The Dark Mirror (89 page)

Bridei said nothing, simply waited.

“I don’t think I’m the man for such a job, Bridei. A simple task that tests my skills, with an appropriate payment at the end of it, that I’ll undertake gladly. I don’t have it in me to offer more.”

“I see. You disappoint me, Faolan.
I think you deny your own nature.”

“You were raised by a druid. You look for complications where there are none. I wish to keep the path straightforward, that’s all.”

“I’m sorry. I will miss you greatly.”

There was another silence, of a different quality this time.

“Are you saying this is the only position you have to offer?” Faolan’s tone was painfully careful; it made Bridei want to weep.
“You do not intend to retain me as a personal protector for yourself and your betrothed?”

“I had anticipated that you would accept the other offer. I had no alternative ready.”

“I see.”

“You would consider that? The continuing burden of ensuring our safety, with a simple payment in food and lodgings and a little silver?”

“I don’t know about
little
,” Faolan said on a rush of outward breath.
“I command a high price.”

“I’ll meet it,” said Bridei.

“Then we have an agreement.” Faolan extended a hand; Bridei grasped it. “I wish to stay. I did not think I would need to tell you so.”

“Guard duty. Long days, sleepless nights, constant anxiety.”

“It’s what I do. It’s what suits me. I will undertake, also, those additional duties that took me periodically to the lands of Dalriada when
I worked for Drust the Bull. You cannot afford to dispense with a source of good intelligence.”

“No,” agreed Bridei, “nor a good friend. You will discover, in time, what that means. Come, let’s go in and face them again. I don’t like to leave Tuala alone for too long. This is all new to her.”

Faolan grimaced. “Like you, she seems to learn with startling speed. You’ll be a formidable pair, you
and she.”

“I hope so,” said Bridei. ‘A kingdom depends on it.”

HISTORY, CONJECTURE, AND IMAGINATION

The Bridei Chronicles are a blend of known history, informed guesswork, and imagination. The Picts were a mysterious people, all the more fascinating for the lack of contemporary records of their culture. What we know of them comes chiefly from Roman references and from clerics
such as Adomnan, who recorded the story of St. Columba’s mission to the north of Britain. The Picts were a dominant force in this region for centuries until the Gaels established themselves in what became known as Scotland. At that point the highly developed culture of the Picts quickly disappeared, leaving its footprint behind in the form of the carved symbol stones that bear the cryptic designs
also shown on Pictish jewelry: the crescent and V-rod, the double-disc and Z-rod, the mirror and comb, the sea-beast. Historians still dispute their meaning. The remnants of Pictish fortresses can still be found in places such as Burghead and Craig Phadraig, which appear in these novels as Caer Pridne and White Hill.

In writing the story of Bridei, son of Maelchon, who ruled the Picts from 554
A.D.
, I made a number of choices. My tale is based on known history: Bridei, his mentor, Broichan, the main political players, and the situations of the books are all real. However, as we have so little information about Pictish society and as so much of it is debatable, I relied on informed guesswork for much of the detail of the story. My treatment of matrilineal succession and of the election
of kings is in this category. It is not historical fact, although it is based on existing evidence as to the Pictish tradition.

I have avoided using place names derived from either Gaelic or Norse (such as, for instance, Loch Linnhe or Burghead) as both these cultures stamped their influence on the region after Bridei’s time. The Pictish language was in the same group as Welsh and Breton, but
little of it survived. The names I have given to familiar Scottish locations are a blend of English descriptive names (Oak Ridge, Serpent Lake) and invented names derived from Pictish/Brythonic components (Caer Pridne, Banmerren). Where it suits the history I have used the actual names (the Great Glen, Five Sisters, Dunadd).

The Pictish religion as depicted in these books is my own invention,
based on other pagan faiths of the time and on the Picts’ evident love and respect for nature (the symbol stones feature animals of many kinds, and it is likely these formed part of Pictish ritual practice). We do know there were druids or mages among them: Broichan appears in Adomnan’s
Life of St. Columba
as one of these. The well at Caer Pridne (Burghead Well) is a real place and can still be
visited.

The Good Folk are the ancient fairy folk of Scotland, who appear in many traditional tales. Hearth magic was commonly used to placate these tricky visitors.

The geography of the Bridei Chronicles is that of the Scottish Highlands, and most places in the books will be recognizable to those familiar with the region. However, I have taken some liberties with distances and locations for
the purpose of better storytelling.

A MORE DETAILED
version of these notes can be found on the author’s Web site at
www.julietmarillier.com
under the Bridei Chronicles. The page includes a bibliography for readers who wish to find out more about the Picts and their culture.