Ancestors of Avalon Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Afterword

  Praise for the novels of Avalon

  Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Ancestors of Avalon

  “Paxson fashions an entirely new entry in the Avalon saga. . . . [Her] storytelling features the requisite veins of mysticism, but, like Bradley, she excels at bringing the vast sweep of imagined history to an accessible level. . . . A rich and respectful homage that will dazzle readers longing to revisit Bradley’s sacred, storied isle.”

  —Booklist

  “Once again, Diana L. Paxson has beautifully elaborated on Marion Zimmer Bradley’s beloved Avalon saga with this dramatic new installment. . . . [An] extraordinary journey.”

  —SFRevu

  “Paxson is an excellent choice as successor to Bradley for this series. Her style and the details of the plot retain the sense of the mysterious past and the feminist awareness that was an underlying theme in the originals.”

  —Chronicle

  “Ancestors of Avalon may be the best of the Avalon tales. The story line stands alone due to the strength of the characterizations . . . yet also interconnects the myriad plots from the previously published books.”

  —Midwest Book Review

  Priestess of Avalon

  “The message that all religions call on the same higher power should go over well with fans of Mists [of Avalon]. Paxson’s own skills at bringing historical characters and places to vivid life enriches Helena’s story.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Stunning . . . this rich and moving novel merits its place beside Bradley’s fantasy classic.”

  —Booklist

  “Bradley creates a powerful tale of magic and faith that enlarges upon pagan and Christian traditions to express a deeper truth.”

  —Library Journal

  Lady of Avalon

  The National Bestseller

  “Combines romance, rich historical detail, magical dazzlements, grand adventure, and feminist sentiments into the kind of novel her fans have been yearning for.”

  —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

  “Compelling, powerful.”

  —San Francisco Chronicle

  “The prose is as smooth as those sacred stones on which so many interesting things take place.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  “Bradley’s women are, as usual, strong and vibrant, but never before has she so effectively depicted the heroic male. . . . An immensely popular saga.”

  —Booklist

  The Forest House

  “The setting evokes a fascinating time of change. . . . The mythic elements grow to hint satisfactorily at the Arthurian wonder to come . . . the stuff of legend.”

  —Locus

  “A seamless weave of history and myth.”

  —Library Journal

  “The sure touch of one at ease in sketching out mystic travels.”

  —Kirkus Reviews

  OTHER BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

  The Mists of Avalon

  The Forest House

  Lady of Avalon

  Priestess of Avalon

  ROC

  Published by New American Library, a division of

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,

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  First Roc Mass Market Printing, October 2006

  Copyright © The Marion Zimmer Bradley Literary Works Trust and Diana L. Paxson, 2004

  Map drawn by Jeffrey L. Ward

  All rights reserved

  REGISTERED TRADEMARK—MARCA REGISTRADA

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-09876-9

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  To David Bradley

  Without whom this book could not have been written

  People in the Story

  PEOPLE WHO DO NOT ESCAPE ATLANTIS

  Aldel—of Ahtarrath; an acolyte, betrothed to Elis, killed in rescue of Omphalos Stone

  Deoris [temple name “Adsartha”]—a former priestess of Caratra, mother of Tiriki, wife of Reio-ta

  (Domaris—a Vested Guardian, priestess of Light, mother of Micail)

  Gremos—a priestess, housemother to the acolytes

  Kalhan—of Atalan; an acolyte, betrothed to Damisa

  Kanar—chief astrologer of the Temple on Ahtarrath, Lanath’s first teacher

  Lunrick—a merchant of Ahtarra

  Mesira—chief of the healers, a priestess of the cult of Caratra

  (Micon—Prince of Ahtarrath, father of Micail)

  (Mikantor—Prince of Ahtarrath, father of Micon and Reio-ta)

  Pegar—a landowner of Ahtarrath

  (Rajasta—mage, priest of Light, and Vested Guardian in the Ancient Land)

  CAPITALS = major characters

  ( ) = dead before story begins

  Reio-ta—regent of Ahtarrath and governor of the Temple of Light on Ahtarrath, priest, uncle of Micail and stepfather of Tiriki

  (Riveda—biological father of Tiriki, healer, mage, and chief of the Grey Robe Order in the Ancient Land; executed for sorcery)

  PEOPLE AT THE TOR

  Adeyna—wife of t
he merchant Forolin

  Alyssa [Temple name “Neniath”]—of Caris; a Grey Robe priestess (the Grey Mage), seeress, and adept

  Arcor—of Ahtarrath; a sailor on the Crimson Serpent

  Aven—an Alkonan sailor on the Crimson Serpent

  Cadis—an Ahtarran sailor on the Crimson Serpent

  CHEDAN ARADOS—originally of Alkonath; son of Naduil, an acolyte in the Ancient Land before its fall, former Vested Guardian, and now a mage

  DAMISA—of Alkonath; eldest of the acolytes, a cousin of Prince Tjalan, betrothed to Kalhan

  Dannetrasa of Caris—a priest of Light who assisted Ardral in the library; arrives at the Tor on the second ship

  Domara—daughter of Tiriki and Micail, born at the Tor

  Eilantha—Tiriki’s Temple name

  Elis—of Ahtarrath; one of the acolytes, especially good with plants

  Forolin—a merchant of Ahtarrath and late arrival to the Tor

  Heron—headman of the marsh folk

  Iriel—of Arhaburath; youngest of the acolytes (age twelve at the time of the Sinking), betrothed to Aldel

  Jarata—a merchant of Ahtarrath

  Kalaran—an acolyte, betrothed to Selast

  Kestil—daughter of Forolin and Adeyna, five years old when she arrives at the Tor

  Larin—a sailor on the Crimson Serpent, later inducted into the priesthood

  Liala [Temple name “Atlialmaris”]—of Ahtarrath; a Blue Robe priestess and healer

  Linnet—daughter of Nettle, of the marsh folk

  Malaera—a lesser Blue Robe priestess

  Metia—senior saji woman, nursemaid to Domara

  Mudlark—son of Nettle, of the marsh folk

  Nettle—wife of Heron, headman of the marsh folk

  Otter—son of the headman, Heron

  Reidel—of Ahtarrath; son of Sarhedran, captain of the Crimson Serpent; later, a priest of the Sixth Order

  Redfern—a woman of the marsh folk

  Rendano—of Akil; a lesser priest in the Temple of Light and a sensitive

  Selast—of Cosarrath; one of the acolytes

  Taret—wisewoman of the marsh folk at the Tor

  Teiron—an Alkonian sailor assigned to the Crimson Serpent

  Teviri—one of the saji women, attendant to Alyssa

  TIRIKI [Temple name “Eilantha”]—of Ahtarrath; a Guardian in the Temple of Light, wife of Micail; she will become the Morgan of Avalon

  Virja—one of the saji women, attendant to Alyssa

  PEOPLE AT BELSAIRATH AND AZAN

  Aderanthis—of Tapallan; midlevel priestess from the Temple at Ahtarrath

  Anet—daughter of the high priestess Ayo and King Khattar of the Ai-Zir

  Antar—bodyguard to Prince Tjalan

  ARDRAL [Temple name “Ardravanant,” meaning Knower of the Brightest]—of Atalan; an Adept, Seventh Vested Guardian of the Temple of Light at Ahtarrath, custodian of the library

  Ayo—Sacred Sister for the Ai-Zan, high priestess at Carn Ava

  Baradel—Tjalan’s older son, seven years old at the time of the Sinking

  Bennurajos—of Cosarrath; a singer from the Temple of Light on Ahtarrath, expert on plants and animals

  Chaithala—Princess of Alkonath, wife of Tjalan

  Cleta—of Tarisseda Ruta; an acolyte, herbalist, betrothed to Vialmar, fifteen years old at the time of the Sinking

  Cyrena—Princess of Tarisseda, betrothed to Baradel, nine years old at the time of the Sinking

  Dan—one of the three swordsmen known as Prince Tjalan’s Companions

  Dantu—captain of the Royal Emerald, Tjalan’s flagship

  Delengirol—of Tarisseda; a singer from the Temple in Ahtarra

  Domazo—keeper of the inn in Belsairath, heir to the local chieftain

  Droshrad—shaman of the Red Bulls

  ELARA [Temple name “Larrnebiru”]—of Ahtarrath; second eldest of the acolytes, also an initiate of Caratra, betrothed to Lanath

  Galara—half sister to Tiriki, daughter of Deoris and Reio-ta, a junior scribe

  Greha—Ai-Zir warrior, bodyguard to Heshoth

  Haladris—of Atalan; First Vested Guardian in the Temple of Light on Alkonath, formerly an archpriest in the Ancient Land

  Heshoth—a native trader

  Jiritaren—of Tapallan; priest of Light, astronomer

  Karagon—of Mormallor; a chela to Valadur

  Khattar—chief of the Red Bulls, high king of the Ai-Zir

  Khayan-e-Durr—sister of Khattar, queen of the Red Bull tribe

  Khensu—Khattar’s nephew and heir

  Kyrrdis—of Ahtarrath; singer and priestess of Light

  Lanath—of Tarisseda Ruta; an acolyte, former apprentice to Kanar, betrothed to Elara

  Li’ija—of Alkonath; a chela, Ocathrel’s eldest daughter, nineteen years old at the time of the Sinking

  Lirini—of Alkonath; a chela in the Scribes’ School, middle daughter of Ocathrel, seventeen years old at the time of the Sinking

  Lodreimi—of Alkonath; a Blue Robe priestess in Timul’s Temple

  Mahadalku—of Tarisseda Ruta; First Vested Guardian of the Tarissedan Temple of Light

  Marona—of Ahtarrath; a Blue Robe priestess and healer

  Metanor—of Ahtarrath; Fifth Vested Guardian in the Temple of Light

  MICAIL [Temple name “Osinarmen”]—Prince of Ahtarrath; First Vested Guardian in the Temple of Light

  Naranshada [Temple name “Ansha”]—of Ahtarrath; Fourth Vested Guardian in the Temple of Light, an engineer

  Ocathrel—of Alkonath; Fifth Vested Guardian in the Temple of Light

  Osinarmen—Micail’s Temple name

  Ot—one of the three swordsmen known as Prince Tjalan’s Companions

  Reualen—of Alkonath; Priest of Light, husband of Sahurusartha

  Sadhisebo and Saiyano—saji priestesses in Timul’s Temple, skilled in herblore

  Sahurusartha—of Alkonath; priestess of Light, singer, wife of Reualen

  Stathalkha—of Tarisseda Ruta; Third Guardian of the Tarissedan Temple, a powerful sensitive

  Timul—of Alkonath; second to the high priestess of the Temple of Ni-Terat in Alkonath, head of the Blue Robes in Belsairath

  TJALAN—Prince of Alkonath; leader of the colony in Belsairath, cousin of Micail

  Valadur—of Mormallor; a Grey Adept

  Valorin—of Tapallan; priest of Light in the Temple at Alkonath, a naturalist

  Vialmar—of Arhurabath; an acolyte, betrothed to Cleta

  HEAVENLY POWERS1

  Banur—the four-faced god, destroyer-preserver; ruler of winter

  The Blood Star—Mars

  Caratra—daughter or nurturing aspect of Ni-Terat, the Great Mother; Venus is her star

  Dyaus—the Sleeper, also known as the “Man with Crossed Hands,” the force of chaos that brings change; sometimes referred to as “That One”

  Manoah—the Great Maker, Lord of the Day, identified with the sun; ruler of Summer, and with Orion (“The Hunter of Destiny”)

  Nar-Inabi—“Star Shaper,” god of the night, the stars, and the sea; ruler of harvest time

  Ni-Terat—Dark Mother of All, Veiled aspect of the Great Mother, goddess of the Earth; ruler of planting time

  The Peacemaker—Virgo

  The Sorcerer—Saturn

  The Sovereign—Jupiter

  The Torch—Leo, also called the Scepter or the Great Fire

  The Wheel—Ursa Major, also called the Seven Guardians or Chariot

  Winged Bull—Taurus

  Places in the Story

  Ahtarra—capital city of Ahtarrath

  Ahtarrath—the last isle of the Sea Kingdoms to fall; home of the House of the Twelve (acolytes)

  Ahurabath—an isle of the Sea Kingdoms

  Alkona—capital of Alkonath

  Alkonath—one of the mightiest of the Ten Island Kingdoms, famed for its seafarers

  Aman River—the Avon, in Britain

  Amber Coast—coast of the No
rth Sea

  Ancient Land—ancestral realm of the Atlanteans, located somewhere near what is now the Black Sea

  Atlantis—a general name for the Sea Kingdoms

  Azan—the “Bull pen,” territory of the five tribes of the Ai-Zir, from Weymouth northeast to the Salisbury Plain in Wessex, Britain

  Azan-Ylir—capital of Azan, modern Amesbury

  Beleri’in [Belerion]—modern Penzance, in Cornwall

  Belsairath—an Alkonan trading outpost where Dorchester is now

  Belsairath fortress—Maiden Castle, Dorset

  Carn Ava—Avebury

  Casseritides—“Isles of Tin,” a name for Britain

  City of the Circling Snake—capital of the Ancient Land

  Cosarrath—an isle of the Ten Kingdoms

  Hellas—Greece

  Hill of the Ghosts—Hambledon Hill, Dorset

  Isle of the Mighty, Isle of Tin, Hesperides—British Isles

  Khem—Egypt

  Mormallor—one of the Ten Kingdoms, called the “holy isle”

  Olbairos—an Ahtarran trading station on the continent

  Oranderis—an isle of the Sea Kingdoms

  The Sea Kingdoms—the islands of Atlantis

  Tapallan—an isle of the Ten Kingdoms

  Tarisseda—an isle of the Ten Kingdoms

  The Ten Kingdoms—the alliance of Sea Kingdoms that replaced the Bright Empire

  The Tor—Glastonbury Tor, Somerset

  Zaiadan—a land on the coast of the North Sea

  Morgaine speaks ...

  The people of Avalon bring to their Lady their troubles, both great and small. This morning the Druids came to me to say that there has been a rockfall in the passage that leads from their Temple to the chamber that holds the Omphalos Stone, and they do not know how it is to be repaired. Their numbers here are small now, and most of those who remain are old. So many of those who might have renewed their Order were killed in the Saxon wars or have gone instead to the monks who tend the Christian chapel that is on that other Avalon.

  And so they come to me as they all come to me, those who remain, to tell them what they must do. It has always seemed odd to me that the way to a mystery that is buried so deeply in the earth begins in the Temple of the Sun, but they say that those who first brought the ancient wisdom to these isles, long before the Druids, honored the Light above all things.