MORGANA E-Book

alastair macleod

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

"they talked of the perilous journey they had undertaken, past the swilling whirlpool near the Katness shore, then the ripping tides of the Pictland Firth, then the journey past the symbol of the isles, the huge towering rock needle of the old man who gazed out to sea. They relayed greetings from Brude, the King of Lesser Pictland. They were offered food and drink. As they sat consuming this, their leader spoke of an alliance of all the Pictish tribes south and north of the wall; of war with the Angles. The lead envoy, a young warrior called Arthur, spoke boldly. He wished tribute of many warriors from Orkney. He is handsome and virile. His dark eyes are luminous. A born leader, already he has commanded men. Although he wears a Roman tunic under his Pictish cloak, he is not of the Romans. Like many up till now he has done their bidding. Now they are leaving. Morgana knows that in the long run the tides of fate are against Arthur but that they will turn again for Britain in the far future. Morgana, using her potions in his wine, worked her whiles on the envoy. His men are weary and beds are offered within the broch. Drawn to his strength, she offers her bed to Arthur, entrancing him, and that night sleeps with him to distract him from his goal,"

Leseprobe

alastair macleod

MORGANA

seer of deep time

For the women of Orkney, the truer story of Morgan Le Fey, princess and queen of the islands, in the time before Christianity, in the time before the Vikings BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Morgana

princess and queen, seer of deep time      If the shore is a magic zone the many islands of Orkney are surely girt with magic, an invisible power to contain a culture. Morgana, of Arthurian legend was the queen of Orkney. Her name means, “the sea circled sorceress” (from the brythonic, literally “mor cana,” sea ring). She ruled these Pictish islands before the Vikings. Some say it was a powerful realm, that she was powerful. Whatever the rights of that, the magic probably was. But to our story;       In the Pictish kingdom of Orca, near the stones that stand, King Arnag was choosing his adviser. Utor the last holder of this post, had lived to a great age and in the winter had died of natural causes. On his death bed, he had told the king how to choose his successor. “Ask each to give you a gift – that will uncover to you the candidates’ wisdom, for the nature of the gift will reveal much.

      Bolah, the metal smith, was first to present his gift – a silver chalice delicately worked in the Pictish manner with knot work and stylised wild animals in relief. King Arnag thanked Bolah for this magnificent offering.

Culag the second candidate stepped forward and held out his arms. He was a great warrior skilled in battle. “I offer no precious metals; my gift is my mighty strength to protect you in battle”

King Arnag was impressed by Culag’s physique and strength, visible for all to see. He thanked Culag for his offer.

     The last candidate was Morgana. She stepped forward and said. “Oh King I offer you truth, knowledge, and understanding about worldly affairs, such that will make you a ruler not only of wealth and strength but of wisdom and power.

      “Reveal then some of this of which you speak,” said the king.

Morgana took the silver chalice and had a loving couple brought into court. She addressed the girl,

“Would you part from this man for the value of this chalice?” The girl shook her head.

Morgana then brought a strong man into the court and produced a dead goat killed in preparation for the feast to follow. Morgana urged the strong man to bring the dead goat back to life, but he raised his arms in helplessness.

      Morgana then turned to Arnag,

 “Oh king these are but two of the many forces that you face as you rule.”

She then took a grass stalk and broke it by pulling each end. She took several stalks of grass and plaiting them together, asked the strong man to break them. He could not.

“Together we are strong,” she said.     “I have seen enough” said Arnag, “I have chosen; Morgana will be my adviser.”