At Cwmmaen, the sidhe traps Conor and his companions within a glamour that makes everything appear to be normal, even desirable, but really just masks the corruption beneath. How is the illusion a metaphor for sin?
In a number of places, Conor puts Aine before himself. He tells Haldor that he loves her, so he counts her life as more important than his. Later he says there is nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice for her. Is this good or bad? How does his sacrificial love—however imperfect—reflect God’s love for mankind (see Ephesians 5:25)?
Conor believes he would not make a good king because he must be willing to sacrifice an individual for the good of the many. Is that position morally right or wrong? Is there a different standard of morality for a head of state versus an individual? Why do you think so?
Glossary
Aberffynnon (ah-ber-FIN-nuhn)—a port city on the southern coast of Gwydden
Aenghus (AYN-gus)—Lady Macha’s husband
Ailís (AY-leesh)—Aine’s mother, lady of Forrais and wife of Alsandair Mac Tamhais, now deceased
Aine Nic Tamhais (ON-yuh nik TAV-ish)—the “lady healer of Lisdara,” married to Conor Mac Nir
Alsandair Mac Tamhais—Aine’s father, lord of Forrais and chief of Clan Tamhais, now deceased
Amanta (ah-MAN-ta)—the island upon which Aron and Gwydden are located
Amantine Sea (ah-MAN-teen)—narrow sea separating Seare and Amanta
Ard Dhaimhin (ard DAV-in)—former high city of Seare, home of the Fíréin brotherhood
Arkiel (ar-KEEL)—Companion who instigated the rebellion against Comdiu
Aron (ah-RUN)—Aine’s birthplace, across the Amantine Sea from Seare
Askr (as-KER)—Norin warrior god
Bain (bwen)—Forrais guard
Balian (BAH-lee-an)—the faith of those who follow Balus; a follower of Balus
Ballaghbán (bal-luh-BAHN)—port city in northern Faolán
Balus (BAH-lus)—son of Comdiu, savior of mankind
Beagan (BOG-awn)—Fíréin tracker
Bearrach (BEAR-uhk)—healer at Lisdara; Aine’s instructor
Breann (BREE-ahn)—novice of the Fíréin brotherhood
Bress (bress)—King of Aron
Briallu (bree-AHL-lu)—Talfryn’s daughter
Brightwater—nickname for Ionbhar Dealrach
brithem (BRITH-ev)—traveling judge in Aron who presides over serious crimes
Caerfaddyn (care-FAD-duhn)—a Gwynn castle, seat of Prince Dewyn
Calhoun Mac Cuillinn (cal-HOON mok CUL-in)—former King of Faolán, assumed deceased; Aine’s half brother
carnyx (car-nix)—war horn
Carraigmór (CAIR-ig-mor)—fortress of the High King and the Fíréin brotherhood
Cass Mac Onaghan (kass mok ON-ah-han)—captain of the Beacon
Cé (keh)—Forrais guard
céad (ked)—a company of men; literally, one hundred
Ceannaire (KAN-na-ahr)—leader of the Fíréin brotherhood
Cill Rhí (kill ree)—Balian monastery
Cira/Ciraen (seer-AH) (seer-AY-ahn)—largest empire in history, now reduced to a small portion of the continent
Clogheen (cloh-EEN)—a market town in central Faolán
Comdiu (COM-dyoo)—God
Companions—the spirit warriors of Comdiu; angels
Conclave—the ruling body of the Fíréin brotherhood
Conor Mac Nir (CON-ner mok NEER)—Timhaigh warrior and musician, former Fíréin apprentice
Criofan (CRIH-fahn)– former Fíréin brother
Cwmmaen (coom-MINE)—a former Ciraen fortress in Gwydden, seat of Prince Talfryn
Daigh (dy)—senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Daimhin (DAV-in)– the first High King of Seare
Dal (DAHL)—senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Dewyn (DEW-ayn)—prince of Gwydden, Talfryn’s brother
Diarmuid (DEER-muhd)—druid; formerly Ceannaire Niall
Diocail (dyuh-KEL)—master of Forrais’s house guard
Dún Caomaugh (doon KOW-mah)—southern Aronan port city
Dyllan (DIL-lahn)—Gwynn prisoner in the Sofarende settlement
Eilean Buidhe (AY-luhn BOO-yah)—a southern island located between Aron and Seare
Eluf (ell-LOOF)—Norin warrior
Eoghan (OH-in)—Fíréin apprentice; Conor’s best friend
Faolán/Faolanaigh (FEY-lahn) (FEY-lahn-aye)—northeastern kingdom in Seare, formerly ruled by Clan Cuillinn/their language and people
Fechin (feh-KEEN)—senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Fergus Mac Nir (FAYR-gus mok NEER)—former king of Tigh; Conor’s uncle
Fermaigh (fuhr-MY)—southern Aronan port city
Fionnuala (fin-NOO-la)—Eoghan’s mother; clan Fearghail (husband’s clan unknown)
Fíréin (FEER-een) brotherhood—ancient brotherhood dedicated to the reinstatement of the High King
Forrais (FOR-rahs)—Aine’s birthplace in the Aronan Highlands
Gabhran (GAH-ruhn)—Lord Riagain’s enforcer
Gainor Mac Cuillinn (GAY-nor mok CUL-in)—tanist to King Calhoun; Calhoun’s brother, assumed deceased
Galbraith Mac Nir (GOL-breth mok NEER)—king of Tigh; Conor’s stepfather, now deceased
Gillian (JILL-yuhn)—elderly Fíréin brother
Glenmallaig (glen-MAL-ag)—seat of the king of Tigh; Conor’s birthplace
Glyn (glin)—bard
Gradaigh (GRAH-duh)—senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Guaire (GUHR-yeh)—Forrais’s steward
Gwingardd (GWIN-gard)—a Gwynn castle, seat of Prince Neryn
Gwydden/Gwynn (GWIH-duhn) (gwin)—a country across the Amantine Sea/their people
Haldor (HAL-dohr)—captain of the Sofarende settlement near Cwmmaen; also known as Haldor the Brave
Hall of Prophecies—magically concealed chamber in Carraigmór that contains the Fíréin brotherhood’s ancient writings
Hyledd (HY-led)—Talfryn’s wife
Ial (yahl)—captain of Cwmmaen’s guard
Iomhar (EE-ver)—young Fíréin brother
Ionbhar Dealrach (ee-ON-var DAL-rok)—one of the largest clan holdings in Aron; controlled by Lord Riagain
Keondric Mac Eirhinin (KEN-drick mok AYR-nin)—Lord of Rathmor; battle captain
Klasjvic (KLAH-yah-vik)—Norin capitol
Lachaidh (LAH-chee)—Forrais guardsman
Lelle (LEL-leh)—Norin god known as the “dying god”
Lia (LEE-uh)—Aine’s lady’s maid
Liam Mac Cuillinn (LEE-um mok CUL-in)—Ceannaire, leader of the Fíréin brotherhood; Aine’s half brother
Lisdara (lis-DAR-ah)—seat of the king of Faolán
Llantawe (hlan-TAW)—a Gwynn castle, seat of King Llewellyn
Llewellyn (HLEW-ell-en)—King of Gwydden
Loch Ceo (lok kyo)—lake within Ard Dhaimhin
Lorcan (LUR-cawn)—leader of Aine’s guard, presumed deceased
Macha (mah-HUH)—chieftain of Clan Tamhais, lady of Forrais
Manog (mah-NOGH)—senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Meallachán (MOL-luck-on)—bard
Merov/Merovian (mehr-AHV) (mehr-OHV-ee-an)—country within the Ciraen empire/their language and people
Miach (ME-ahk)—first mate of the Beacon
Neryn (NEHR-ehn)—prince of Gwydden, Talfryn’s brother
Niall (NEE-ahl)—former Ceannaire of the Fíréin brotherhood, now Keondric
Niamh Nic Cuillinn (NEE-uv nik CUL-in)—King Calhoun’s sister, assumed deceased; Aine’s half sister
Norin (NOR-in)—the common name of the Northern Isles; origin of the Sofarende
Odran (OH-rawn)—Fíréin tracker
Oisean (oh-SHEEN)—Forrais guard
Pepin (pep-EEN)—Merovian mercenary
Rathmór (RATH-mohr)—seat of Clan Eirhinin, a minor royal line of Faolán
Riagain Mac Comain (REE-gan mok KO-myn)—lord of Ionbhar Dealrach (Brightwater), Aine’s
distant cousin
Riordan Mac Nir (REER-uh-dawn mok NEER)—Conor’s father, senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Roidh (roy)—Forrais guard
Róscomain (ros-COM-muhn)—old forest bordering Tigh and Sliebhan
Ruarc (ROO-ark)—Aine’s bodyguard, now deceased
Seanrós (SHAWN-ross)—old forest bordering Faolán
Seare/Seareann (SHAR-uh)(SHAR-uhn)—island housing the four kingdoms/its language and people
Semias (SHAY-mus)—former King of Siomar
sidhe (shee)—the evil spirits of the underworld; demons
Sigurd (SEE-gyurd)– Norin mercenary
Siomar/Siomaigh (SHO-mar) (SHO-my)—Southeastern kingdom in Seare/their language and people
Sliebhan/Sliebhanaigh (SLEEV-ahn) (SLEEV-ahn-eye)—Southwestern kingdom in Seare/their language and people
Sofarende (soeh-FUR-end-uh)—seafarers from the Northern Isles (Norin)
Talfryn (TAL-frin)—prince of Gwydden, lord of Cwmmaen
tanist—chosen successor of a Seareann king, elected by the kingdom’s council of lords
Taran Mac Maolain (TAH-ruhn mok MAL-lin)—mercenary, once a Midland lord
Tigh/Timhaigh (ty) (TIH-vy)—northwestern kingdom in Seare, ruled by Clan Nir/their language and people
Uallas (WAL-luhs)—lord of Eilean Buidhe
Ulaf (OO-lahf)—Sofarende warrior
Acknowledgments
It’s a humbling thought that for so many people, “going to work” has involved sending this book into the world. My heartfelt gratitude goes to:
Meg Wallin, Rebekah Guzman, Brian Thomasson, Caitlyn Carlson, Don Pape, Reagen Reed, Jeff Rustemeyer, Debbie Johnson, Kirk DouPounce, and the rest of the combined NavPress/Tyndale teams. Even if we’ve never corresponded or met face-to-face, your fingerprints are seen in all the details involved in getting this book to print. Your hard work means more than you know.
And to everyone else who makes it possible to do this crazy thing called writing, both personally and professionally—I couldn’t do it without you:
Rey, N and P, Mom and Dad, Steve Laube, Jeane Wynn, Serena Chase, Brandy Vallance, Evangeline Denmark, Amy Matayo, Nicole Deese, Ronie Kendig, Laurie Tomlinson, Beth Vogt, and my friendly Aurora/Parker Starbucks baristas. You keep me sane, focused, inspired, entertained, and/or caffeine-fueled. You’re the best.
About the Author
C. E. Laureano’s love of fantasy began with a trip through a magical wardrobe, and she has never looked back. She’s happiest when her day involves martial arts, swords, and a well-choreographed fight scene, though when pressed, she’ll admit to a love of theater and travel as well. Appropriately, she’s the wife to a martial arts master and mom to two boys who spend most of their time jumping off things and finding objects to turn into lightsabers. They live in Denver, Colorado, with a menagerie of small pets. Visit her on the web at www.CELaureano.com, or e-mail her at [email protected].
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