The Red Winter
Page 65
“The Sidh shall have its prince at last,” she intoned. “A prince strong and wise, tested and tempered. A prince worthy of the people he will rule. Soon you will come to Rodrubân, where Lugh Lamfhada awaits you. But for now, your place is here. Three gifts await you inside. Two are from your father. One is from me.”
Stepping back, the Morrígan bowed to her future king and stood aside so that he could complete his long journey.
The porch creaked as Max stepped upon its planks. The farmhouse was old but finely built of red oak, and its beams and trellises hung with flowers. Its windows were curtained but for a small round pane in which a single lamp was burning. Leaning the gae bolga against the wall, Max took hold of a worn brass ring and knocked.
When the door opened, Max went numb.
Scathach looked just as she had when he first saw her atop Rodrubân—strong and proud, fierce and beautiful. The sight was so unexpected, so overwhelming that Max was speechless. Taking his hand, Scathach tugged him inside.
“I’m dreaming,” he murmured. “This can’t be real.”
But as Scathach embraced him, Max could feel her warmth, her life, the beating of her strong heart. Holding him close, she whispered the oath he’d spoken at her grave.
“Those were fine words, my love. Did you mean them?”
Max kissed her. “I did. I do.”
Wiping away her tears, Scathach almost laughed. “A poor guest I am. If I keep you all to myself, they’ll never have me back!”
Max was puzzled. “Whose house is this?”
Scathach didn’t answer directly but led him through a sitting room to a snug kitchen of wood and brick. Within, Bryn and Scott McDaniels were setting dishes on a table, looking just as they had when he’d been a boy. When they beheld their son, there were no joyous cries or exclamations, just a silent embrace that lasted until Nox gave an impatient snort. After all, supper was ready, the candles were lit, and a place had been set for Max.
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE/GLOSSARY
This guide is to help readers pronounce some of the more challenging names and terms found in the Tapestry. Many of the words are of Irish origin, while others are simply the author’s own creations. Some nuances have been sacrificed in the name of simplicity, and this should not be interpreted as a scholarly work on Irish pronunciation.
Name/Term (Pronunciation) Definition
Archon (AR-kon) A title designating the Raszna leader; archons are always male
Atropos (AH-truh-pos) Among the three Greek Fates, Atropos cut the thread of life; the name was adopted by an assassin guild known for its ruthlessness and fanaticism
Bragha Rùn (BRAH-gah ROON) “The Red Death”; Max McDaniels’s alias in Prusias’s Arena
Brugh na Boinne (BROO nah BOYNE) “On the Boyne”; a river in Ireland
cambion (CAM-bee-un) The offspring of a demon and a mortal woman
Cúchulain (KOO-hull-in) The Hound of Ulster; an Irish hero who was the son of the deity Lugh and a mortal woman
daemona (DAY-moan-uh) The demons’ preferred term for their kind; one that classifies their spiritual essence without automatic association with evil
Elohir (ELL-oh-heer) Scattered, nomadic elder vyes who do not congregate with others
Emer (AY-verr) The wife of Cúchulain; also the name of Elias Bram’s daughter
Faeregine (FAIR-uh-geen) A legendary being that appears in different forms and in different ages to protect those in danger; all spirits hold the Faeregine sacred
gae bolga (GAY BULL-gah) Cúchulain’s spear, which was forged anew by Max McDaniels and the Fomorian. Its strike is almost always fatal; its wounds never heal.
grylmhoch (GRILLM-hoke) A massive, amorphous creature of unknown origins that Max encounters in Prusias’s Arena
koukerros (koo-KERR-os) The transformation that occurs when a demon has consumed enough souls to become a higher order of spirit
Lugh (LOO) A sun deity; High King of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, who slew Balor of the Fomorians. Lugh is the father of both Cúchulain and Max McDaniels.
Magyarün (MY-ah-roon) Elder vyes that prey upon mankind and often serve Astaroth, Prusias, or other demons
malakhim (MAL-ah-keem) Fallen spirits that wear obsidian masks and serve the demon Prusias
médim (MAY-deem) Ritualized contests that mark important demonic gatherings; the contests include alennya (arts of beauty), amann (arts of blood), and ahülmm (arts of soul)
Morrígan (MOH-ree-gan) A Celtic war goddess whose willful and terrifying essence comprises the gae bolga
rakshasa (rock-SHAH-sah) An ancient and powerful type of demon
Raszna (ROZ-nah) A tribe of elder vyes that live underground and have developed sophisticated schools of magic, such as Arcanum and Silverfalls
Rodrubân (ROD-roo-vaan) Lugh’s castle and lands within the Sidh
Scathach (SKAW-thah) A warrior maiden originally from Scotland (Isle of Skye) who has trained many heroes, including Cúchulain and Max McDaniels
Sidh (SHEE) A hidden realm home to the Tuatha Dé Danaan and other magical beings
Solas (SUH-las) Mankind’s greatest school of magic; destroyed by Astaroth in 1649
Tuatha Dé Danaan (TOO-ha DAY DAN-ahn) The Children of Danu; a race of divine beings that conquered the Fomorians and ruled Ireland before departing for the Sidh
Túr an Ghrian (THOOR un GREE-un) The highest tower at Solas, where the Gwydion Chair of Mystics resided
Umadahm (OOH-mah-dahm) A title designating the high priestess among the witches
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“What are you about? Answer quick, or I’ll gobble you up!”
At long last, Max has answered the question and his journey has reached its end. Whew! It’s been quite a ride for both our hero and me. While Max had to battle vyes and demons, his creator wrestled with deadlines, a growing family, and the challenges inherent to a big undertaking. Although it’s bittersweet to say goodbye to Max and company, it’s also the proper time to say farewell. A victory’s been won, a new age looms, and our hero has departed for a new life and new adventures. What will the future hold? That’s between you and your imagination.
This journey would not have been possible without the support and expertise of many people. On the professional end of the spectrum, my sincere thanks to The Red Winter’s editor, Jim Thomas. Jim is the Tapestry’s third editor and stepped into the breach without missing a beat. Every writer should be so lucky to collaborate with someone like Jim. His keen intelligence, attention to detail, and unflagging enthusiasm made all the difference on such an ambitious manuscript.
I would also like to thank Mallory Loehr and Random House for giving me an opportunity; Nicole de las Heras, whose art direction led to stunning design; Jenna Lettice for pulling the components together; and Cory Godbey, who provided such beautiful covers. My agent, Josh Adams, has been a steady voice of reason and support from the beginning.
As writers—particularly those with looming deadlines—tend to retreat and cocoon, I’m very fortunate that my friends and loved ones have stuck by me, forgiven stretches of radio silence, and offered encouragement along the way. Special thanks to Terry Zimmerman, Victoria Polak, John Neff, Gerald Zimmerman, John Neff Sr., Margaret Norfleet Neff, Salem Neff, Kathleen and John Stanley, Diane and Jim Raymond, Christopher Casgar, Orestes Tarajano, Brian Payne, Scott Kemper, Matt Markovich, Mike Markovich, Gordon Rubenstein, Krista Ramonas, Travis Nelson, Ed McDermott, Dan Kanka, James and Katherine Rothschild, Jacqueline Duncan, Sean Carroll, Kevin Wong, Josh Richards, Greg Medow, Mike Buckley, Anne Schafer, Michael and Catherine Farello, Scott and Loretta Dahnke, Marilyn Mawn, David Linn, Sergio Lagunes, Diane Reidy, Curtis Kroeker, Andi and Christopher Shurley, Sarah and Doug Reed, and Professor Larry Moore, an invaluable mentor since my days as an undergraduate.
I’m also happy to say that I’ve made some new friends in the last few years, namely those readers whose dedication to Max & Co. is nothing short of spectacular. Special thanks to Tristen, Suree,
Rebecca, Valerie, Kenny, James, Sharon, Oscar, Ryan, Jake, William, Colette, Eugenia, Maura, Dorsa, Maddie, Sarah, Shannon, Amadi, Tyler, Tessa, Emily, Kimberly, animegirl, the students of PS 321, the faculty and students of the Schools of the Sacred Heart in San Francisco, and many other Tapestry fans who have embraced the story and its characters, and have stuck with Max through some pretty tough scrapes. I wish I had a lymrill for each of you.
Finally, my deepest thanks go to my wife, Danielle, and our sons, Charlie and James. Their love, joy, and understanding made all the difference and kept me moving forward. To say they are a source of strength and inspiration is wholly inadequate. I am a very fortunate and grateful fellow. Thank you. I love you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HENRY H. NEFF is a former consultant and history teacher from the Chicago area. Today he lives in Montclair, New Jersey, with his wife and young sons. You can visit Henry at henryhneff.com.