Dreamer's Cycle Series

by Holly Taylor

  That news even seemed to relieve poor Sinend. The young Druid was still too pale, too listless, too shamed. But Anieron thought that she would perk up after a while. She was a fetching little thing, and the monstrous plots of her father and the Archdruid should not be held against her. Would not be, as long as he had any say in it.

  As he neared the cave entrance, the brilliant light from the cave mouth caused him to narrow his shrewd, green eyes. Flashes of light played off the cool, green sea. Waves washed onto the shore, leaving swirls and indentations in the sand, patterns that Anieron knew he did not have the means to understand.

  How long? How long until Kymru became theirs again? Idly he wondered if he would be alive to see that day, and thought it unlikely.

  The rustle of wings above drifted down to him. An enormous eagle landed just outside the mouth of the cave and pinned him with its clear, gray eyes. Ah, of course.

  Arderydd, the High Eagle. Sign of the High King.

  Gravely, Anieron bowed to the bird. The eagle dipped its head in return and flashed away, riding the sky, proud and free. Free.

  Oh, yes. The High King would come again.

  And when he did, the Dewin and the Bards of Kymru would be ready.

  Mynydd Tawel, kingdom of Gwynedd

  CAI, ONCE-CAPTAIN of King Uthyr’s teulu, made his way up the mountain easily. He went rapidly up the rocky slopes because he didn’t care one way or another if he fell. There was nothing here in this world to keep him, except for a promise he had made to his now-dead King.

  A promise that he regretted, passionately, now that so many of those whom he loved were dead. His wife and son had died in Tegeingl. He had received word a few weeks ago that his father had died in the fighting in Eyri. And his King was dead. Uthyr was dead, yet Cai still lived. And the taste of that truth was bitter. Very bitter, indeed.

  Cai, along with Ygraine, Susanna, and Bedwyr had made it to the hidden slopes of Mynydd Tawel in the mountains of Eyri just a week ago. Neuad, Uthyr’s Dewin, had been here already with young Morrigan. And Dinaswyn, the former Dreamer, along with her niece, Arianrod, had also been here.

  Another careless handhold, another careless step, and he was atop Mynydd Tawel, the tallest peak in the mountain range of Gwynedd. The air was crisp and thin, barely filling his laboring lungs and cutting through his leather tunic. Wind whistled in his ears with a mournful sound. Below him the jagged tips of the mountain range gleamed black onyx. The mountain slopes were emerald green, broken here and there with the silvery ribbons of mountain streams.

  He wondered if it would be so bad to break his promise to Uthyr. He wondered if it would not be better to dive off the mountain, to break his body against the rocky slopes, to be free of this world and to come to Gwlad Yr Haf, where his wife, his son, his father, and his King waited for him.

  A rustle of wings brushed past him, startling him so that he almost did plunge straight down the mountain. He pulled his dagger, whirling to meet—

  The most enormous eagle he had ever seen.

  The eagle settled on the rocks and then began to ruffle through its feathers. And at that moment, Cai knew what it was.

  Arderydd, the High Eagle. Sign of the High King.

  The bird settled its feathers and fixed Cai with an unblinking stare. Then the eagle pulled itself fully upright and shrieked in defiance, taking to the air with a speed that left Cai gasping. It flew over the peaks, still shrieking, until it was gone.

  Cai understood. The High King would return. And when he did, Cai and the warriors of Gwynedd would be ready.

  Dinas Emrys, kingdom of Gwynedd

  ARTHUR WIPED THE sweat from his brow, anxiously surveying the mountain slope. One, two … eleven, twelve … twenty-one. Yes, the sheep were all there. He had never seen them run so, and all from a bird, too. He thought it very strange. He himself had not seen the bird clearly. He had been too anxious that he would lose the sheep.

  Arthur settled down on the slope, reaching for the pouch that contained his afternoon meal of bread and cheese. Slowly he ate, not really hungry but knowing that he should try to eat, swallowing hard when tears threatened to block his throat.

  Only one week ago he had heard that his father was dead. Uncle Myrrdin had given Arthur that news, with pain in his wise, dark eyes. And Arthur’s dreams had died then, too. Dreams that his father would come for him. Dreams that they would at last be together. Dreams now shattered beyond repair. They would never come true, now.

  Myrrdin had also told Arthur of the confrontation at Cadair Idris. The Doors of the mountain had stayed closed against the Warleader. And Arthur knew what had been in Myrrdin’s mind, then. That one day, the Doors would open for Arthur. If he had the Treasures. If he had the will to be High King.

  But Arthur didn’t want to be High King. All he had wanted was to be with his father. But Gwydion had taken him away long ago and had never given him back. One day Gwydion would come to Dinas Emrys, wanting to take Arthur to find the Treasures. And on that day, the boy had vowed, he would not go. No matter what. Let Uncle Gwydion find another pawn for his games.

  A rustle of wings, the whoosh of something flying past him, a momentary pain in his cheek, yanked Arthur from his thoughts. He leapt up, gazing wildly about him. And there, just a few feet away, perched the most enormous eagle he had ever seen.

  He put a hand to his cheek and pulled it away, bloody. The bird gazed at him calmly, as though the wound was only his due. And when he realized what this was, he thought that maybe the wound was what he deserved.

  For this was Arderydd, the High Eagle. The sign of the High King.

  For a moment, he considered explaining to this creature that King Uthyr was dead. That Gwydion’s plans for him should be thwarted at all costs, so that the Dreamer would feel at least some of the pain the he had given out so freely.

  But he knew that the eagle would care for none of this. He stared at the bird, thinking how the eagle’s gray eyes looked so much like the Dreamer’s. Cold, calculating, prideful. And then the eagle gave a cry so fierce that the sheep were set once again to running. But Arthur stood transfixed by the eagle’s eyes.

  And then the boy nodded, once, reluctantly. The eagle darted into the sky. Arthur watched it until it was nothing more than a speck in the distance.

  And wondered if he would be ready.

  Coed Aderyn, kingdom of Prydyn

  GWYDION STRETCHED A little, then settled down again at the edge of the pool. The somnolent sound of the waterfall splashing over the rocks soothed him, taking away the rough edges leftover from the argument this morning. It seemed that he and Rhian-non were always arguing now. It was times like this he cursed the dream that had told him she was the key to going to Corania.

  Yet, even as he thought this, he knew he did not mean it. He knew they only argued because of the tension that came off of him in waves. The tension that pulled at him to trust her, touch her, give himself to her. The tension that pushed at him to stand apart, unfettered, alone, trusting no one.

  At least he was sleeping better. The old nightmare had finally left him, its purpose accomplished. He no longer dreamt of the death of those whom he loved, for it had all come true. And yet there had been a change. In his dream, the Master Bard had been killed. But Anieron was still alive. Perhaps, he thought tentatively, not even liking to contemplate it, this was something that would happen at a later time.

  And Cathbad was revealed as a traitor. Gwydion gritted his teeth, for he now knew who had been behind Amatheon’s murder. Cathbad would pay, in full measure, for that.

  He thought of his daughter, for she was with Anieron in the caves of Allt Llwyd. His heart failed him at the thought of Cariadas being captured or killed. He wished he could see her, but it was too dangerous. He must remain hidden until the time came for him to lead the search for the Treasures.

  He dipped his hand in the silvery pool. In spite of everything, he liked it here, deep in the woods of Coed Aderyn. It was a good hiding place, close enou
gh to Cadair Idris so that they could Wind-Ride whenever they needed to, keeping a close watch on Havgan.

  And the caves that fanned out beneath the earth from Rhiannon’s home! Since they had come back here months ago, they had explored the caves and found that one branch took them as far as Llyn Mwyngil, the lake to the west of Cadair Idris.

  That would come in very handy when the day came to return to Cadair Idris with the Treasures in hand.

  He wondered yet again how long until he had the dream the Protectors had promised, the dream to tell him it was time to begin the Quest for the Treasures.

  While far above him, unseen, an eagle glided, flying on the wings of the wind.

  Gwydion closed his eyes, and waited for the dream.

  Glossary (Kymri)

  Addiendydd: sixth day of the week

  aderyn: birds

  aethnen: aspen tree; sacred to Ederynion

  alarch: swan; the symbol of the royal house of Ederynion

  alban: light; any one of the four solar festivals

  Alban Awyr: festival honoring Taran; Spring Equinox

  Alban Haf: festival honoring Modron; Summer Solstice

  Alban Nerth: festival honoring Agrona and Camulos; Autumnal Equinox

  Alban Nos: festival honoring Sirona and Grannos; the Winter Solstice

  ap: son of

  ar: high

  Archdruid: leader of the Druids, must be a descendent of Llyr

  Arderydd: high eagle; symbol of the High kings

  Ardewin: leader of the Dewin, must be a descendent of Llyr

  arymes: prophecy

  Awenyddion: dreamer (see Dreamer)

  awyr: air

  bach: boy

  bachen: little boy

  Bard: a telepath; they are musicians, poets, and arbiters of the law in matters of inheritance, marriage, and divorce; Bards can Far-Sense and Wind-Speak; they revere the god Taran, King of the Winds

  bedwen: birch tree; sacred to the Bards

  Bedwen Mis: birch month; roughly corresponds to March

  blaid: wolf; the symbol of the royal house of Prydyn

  bran: raven; the symbol of the Dreamers

  Brenin: high or noble one; the High King; acts as an amplifier for the Y Dawnus

  buarth: circle

  cad: battle

  cadair: chair (of state)

  caer, fortress

  calan: first day; any one of the four fire festivals

  Calan Gaef: festival honoring Annwyn and Aertan

  Calan Llachar: festival honoring Cerridwen and Cerrunnos

  Calan Morynion: festival honoring Nantsovelta

  Calan Olau: festival honoring Mabon

  cantref: a large division of land for administrative purposes; two to three commotes make up a cantref; a cantref is ruled by a Lord or Lady

  canu: song

  cariad: beloved

  celynnen: holly

  Celynnen Mis: holly month; roughly corresponds to late May/early June

  cenedl: clan

  cerdinen: rowan tree; sacred to the Dreamers

  Cerdinen Mis: rowan month; roughly corresponds to July

  cleddyf: sword

  collen: hazel tree; sacred to Prydyn

  Collen Mis: hazel month; roughly corresponds to October

  commote: a small division of land for administrative purposes; two or three commotes make up a cantref; a commote is ruled by a Gwarda

  coed: forest, wood

  cynyddu: increase; the time when the moon is waxing

  da: father

  dan: fire

  derwen: oak tree; sacred to the Druids

  Derwen Mis: oak month; roughly corresponds to December

  Dewin: a clairvoyant; they are physicians; they can Life-Read and Wind-Ride; they revere the goddess Nantsovelta, Lady of the Moon

  disglair: bright; the time when the moon is full

  draig: dragon; the symbol of the Dewin

  draenenwen: hawthorn tree; sacred to Rheged

  Draenenwen Mis: hawthorn month; roughly corresponds to late June/early July

  Dreamer: a descendent of Llyr who has precognitive abilities; the Dreamer can Dream-Speak and Time-Walk; the Dreamer also has the other three gifts—telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis; there is only one Dreamer in a generation; they revere the god Mabon, King of Fire

  Dream-Speaking: precognitive dreams; one of the Dreamer’s gifts

  Druid: a psychokinetic; they are astronomers, scientists, and lead all festivals; they can Shape-Move, Fire-Weave, and, in partnership with the High King, Storm-Bring; they revere the goddess Modron, the Great Mother of All

  drwys: doors

  dwfr: water

  dwyvach-breichled: goddess-bracelet; bracelet made of oak used by Druids

  eiddew: ivy

  Eiddew Mis: ivy month; roughly corresponds to April

  enaid-dal: soul-catcher; lead collars that prevent Y Dawnus from using their gifts

  eos: nightingale; the symbol of the Bards

  erias: fire

  erydd: eagle

  Far-Sensing: the telepathic ability to communicate with animals

  ffynidwydden: fir tree; sacred to the High kings

  Fire-Weaving: the psychokinetic ability to light fires

  gaef: winter

  galanas: blood price

  galor: mourning, sorrow

  goddeau: trees

  gorsedd: a gathering (of Bards)

  greu: blood

  Gwaithdydd: third day of the week

  gwarchan: incantation

  Gwarda: ruler of a commote

  gwernan: alder tree; sacred to Gwynedd

  Gwernan Mis: alder month; roughly corresponds to late April/early May

  gwinydden: vine

  Gwinydden: vine month; roughly corresponds to August

  Gwlad Yr Haf: the Land of Summer; the Otherworld

  gwydd: knowledge

  gwyn: white

  gwynt: wind

  Gwyntdydd: fifth day of the week

  gwyr: seeker

  haf: summer

  hebog: hawk; the symbol of the royal house of Gwynedd

  helygen: willow

  Helygen Mis: willow month; roughly corresponds to January

  honneit: spear

  Life-Reading: the clairvoyant ability to lay hands on a patient and determine the nature of their ailment

  llachar: bright

  llech: stone

  lleihau: to diminish; the time when the moon is waning

  lleu: lion

  Llundydd: second day of the week

  llyfr: book

  llyn: lake

  llys: court

  Lord/Lady: ruler of a cantref

  mam: mother

  march: horse; the symbol of the royal house of Rheged

  Master Bard: leader of the Bards, must be a descendent of Llyr

  Meirgdydd: fourth day of the week

  meirig: guardian

  Meriwdydd: seventh day of the week

  mis: month

  morynion: maiden

  mwg-breudduyd: smoke-dream; a method Dreamers can use to induce dreams

  mynydd: mountain

  mynyddoedd: mountains

  naid: leap

  nemed: shrine, a sacred grove

  nerth: strength

  neuadd: hall

  niam-lann: a jeweled metallic headpiece, worn by ladies of rank

  nos: night

  ogaf: cave

  olau: fair

  onnen: ash tree; sacred to the Dewin

  Onnen Mis: ash month; roughly corresponds to February

  pair: cauldron

  pen: head of

  Plentyn Prawf: child test; the testing of children, performed by the Bards, to determine if they are Y Dawnus

  rhyfelwr: warrior

  sarn: road

  Shape-Moving: the psychokinetic ability to move objects

  Storm-Bringing: the psychokinetic ability to control certain weather conditions; only effective in partnership with
the High King

  Suldydd: first day of the week

  tarbell: a board game, similar to chess

  tarw: bull; the symbol of the Druids

  tarw-casgliad: the ceremony where Druids invite a dream from Modron

  telyn: harp

  teulu: warband

  Time-Walking: the ability to see events in the past; one of the Dreamer’s gifts

  tir: earth

  triskele: the crystal medallion used by Dewin

  ty: house

  tynge tynghed: the swearing of a destiny

  Tynged Mawr : great fate; the test to determine a High King

  tywyllu: dark; the time when the moon is new

  ur: daughter of

  var: out of

  Wind-Riding: the clairvoyant ability of astral projection

  Wind-Speaking: the telepathic ability to communicate with other humans

  wythnos: week

  yned: justice

  Y Dawnus: the gifted; a Druid, Bard, Dewin, or Dreamer

  ysgawen: elder

  Ysgawen Mis: elder month; roughly corresponds to September

  ystafell: the Ruler’s chambers

  ywen: yew

  Ywen Mis: yew month; roughly corresponds to November

  Glossary (Corania)

  Afliae: the most powerful of the old gods and goddesses

  ansuz: the rune for divinity

  asbru: rainbow

  blot: sacrifice

  byrne: mail coat worn by soldiers

  byrnwiga: warrior

  Byrnwiga Necht: Old Religion ceremony honoring Tiw, God of War; Autumn Equinox

  chalk: the dead man’s rune

  churl: peasant

  cynerice: kingdom

  cyst: best

  daeg: day

  Dagmonath: the fifth month of the year, roughly corresponds to May

  deore: beloved

  Deore Necht: Old Religion ceremony honoring Fro and Freya, God of Peace and Goddess

  of Fertility; Summer Solstice

  Dis: the old gods

  Disir: the old goddesses

  dol: foolish

  Dol Daeg: festival commemorating the day Lytir first preached to the multitude; corresponds to the Old Religion festival of Molnir Necht

  Dondaeg: fifth day of the week

  dyrne: secret

  Dyrne-Hwata: a board with letters used to discern messages from the spirit world

  ealh: temple

  eho: the rune for change