Dawnflight (62 page)

What is known about the Picts is sketchy at best. Historians are even unsure what they called themselves.
Pict
is derived from a Latin term for “painted people,” a reference to the custom of painting their bodies with woad dye. The stone carvings these mysterious people left behind are either hieroglyphic or runic in appearance, and as yet no Rosetta-Stone equivalent has been unearthed. This is a mournful situation for the historian and anthropologist but gives rise to all sorts of fascinating possibilities for the novelist.

It is generally believed that the Picts were a proud, warlike race, not unlike their Celtic neighbors. Evidence suggests that over the centuries, they intermarried extensively with the Scotti (Irish) and various continental Celtic tribes, engendering a unique cultural blend. This blend can be seen in the sharing of physical characteristics, deities, modes of dress, warfare, and language. I have taken the approach that by the opening of
Dawnflight
in the waning years of the 5th century, this blending process is well under way.

One distinctly Pictish aspect that seems to have remained intact is the nature of their society. Evidently, women shared clan leadership responsibilities with their menfolk, and descent was usually traced through the mother. Theirs was an integrated society, unlike the Celts who, by all reports, were highly segregated.

With regard to the Picts’ language, of which precious little is known, I have used Scottish Gaelic as a starting point, often with modifications as the need arose. Thus were born terms like
cù-puc
,
àrd-banoigin
, and
àrd-ceoigin
.

On the subject of names, I decided that my classically educated Romano-Celtic Arthur deserved a sword with an inherently Latin name,
Caleberyllus
, rather than using either the Brythonic
Caledfwlch
or its Latinized form,
Caliburnus
, both of disputed etymology.

I also took the liberty to invent or borrow distinctive names for many of my characters; in particular,
Ogryvan
,
Angusel
, and
Gyanhumara
. Ogryvan is derived from the Welsh
Gogfran
, who appears in an ancient triad as “a giant” and the father of one of the three Guineveres (
Gwenhwyfar
in Welsh) to whom Arthur was supposedly married. Angusel is based on King Auguselus of Scotland, mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s twelfth-century
History of the Kings of Britain
as one of Arthur’s staunchest supporters.

As for my title character, arguably the oldest known form of her name is
Guanhumara
. But my character needed a version that would yield a suitable nickname, and
Guan
just wasn’t it! Neither was
Guin
. She also needed a name that would not conjure preconceived notions in the mind of any reader with a passing familiarity with the Legends, which in my opinion
Guinevere
does, and so, to a lesser extent, does
Gwenhwyfar
. Hence,
Gyanhumara
, or
Gyan
, as she’s known to friends and kin: chieftainess, warrior, leader of warriors, the barbaric foil to Arthur’s civilized Roman ways…and the best portion of his soul. (1998)

(Wytheville, VA, 2012) What began as an effort to correct the errors in my pluralization of invented “Pictish” terminology blossomed into entire sets of idiomatic language that my characters of the various races use to refer to themselves and to each other. As I studied the old languages, Scottish Gaelic in particular, I realized I could mine the vocabulary to invent more epithets, euphemisms, endearments, and mythology. Hence my inclusion of the Glossary, with more than 225 entries that apply to this text, including place-names and the identification of their present-day sites.

And, why not? It is my hope that this series will become at least eight books (including two that chronologically precede
Dawnflight
), and all of these works exist in some stage of development. Since I had planned to re-release
Dawnflight
, I decided it was going to benefit from all this world-building too.

The appendix titled “People” is also new for this edition, as are my line-art character totems. When ebook programming evolves to employ the entire HTML command set, I will include a table that identifies characters with their totems. My beta-test versions did not yield a consistently acceptable look across the different ebook readers, so I elected to stay with plain text.

Fans of the original edition may notice wording differences and, in a few notable places, much more substantial revisions to the text, though I left the storyline intact. This novel began life in its present form 25 years ago; I can add thirteen to that if I choose to count an earlier effort that had Guinevere as a Roman noblewoman named Vennevria, niece of the Roman emperor, and Arthur as a Southern British Celt named Artos, which also ended with their wedding. In some respects,
Dawnflight
is not the novel I would have written today, but this edition comes a lot closer to my present writing style.

Closer yet is its sequel,
Morning’s Journey
, which already existed as a complete draft in 2002, though some of its material began in a much longer version of
Dawnflight
dating to 1992.
Morning’s Journey
also has undergone extensive revisions, and it is now available for sale. Work on volume 3,
Raging Sea
, is in progress.

Appendix I: People

E
NTRY FORMAT:

Full Name (Pronunciation).
Brief description, which may include rank, occupation, clan, country, nickname(s), name’s origin and meaning, banner, and legendary name. Place-names and other affiliations are given in the person’s native language.

Approximate pronunciation guidelines are supplied for the less obvious names, especially those of Scottish Gaelic and Brythonic origin. When in doubt, pronounce it however it makes sense to you. Or purchase the audiobook edition of
Dawnflight
, featuring lovely narration by the Scottish-born Dorothy Dickson!

Accolon.
Centurion in First Ala, Horse Cohort, Dragon Legion of Brytoni army; Urien’s second-in-command and friend. Clan: Moray, Dalriada, Brydein. Legendary name: Sir Accolon.

Adim Al-Iskandar.
Arms merchant, hails from Constantinopolis. Name origin: variant of “Adam Alexander.”

Airc.
One of the warriors bound by treaty to join the Horse Cohort of the Dragon Legion of Brydein. Clan: Argyll, Caledon. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
àrc
(“cork”).

Alain.
Heir to the chieftainship of Clan Cwrnwyll of Rheged, Brydein. Husband of Yglais; Arthur’s brother-in-law. Legendary name: King Alain Le Gros.

Alayna (ah-lah-EE-nah).
Chieftainess and Àrd-Banoigin of Clan Alban of Caledon. Widow of Guilbach (Gwalchafed); Angusel’s mother. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
àlainn
(“beautiful, elegant, splendid”).

Alun.
Officer at Ayr Point signal station, Maun.

Ambrosius Aurelius Constantinus.
Late Dux Britanniarum. Elder brother of Uther; father of Merlin. Nickname: Emrys (EM-rees). Legendary name: Ambrosius.

Angusel mac Alayna, a.k.a. Anguselus.
Àrd-Oighre of Clan Alban of Caledon. Son of Alayna and Gwalchafed. Nickname: Angus. Name origin: inspired by Scottish Gaelic
an càs
(“the trying situation”),
sàl
(“sea”). Legendary name: Sir Lancelot du Lac.

Annamar ferch Gorlas.
Daughter of Gorlas and Ygraine; Arthur’s half sister; wife of Loth of Clan Lothian. Clan: Cwrnwyll, Rheged, Brydein. Legendary name: Queen Margause.

Antoninus Pius.
Second-century A.D. Roman emperor, of the Aurelii family, who ordered the construction of the Antonine Wall in Britain.

Arthur map Uther, a.k.a. Arturus Aurelius Vetarus, a.k.a. Artyr mac Ygrayna.
The Pendragon, Dux Britanniarum (succeeded Uther). Son of Uther and Ygraine. Clan: Cwrnwyll, Brydein. Nickname: Artyr. Banner: scarlet dragon rampant on gold. Legendary name: King Arthur Pendragon.

Arturus Aurelius Vetarus.
See Arthur. Latin name loosely based on the ancient Roman format and in this story means “Arthur of the Aurelii, son of Uther.” After Abar-Gleann, some of his officers suggested that he add “Caledonius” (“Conqueror of Caledonia”) to his string, in grand old Roman tradition, but he declined.

Artyr (ar-TEER) mac Ygrayna.
See Arthur. Caledonaiche matronymic name format meaning “Arthur, son of Ygraine.” Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
ar tir
(“our country”).

Bedwyr (BAYD-veer) map Bann.
Highest-ranking officer (commander) of the Brytoni fleet. Son of Chieftain Bann. Clan: Lammor, Gododdin, Rheged. Legendary name: Sir Bedivere.

Bohort.
Centurion in the Brytoni army, Ayr Point garrison commander. Legendary name: Sir Bors de Ganis.

Bryalla.
Maidservant at Arbroch. Clan: Argyll, Caledon.

Brychan (BREE-kahn).
Guardsman at Port Dhoo-Glass.

Caius Marcellus Ectorius.
General (legate) in the Brytoni army, Camboglanna garrison commander. Son of Ectorius; Arthur’s foster brother. Nickname: Cai. Legendary name: Sir Kay the Seneschal.

Catullus.
Decurion in command of the Second Turma, First Ala, Bear Cohort, Dragon Legion of Brydein.

Colgrim.
King of the Angles. Banner: crimson eagle on white.

Conall.
One of the warriors bound by treaty to join the Horse Cohort of the Dragon Legion of Brydein. Clan: Argyll, Caledon.

Conchobar.
Late Laird of the Scáthaichean of Eireann. Father of Cuchullain. Banner: silver wolf running, on pine green.

Cuchullain (koo-CULL-len) og Conchobar.
Laird of the Scáthaichean of Eireann (succeeded Conchobar). Son of Conchobar; husband of Dierda. Nickname: Cucu. Banner: silver wolf running, on pine green. Legendary name: Cú Chulainn.

Cynda (KEEN-dah).
Gyanhumara’s wet nurse, confidante. Clan: Argyll, Caledon.

Dafydd (DAHV-eeth) the Elder.
Brytoni slave at Arbroch. Katra’s husband; father of Mari, Dafydd the Younger, and Samsen. Name origin: Brythonic variant of the name David.

Dafydd (DAHV-eeth) the Younger.
Son of Dafydd the Elder. Name origin: Brythonic variant of the name David.

Dierda (dee-ER-dah).
Scáthaichean noblewoman. Wife of Cuchullain. Nickname: Dee. Name origin: variant of the name Deirdre.

Drustanus.
Nephew of Marcus. Legendary name: Sir Tristan.

Dumarec.
Chieftain of Clan Moray of Dalriada, Brydein. Urien’s father. Banner: black boar’s head on gold.

Ectorius.
Late general (legate) in the Brytoni army. Father of Cai; foster father of Arthur. Legendary names: Sir Ector, Antor, Anton.

Elian (EHL-ee-ahn).
Centurion in the Brytoni army, Tanroc garrison commander. Dumarec’s cousin. Clan: Moray, Dalriada, Brydein.

Erec.
Guardsman at Port Dhoo-Glass.

Fergus og Róig.
Scáthaichean warrior. Cuchullain’s foster brother. Nickname: Fergi. A composite of the “Fercos ap Roth/Fergus mac Roth” listed in the ancient Welsh list of Arthur’s warriors and the “Fergus mac Róich” of Irish mythology who was one of Cú Chulainn’s foster fathers.