May Earth Rise

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

Part 3

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Part 4

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

Glossary

From the author of
CRIMSON FIRE, NIGHT BIRDS’ REIGN and CRY OF SORROW

B
OOK
F
OUR OF THE
D
REAMER’S
C
YCLE

Medallion Press, Inc.
Printed in USA

DEDICATION
To Michelle Velona, who fights her battle with courage, dignity and grace. Thank you for teaching me how to be a friend.

Published 2009 by Medallion Press, Inc.

The MEDALLION PRESS LOGO
is a registered trademark 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 © 2009 by Holly Taylor
Cover Illustration by Arturo Delgado
Interior map by James Tampa

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.

Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Typeset in Adobe Garamond Pro
Printed in the United States of America

ISBN#978-193383657-7

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition

If I break faith with you,
May the skies fall upon me,
May the seas drown me,
May the earth rise and swallow me.
A Kymric proverb

Gwydion ap Awst var Celemon: Dreamer of Kymru Dinaswyn ur Morvryn var Gwenllian: former Dreamer, Gwydion’s aunt, Myrrdin’s sister

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

Myrrdin ap Morvryn var Gwenllian: Gwydion’s uncle, Dinaswyn’s brother, former Ardewin and Arthur’s guardian Rhiannon ur Hefeydd var Indeg: former heir to the Ardewin, mother of Gwen

Elstar ur Anieron var Ethyllt: Ardewin, daughter of Anieron, wife to Elidyr

Llywelyn ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elstar’s oldest son and heir Morwen: a former teacher at Y Ty Dewin, a prisoner in Afalon Trephin: an accomplished doctor, a prisoner in Afalon Morgan ap Tud: a prisoner in Afalon

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

Ceindrech ur Elwystl: teacher of astronomy, mother of Menw

Aldwr ap Tegid: teacher of mathematics

Madryn ur Dyrys: teacher of religion

Yrth ap Cyndyn: teacher of the almanac

Hywel: assistant teacher of the almanac

Elidyr ap Dudod var Llawen: Master Bard, husband to Elstar Dudod ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Elidyr’s father, Rhiannon’s uncle

Cynfar ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elidyr’s youngest son and heir Elivri: an accomplished harpist, a prisoner in Afalon Maredudd: an old friend of Dudod’s, a prisoner in Afalon

Havgan: the Warleader, Bana of Coriania, conqueror of Kymru, the Golden Man

Sigerric of Apuldre: Over-General of Kymru

Aelfwyn: Princess of Corania, Havgan’s wife

Sledda of Cantware: Arch-wyrce-jaga of Kymru

Eadwig of Pinenden: Arch-byshop of Kymru

Arianrod ur Brychan var Arianllyn: cousin to Gwydion and Rhiannon,Havgan’s mistress

Arthur ap Uthyr var Ygraine: High King of Kymru, Penerydd of Gwytheryn

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

Torgar: an old sailer in Havgan’s army

Hild: a wyrce-jaga, formerly stationed in Maen, Prydyn

Edwald: a guard at Caer Siddi

Sigald: commander of the guards on Afalon

Rhufon ap Casnar: Steward of Cadair Idris

Tybion ap Rhufon: Rhufon’s son

Lucan ap Tybion: Rhufon’s grandson

Madoc ap Rhodri var Rathtyen: traitorous King of Gwynedd, Lord of Rhos

Tangwen ur Madoc var Bri: Madoc’s daughter Catha of Pecsaetan: Coranian General of Gwynedd Arday ur Medyr: mistress of King Madoc and General Catha Ecgfrith of Deorby: Byshop of Gwynedd

Ygraine ur Custennin var Elwen: King Uthyr’s widow

Morrigan ur Uthyr var Ygraine: true Queen of Gwynedd (House of PenHebog), Lady of Rhos, leader of the Cerddorian

Cai ap Cynyr: Morrigan’s captain

Bedwyr ap Bedrawd: Cai’s nephew and lieutenant

Susanna ur Erim: Morrigan’s bard, mother of Gwyhar

Gwyhar: bard, son of Susanna and Griffi

Neuad ur Hetwin: Morrigan’s Dewin

Duach ap Seithfed: a Cerddorian, Uthyr’s former doorkeeper, Lord of Dunoding

Greid ap Gorwys: Master Smith of Gwynedd

Dywel ap Gwyn: Gwarda of Ardudwy, brother to Bledri of Rheged,a Cerddorian

Isgowen ur Banon: Lady of Arfon, leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Arllech

Menwaed ap Medyr: traitorous Lord of Arllechwedd, brother of Arday

Gildasa ur Caw: Lady of Llyn, Tangen’s aunt, a Cerddorian Cian ap Iaen: Lord of Eyri, brother of Griffi, a Cerddorian Cynwas Cwryfager: Gwarda of Aberffraw, a Cerddorian Teregund ap Moren: Gwarda of Arllech Uchaf, a Cerddorian

Erfin ap Nudd: traitorous King of Prydyn, Efa’s brother Penda of Lindisfarne: Coranian General of Prydyn Eamer of Geddingas: Master wyrce-jaga of Prydyn Whitred of Sceaping: Byshop of Prydyn Ellywen ur Saidi: Erfin’s Druid

Rhoram ap Rhydderch var Eurneid: true King of Prydyn (House of PenBlaid), Lord of Dyfed, leader of the Cerddorian Geriant ap Rhoram var Christina: Rhoram’s son and heir by his first wife

Efa ur Nudd: Rhoram’s second wife, sister to King Erfin

Achren ur Canhustyr: Rhoram’s captain

Aidan ap Camber: Achren’s lieutenant

Cian ap Menw: Rhoram’s bard, a prisoner in Afalon

Cadell ap Brathach: Rhoram’s Dewin Dafydd Penfro: Rhoram’s counselor

Lluched ur Brathach: Gwarda of Creuddyn, sister to Cadell, a Cerddorian

Siwan ur Trephin: Master Smith of Prydyn

Rhodri ap Erddufyl: former King of Gwynedd, Rhoram’s uncle, father of Madoc and

Ellirri

Marared ur Canhustyr: Lady of Brycheiniog, sister of Achren, coleader of the Cerddorian in Coed Gwyn

Dadweir Heavy-Hand: Lord of Bychan, father of Sabrina of Rheged, co-leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Gwyn

Morcant Whledig: traitorous King of Rheged

Enid ur Urien var Ellirri: Owein’s sister, Queen of Rheged

Baldred of Tarbin: Coranian General of Rheged

Saebald of Laewes: Master wyrce-jaga of Rheged

Oswy of Gwyrin: Byshop of Rheged

Bledri ap Gwyn: Morcant’s Dewin

Owein ap Urien var Ellirri: true King of Rheged (House of PenMarch), Lord of Amgoed, leader of the Cerddorian

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

Rhiwallon ap Urien var Ellirri: Owein’s younger brother

Trystan ap Naf: Owein’s captain

Teleri ur Brysethach: Trystan’s lieutenant

Sabrina ur Dadweir: Owein’s Druid

Esyllt ur Maelwys: Owein’s bard, March’s wife

Gwarae Golden-Hair: Gwarda of Ystlwyf, a Cerddorian

Isgowen Whledig: Owein’s steward, sister to Morcant Wheldig

March Y Meirchion: Esyllt’s husband

Hetwin Silver-Brow: Lord of Gwinionydd, a Cerddorian

Cynedyr the Wild: Hetwin’s son, a Cerddorian

Menestyr ap naw: a cloth merchant, a secret Cerddorian

Llyenog ap Glwys: Master Smith of Rheged

Tyrnon Twrf Liant: Lord of Gwent, co-leader of the Cerddorian

in Coed Sarrug Atlantas ur Naf: Lady of Maelienydd, co-leader of the Cerddorian in Coed Sarrug

Feina ur Clustfeind: Gwarda of Llannerch, a Cerddorian Annyaws ur Menw: Gwarda of Iscoed, Cian’s sister, a Cerddorian Brys ap Brysethach: Gwarda of Mabudryd, Teleri’s brother, a Cerddorian

Rhun Rhywdd: Lord of Gwarthaf, a Cerddorian

Elen ur Olwen var Kilwch: captive Queen of Ederynion (House of PenAlarch), Lady of Ial

Talorcan of Bernice: Coranian General of Ederynion Guthlac of Cyil: Master wyrce-jaga of Ederynion Cuthwine of Cyncacestir: Byshop of Ederynion Iago ap Cof: Elen’s Druid Regan ur Corfil: Elen’s Dewin

Lludd ap Olwen var Kilwch: Elen’s brother, leader of the Cerddorian

Angharad ur Ednyved: Lludd’s captain Emrys ap Naw: Angharad’s lieutenant Talhearn ap Coleas: Ludd’s bard

Llwyd Cilcoed: Dewin, Queen Olwen’s former lover, brother to Alun Cilcoed

Alun Cilcoed: former Lord of Arystli, a Cerddorian, brother of Llwyd

Naf: a Cerddorian in Lludd’s teulu

Efrei ap Gwifan: Master Smith of Ederynion

Eiodar ur Ednyved: Gwarda of Iscoed, sister of Angharad, a Cerddorian

Llawra ur Erim: Gwarda of Cynnlaith, sister of Susanna of Gwynedd, a Cerddorian

Drwys Iron-Fist: Lord of Dinan, leader of the Cerddorian in Penbeullt

Sima ur Naw: Gwarda of Is Feychan, sister of Emrys, a Cerddorian Cilyddas ur Cors: Lady of Rhwny, a Cerddorian Meilwen ur Neb: Lady of Cydewain, a Cerddorian

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

Mannawyddan ap Iweridd var Fabel: Fifth Ardewin, Guardian of the Stone, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand Taliesin: Fifth Master Bard, Guardian of the Sword, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand

Arywen ur Cadwy var Isabyr: Fifth Archdruid, Guardian of the Cauldron, one of the Great Ones of Lleu Silver-Hand Bloudewedd ur Sawyl var Eurolwyn: wife of Lleu Lawrient, lover to Gowrys of Penllyn, imprisoned in Drwys Idris by Bran the Dreamer

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

Aertan: goddess of fate, The Weaver, wife of Annwyn Agrona: goddess of war, twin to Camulos, Y Rhyfelwr—the warrior twin

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

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

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

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

Gwrach Y Rhibyn: The Washer at the Ford, incarnation of Agrona,a harbinger of war

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

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

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

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

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

of Modron

Dormath: the hound the guards the door to Gwlad yr Haf

      
IN CORANIA
Aesc: brother to Emperor Athelred, Warleader in Havgan’s absence

Peada: Eorl of Lindisfarne, Penda’s father

Readwyth: Penda’s son

Athelred: Emperor of Corania

Athelflaed: Empress of Corania

Aesthryth: sister of Aesc and Athelbald, the former Queen of the Franks