Breann (BREE-ahn) – novice of the Fíréin brotherhood
Briallu (bree-AHL-lu) – sidhe who had masqueraded as Prince Talfryn’s daughter
Caemgen (CAM-gen) – healer of Ard Dhaimhin
Calhoun Mac Cuillinn (cal-HOON mok CUL-in) – former King of Faolán, assumed deceased; Aine’s half brother
Carraigmór (CAIR-ig-mor) – fortress of the High King and the Fíréin brotherhood
céad (ked) – a company of men; literally, one hundred
Ceannaire (KAN-na-ahr) – leader of the Fíréin brotherhood
Cill Rhí (kill ree) – Balian monastery
Cionnlath (KYUN-lath) – fortress seized by Niall
Cira/Ciraen (seer-AH) (seer-AY-ahn) – largest empire in history, now reduced to a small portion of the continent
Clanless – a group of Seareanns who claim no allegiance to clan, lord, or king
Comdiu (COM-dyoo) – God
Companions – the spirit warriors of Comdiu; angels
Conclave – the ruling body of the Fíréin brotherhood
Conor Mac Nir (CON-ner mok NEER) – Timhaigh warrior and musician; former Fíréin apprentice; married to Aine
Cwmmaen (coom-MINE) – a former Ciraen fortress in Gwydden; seat of Prince Talfryn
Daigh (dy) – senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Daimhin (DAV-in) – the first High King of Seare
Dal (dahl) – senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Diocail (dyuh-KEL) – master of Forrais’s house guard; now deceased
druid – priests of the pagan religion that predated Balian beliefs in Seare
Drumdubh (drum-DOOV) – fortress seized by Niall
Dún Eavan (doon EE-van) – crannog fortress; original seat of the king of Faolán
ensorcelled – possessed by sorcery; ensorcelled individuals are unable to exert their free will
Eoghan (OH-in) – Fíréin brother, believed to be the prophesied High King; Conor’s best friend
Etaoin (ee-TAO-in) – middle daughter of Lord Lahbrás; Conor’s foster sister; Morrigan’s younger sister
Faolán/Faolanaigh (FEY-lahn) (FEY-lahn-aye) – northeastern kingdom in Seare, formerly ruled by Clan Cuillinn/their language and people
Fechin (feh-KEEN) – senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Fergus Mac Nir (FAYR-gus mok NEER) – former king of Tigh; Conor’s uncle
Ferus (FAYR-us) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to Ard Bealach
Fincashiel (finn-CASH-el) – fortress in eastern Seare; destroyed by Niall
Fíréin (FEER-een) brotherhood – ancient brotherhood dedicated to the reinstatement of the High King
Forrais (FOR-rahs) – Aine’s birthplace in the Aronan Highlands
Galbraith Mac Nir (GOL-breth mok NEER) – king of Tigh; Conor’s stepfather, now deceased
Glas Na Baile (GLAHS na BAH-leh) – fortress in Faolán; destroyed by Niall
Glenmallaig (glen-MAL-ag) – seat of the king of Tigh; Conor’s birthplace
Gorm Lis (gorm LEES) – fortress in Faolán
Gradaigh (GRAH-duh) – senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Great Kingdom – the formerly united isle of Seare, under King Daimhin’s rule
Gwydden/Gwynn (GWIH-duhn) (gwin) – a country across the Amantine Sea/their people
Hall of Prophecies – magically concealed chamber in Carraigmór that contains the Fíréin brotherhood’s ancient writings
Hesperides/Hesperidian (hes-PAIR-uh-dees)/(hes-PAIR-id-ee-an) – country within the Ciraean empire/their language and people
High City – Ard Dhaimhin
Holy Canon – the Balian holy scriptures
Ibor (EE-bor) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to eastern Seare
Iomhar (EE-ver) – Fíréin brother; Aine’s principal bodyguard
Keallach (CAL-lah) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to eastern Seare
Keondric Mac Eirhinin (KEN-drick mok AYR-nin) – Faolanaigh battle captain; killed and identity stolen by the druid Niall
Labhrás Ó Maonagh (LAV-raws oh-MOY-nah) – Conor’s foster father; now deceased
Lachtna (lukh-NA) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to Ard Bealach
Larkin (LAR-kin) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to Ard Bealach
Liadan (LEE-uh-den) – youngest daughter of Lord Labhrás; Conor’s foster sister; Morrigan’s youngest sister
Liam Mac Cuillinn (LEE-um mok CUL-in) – Ceannaire, leader of the Fíréin brotherhood; Aine’s half brother; now deceased
Lisdara (lis-DAR-ah) – seat of the king of Faolán
Loch Ceo (lok kyo) – lake within Ard Dhaimhin
Loch Eirich (lok AYE-rick) – lake at which Dún Eavan is located
Lommán (lom-MAHN) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to eastern Seare
Lonn (lon) – town father of Glas Na Baile
Lorcan (LUR-cawn) – Aine’s previous bodyguard, presumed deceased
Macha (mah-HUH) – chief of Clan Tamhais; lady of Forrais
Meallachán (MOL-luck-on) – bard
Morrigan (MOHR-ree-gan) – eldest daughter of Lord Labhrás; Conor’s foster sister; suspected to be a spy in Niall’s service
Muiris (MYOOR-ees) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to eastern Seare
Murchadh (MOOR-hah) – senior healer of Ard Dhaimhin
Nuada (NOO-uh-duh) – Fíréin brother; assigned to command of Ard Bealach
Niall (NEE-ahl) – former Ceannaire of the Fíréin brotherhood; also known as Diarmuid; currently occupies the body/identity of Lord Keondric Mac Eirhinin
Oath-Binding Sword – the sword on which generations of Fíréin oaths were sworn; an object of runic power
Old Kingdom – the formerly united isle of Seare, under King Daimhin’s rule; see also “Great Kingdom”
Oscar (OS-car) – Clanless warrior under the command of Oenghus
Oenghus (EN-gus) – leader of a band of Clanless in the Sliebhanaigh mountains
Peadar (PAH-derh) – Fíréin brother; Aine’s night guard
Red Druids – druids who have accumulated power through blood magic and the sidhe, which is forbidden by the druidic order
Regent – one who rules in the stead of an underage, disabled, or absent king
Riocárd (rih-CARD) – captain of Glenmallaig’s guard; killed by Conor
Riordan Mac Nir (REER-uh-dawn mok NEER) – Conor’s father; senior member of the Fíréin brotherhood
Roark (roark) – a young boy; one of two survivors of the siege on Bánduran
Ruarc (ROO-ark) – Aine’s previous bodyguard, now deceased
Rune Throne – the original rune-carved throne of King Dhaimhin
Seanán (shuh-NAHN) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to Ard Bealach
Seanrós (SHAWN-ross) – old forest bordering Faolán
Seare/Seareann (SHAR-uh)(SHAR-uhn) – island housing the four kingdoms/its language and people
sidhe (shee) – the evil spirits of the underworld; demons
Siochain (SHE-oh-hahn) – Aine’s and Conor’s son
Siomar/Siomaigh (SHO-mar) (SHO-my) – Southeastern kingdom in Seare/their language and people
Shanna (SHA-nah) – first queen of Seare; wife of King Daimhin
Sliebhan/Sliebhanaigh (SLEEV-ahn) (SLEEV-ahn-eye) – Southwestern kingdom in Seare/their language and people
Sofarende (soeh-FUR-end-uh) – seafarers from the Northern Isles (Norin)
Somhairle (SO-mar-lee) – commander of Ard Bealach under Niall
Sorcha (SOAR-kah) – a refugee woman from Ard Dhaimhin’s village
spelled – under the influence of a spell, which is limited to a particular function; spelled people may otherwise exert free will
Tadhg (tyg) –captain of Balurnan’s house guard; now deceased
Talfryn (TAL-frin) – prince of Gwydden; lord of Cwmmaen
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Tigh/Timhaigh (ty) (TIH-vy) – northwestern kingdom in Seare/their language and people
Tomey (TOH-mee) – Fíréin brother; member of Conor’s contingent to Ard Bealach
Uallas (WAL-luhs) – Aronan lord of Eilean Buidhe
Acknowledgments
The conclusion of this series is bittersweet. While I’m happy to pass the final chapter of this story on to my readers, it’s hard to say good-bye to characters who have been with me for years. Thank you to all of you who have embraced Conor, Aine, and Eoghan in their journeys.
A special thank-you goes to all those who helped this series make its way into the world:
My original NavPress team, including Meg Wallin and Rebekah Guzman, who saw the potential of Conor’s story at the start.
My current NavPress team—Don Pape, Caitlyn Carlson, Melissa Myers, Dave Zimmerman, Pat Reinheimer, and Stephanie Chalfant—who have been utterly gracious to this writer and this series they inherited. I am a very small deal, but you make me feel like a very big one.
My Tyndale group—Valerie Austin, Noel Birkey, Amie Carlson, Patty Caruso, Raquel Corbin, Caroline Hutchison, Annie Kim, Dean Renninger, Jeff Rustemeyer, Adam Sabados, Caleb Sjogren, Barry Smith, Sue Thompson, and Linda Vergara—thank you for all your hard work in getting this book into the hands of readers.
My amazing editor, Reagen Reed, who labored over this book as lovingly as if it were her own work. You deserve more than a little credit for how this one turned out.
Cover designer par excellence, Kirk DouPonce—you really outdid yourself on this one.
Steve Laube, who is always there with a reality check, a well-timed metaphor, and half a dozen stories when I need them. I’m grateful to have you on my side.
My soul sisters and partners in crime, Evangeline Denmark and Brandy Vallance, who kept me going even when the clocks ticked down and the caffeine ran out (perish the thought!).
Elizabeth Younts, who talked me through my characters, my story, and my doubts as I set out to rewrite this one yet again. Seriously, I wouldn’t have made it to The End without your encouragement.
Laurie Tomlinson, my ever-enthusiastic barometer of awesome. Thanks for letting me ruin the surprise over and over again.
Halee Matthews, my secret weapon. You give me a little bit of my sanity back. Thank you, thank you.
My family—Rey, N., P., Dad, and Mom—who now know what it’s like to live with a writer on deadline and have decided to keep me anyway. I love you guys.
About the Author
C. E. Laureano’s love of fantasy began with a trip through a magical wardrobe, and she has never looked back. She’s happiest when her day involves martial arts, swords, and a well-choreographed fight scene, though when pressed, she’ll admit to a love of theater and travel as well. Appropriately, she’s the wife to a martial arts master and mom to two boys who spend most of their time jumping off things and finding objects to turn into lightsabers. They live in Denver, Colorado, with a menagerie of small pets. Visit her on the web at www.CELaureano.com, or e-mail her at [email protected].
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