Stone, Craigton 2, Highland Sutherland.

  Lion’s Head (Angusel): inspired by a detail on the Daniel Stone, Rosemarkie, Black Isle, Easter Ross, depicting a lioness with a man’s head in her mouth.

  Salmon (Merlin): detail on the Golspie Stone, Craigton 2, Highland Sutherland.

  Stag, walking (Bedwyr): detail on the front of the Eassie Stone, Eassie, Angus, Perthshire and Kinross.

  Wolf (Cuchullain): the Ardross Wolf, Stittenham, Ardross, Ross and Cromarty.

  V-Crescent (Morghe): detail on the Brough of Birsay Stone, Orkney.

  Z-Rod, simple
(Al-Iskandar): the Meigle 7 stone in the Meigle Sculptured Stones Museum, Angus, Perthshire and Kinross.

  Z-Serpent (Vergul): detail on stone Drumbuie 1, Drumbuie, Highland Inverness.

  About the Author

  Photo Copyright © 2006 by Chris Headlee

  KIM HEADLEE LIVES on a farm in the mountains of southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, fish, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet.

  http://kimiversonheadlee.blogspot.com

  https://twitter.com/KimHeadlee

  http://www.facebook.com/kimiversonheadlee

  https://plus.google.com/+KimHeadlee

  http://www.pinterest.com/kimheadlee/

  Other published works by Kim Iverson Headlee:

  King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee, illustrated by Jennifer Doneske and Tom Doneske, ebook, Lucky Bat Books, 2014.

  Snow in July, ebook & paperback, Pendragon Cove Press, 2014.

  Morning’s Journey (The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, volume 2), ebook & paperback, Lucky Bat Books, 2013; cover and interior updated 2014.

  The Color of Vengeance, a short story excerpted from Morning’s Journey, ebook & audiobook, Lucky Bat Books, 2013.

  Liberty, writing as Kimberly Iverson, paperback, HQN Books, Harlequin, 2006.

  Dawnflight, 1st Edition, paperback, Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster, 1999.

  Forthcoming:

  Liberty, 2nd Edition, Pendragon Cove Press.

  King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee, audiobook edition, performed by Caprisha Page.

  Raging Sea (The Dragon’s Dove Chronicles, volume 3), Pendragon Cove Press.

  King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court by Mark Twain as channeled by Kim Iverson Headlee, illustrated by Jennifer Doneske and Tom Doneske, hardcover, Lucky Bat Books.

  Prophecy, the sequel to Liberty, Pendragon Cove Press.