Dreamer's Cycle Series Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Part 1

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Part 2

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Part 3

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Dedication:

  To my mother, Patricia Ann Flowers Taylor, who always believed in me.

  I miss you, Mom.

  Published 2005 by Medallion Press, Inc.

  The MEDALLION PRESS LOGO

  is a registered tradmark of Medallion Press, Inc.

  If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment from this “stripped book.”

  Copyright © 2005 by Holly Taylor

  Cover Illustration by Adam Mock

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Taylor, Holly, 1965-

  Night birds’ reign / Holly Taylor.

  p. cm.

  ISBN 1-932815-53-8

  1. Arthurian romances--Adaptations. I. Title.

  PS3620.A945N54 2005

  813’.6--dc22

  2005019794

  The court of Lleu Lawrient lies

  Stricken and silent beneath the sky.

  The thorns and blighted thistles over

  It all, and brambles now,

  Where once was magnificence.

  Harps and lordly feast, all have passed away.

  And the night birds now reign.

  Taliesin

  Fifth Master Bard

  Circa 270

  CHARACTERS

  Y Dawnus (The Gifted)

  The Dreamers

  Gwydion ap Awst var Celemon: Dreamer of Kymru, brother of Amatheon, half brother of King Uthyr

  Dinaswyn ur Morvryn var Gwenllian: former Dreamer, aunt to Amatheon and Gwydion, Myrrdin’s sister

  Cariadas ur Gwydion var Isalyn: Gwydion’s daughter and heir

  The Dewin

  Myrrdin ap Morvryn var Gwenllian: Ardewin, uncle to Gwydion and Amatheon, brother to Dinaswyn

  Rhiannon ur Hefeydd var Indeg: former heir to the Ardewin, mother of Gwenhwyfar

  Amatheon ap Awst var Celemon: Gwydion’s brother, Dewin to Hetwin Silver-Brow

  Elstar ur Anieron var Ethyllt: Myrrdin’s heir, daughter of Anieron, wife to Elidyr

  Llywelyn ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elstar’s oldest son and heir Arianrod ur Brychan var Arianllyn: cousin to Gwydion and Rhiannon

  Cynan ap Einon var Darun: Dewin to King Uthyr, later Ardewin, uncle to Gwydion, Amatheon, Rhiannon, and Arianrod

  The Druids

  Cathbad ap Goreu var Efa: Archdruid, Myrrdin’s cousin

  Aergol ap Custennin var Dinaswyn: Cathbad’s heir, Dinaswyn’s son

  Sinend ur Aergol var Eurgain: Aergol’s daughter and heir

  Menw ap Aergol var Ceindrech: Aergol’s son

  The Bards

  Anieron ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Master Bard, Rhiannon’s uncle

  Elidyr ap Dudod var Llawen: Anieron’s nephew and heir, husband to Elstar

  Dudod ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Anieron’s brother, Elidyr’s father, Rhiannon’s uncle

  Cynfar ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elidyr’s youngest son and heir

  In Gwytheryn

  Rhufon ap Casnar: a descendant of the last steward of Cadair Idris

  Tybion ap Rhufon: Rhufon’s son

  Lucan ap Tybion: Rhufon’s grandson

  In Gwynedd

  Uthyr ap Rathtyen var Awst: King of Gwynedd (House of PenHebog), Lord of Rhos, half brother to Gwydion, Amatheon, and Madoc

  Ygraine ur Custennin var Elwen: Uthyr’s Queen, sister to Queen Olwen of Ederynion

  Arthur ap Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyr’s son

  Morrigan ur Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyr’s daughter

  Madoc ap Rhodri var Rathtyen: Lord of Rhufonoig, half brother to Uthyr

  Cai ap Cynyr: Uthyr’s Captain, the PenGwernan; his wife Nest and his son Garanwyn

  Susanna ur Erim: Uthyr’s Bard, Griffi’s lover

  Griffi ap Iaen: Uthyr’s Druid, Susanna’s lover

  Neuad ur Hetwin: Uthyr’s Dewin

  Arday ur Medyr: Uthyr’s steward

  Duach ap Seithfed: Uthyr’s doorkeeper

  Greid ap Gorwys: Master Smith of Gwynedd

  Donal: gatekeeper of Tegeingl

  Trachymer: Uthyr’s chief huntsman

  Jonas: Bard to Diadwa of Creuddyn; his wife Canna

  Diadwa ur Trephin: Gwarda of Creuddyn

  Berwyn ap Cyrenyr: Diadwa’s Captain

  Glwys ap Uchdryd: Diadwa’s Druid

  In Prydyn

  Rhoram ap Rhydderch var Eurneid: King of Prydyn (House of PenBlaid), Lord of Dyfed

  Geriant ap Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s son and heir by his first wife

  Sanon ur Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s daughter by his first wife

  Gwenhwyfar ur Rhoram var Rhiannon: Rhoram’s daughter by Rhiannon

  Efa ur Nudd: Rhoram’s second wife, sister to Erfin, Lord of Ceredigion

  Achren ur Canhustyr: Rhoram’s Captain, the PenCollen

  Aidan ap Camber: Achren’s lieutenant

  Ellywen ur Saidi: Rhoram’s Druid

  Erfin ap Nudd: Lord of Ceredigion, Efa’s brother

  Dafydd Penfro: Rhoram’s counselor

  Tallwch ap Nwyfre: Rhoram’s doorkeeper

  In Rheged

  Urien ap Ethyllt var Gwaeddan: King of Rheged (House of PenMarch), Lord of Amgoed

  Ellirri ur Rhodri var Rathtyen: Urien’s Queen, sister to Madoc, half sister to Uthyr

  Elphin ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s oldest son and heir

  Owein ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s second son

  Rhiwallon ap Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s youngest son

  Enid ur Urien var Ellirri: Urien’s daughter

  Trystan ap Naf: Urien’s Captain, the PenDraenenwen

  Teleri ur Brysethach: Trystan’s lieutenant

  Esyllt ur Maelwys: Urien’s Bard, March’s wife

  Sabrina ur Dadweir: Urien’s Druid

  Bledri ap Gwyn: Urien’s Dewin

  March Y Meirchion: Urien’s huntsman, Esyllt’s husband

  Hetwin Silver-Brow: Lord of Gwinionydd

  Cynedyr the Wild: son of Hetwin Silver-Brow

  In Ederynion

  Olwen ur Custennin var Elwen: Queen of Ederynion (House of PenAlarch), Lady of Ial, sister to Queen Ygraine

  Elen ur Olwen var Kilwch: Olwen’s daughter and heir

  Lludd ap Olwen var Kilwch: Olwen’s son

  Angharad ur Ednyved: Olwen’s Captain, the PenAethnen

  Emrys ap Naw: Angharad’s lieutenant

  Talhearn ap Coleas: Olwen’s Bard

  Iago ap Cof: Olwen’s Druid

  Regan ur Corfil: Olwen’s Dewin

  Llwyd Cilcoed: Dewin of Caerinion, Olwen’s lover
<
br />   Alun Cilcoed: Lord of Arystli, Llwyd’s older brother

  HISTORICAL FIGURES

  Arywen ur Cadwy: the Fifth Archdruid, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

  Bloudewedd ur Sawyl var Eurolwyn: wife of Lleu Lawrient the last High King, lover to King Gorwys

  Bran ap Iweridd: the Fifth Dreamer, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

  Lleu Lawrient (Silver-Hand): last High King of Kymru, murdered by Bloudewedd and Gorwys

  Gorwys of Penllyn: consort of Queen Siwan of Prydyn, lover of Bloudewedd, murderer of High King Lleu

  Idris ap Coachar: the First High King of Kymru

  Macsen ap Edern: the Second High King of Kymru

  Mannawyddan ap Iweridd: the Fifth Ardewin, brother of Bran, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

  Taliesin ap Arthen: the Fifth Master Bard, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

  The Shining Ones

  Cerridwen: Protectress of Kymru, Mistress of the Wild Hunt, Queen of the Wood, wife of Cerrunnos

  Cerrunnos: Protector of Kymru, Master of the Wild Hunt, Lord of the Animals, husband of Cerridwen

  Annwyn: god of death, Lord of Chaos and the Otherworld, husband of Aertan

  Aertan: goddess of fate, the Weaver, wife of Annwyn

  Taran: father god, King of the Winds, god of the Bards, husband of Modron

  Modron: mother goddess, the Great Mother, goddess of the Druids, wife of Taran

  Mabon: King of the Sun, Lord of Fire, god of the Dreamers, husband of Nantsovelta

  Nantsovelta: Queen of the Moon, Lady of the Waters, goddess of the Dewin, wife of Mabon

  Camulos: god of war, twin to Agrona, Y Rhyfelwr—the warrior twin

  Agrona: goddess of war, twin to Camulos, Y Rhyfelwr—the warrior twin

  Sirona of the Stars: goddess of stars, wife to Grannos

  Grannos the Header: god of healing, Star of the North

  Part 1

  The Dream

  The dim night is silent,

  And its darkness

  Covers all of Kymru.

  The sun in the bed of the sea,

  And the moon silvering the flood.

  Math of Falias

  First Master Bard

  Circa 148

  Prologue

  Llyn Mwyngil Gwytheryn, Kymru Gwernan Mis, 265

  Calan Llachar Eve

  The Dreamer dismounted from his tired horse. Bran’s long, sweat-soaked, auburn hair hung lankly around his drawn face, strands of it tangling in his close-cropped beard. His silvery eyes glittered as he surveyed the now still battlefield.

  Too late, he thought. He had come too late, and there was nothing to be done now but to search for the body of the friend he had loved. As a drowning man clings to a scrap of floating wreckage, he clung to a ragged hope that he would find his friend still alive. But although he resolutely refused to acknowledge it, his heart already knew the truth.

  He held out his hand and called Druid’s Fire, for night had long since fallen, and it was Calan Llachar Eve, so there was no moon to illuminate the bloody scene.

  The fire flickered orange and blue as it danced in the palm of his hand as he began to search the still faces of the dead on the shores of Llyn Mwyngil.

  He had not thought there would be so many bodies. But Lleu’s warriors had fought hard to save their High King’s life. Fought until they could fight no more; felled by superior numbers, and the carefully laid plans of their lord’s betrayer; fought until every last one of them was dead, lying cold and still on the breast of Kymru.

  He stooped down, turning over the body of a man he thought he knew. Yes, it was Rhufar, Lleu’s huntsman. The dead man’s tanned, leathery face was peaceful now, but his cold hand was still clutching his spear as though he had not yet given up, as though he still had hopes of fighting on. And there was Clydno, Lleu’s doorkeeper, his face upturned to the sky. There were so many wounds on his body that it was not easy to tell which one might have killed him.

  Bran went forward over the blood-soaked ground, knowing that Lleu was here somewhere; knowing Lleu had not escaped; knowing Lleu was dead; knowing he had come far, far too late.

  Oh, he had come as soon as he had known. But the Shining Ones had not seen fit to send him a dream, so he had not known in time. He had only known a few hours ago when a dread had settled on his heart as he journeyed to Cadair Idris, thinking to spend Calan Llachar with Lleu and his Great Ones. He had tried to Mind-Speak to his friend, to apprise the High King that he was coming and had met only blank silence.

  He had cried out and urged his horse to a dead run. He had Wind-Ridden, casting his spirit ahead for a glimpse of Cadair Idris, trying to see what had happened. And he had seen Bloudewedd, Lleu’s wife, waiting at the top of the steps of what was a strangely emptied hall. Then he had seen King Gorwys of Prydyn, consort of Bloudewedd’s sister, ride up in the company of his warriors. Their clothes were stained and torn, but they were laughing and shouting in victory. Gorwys had thrown the reins of his horse to his Captain and mounted the white, shining steps of the High King’s mountain hall. He had taken Bloudewedd in his arms and bent his head to kiss her savagely. He had torn the sleeve of her gown and bent to kiss her white shoulder. He had picked her up and she had smiled up at him, locking her slender, white arms around his neck. They had entered the hall and the Doors had closed behind them.

  Bran had cried out again when he saw this on the Wind-Ride, knowing now what they had done and why they had done it. He searched the rest of Cadair Idris, seeking his fellow Great Ones, knowing that they must be in prison or dead, or else they would have found a way to tell him what had happened.

  He found them in a dark cell in the bowels of the mountain. Dull lead collars, the dreaded enaid-dals, hung around their necks. Arywen’s dark hair was tangled and dirty; Taliesin’s face was pale and bloodied; Mannawyddan’s arm hung at an odd angle. He wanted to Wind-Speak to them, to tell them that he was coming, but they would not have been able to hear him, not with the cursed soul-catchers around their throats.

  Then he had cast his awareness to the sky once more, seeking to find Lleu. Instead he had found the aftermath of a battle on the shores of Llyn Mwyngil, just a few leagues west of Cadair Idris. So he had made for that spot as quickly as he could.

  The glint of golden hair in the light of the fire that danced in his palm stopped him in his tracks. He stood stock-still, looking at the form that lay at his feet. The man was lying on his side, facing away from Bran, cradling something beneath him.

  Bran knelt beside the body. He reached out a trembling hand to turn the corpse so he could see its face. But he knew. Oh, yes, he knew who it was. His heart had already told him. He turned the body over.

  Bran’s breath rattled in his throat as the fire illuminated Lleu’s upturned face. Lleu’s tunic was slashed and stained with blood, so much blood that Bran could scarce believe a man could bleed so much. Lleu’s hands—both his normal hand and the hand of silver—were still wrapped around the hilt of Caladfwlch, the object Lleu had been cradling. The golden, eagle-shaped hilt glittered coldly in the light of Druid’s Fire. The eagle’s bloodstone eyes shifted in the flickering light as though unwilling to look upon what had happened here, to acknowledge the truth about its master.

  Tears streaming down his checks, he reached out to take Lleu in his arms.

  And then Lleu opened his sapphire blue eyes.

  Bran’s heart stopped, then consented to beat on. “Lleu,” he whispered. “You’re alive.”

  “Waited for you,” Lleu breathed.

  “I—I am sorry I am late.”

  “Aren’t late,” Lleu whispered. “In time.” Feebly he tried to raise his sword, to hand it to Bran. But Lleu was far too weak. He succeeded only in pushing it toward his friend.

  “Take it,” the High King whispered.

  “Lleu—”

  “Take it, Dreamer.”

  Bran took the sword, holding it with one hand while he cradled Lleu�
�s dying body in the other. “I have it,” he rasped.

  “You know where.”

  “Yes, I know where to take it.”

  “Came from the water,” Lleu said laboriously. “Must go back.”

  “Yes, I know. I was there when you first found it.”

  Lleu smiled the warm smile that had first won Bran over so long ago. “Knew you’d come.”

  Bran could not answer through his tears so he held his dying friend tighter.

  “Bloudewedd—”

  “I saw,” Bran said shortly. “Bloudewedd and Gorwys. Her own sister’s husband.”

  “Don’t kill her,” Lleu insisted weakly. “I won’t let her get away with—”

  “I know. But don’t kill her.”

  Knowing now what Lleu meant, Bran merely nodded. “And Gorwys.” Lleu hesitated, searching for the strength to talk. “You know what to do.”

  “Yes,” Bran said. “I know.”

  “The others?”

  “Are alive,” Bran said steadily. “And in the dungeon of Cadair Idris.”

  “Get them out.”

  “I will.”

  “And tell them—”

  “Tell them what, Lleu?” Bran prompted quietly when Lleu fell silent, searching for the strength to continue.

  With a great effort, Lleu whispered. “Tell them I wait for them in the Land of Summer. That never had a High King such faithful Great Ones as they.”

  “I will tell them. Be at peace, my friend. And wait for us. We will join you in Gwlad Yr Haf when our lives are done. And there we will sit with you. We will sing the songs of Taliesin together. You know how much he likes that.”

  Lleu smiled weakly, and nodded.

  “And Arywen will teach us how to dance, as she always threatened to do. And Mannawyddan will make us laugh, for he always knew how.”

  Lleu’s smile began to fade as the light in his blue eyes started to dim.

  “And one day the Wheel will turn, and you will be returned to Kymru in her hour of need, as you always have been,” Bran promised, his voice soothing.

  Lleu gave a single sigh, then his chest hitched once, and his breath stopped.

  Bran stayed by Lleu’s dead body for some time, cradling Caladfwlch in one arm and Lleu’s steadily cooling corpse in the other.