The Skull of the World (34 page)

Lachlan the Winged:
Righ of Eileanan.

Lament of the Gods:
river in Tirlethan.

leannan:
sweetheart.

Linley MacSeinn:
the prionnsa of Carraig.

loch; lochan (pi):
lake.

Lodestar:
the heritage of all the MacCuinns, the Inheritance of Aedan. When they are born their hands are placed upon it and a connection made. Whoever the stone recognizes is the Righ or Banrigh of Eileanan.

Lucescere:
ancient city built on an island above the Shining Waters. The traditional home of the MacCuinns and the Tower of Two Moons.

Mac:
son of.

MacAhern:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Ahearn the Horse-laird.

MacAislin:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Aislinna the Dreamer.

MacBrann:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Brann the Raven.

MacCuinn:
one of the eleven great clans, descendants of Cuinn Braveheart.

MacFaghan:
descendants of Faodhagan, one of the eleven great clans, newly discovered.

MacFoghnan:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Foghnan the Thistle.

MacHamell clan:
lairds of Caeryla.

MacHilde:
one of the eleven great clans; descended from Berhtilde the Bright Warrior-Maid.

MacRuraich:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Ruraich the Searcher.

MacSeinn:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Seinneadair the Singer.

MacSian:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Sian the Storm-rider.

MacThanach:
one of the eleven great clans; descendants of Tuathanach the Farmer.

Mairead the Fair:
younger daughter of Aedan MacCuinn, first Banrigh of Eileanan and the second to wield the Lodestar. Meghan's younger sister.

Margrit NicFoghnan:
deposed Banprionnsa of Arran.

Maya the Ensorcellor:
former Banrigh of Eileanan, wife of Jaspar.

Meghan of the Beasts:
wood-witch and sorceress of seven rings. She can speak to animals. Keybearer of the Coven of Witches before and after banishment of Tabithas.

Melisse NicThanach:
Banprionnsa of Blessem.

Mesmerd; Mesmerdean (pi):
a winged ghost or Gray One; fairy creature from Arran that hypnotizes its prey with its glance and then kisses away its life.

Midsummer's Eve:
summer solstice; time of high magic.

moonbane:
a hallucinogenic drug distilled from the moonflower plant. Grows only in the Montrose Islands, to the southwest of the Fair Isles.

Neil MacFdghnan:
only son and heir of Iain MacFoghnan of Arran and Elfrida NicHilda of Tirsoilleir.

Nellwyn:
a Yedda who had been rescued from the Black Tower in Tirsoilleir.

Ne:
daughter of.

Nightglobe of Naia:
the most secret and precious relic of the Priestesses of Jor; a globe of immense power.

nisse:
small woodland fairy.

nyx:
night spirit. Dark and mysterious, with powers of illusion and concealment.

Nila:
Fairgean prince, youngest son of the Fairgean king.

old mother:
a Khan'cohban term for the wise woman of the pride.

Olwynne NicCuinn:
baby daughter of Lachlan Mac-Cuinn and Iseult NicFaghan; twin sister of Owein.

One Power:
the life-energy that is contained in all things. Witches draw upon the One Power to perform their acts of magic. The One Power contains all the elemental forces of Air, Earth, Water, Fire and Spirit, and witches are usually more powerful in one force than others.

Owein MacCuinn:
second son of Lachlan MacCuinn and Iseult NicFaghan; twin brother of Olwynne. Has wings like a bird.

Parteta the Brave:
former Righ of Eileanan; the father of Jaspar, Feargus, Donncan and Lachlan MacCuinn. He was killed by the Fairgean at the Battle of the Strand in 1106.

pilliwinkes:
instrument of torture similar to thumbscrews.

prides:
The social unit of the Khan'cohbans, who live in nomadic family groups. Seven Prides in all, called the Pride of the Fire Dragon, the Pride of the Snow Lion, the Pride of the Saber Leopard, the Pride of the Frost Giant, the Pride of the Gray Wolf, the Pride of the Fighting Cat, the Pride of the Woolly Bear.

prionnsa; prionnsachan (pi):
prince, duke.

Ravenshazv:
deeply forested land west of Rionnagan, owned by the MacBrann Clan, descendants of Brann, one of the First Coven of Witches.

reil:
eight-pointed, star-shaped weapon carried by Scarred Warriors.

Rhyllster:
the main river in Rionnagan.

Rhyssmadill:
the Righ's castle by the sea.

righ; rlghrean (pi):
king.

Rionnagan:
together with Clachan and Blessem, the richest lands in Eileanan. Ruled by MacCuinns, descendants of Cuinn Lionheart, leader of the First Coven of Witches.

Riordan Bowlegs:
witch with the ability to whisper horses. Was once head groom at Rhyssmadill.

Rurach:
wild mountainous land, lying between Tireich and Siantan. Ruled by MacRuraich clan, descendants of Ruraich, one of the First Coven of Witches.

Ruraich the Searcher;
one of the First Coven of Witches. Known for searching and finding Talent. Located the world of Eileanan on the star-map, allowing Cuinn to set a course for the Great Crossing.

saber-leopard:
savage feline with curved fangs that lives in the remote mountain areas.

sacred woods:
ash, hazel, oak, blackthorn, fir, hawthorn and yew.

Samhain:
first day of winter; festival for the souls of the dead. Best time of year to see the future. Celebrated with fire festivals, masks and fireworks.

Scarred Warrior:
Khan'cohban warriors who are scarred as a mark of achievement. A warrior who receives all seven scars has received the highest degree of skill.

seanalair:
general of the army.

Seinneadair the Singer:
one of the First Coven of Witches, known for her ability to enchant with song.

Sian the Storm-rider:
one of the First Coven of Witches. A famous weather witch, renowned for whistling up hurricanes.

Siantan:
northwest land of Eileanan, between Rurach and Carraig. Famous for its weather witches. Ruled by MacSian clan, descendants of Sian the Storm-rider.

Sithiche Mountains:
northernmost mountains of Rionnagan, peaking at Dragonclaw. Name means "Fairy Mountains."

skeelie:
a village witch or wise woman.

Skill:
a common application of magic, such as lighting a candle or dowsing for water.

Skull of the World:
the highest mountain in Eileanan, an extinct volcano which plays an important role in the Khan'cohbans' mythology and culture.

solstice:
either of the times when the sun is the farthest distance from the earth.

The Spine of the World:
a Khan'cohban term for range of mountains that runs down the center of Eileanan, in Tirlethan.

Spinners:
goddesses of fate. Include the spinner Sni-omhar, the goddess of birth; the weaver Breabadair, goddess of life; and she who cuts the thread, Gear-radh, goddess of death.

spring equinox:
when the day reaches the same length as the night.

Stormwing:
Lachlan's gyrfalcon.

summer solstice:
the time when the sun is farthest north from the equator; Midsummer's Eve.

syne:
since.

Tabithas the Wolf-runner:
Keybearer of the Coven of Witches before disappearing from Eileanan after the Day of Betrayal.

Talent:
witches often combine their strengths in the different forces to one powerful Talent; e.g. the ability to charm animals like Meghan.

Tears of the Gods:
a waterfall at the Skull of the World.

Test of Elements:
once a witch is fully accepted into the coven at the age of twenty-four, they learn Skills in the element in which they are strongest; i.e. air, earth, fire, water, or spirit. The First Test of any element wins them a ring which is worn on the right hand. If they pass the Third Test in any one element, the witch is called a sorcerer or sorceress, and wears a ring on their left hand. It is very rare for any witch to win a sorceress ring in more than one element.
Test of Powers:
a witch is first tested on his or her eighth birthday, and if any magical powers are detected, he or she becomes an acolyte. On their sixteenth birthday, witches are tested again and, if they pass, permitted to become an apprentice. The Third Tests take place on their twenty-fourth birthday, and if successfully completed, the apprentice is admitted into the Coven of Witches.

Theurgia:
a school for acolytes and apprentices.

Tireich:
land of the horse-lairds—most westerly country of Eileanan, populated by nomadic tribes famous for their horses and ruled by the MacAhern clan.

Tirlethan:
Land of the Twins; once ruled by Faodha-gan and Sorcha, twin sorcerers. Called the Spine of the World by Khan'cohbans.

Tirsoilleir:
The Bright Land. Northeast land of Eileanan, populated by a race of fierce warriors. Was once ruled by the MacHilde clan, descended from Berh-tilde, one of the First Coven of Witches. However, the Tirsoilleirean have rejected Witchcraft and the ruling family in favor of militant religion. Have dreams of controlling Eileanan.

Tdmas the Healer:
boy with healing powers; formerly apprentice to Jorge the Seer.

The Towers of the Witches:
Thirteen towers built as centers of learning and witchcraft in the twelve lands of Eileanan. The Towers are:

Tur de Aisling
in Aslinn (Tower of Dreamers)

Tur na cheud Ruigsinn
in Clachan (Tower of First Landing; Cuinn's Tower)

Tur de Ceo
in Arran (Tower of Mists)

Tur na Fitheach
in Ravenshaw (Tower of Ravens)

Tur na Gealaich dha
in Rionnagan (Tower of Two Moons)

Tur na Raoin Beannachadh
in Blessem (Tower of the Blessed Fields)

Tur na Ruraich
in Rurach (Tower of Searchers)

Tiir de Rdsan is Snathad
in Tirlethan (Towers of Roses and Thorns)

Tiir na Sabaidean
in Tirsoilleir (Tower of the Warriors)

Tur na Seinnadairean Mhuir
in Carraig (Tower of the Sea-singers)

Tur de Stoirmean
in Siantan (Tower of Storm)

Tur na Thigearnean
in Tireich (Tower of the Horse-lairds)

trictrac:
a form of backgammon.

Tuathanach the Farmer:
One of the First Coven of Witches. (See
Blessem)

two moons:
Magnysson and Gladrielle.

uile-bheist; uile-bheistean (pi):
monster.

uka:
Khan'cohban word for "demon" or "monster."

ulez:
a woolly coated horned creature of the Spine of the World.

unza:
Khan'cohban word meaning all that is dark and unknown.

The White Gods:
nameless, shapeless gods of the Khan'cohbans, and greatly feared and revered by them.

winter solstice:
the time when the sun is at the most southern point from the equator; Midwinter's Eve.

World's Mouth:
a cave at the Skull of the World leading deep into the mountain.

Yedda:
Sea-Witches.

Yeomen of the Guard:
Also known as the Blue Guards. The Righ's own personal bodyguard, responsible for his safety on journeys at home or abroad, and on the battlefield. Within the precincts of the palace, they guard the entrances and taste the Righ's food.

It has been a dark and dangerous journey that we have traveled with Isabeau and the witches of Eileanan, and you may be forgiven for fearing it is a journey without end. The three books you were promised in the beginning have turned into six, testing all of your patience and persistence to the limits. This I can promise you, though: the sixth book in the series,
The Fathomless Caves,
shall be the last.

On reflection, I find this very satisfying. Six is a number sacred to the Coven, being the number of points of the hexagram, the star of power used in the Coven's rites and rituals and, in combination with the circle of power, is the shape of the Key, the magical talisman at the heart of the story.

In the sixth and last book, the visions of flood and fire that Jorge the Seer saw in the very first book at last come to pass. Driven by ancient hatreds, the Fairgean have called upon dreadful powers to aid them in their quest to totally annihilate all those who dwell upon the land. As the time of the red comet draws ever closer, Lachlan and Iseult try desperately to avert the terrible fate the seer had prophesied, testing their strength and love to their very limits.

Meanwhile, Isabeau still has many dangers to face, but the most difficult challenge of all will be conquering the ghosts of her past. For if Isabeau is to heal the land, she first must find the way to healing her own troubled spirit . . .

May Ea shine her bright face upon you!

Kate Forsyth