From outside to all,
The threat encroaches.
The throne, the crown,
Croi’Solas entwined,
To him, the one,
The future divined.
With victory at hand,
The hunger breaks open,
To enemies of old,
A gesture, a token.
If all is not done,
With truest intent,
This place, this all,
To its end shall be rent.
The last words ring in my mind, in my very soul. My sense of balance falters; in a crescendo of dissonance the dream overtakes me. Falling, shattering… I feel the keen terror cut into me like an endless well of loss and sorrow – echoing throughout the vaults of time.
Only one can lead us through the coming darkness…
Dramatis Personae
Alma
Daughter of Emperor's son, Edward
Augustus
41st Emperor of Lumina
Aurora
Daughter of Nebulaea
Cailliach
Creator of Lumina
Casanova
Son of Emperor's son, Edward
Celeste
Daughter of Aurora
Cernunnos
Third Emperor, Lord of the great forest
Christoff
Emperor's eighth son, guardian of the seas
Coronus
Son of Novanus
Edward
Emperor’s fourth son, presumed missing
Fauna
Daughter of Cernunnos, Co-Guardian of the Great Forest
Gabriel
First Emperor of Lumina
Gwenllian
Daughter of Emperor's eldest son Llywelyn
Hector
Emperor's sixth son, Guardian of the City
Helen
Emperor's fourth child and only daughter
Joanna
Servant
Johan
Brother of Joanna
Llywelyn
Emperor’s eldest son, missing for nearly two Millennia
Lucian
Emperor's fifth son – his spy and enforcer
Maximus
Emperor’s second son, full brother to Llywelyn
Nebulaea
Daughter of Cailliach
Nero
Son of Vespasian
Novanus
Son of Nebulaea
Puff
William's dragon friend
Shi'ahn
Sister of William
Silvanus
Emperor's seventh son, Guardian of the Lands
Varuna
Ninth Emperor of Lumina, Guardian of the Seas
Vespasian
Emperor's third son and Declared Heir
William
Shi'ahn's brother
Zah-Ha'Gor
Shi'ahn's dragon friend
Individuals from Chaos
Primus Dominar Ra Ab Anach-Lugh al Draconae
Prince of Chaos, heir to the throne
Cas Darius ni Uisnach
Brother of Cas Lydia
Dominar Cas Ab Dietrich esse Spica
Leader of one of the Greater Households
Cas Abet Dion a Temenus
Son of the leader of one of the three Dynasties
Dominara Ra Ab Dominique de Lagash
Leader of one of the three Dynasties
Dominar Ra Ab Ishme et Akkad
Leader of one of the three Dynasties
Cas Lydia ni Uisnach
Daughter of Ultor ni Uisnach
Cas Maude de Mithridia
Member of the lesser Household Mithridia
SeshHaud Draconae
The First One, Scion of the Royal House
Dominar Cas Ultor ni Uisnach
Father of Lydia and Darius, Leader of Uisnach
Magni Dominar Ra Ab Val al Draconae
Emperor of Chaos
Songs that inspired specific scenes in this book:
Njaalkeme / Hunger
by Garmarna
An accompaniment to the prologue
Suvetar / Goddess of Spring
by Gjallarhorn
Tune for the song Shi’ahn sings at the first family dinner
Gaia
by Faun
Devotional song sung by Shi’ahn when she first approached the great forest
The Strayaway Child
by The Chieftains
Theme song of Shiral
CD’s I listened to a lot while writing:
Faun
Zauberspruche
Renaissance
Licht
Totem
Lumin
Hadra
Gjallarhorn
Sjofn
Garmarna
God’s Musicians
Hildegard von Bingen
Vas
Feast of Silence
Music for Chaos:
Kronos Quartet
Night Players
Paganini
Caprices for Solo Violin
Stravinsky
The Rite of Spring
Between Darkness and Light Trilogy Page 42