Holly Taylor - Night Birds Reign (Dreamers Cycle)

Dedication:

To my mother, Patricia Ann Flowers Taylor, who always believed in me.
I miss you, Mom.

Published 2005 by Medallion Press, Inc.

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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, Myrrdins sister

Cariadas ur Gwydion var Isalyn: Gwydions 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: Gwydions brother, Dewin to Hetwin Silver-Brow

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

Llywelyn ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elstars 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, Myrrdins cousin

Aergol ap Custennin var Dinaswyn: Cathbads heir, Dinaswyns son

Sinend ur Aergol var Eurgain: Aergols daughter and heir

Menw ap Aergol var Ceindrech: Aergols son

The Bards

Anieron ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Master Bard, Rhiannons uncle

Elidyr ap Dudod var Llawen: Anierons nephew and heir, husband to Elstar

Dudod ap Cyvarnion var Hunydd: Anierons brother, Elidyrs father, Rhiannons uncle

Cynfar ap Elidyr var Elstar: Elidyrs youngest son and heir

In Gwytheryn

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

Tybion ap Rhufon: Rhufons son

Lucan ap Tybion: Rhufons 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: Uthyrs Queen, sister to Queen Olwen of Ederynion

Arthur ap Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyrs son

Morrigan ur Uthyr var Ygraine: Uthyrs daughter

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

Cai ap Cynyr: Uthyrs Captain, the PenGwernan; his wife Nest and his son Garanwyn

Susanna ur Erim: Uthyrs Bard, Griffis lover

Griffi ap Iaen: Uthyrs Druid, Susannas lover

Neuad ur Hetwin: Uthyrs Dewin

Arday ur Medyr: Uthyrs steward

Duach ap Seithfed: Uthyrs doorkeeper

Greid ap Gorwys: Master Smith of Gwynedd

Donal: gatekeeper of Tegeingl

Trachymer: Uthyrs chief huntsman

Jonas: Bard to Diadwa of Creuddyn; his wife Canna

Diadwa ur Trephin: Gwarda of Creuddyn

Berwyn ap Cyrenyr: Diadwas Captain

Glwys ap Uchdryd: Diadwas Druid

In Prydyn

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

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

Sanon ur Rhoram var Christina: Rhorams daughter by his first wife

Gwenhwyfar ur Rhoram var Rhiannon: Rhorams daughter by Rhiannon

Efa ur Nudd: Rhorams second wife, sister to Erfin, Lord of Ceredigion

Achren ur Canhustyr: Rhorams Captain, the PenCollen

Aidan ap Camber: Achrens lieutenant

Ellywen ur Saidi: Rhorams Druid

Erfin ap Nudd: Lord of Ceredigion, Efas brother

Dafydd Penfro: Rhorams counselor

Tallwch ap Nwyfre: Rhorams doorkeeper

In Rheged

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

Ellirri ur Rhodri var Rathtyen: Uriens Queen, sister to Madoc, half sister to Uthyr

Elphin ap Urien var Ellirri: Uriens oldest son and heir

Owein ap Urien var Ellirri: Uriens second son

Rhiwallon ap Urien var Ellirri: Uriens youngest son

Enid ur Urien var Ellirri: Uriens daughter

Trystan ap Naf: Uriens Captain, the PenDraenenwen

Teleri ur Brysethach: Trystans lieutenant

Esyllt ur Maelwys: Uriens Bard, Marchs wife

Sabrina ur Dadweir: Uriens Druid

Bledri ap Gwyn: Uriens Dewin

March Y Meirchion: Uriens huntsman, Esyllts 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: Olwens daughter and heir

Lludd ap Olwen var Kilwch: Olwens son

Angharad ur Ednyved: Olwens Captain, the PenAethnen

Emrys ap Naw: Angharads lieutenant

Talhearn ap Coleas: Olwens Bard

Iago ap Cof: Olwens Druid

Regan ur Corfil: Olwens Dewin

Llwyd Cilcoed: Dewin of Caerinion, Olwens lover

Alun Cilcoed: Lord of Arystli, Llwyds 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