Dawnflight (63 page)

Galen of Pergamum.
Roman physician of Greek origin who practiced in the court of Emperor Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century A.D. His research and methodologies greatly advanced knowledge in the fields of anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and neurology, and it’s estimated that as much as 80% of his writings remain valid by modern standards.

Germanus of Auxerre, Saint.
Papal emissary sent to Brydein in the mid-fifth century. The exact nature of the battle ascribed to him by ecclesiastical tradition, which the Brytons call the “Alleluia Victory” and the Caledonaich call the “Great Disaster,” is a matter of historical debate.

Gogfran.
See Ogryvan. Brytonic variant of Ogryvan. This name appears in at least one Old Welsh triad (verse of epic poetry) as “Gogfran the Giant,” father of one of the three Gwenhwyfars to whom Arthur was supposedly married.

Gorlas.
Late Chieftain of Clan Cwrnwyll of Rheged, Brydein. Ygraine’s first husband; father of Annamar and Yglais. Legendary name: Duke Gorlois of Cornwall.

Guenevara.
See Gyanhumara. Name origin: Saxon variant of Gwenhwyfar.

Guilbach (GOOL-bahk).
Late Chieftain and Àrd-Ceoigin of Clan Alban, Caledon. Alayna’s consort; Angusel’s father. Clan: Tarsuinn, Caledon. Nickname: Gwalchafed. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
guilbneach
(“curlew”).

Gwalchafed (gwahl-KAH-vehd).
See Guilbach. Nickname bestowed on Guilbach by Uther the Pendragon honoring his battle prowess. Name origin: Brythonic
gwalchafed
(“summer falcon”).

Gweneth.
Brytoni slave at Arbroch. Wife of Rudd.

Gwenhwyfar (GWEN-ih-var) ferch Gogfran.
See Gyanhumara. Brytonic patronymic name format meaning “Gyanhumara, daughter of Ogryvan.” Name origin: Brythonic
gwenhwyfar
(“white shadow”). Mentioned in Old Welsh triads as being one of the three Gwenhwyfars married to Arthur, the daughter of “Gogfran the Giant,” and hostess to Medraut “the Hungry Man.”

Gyanhumara (ghee-ahn-huh-MAR-ah) nic Hymar, a.k.a. Gwenhwyfar ferch Gogfran, a.k.a. Guenevara.
Chieftainess and Àrd-Banoigin of Clan Argyll of Caledon. Daughter of Hymar and Ogryvan. Nickname: Gyan (GHEE-ahn). Banner: two silver doves flying, on dark blue. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
gainne amhran
(“rarest song”). Legendary names: Queen Guinevere, Guenevere, Guenever.

Henna.
A village wise-woman on Maun. Clan: Moray, Dalriada, Brydein.

Horace.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus, a 1st-century, B.C. Roman poet.

Hymar (HEE-mar).
Late Chieftainess and Àrd-Banoigin of Clan Argyll of Caledon. Ogryvan’s wife; mother of Peredur and Gyanhumara. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
amhran
(“song”).

Ian.
Monk and teacher at St. Padraic’s Monastery.

Ian the Holy Messenger.
Caledonaiche translation of “Saint John the Evangelist.” In this text, it refers to the name of the church at Dùn Lùth Lhugh (Caer Lugubalion).

Iesseu (yay-SAY-oo).
Caledonaiche variant of Jesus.

Iesu (YAY-soo).
Brytonic variant of Jesus.

Iulius Caesar.
Roman Emperor Gaius Julius Caesar, best known to Caledonians as having ordered a failed invasion of Caledonia in the 1st century B.C., though he managed to subjugate the rest of Brydein into the Roman Empire (Britannia Province).

Katra.
Brytoni slave at Arbroch. Wife of Dafydd the Elder; mother of Mari, Dafydd the Younger, and Samsen.

Kentigern.
Abbot, Glaschu Monastery. Known in ecclesiastical history as St. Kentigern or St. Mungo.

Lagan.
Scáthaichean warrior; Cuchullain’s charioteer, based on Laeg of Irish Cú Chulainn mythology. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
lagan
(“little dell”).

Lir.
Abbot of St. Padraic’s Monastery; Keeper of the Chalice.

Livy.
Titus Livius Patavinus, a turn-of-the-millennium Roman historian most famous for his books about the several-hundred-year history of the Roman pre-republic, republic, and empire, collectively titled
Ab urbe condita libri
(“Books since the city’s founding” or, less literally but more descriptively, “A History of Rome”).

Loth (LOTE).
Chieftain of Clan Lothian of Gododdin, Brydein. Arthur’s brother-in-law; Annamar’s husband. Banner: amber bear on forest green. Legendary name: King Lot.

Lucan.
Monk and teacher at St. Padraic’s Monastery. Latin name: Lucianus.

Màiri (MAY-ih-ree).
Caledonaiche variant of the name Mary.

Marcia.
Nun at Rushen Priory.

Marcus.
Centurion in the Brytoni army; Arthur’s aide-de-camp. Legendary name: King Mark.

Mardha (MAHR-ah).
Maidservant at Arbroch. Clan: Argyll, Caledon.

Mari (MAHR-ee).
Daughter of Dafydd the Elder and Katra.

Mathan.
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
mathan
(“a bear”).

Merlinus Aurelius Ambrosius Dubricius.
Bishop; general (legate) in the Brytoni army, garrison commander of Caer Lugubalion. Son of Ambrosius; Arthur’s cousin. Nickname: Merlin. Latin name is loosely based on Roman format and means “Merlin of the Aurelii, son of Ambrose, called Dubric.” Known in Welsh ecclesiastical history as St. Dubric (or St. Dyfrig, depending upon the source). Legendary name: Merlin.

Morghe (MOR-gheh) ferch Uther.
Daughter of Uther and Ygraine; Arthur’s younger sister; Angusel’s friend. Latin name: Morganna Aurelia Vetara. Legendary name: Queen Morgan Le Fay.

Niall.
Scáthaichean general; Cuchullain’s friend.

Niniane (nee-nee-AH-neh).
Prioress of Rushen Priory. Legendary names: Niniane, Nimue, Lady of the Lake.

Ogryvan (OH-gree-van) mac Glynnis, a.k.a. Gogfran.
Chieftain of Clan Argyll of Caledon. Hymar’s consort; Peredur’s stepfather; Gyanhumara’s father. Nickname: “the Ogre.” Legendary name: King Leodegrance.

Padraic (pah-DRAY-ik), Saint.
Founder of the monastery on Saint Padraic’s Isle; patron saint of Ireland (a.k.a. St. Patrick, St. Paddy).

Peredur (PARE-eh-dur) mac Hymar.
Hymar’s son; Ogryvan’s stepson; Gyanhumara’s half brother. Clan: Argyll, Caledon. Nickname: Per. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
pòr dùr
(“stubborn seed”). Legendary name: Sir Percival.

Reuel.
Seannachaidh of Clan Argyll, Caledon; preserver of law and lore. Name origin: Second “R” of J.R.R. Tolkien.

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

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

Rudd (ROOTH).
Brytoni slave at Arbroch. Husband of Gweneth.

Samsen.
Infant son of Dafydd the Elder.

Stefan.
Brytoni monk and master of students at St. Padriac’s Monastery. Latin name: Stephanus.

Suetonius.
Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, a late-1st- to early-2nd-century, A.D. Roman historian best known for his collection of works titled
De Vita Caesarum
, “Of the lives of the Caesars,” biographies of the twelve consecutive Roman rulers beginning with Julius Caesar.

Urien (OO-ree-ehn) map Dumarec.
Senior cavalry officer (tribune) in the Brytoni army. Son of Dumarec. Clan: Moray, Dalriada, Brydein. Legendary names: King Urien, Uriens.

Uther map Custennin.
Late Dux Britanniarum (succeeded Ambrosius). Ambrosius’s younger brother; Ygraine’s second husband; father of Arthur and Morghe. Latin name: Vetarus Aurelius Constantinus. Legendary name: King Uther Pendragon.

Vergul (VARE-gool).
Priest of Clan Argyll, Caledon. Name origin: inspired by Scottish Gaelic
fiar
(“twisted”),
gul
(“lamenting”).

Vortigern.
Late Brytoni warlord who employed Saxon mercenaries against the Caledonians and Scots.

Wat.
Brytoni stable boy at Caer Lugubalion. Nickname: Wart.

Wyllan (WEE-hlahn).
Manx smith who forged Caleberyllus.

Yglais (ee-GLACE) ferch Gorlas.
Daughter of Gorlas and Ygraine; Arthur’s half sister; wife of Alain. Clan: Cwrnwyll, Rheged, Brydein.

Ygraine (ee-GRAY-neh).
Chieftainess of Clan Cwrnwyll of Rheged, Brydein. Widow of Gorlas; widow of Uther; mother of Annamar, Yglais, Arthur, and Morghe. Nickname: Ygrayna. Banner: ivory unicorn on crimson. Legendary name: Queen Igraine.

Ygrayna (ee-grayEE-nah).
Caledonaiche variant of Ygraine. Name origin: Scottish Gaelic
a’ghrian
(“of the sun”).

Appendix II: Glossary

T
HIS APPENDIX INCLUDES place-names and foreign terms. Pronunciation guidelines are supplied for the less obvious terms, especially those of Brythonic or Scottish Gaelic origin. In the case of a term having multiple translations used in the text, the most commonly referenced term is listed first. Word and phrase origins and English translations are given wherever possible.

My choices of word selection, translation, spelling, suggested pronunciation, and the use of accent marks reflect an attempt to imply a protolanguage to today’s version, especially with regard to the Scottish-Gaelic-based words, compounds, and phrases. Terms identified as having a Pictish source are based on studies of Scottish place-names, since there are no known documents that were written in ancient Pictish. Brythonic-sourced words are derived from ancient Welsh literature, such as the
Mabinogion
.

Abar-Gleann (ah-bar glayANN; Caledonaiche, “Mouth of the River Valley”).
Site of Arthur’s first battle as Dux Britanniarum, where he defeated the Caledonians, located at the eastern end of the Antonine Wall on the south bank of the Firth of Forth near the present-day town of Bo’ness, Falkirk, Scotland. This equates to the first of Arthur’s twelve battles, the “mouth of the River Glein,” recorded in Chapter 56 of the
Historia Brittonum
(written in the early 9th century). Origin: proto-Celtic/Pictish
abar
(“river mouth”), Scottish Gaelic
gleann
(“valley”).

Aífe (EE-fay).
Scáthaichean demoness. In Irish folklore, Aífe is the twin sister and deadly rival of Scáthach. Given the other name associations and folkloric connections, for the purposes of this story I affiliate Aífe with the Scháthan ancient enemies, the Aítachaitais.

Aítachait (EEtah-kite; pl. Aítachaitais (eetah-KITE-iss), poss. pl. Aítachasan (eetah-KAH-san); Scáthaichean, “strife with Aífe”).
Name applied by the Scáthan to the inhabitants of the western portion of Eireann that Latin-speakers know as Attacots, echoing for the Scáthan the mythological Scáthach-Aífe rivalry. Origin: inspired by Scottish Gaelic
a’tachairt
(“occurring”).

ala (pl. alae; Latin, “wing(s)”).
Cavalry unit usually consisting of five turmae, commanded by a centurio equo.

Alban (“The Wild People”), Clan.
Caledonaiche:
Albainaich Chaledon
(poss.
h’Albainaich
; “of Clan Alban”). Member of the Caledonach Confederacy. The clan’s name tracks to the ancient name for Scotland and is deliberately evocative of an alternate legendary name for Arthur’s realm, “Albion.” Banner: rampant white lion on cerulean blue. Cloak pattern: sky blue crossed with crimson and green. Gemstone: aquamarine. Name origin: inspired by Scottish Gaelic
am bàn
(“untilled”) and
Albainn
(“Alba,” “Scotland”).

Alleluia Victory, The.
Caledonaiche:
An Ciorramor
(“The Great Disaster”). Brytoni battle against Saxons, Scots, and Picts, led by Germanus of Auxerre, so named because the Brytons shouted “alleluia” (Latinized Hebrew
hallelu Yah
, “praise the Lord”) to confound their foes. I employ literary license to date this battle during Germanus’s second (and historically disputed) visit to Britain in the 440s, rather than the more widely accepted A.D. 428-429, during his first mission to the island. Also, apparently the Scots weren’t involved.

Àmbholc (AY-mulk; Caledonaiche, “Time of Spring”).
Brytonic:
Imbolc
. Winter ritual celebrated by non-Christian Caledonians and Brytons on February 1. Joinings taking place on Àmbholc night can be nullified the following Àmbholc with no shame clinging to either person. Caledonaiche name origin: Scottish Gaelic
àm
(“time”),
bòlc
(“to spring”).

Anderida (Latin).
Brytoni-controlled port on the Narrow Sea near the present-day town of Pevensey, East Sussex, England.

Angalaranach (ahn-gah-LAR-ah-nack; poss. Anghalaranach, pl. Angalaranaich, poss. pl. Anghalaranaich; Caledonaiche, “(of the) Diseased People”).
Unflattering terms the Caledonaich apply to the Angli people. Origin: Scottish Gaelic
an galar
(“the disease”),
a’ghalar
(“of the disease”).

Angle(s) (ANE-ghel; Brytonic).
Name applied to one or more inhabitants of the eastern coast of Brydein.

Angli (ANE-glee; Latin).
Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of the eastern coast of Brydein.