the dark mirror

book one of the bridei chronicles

[Description:] In the mid 6th century, the homeland of the Picts in northern Britain was under threat from the Gaels, who had invaded the west coast and established themselves in their new kingdom of Dalriada. At the same time, the Christian faith was taking hold in the southern part of the Pictish kingdom, and the leaders of the northern realm were struggling to maintain their ancient traditions.

When the child Bridei is sent by his parents to live with the druid Broichan, he knows only that he has left his home and family to learn to be a warrior and scholar, strategist and sage. He is not aware that in the divided and wartorn kingdom of Fortriu a secret council of elders, including Broichan, has long been making plans for the future of their homeland: with Bridei himself central to their strategy. As the only child in Broichan’s remote household, Bridei learns early to deal with fear and loneliness. So when he awakes one freezing midwinter’s night to find a baby on the doorstep, he thanks the gods for their precious gift of a companion and takes her in – and with her arrival Broichan’s master plan gains a dangerously unpredictable new element.

As the foundling Tuala grows from fey child to beguiling young woman, and Bridei moves ever closer to his grand destiny, Broichan anticipates a perilous complication to his long-laid plans. As well, powerful forces both close to home and in other lands are ranged against the secret council, enemies who will employ whatever means they can to stop the druid from bringing his plan to fruition, even if they must endanger Bridei’s life.
And the druid discovers that there is one power at work that may be too strong for him to control; one unpredictable factor that could become the death of his dreams.


Bridei and Tuala. Bridei who is being trained to be king by a druid and the fey being Tuala with the strange owl like eyes who brought love to his life and bannished his loneliness. by denise elizabeth smith

Further books in this series:
- Blade of Fortriu (this is the working title, the book is still in the making)
- The Well of Shades (this is the working title, the book is still in the making)

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