Cill Darae

by Donald D. Allan

  Nadine squeezed Will’s forearm. “We are seven draoi, Will. Katherine and Dog count in our numbers.”

  Will spat. “She is an abomination. Her and Dog. They have turned from the teachings of Gaea!”

  Steve shook his head. “Katherine said Gaea told her to do what she did.”

  Will looked incredulous. “Gaea? She said that? Gaea is no more! She tells lies on top of everything else?”

  Steve held out his hands. “It is what she told me. She was not being deceptive to me. I believe her.”

  Will shook his head. “She is lost. Lost in her power. She has become like Erebus.”

  Nadine let go of Will’s arm and gasped. “No! Never that, she is not Erebus. She is not evil. She did what she had to. She saved us, Will! How can you not see that?”

  “How can you not see what she has become? Her power, it is… it is unimaginable! She destroyed those lives with so much abandon. She could have simply frozen them. Incapacitated them. Anything! But what she chose to do, that was her choice, and she chose such a horrible one! No, she is lost to the draoi cause. I fear what she has become. She has become the Morrighan.”

  Nadine laughed. “The Morrighan? Surely you jest, Will? The Morrighan is a myth to scare wee children. No, she is something else. Something greater than we can imagine.”

  Will scowled. “She claims Gaea told her to do what she did. You know that is impossible. She hears voices. Even if it were, Gaea would never order the death of so many people.”

  “You seem to forget the Purge, love. That was Gaea’s doing. She had the draoi killed by the Sect. No, this is something I fear Gaea is more than capable of doing. You place far too much faith in Gaea, Will. The rules she placed on the draoi did not apply to her. She said as much in the Chamber. I believe Katherine and Dog. Gaea is still with us, somehow.”

  Steve looked up at the mention of the Chamber. “Speaking of the Chamber, what happened to the Device?”

  Nadine looked surprised and looked around the room. “I have no idea. Did anyone bring it?”

  Steve shook his head. “There wasn’t time. We fled. I hope it has not fallen back into the hands of the Church.”

  James grunted. “Katherine had it last. I pray she has it still.”

  Will looked even more angry. “If she has it, then who knows what additional horrors she will unleash.”

  The room grew quiet, with each person lost in their own personal thoughts.

  Martin sat patiently and then spoke. “We must discuss Edward.”

  Edward jolted in his seat. “Surely that can wait.”

  “No, I’m afraid not. I fear for Regent Brent and the Realm. Eylene Kissane has control of her own armed forces, and the draoi. We must return the Realm to a monarchy! Only a King can assert authority over the Realm and the Church and bring back peace and the law.”

  Edward laughed. “I think the chances of me being King are pretty removed at this point in time.”

  “I disagree, Edward. We must continue the quest to prove you are the heir. There is a reason Eylene tried to kill you. Once we remove the threat, we have to be ready to place you on the throne. God wills it!”

  Will sighed. “I am tired of this talk of God and the church. They have brought nothing but pain to this world.”

  Martin made a noise and hastened to pull out his amulet. He held it up, and it shone bright in the room and lit up his face. “God would disagree, my friends. He is still with us.”

  * * *

  Katherine and Dog walked west along the main road that wound along the course of the Potsman River. Her familiar backpack lay heavy across her shoulders, but she relished the feel. She felt almost as if she was free again and heading to Cala once again. Except this time she was headed to Finnow and the mines.

  Before she had fled from Rigby Farm, she had grabbed food and secured the Device in her pack. She had also grabbed Nadine’s copy of the Draoi Manuscript. She had fled north at first and stood on a nearby hill top and watched as the Belkin Army rode into the farm. They had searched the buildings and then torched the place. She had cried watching the plumes of black smoke rise in the air. The farm her parents had so lovingly built and nurtured had been turned to ash. When the army rode out, she turned west and found the main road.

  She took her time and refused to draw power from the land. She felt nature probing her, looking for something, but she pushed it aside and walked in silence with Dog. She knew this was the road that Will had taken all those years ago. It had led him to Jergen, to Nadine, and to the farm. There had been a time when she had blamed Will for the death of her parents. That young girl had not understood the world. She had also blamed Gaea and still did. Everything that had happened could be laid at her feet.

  Katherine looked down at Dog. “I’m tired of all this, Dog.”

  Dog looked up briefly to her but said nothing.

  “We have been manipulated for eons. Pushed this way and that.” She shook the staff in her hand. “Gaea has been a thorn in our side. Can you imagine a world without her? I can.”

  That is not fair, Katherine.

  Ah, you speak, do you? What do you have to say for yourself?

  The world you see before you would be gone without me. I was all that stood between Erebus and the return of a world that ceased to exist eons ago. His purpose was to change the world and bring back a civilisation that long ago died out.

  Is that so? At what cost? Erebus is gone and now the Realm stands on the brink of disaster.

  Disaster? No. Mankind has the power to be what they choose to be now. The threat of Erebus is gone. What happens now is the making of men and women of power. That has always been true. We have given you the power to decide your own fate.

  Katherine laughed out loud.

  You laugh, but this is the way it is meant to be. I care little for what mankind does now. The threat of Erebus is gone, my task is complete. In ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years, men and women will still be here and others will come forward and take power and change the lives of the people. At least now you can make your own mistakes and own them. There is a future. And you now have the power of the Simon motes.

  Ah yes, the Simon motes. It seems Simon does what he wants. We have no control over him.

  That is not true. You are the control over Simon.

  Katherine stopped on the road. What?

  You have control over Simon. I gave you this power. You are the master of all Simon motes.

  Why have you not said this before?

  I have. Many times. You did not understand.

  Katherine’s head reeled. It was too much. She spoke out loud. “I can’t have that power! You saw what I just did. Remember Cala? That was horrible.”

  Nonetheless, you have that power.

  “I can’t have this power alone!”

  You aren’t alone. Dog is with you. You share the power.

  “Share it? Is that what we are doing?”

  Yes.

  “I don’t want this. Take it from me, Gaea. You take the power! You did this for so long. Please.”

  You know what I wish. I want to end. My mission is over. My task complete.

  “Then join with me! The three of us: me, Dog and you. Together we can control the power. Use it to do good.”

  Katherine felt a jolt from Gaea.

  “Gaea?”

  When Gaea said nothing, she resumed walking. “What do you think Dog?”

  I think we need to do whatever we can. We could be good dogs.

  “It is more than just being good, Dog. We would need to make decisions that affect people’s lives. I don’t want that responsibility.”

  And the animals. We would affect the animals. And the plants. Everything.

  “True, sorry Dog.”

  They walked in silence for a time before Gaea spoke again.

  There is an option I have not considered.

  Katherine halted and Dog stopped beside her. “What’s that?”

  You, Dog, me and Simo
n merge to become one. You would become the greatest Cill Darae the world has ever known. You would become what I once was.

  End of Volume Five

  Look for the concluding volume in the New Druids series coming in 2020.

  Gaea: A New Druids Novel (Volume Six)

  By Donald D. Allan

  Acknowledgements

  As always I want to thank some people: My beta team really came through for me and found all sorts of errors and issues with pacing. Here they are: Steve Bligh, Sue DeNicola, Martin C. Jordan, Eylene Kissane, R.T. Sailor, and Lana Turner. Thanks folks.

  Cill Dara (pronounced kill-dar-ay) means Church of the Oak in Gaelic. Kildare is a town in County Kildare, Ireland where legend has it, King Leinster met with Saint Brigid. Kildare is named after the Church of the Oak, as Brigid had built her church under the shade of an oak tree. When I started this series, I needed a title suitable for the High Priestess (or Priest) of the Druids. I had already burrowed deep down into the roots of the tree (freamhaigh is Gaelic for roots) and had nowhere else to go. I then stumbled on the stories of Saint Brigid and discovered Kildare and from that the term came Cill Dara. I decided Cill Dara would be masculine and Cill Darae would be feminine.

  Until just recently, I had been pronouncing Cill Darae as “Sill-Dar-Ay”. It turns out the “C” is hard and not soft. So Cill Darae is pronounced kill-dar-ay. Speaking of which, have you wondered how to pronounce the titles to the novels in my series? If you want to know read on. If not, and you like the way you say it in your head, skip the next little bit.

  Duilleog: Duh-Lug

  Craobh: Cray-Obh

  Stoc: Stalk

  Freamhaigh: Fray-wee

  Cill Darae: Kill-Dar-Ay

  Gaea: Gay-uh

  Some of you are now probably scratching your head at this series. Is this fantasy? Or science-fiction? What is it I am reading here? The truth is: I consider this epic fantasy. I admit it is a bit of a blend, but the themes, setting, etc. are all fantasy tropes. I stand by that. I love reading novels like this, with a bit of a science fiction thrown in. I find it exciting and of course I write in that style. Can you blame me?

  The next (and last) novel of the series is called Gaea. I hope to have it out early in 2020, but time will tell whether I manage that. Gaea has been outlined for a couple of years now (remember? I’m a plotter, not a pantser, lol). I only have to modify it for what my characters decided to do instead of following the script. For example, Will was not supposed to send Katherine away at the end of Cill Darae. It just happened and it surprised me. That’s my world. My characters own me. It’s changed Gaea a little bit. But as always, my characters know best and it actually makes much more sense now…

  Ciao!

  Don

  Ottawa, Canada, April 2019

  World Details

  Ranks and Hierarchies

  Draoi (Druid) Ranks:

  Freamhaigh (Root) – Head Druid

  Cill Dara(e) – Druid Priest/Priestess (The Elevated Druid)

  Stoc (Trunk) or informally just Draoi – Full Druid

  Craobh (Branch) – Journeyman Druid

  Duilleog (Leaf) – Apprentice Druid

  The Church of the New Order Ranks:

  King (in abeyance since Revolution)

  Archbishop (acting head of the Church)

  Bishop

  Dean

  Vicar

  Army of the Realm Ranks:

  Officers:

  Knight General (former rank from before the Revolution)

  General

  Brigadier

  Colonel

  Lieutenant Colonel

  Major

  Captain

  Lieutenant

  Second Lieutenant

  Enlisted:

  Warrant Officer

  Staff Sergeant

  Sergeant

  Corporal

  Lance Corporal (appointment, not a rank)

  Private

  Recruit

  Lord Protector’s Guard Ranks:

  The highest-ranking officer is General. Because the Lord Protector’s Guard is a speciality occupation, the members come from the Army of the Realm, and occasionally from the Navy of the Realm. They share the same rank structure except that the lowest officer rank is Captain and the lowest enlisted rank is Corporal; those being the earliest rank you can be selected or request service in the Lord Protector’s Guard.

  Navy of the Realm Ranks:

  Officers:

  Fleet Admiral

  Admiral

  Commodore

  Captain (Navy)

  Commander

  Lieutenant-Commander

  Lieutenant (Navy)

  Ensign

  Midshipman

  Enlisted:

  Chief Petty Officer

  Petty Officer

  Master Seaman

  Leading Seaman

  Able Seaman

  Ordinary Seaman

  It should be noted that the General of the Realm is the head of the Army, the Navy, and the Lord Protector’s Guard. The Lord Protector’s Guard recruits from the Army of the Realm, and rarely, from the Navy. The Navy’s top rank, the Fleet Admiral, is not equal to the General. In this world, the Navy is not the senior service.

  Calendar and Seasons

  The calendar is in the background of the world and not specifically referenced except where it occurs accidentally. We don’t dwell on the calendar and neither do the folks in Turgany. In this world, the Celtic names for things have slipped and are rarely used. The common language is English.

  Seasons:

  Winter (Geimhreadh) – December, January, February (Nollaig, Eanair, Feabhra)

  Spring (Earrach) – March, April, May (Marta, Aibrean, Bealtaine)

  Summer (Samhraidh) – June, July, August (Meitheamh, Luil, Lunasa)

  Autumn (Fomhar) – September, October, November (Mean Fomhair, Deirreadh Fomhair, Samhain)

  Time Frames:

  Day – dia

  Night – nocht

  Week – 8 days and nights—deug

  Fortnight – 15 days and nights – cola-deug

  Month – mios

  Days of the Week:

  Sunday – Domhnaich

  Monday—Luain

  Tuesday—Mairt

  Wednesday—Ciadain

  Pluday (Extra)—Durdaoin

  Thursday—Ardaoin

  Friday—Aoine

  Saturday—Sathurna

  Breakdown of a Year:

  365 days in a calendar year for which only 360 are provided actual dates. The extra five days per year (see Solstices/Equinoxes) are used as celebration days and are known by their title rather than as a calendar date. It works like this: there is a December 24th, followed by Christmas Day, which is then followed by December 25th.

  24 fortnights (24x15 days) per year

  45 weeks per year

  3 weeks and 6 days per month (totalling 30 days per month)

  Solstices (longest/shortest day of the year)/Equinoxes:

  Vernal Equinox is the day after March 19th (or Marta 19) and is celebrated for 1 day as Ostara Day (non-calendar day).

  Estival Solstice (summer) is the day after June 20th (or Meitheamh 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Litha Day (non-calendar day)

  Autumnal Equinox is the day after September 21st (or Mean Fomhair 21) and is celebrated for 2 days as First Mabon Day (harvest) and Last Mabon Day (feast) (non-calendar days).

  Hibernal Solstice (winter) is the day after December 20 (or Nollaig 20) and is celebrated for 1 day as Yule (non-calendar day).

  Holidays:

  Samhain. Nov 7 (Samhain 7). The midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice. Celebrates the last harvest, the cycle of life and gifts for passing spirits. Preparation to survive winter, confront the possibility of death. Colours: black, brown, reds, oranges. Opposite to Bealtaine.

  Yule is the day after December 20 (Nollaig 20) and is a non-calendar day. Shortest day and longest night of the year.
Celebrates the end of darkness, the return of light to the earth. Herbs are at their least potent. Colours: green, red, white, silver, gold.

  Imbolc. Feb 1 (Feabhra 1). The midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Celebrates the quickening of spring, the end of winter, time of planning and hopes. Colours: red, orange, white.

  Ostara Day is the day after March 19 (Marta 19) and is a non-calendar day. The first day of spring, the night and day stand equal. Celebrates the birth of spring, rebirth. Time of planting. Colours: red and yellow.

  Bealtaine. May 6 (Bealtaine 6). The midpoint between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Time of rebirth. Colours: blue, pink, yellow, green. Opposite to Samhain.

  Litha Day is the day after June 20 (Meitheamh 20) and is a non-calendar day. Summer solstice, the first day of summer, longest day of the year. Celebrates the light and the sun without there would be no life. Time of strengths and accomplishments. Gather herbs as “herb night” is when they are at their most potent. Colours: blue, yellow, green.

  Lammas. Aug 1 (Lunasa 1). The midpoint between Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. First harvest festival. Celebrates the beginning of harvest season, the decline of summer to winter. Time to dismiss regrets, farewells, preparation for winter. Ceremonies involve bread, grains and corn dolls. Colours: oranges, greens, browns.

  Mabon Days are the two days after September 21st (Mean Fomhair 21) and they are non-calendar days. Referred to as First Mabon and Last Mabon. Autumn Equinox, the first day of autumn. Celebrates harvest. First Mabon is harvesting time and Last Mabon is the feast. Time for thanks and learning, repairing all things. Colours: dark reds, yellows, browns.

  Important Calendar Dates Summary:

  February 1 (Feabhra 1)—Imbolc

  March (Marta)—Ostara Day (Vernal Equinox) is the day after March 19th

  May 6 (Bealtaine 6)—Bealtaine

  June (Meitheamh)—Litha Day (Estival Solstice (summer)) is the day after June 20th

  August 1 (Lunasa 1)—Lammas

  September (Mean Fomhair)—First/Last Mabon Days (Autumnal Equinox) is the two days after September 21st

  November 7 (Samhain 7)—Samhain

  December (Nollaig)—Yule (Hibernal Solstice (winter)) is the day after December 20th