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
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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
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eISBN : 978-1-101-09876-9
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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 the
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 Nort
h 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.