Queen Of Kings
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Amid the emerald hills of Ireland, one woman reigns above all.
Queen Maeve of Ulster is a force to be reckoned with.
Her beauty is as alluring as her power.
Her magic is legendary.
Her cunning is unmatched.
All men lust for her.
Warriors and kings bow before her.
But only one man sparks a fire within her.
Nath of Connaught is a warrior, strong and brave,
with a chiseled physique,
and eyes that blaze with a passion that matches Maeve's.
Nath's quest is to win the heart of the queen, to prove himself worthy of her love.
But Maeve is no easy prize.
She tests and challenges him at every turn.
In an effort to win her favor, Nath gifts her with a virile, white bull,
and a vow of eternal devotion to her happiness.
But Maeve places her duty to her kingdom and her people before her own desires.
Can Nath prove himself worthy to stand by Maeve's side, or is he doomed to ride back to Connaught with a shattered heart?
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Queen Of Kings - Cornelia Amiri
It was night, and she was in her element. As there were the dark gods of the moon and the sea, so there were the bright ones of the sun. She was dark. Her gaze fell onto the distant plain where she had raced with Nath earlier in the day. Though clouded in darkness now, she thought of the lush green grass that blanketed the earth. The deep, dark soil was firm and solid: sure, constant, and dependable.
She turned and gasped. Nath had come upon her, silently. He stood there at her side.
I did not mean to startle you, my queen.
His nearness was overwhelming. She cleared her throat, pretending not to be affected. Not at all.
But she couldn’t tear her gaze from him. Fiery sun, bright and hot, big and bold. Everyone wants him to shine on them.
The druid thought you would be out here.
The druid knows me well.
When the rays of the sun touched the rich earth, they created the lush, peaceful green pasture. She needed him, the sun for her earth. They completed each other. They belonged together: dark and light, earth and sun, Nath and Macha. Lasair knew it, and druids were never wrong.
He looked up, and her gaze followed his. The pearl moon gleamed, smooth and perfect against the clear ebony sky, which twinkled with countless stars.
Dark, sparkling, vast and enchanting,
Nath said.
Yes, the night sky is lovely.
I did not mean the sky, my queen.
A ray of moonlight caught her eye as she gazed at him. His eyes alone could set her ablaze. Fire danced in her. I need to speak with you.
Yes, Your Majesty?
He leaned closer to her.
Nath, what is it you want of me?
Queen of Kings
Queen of Kings © 2009 by Cornelia Amiri
First Published by Eternal Press July 2008
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Queen of Kings
~ Macha Mong Ruad ~
Cornelia Amiri
CHARACTERS
Aed the Red - the father of Macha Mong Ruad. One of the kings who shared the kingship with Cimbaeth and Dithorba seven years at a time.
Baeth the Tall - One of the five sons of Dithorba, who later works for Macha. Dubhdeasa’s husband.
Blaine the Thin - One of the five sons of Dithorba, who later works for Macha and marries one of her handmaids.
Borbchass the Squinter - One of the five sons of Dithorba, who later works for Macha. Derry’s husband and Eremon’s father.
Brass the Stout - One of the five sons of Dithorba, who later works for Macha. Fial’s husband and Feargal’s father.
Cairbre - (Kahr-bra) Macha’s charioteer and one of her favorite lovers.
Cimbaeth - (Kim ba he) A king who rotated the kingship with Dithorba and Aed the Red seven years at a time.
Derry - (Dare ee) Macha’s handmaiden. Borbchass wife and Eremon’s mother.
Dithorba - a king who rotated the kingship with Cimbaeth and Aed the Red seven years at a time. When he died, his sons tried to take the throne from Macha.
Dubhdeasa - another of Macha’s handmaids. Baeth’s wife.
Eachana - Macha’s horse.
Eremon - Infant son of Borbchass and Derry.
Queen of Kings
Feargal - (Far-ih-gull ) the son of Brass and Fial.
Fial - one of Macha’s handmaids. Brass’s wife and Feargal’s mother.
Lasair - (LA sar) The Ulaid tribe’s Druid. Macha’s teacher and advisor.
Nath - champion of the king of Connacht. He is in love with Macha.
Nia Mor - Nath’s king, the king of Connacht.
Macha Mong Ruad - (mock uh) daughter of Aed the Red, she ruled Ulster, first with Cimbaeth and then alone. The only queen in the list of High Kings of Ireland.
Uallach Long Chin - (ual-ach) One of the five sons of Dithorba, who later works for Macha and marries one of her handmaids.
Úgaine - Cimbaeth’s son, Macha’s stepson. An Irish king of legend.
A glossary of terms can be found in the back pages.
Prologue
Ireland, between seventh and fifth century BC
Amber flames flickered from torches in iron sconces set in the roughly hewn, circular timber walls of the great round hall. Gray smoke rose and curled above the blazing central fire before escaping through the hole in the top of the thatched roof. Men, women, and children in woolen tunics and plaid cloaks sat with legs crossed on soft wolf, deer, and fox pelts while they gazed at Aed, their king. He marched into the hall, tall and as straight as a spruce tree. His bulging, muscular arms and legs glistened from leek oil. Sporting a long, bushy moustache as red as a sundew flower, hair of the same striking hue hanging to his shoulders, and a shiny receding forehead, King Aed lifted his chin and led in his finest warriors to the rousing beat of the bodhran drum. His strongest champion and his seven best spearmen, along with his swiftest charioteers, marched in formation. A small redheaded girl with her hands planted on her hips pranced with quick, well-practiced steps in the center of this parade, with the full aplomb of her father, the king. For such a small child, Aed’s only heir didn’t seem tiny at all. She seemed larger than life.
Druid Lasair’s gaze wasn’t transfixed on King Aed, who was draped with a wide, flowing cloak of red, gold, white, blue, green and black plaid with a crimson and black striped tunic stretching over his brawny chest. Instead, it was the king’s daughter, Macha, who caught his attention. Everyone directed their gaze on her, enthralled by the regal confidence of the child.
Lasair knew that, at the very least, Macha envisioned herself a warrior. He gasped as sudden realization struck. By the gods, the child perceives herself as the next king. As if Aed were passing the crown not to Dithorba, but to her,
he said aloud.
On the dais, the mound of dirt at the end of the hall where the king’s oaken throne stood, Lasair adjusted his gold-speckled white cloak. King Dithorba and King Cimbaeth, who stood beside him, did the same with their plaid cloaks of six colors. They