Deirdre

by Linda Windsor

  Deirdre had carried a melancholy heart to shore that day, longing for a babe of her own, although the new school in the village kept her occupied. Still … with one cycle missed and another nearly so by her recollection, her prayers may have been answered.

  She wasn’t going to say anything to Alric until she was certain, but just this morning Mrs. Leary called her aside and asked her if she was expecting. Astonished, Deirdre started to share her calculation with the old female but was dismissed with a wave.

  “Nonsense, milady I know by your look. Ye’ve the glow of a new rose, ripe to bloom.”

  “All right, now you can go,” Alric said to the dog, motioning toward the long expanse of beach ahead.

  The pup shot off after a retreating wave, its plate-sized paws nipping at the water’s edge. Deirdre giggled when another wave rolled over it, sending the half-grown hound yelping back toward dry land.

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear that Tor had sired that halfwit,” Alric remarked. Turning Deirdre in his arms, he pressed his forehead down to hers. “And I could have gone with the Blessing,” he acknowledged, a twinkle lighting in his mercurial gaze. “But I couldn’t leave you in your condition, even if I wanted to.”

  Deirdre’s heart skipped. “What?” That Mrs. Leary. “Who told you?”

  Alric glanced to where Wulfgar barked in hot pursuit of a copper-winged butterfly and then returned his full attention to his wife. “I am one with the tides and the moon, muirnait, and nearly three have passed since milady’s last indisposal. I wondered when you would tell me.”

  Deirdre felt foolish that a man kept better track of such things than she. Such was the heady effect Alric had upon her. He spun her thoughts into anticipation and intoxicated her senses with his nearness, his devilish eyes, and that irascible grin. She would offer him no excuse. “Is it too late to tell you now, milord?”

  “I await your every word, sweetling.” To prove it, he framed her face and met her nose to nose.

  “God charges us to go forth and be fruitful,” she said, moving his hands to her waist.

  “And?” He circled it with his hands, his fingers all but touching.

  “And I am with fruit.”

  The kiss she saw him moisten on his lips erupted in a loud bellow of laughter. Gathering her hands in his, he danced like an overgrown sea sprite around her, spinning and spinning until the clouds circled and Wulfgar nipped at the hem of her dress. “Her chatter will be like birdsong to your heart,” he sang to the sky.

  “What?” Deirdre’s heart soared so high; perhaps her ears were impaired by its flight.

  “Orlaith.” Alric smiled at her, his eyes warm and tender. “She told me all about you and how you were the key to my birthright.” He sobered, taking her into his arms as if to never let her go. “It was love, my beautiful chatter bird. Unseen—” his hoarse whispered voice sent a thrill through her—“and eternal.”

  As eternal as the tender-sweet homage he paid to it with his lips.

  GLOSSARY

  For them who’d have a smatterin’ more knowledge and assistance with names and such, help yourself to a wee salmon’s worth. In tryin’ to curb me habit o’ gettin’ eighteen words to the dozen, I’ve kept the list as short and succinct as a Celtic heart can, with pronunciations for only them words that fool the tongue.

  aiccid (ay-sid): heir apparent to kingship or clan chief.

  anmchara (ahn-ca-rah): soul friend, confessor, a soul mate.

  athair (a’-the): father.

  brat: outer cloak or wrap; the more colors, the higher the station o’ its wearer.

  brehon: a judge.

  bretwalda (bret-wall-dah): much like the Irish high king, ard ri, o’ Saxon Britain.

  brewy (brew’-ee): a name for a common inn and the innkeeper.

  Brichriu (brik’-ree-oo): an ancient historical satirist known for stirring up trouble.

  bride-price: the price paid by the groom to the bride’s family for the privilege and duration o’ his marriage to the lady.

  churl: a freeman worth two to four hundred shillings wergild; owns at least one hide o’ land.

  cromlech: a capstone resting on two upright pillar stones, sometimes forming a passage; usually marks a grave o’ someone o’ importance—a hero or royalty.

  curragh: a small wicker-framed boat.

  Dalraidi (pl.) (dahl’-rah-dee): this was an early Ulster clan; some migrated to Scotland in the fifth century and by the sixth century sure they ruled it and the latter half o’ that same period chose their first Christian king, Aidan.

  Deirdre (deer’-drah): chatterbox; also sorrow.

  derling: darling.

  druid: St. Columba wrote, “My druid is Christ.” Substitute teacher or spiritual leader for druid to catch the drift o’ his meaning. The seventh-century druid was mostly a teacher or historian in Erin. In Britain, they were still worshipin’ nature like their Germanic counterparts and the druids in Maire, the fifth-century book one o’ this series. Ye see, the druids were not just the black-robed sacrificers reported by Julius Caesar and other foreign observers o’ this secretive order, but what I’d call professionals. They were a number o’ an elevated Celtic learned class—spiritual leaders, teachers, lawyers, poets, bards, historians, magicians; o’ten called magi.

  There were some o’ the dark kind then, mind ye, but never was any evidence o’ human sacrifice found on my shores, like across the sea. And again, God used these enlightened people to pave the way for Christianity as illustrated in the story o’ Maire and Rowan’s fifth-century Gleannmara.

  Ecfrith (ek’-frith): the historical king o’ Northumbria who raided me shores on the pretense o’ religious righteousness; a scoundrel or saint, dependin’ on who ye read, though his prejudice to me seemed more against the British/Irish than the Church—odd with him being half British himself.

  Gleannmara (glinn-mah-rah): a fictional tuath or kingdom in Erin found between Wicklow and the Irish Sea; glen/valley overlooking/near the sea.

  Freou-weebe: and peace weaver, a wife taken to secure a treaty o’ peace by marriage.

  hemmings: rawhide boots/shoes made from the skin off the hind legs o’ a deer.

  hide: a rectangular strip o’ land equal to one-fifth o’ a square mile.

  maîthar (maw’-ther): mother.

  muirnait: beloved.

  rath: a circular fortification surrounded by earthen walls; home o’ a warrior chief.

  Scotland (Scotia Minor), the problem with: This became a major issue as what is today’s Scotland grew. It was settled by members o’ the Dalraidi clan o’ northern Erin, who owed tribute to the king o’ Ulster. But it was its own province with its own king now and declared it owed allegiance to no one save the high king o’ Ireland.

  scramasax: a Saxon short sword.

  synod: A synod was a fairlike gathering o’ the provincial and tuath rulers and their entourages for the settlement o’ political and law issues. Vendors and entertainers flocked to provide for the attendees, which attracted others whose interest was more o’ a recreational nature. Games and other diversions took place when the court was not in session. These lasted for weeks due to the distances traveled to participate, so that all might put in their two cents worth prior to final decisions.

  thane: a lesser king or lord, worth twelve hundred shillings wergild. A horse thane was the predecessor of a medieval knight.

  tonsure: a style o’ haircut with a section shaven; the priests’ were circular with shaven center, while the druids’ shaven ear to ear across top o’ head to form a high brow o’ intelligence. The clergy reflectin’ the druidic roots o’ many o’ God’s servants, used both in the sixth century.

  torque: a neckband often made o’ gold or silver; many times took the place o’ a crown for a king or queen; its degree o’ elegance often indicated rank in society.

  tuath (tuth): a kingdom made up o’ more than one sept/clan and united under one king, to whom the clan chiefs pay tribute/homage. He in turn pa
ys homage to the province king, who pays homage to the high king.

  wergild (ver’-gild): man gold, or the worth o’ a man, paid in lieu o’ death punishment, much like the Irish eric.

  Whitby, Synod of: The meeting o’ druids, priests, and Oswald, King o’ Northumbria, which then was the dominant rule in Britain. ’Twas here that Oswald himself decided if the future church was to follow the Celtic ways based on St. John’s and Jesus’ example o’ ministry or on the Roman ways, which were based upon St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s philosophy Ironically, the argument that won this newly saved king’s favor was presented by the Roman contingent—St. Peter holds the key to heaven’s gate. The aging king, bein’ concerned about his eternity decided that while both sides had merit, he was going to throw in with the man who held the keys, and so the decision was made. The prevailing church was to follow the Roman tonsure o’ the bowl haircut with shaved crown over the druidic, which was long locks with a high-shaved forehead, and the Roman example o’ churches and priests equivalent to palaces and kings dedicated to God’s glory.

  There was much to be said for both sides, which is why both concepts are prevalent throughout the world today. We have denominations that prefer to put their efforts and all moneys collected toward the needy and unsaved rather than in big cathedrals and rich garments and lifestyles, thinkin’ that the collection o’ souls is the kingdom Christ will return to. There are others who prepare His kingdom to receive Him royally and put much o’ the wealth o’ the church into the buildings and trappings themselves—all in God’s honor, mind ye—and still seek to help the needy and save the unsaved. I’m in no position to judge one way or the other, but I am befuddled that a king made a decision that affected ages to come based on the bloomin’ metaphor o’ St. Peter’s key to heaven.

  BIBLIOGRAPHY

  Barber, Henry. British Family Names—Their Origin and Meaning, with lists of Scandinavian, Frisian, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman Names. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company 1968.

  Cahill, Thomas. How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe. New York: Doubleday 1995. An interestin’ peek at just what the world owes me children for preservin’ light and knowledge in a darkening world.

  Carmichael, Alexander. The Sun Dances. Prayers and Blessings from the Gaelic. London: Christian Community Press, 1960. (Reprinted Edinburgh: Floris, 1977).

  Coglan, Ronan, Grehan, Ida, and Joyce, P. W. Book of Irish First Names—First, Family & Place Names. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 1989. Look for the old names that described both a character and/or description, for the roots are in me history itself.

  Coward, T. A. Cheshire. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1932. A record o’ cyclin’ rambles, rich with historical and geographical detail of this western coastal shire.

  Crossley-Holland, Kevin. Green Blades Rising. New York: Seabury Press, 1975. Wonderful look at the early Saxons and their way of life—war, daily living, and faith development.

  Crossley-Holland, Kevin. The Anglo-Saxon World. Suffolk: Boydell Press, 1982. All encompassin’ look at life and history in the Anglo-Saxon world, from ancient to the conquest.

  Cusack, Mary Frances. An Illustrated History of Ireland from 400 to 1800. London: Bracken Books, 1995. ’Tis hard to pick a favorite out o’ so many fine books, but this has to be among the best, written with an academic approach, but with true bardic flair. Like as not, me author will have to get a new copy for this one’s worn as an old swine’s tooth.

  Dunlevy, Mairead. Dress in Ireland: A History. Cork: Collins Press, 1989. A keeper o’ the Art and Industrial Division in The National Museum of Ireland; the author packs these pages full o’ information on fashion and textiles to boot, from me early days through the turn o’ the twentieth century.

  Fairholt, F. W. Costume in England, Vol. II. Detroit: Singing Tree Press, 1968. Excellent reference of costume and textile from early England to the eighteenth century.

  Haywood, John. Dark Age of Naval Power—A Reassessment of Prankish and Anglo-Saxon Seafaring Activity. London and New York: Routledge, 1991. Eye-openin’ look at ships, both for Germanic trade, war, and piracy on the North Sea from 12 B.C. to the ninth century.

  Hodgkin, R. H. A History of the Anglo-Saxons, Vol. I. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1932. From early times to the eighth century a mite tedious scholarly narrative, but informative, nonetheless.

  Hughes, Thomas. Vale Royal of England, or the County Palatine of Chester Manchester: E. J. Morton, 1976. A detailed census and zoning type account of Chester, the shire and the city in old English.

  Laing, Lloyd and Jennifer. Celtic Britain and Ireland: The Myth of the Dark Ages. New York: Barnes and Noble Books/St. Martin’s Press, 1997. Ye’ll never confuse non-Roman with uncivilized again.

  MacManus, Seumas. The Story of the Irish Race. Greenwich, Conn.: The Devin Adair Co., 1971. Ach, what soul with Celtic blood flowin’ through their veins couldn’t fall in love with this rendition of me children’s story? ’Twill tickle the funny bone, move yer heart, and light yer fancy.

  Mac Niocaill, Gearoíd. Ireland Before the Vikings. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1972. We all need this kind of friend to keep us humble. ’Tis an ‘in yer face’ account of how things were in olden times, but I got the impression that, despite himself, this learned fella had to say some wonderful things about me and me children—all of what was true, o’course. No lore philosophizin’ for this one, but full of spell-bindin’ facts, some flatterin’ and some, left to me, best forgotten—lessin’ ye’re writin’ some academic paper or what not.

  Mann, John. Murder, Magic, and Medicine. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. Read as to how some of the medicine of the past—that what didn’t kill folks, that is—is being used again by our modem medicine. Magic? Use that modern-day brain o’ yours and decide for yourself. Not only will ye be entertained but enlightened as well.

  Nairn, Richard and Miriam Crowley Wild Wicklow—Nature in the Garden of Ireland. Dublin: Town House and Country House, 1998. This is the book for the armchair traveler who’d see the beauty and charm of me County Wicklow as it is today with some hint of what it used to be in Gleannmara’s day.

  Ó Corráin, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. Dublin: Lilliput Press, 1990. Now one can never have too many books on me children’s names, for sure their use and meanins’ are as varied as the shades o’ green in Erin.

  Ó Cróinín, Dáibhí. Early Medieval Ireland (400-1200). New York: Longman Group Ltd., 1995. The man takes ye there and surrounds ye with all manner of information on what it was like to live in them times. ’Tis a veritable wealth of information and fascination.

  Palgrave, Sir Francis. History of the Anglo-Saxons. London: Braken Books, 1989. An all-encompassin’ look at Anglo-Saxon England, full o’ legend and fact woven like a nonfiction tapestry o’ time and place.

  Quennell, M. and C. Everyday Life in Roman and Anglo-Saxon Times. New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1957. Good portrayal o’ this time period spannin’ Roman occupation of Britain to the comin’ o’ the Normans.

  Sadler, John. Battle for Northumbria. Northumberland: Bridge Studios, 1988. ’Twas a good history of struggle in this border kingdom from the sixth century through the eighteenth.

  Saklatvala, Beram. The Origins of the English People. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1969. A concise history tracing the Anglo-Saxons from Germanic origins to the Norman Conquest with engaging narrative.

  Scherman, Katherine. The Flowering of Ireland: Saints, Scholars, and Kings. New York: Barnes and Noble, 1996. Another favorite! ’Twas the most inspirational of all reads to this soul, for it’s the memory o’ how the Pentecostal Flame kindled in the hearts o’ saints, scholars, and kings. Praise be, I’ve not been the same since. Come to think o’ it, neither has the rest o’ the world.

  Smith, Charles Hamilton. Ancient Costumes of Great Britain and Ireland from the Druids to the Tudors. London: Bracken Books, 1989.

  Whitelock,
Dorothy. The Begnnings of English Society, Vol. II (The Anglo-Saxon Period). Great Britain: Penguin Books Ltd., 1952. A comprehensive look at Saxon England, life and culture, from its heathen times to the Norman Conquest. Another favorite reference.

  Faith, I’d love to list a host of other books full of riveting fact and legend that contributed to the tellin’ of Gleannmara’s story, but I’m runnin’ out of time and space. Since this work was started, the numbers of works on Ireland and its past have doubled and then some. Looks like the Golden Age of the Celts may not be over after all. Till we meet again, may the good Holy Spirit nourish ye, mind, body, heart, and soul.

  The publisher and author would love to hear your comments about this book. Please contract us at:

  www.multnomah.net

  IN AN AGE OF DARKNESS COMES A FLAME THAT WILL CHANGE IRELAND AND HER PEOPLE FOREVER …

  MAIRE: THE FIRES OF GLEANNMARA #1

  Fierce warrior queen Maire struggles to understand her attraction to a bold yet humble, faith-filled mercenary she takes hostage. Can love spark between enemies?

  ISBN 1-57673-625-3

  RIONA: THE FIRES OF GLEANNMARA #2

  Bestselling author Linda “Windsor creates another intriguing tale! Riona pairs a handsome, arrogant knight with a strong-willed, compassionate gentlewoman of faith in sixth-century Ireland.

  ISBN 1-57673-752-7

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  DEIRDRE

  published by Multnomah Books

  A division of RandomHouse, Inc.

  published in association with the literary agency of Ethan Ellenberg Agency.

  © 2002 by Windsor Enterprises, Inc.

  Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, King James Version.