St. Columba (Columcille) played an important part in Cat’s Curse, the first book in my trilogy based on an actual Irish king in Dark Age Scotland, because history reveals he chose Aedan mac Gabrain to be king.

Most of my information on this famous monk came from Adomnan’s Life of St. Columba. What I found fascinating is that St. Columba had visions, spoke prophecies and performed miracles. These were well-documented cases. In fact, he picked Aedan (my hero) to be king over his brother because an angel came to Columcille and told him to pick Aedan. He also prophesied that Aedan’s older sons would die in battle and his youngest would be king after him.

When I created this character for my story, I didn’t want to show him as a pious monk. I thought of him as a monk with a warrior heart. According to one account, St. Columba was forced to leave Ireland (Eirean) because he caused the deaths of three thousand people as the result of his involvement in a battle between his kinsmen and King Diarmait mac Cerbaill. He was exiled to Scotland where he attempted to convert the pagan Picts as his penance for this unfortunate event. For some reason all of this information made me think of him as a monk who followed God, but also would be willing to sacrifice warriors’ lives in battle for his beliefs. He is described as a tall, imposing man. And he had to be in good physical shape as a man in his forties to be able to travel into the wild country of northern Scotland to meet with King Bridei. Early Christian warriors followed God because they saw him as the greatest of all warlords with his army of angels at his side. I wondered if maybe some early Christian monks also believed this.

I also saw him as a monk with a druid heart. One interesting bit of information left out in Adomnan’s book is that St. Columba was born into a pagan family, which made me wonder just how much pagan beliefs influenced him even after becoming a monk. It seems likely to me that some of the early monks had to be influenced by the teachings of the druids, and in fact, some of these monks may have even been druids at heart in the guise of monks. I’m sure it was dangerous to practice as a druid and it may have been a matter of survival for druids to disguise themselves as monks. St. Columba’s island of Iona, where there was a large Christian monastery, used to be a druid sanctuary and highlanders still refer to it as Druid’s Isle. I pictured him as a Christian trying to convert pagans to God, but also as man who had some understanding of pagan beliefs and didn’t force people to convert.

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Cat’s Curse, Book 1: Dark Goddess Trilogy, Celtic historical romance/fantasy

Blurb: Cardea is cursed to live an eternity as a blood drinker. Aedan mac Gabrain, prince of Dal Riata, trusts no one after suffering a curse that keeps him from touching any females. Can two tortured souls find love while battling a dark goddess determined to destroy them?

Excerpt from Cat’s Curse:

The echo of footsteps sounded at the church’s entrance. She kept her face toward the altar waiting until he stood next to her before turning around, her stomach fluttering like a thousand butterflies.

Columcille’s face twisted in shock at the sight of her. “You are Galan’s advisor?” His voice shook with rage. “Is this meant to amuse me?”

“Do I look amused?” She motioned for him to sit down on the bench.

“Why are you here?” he asked, sitting at the end of the bench.

“I have nowhere else to go. You threw me out; do you not recall that?”

“I thought you would return to your underworld abode where you belong. Why stay here? Is it because of Aedan?”

She shrugged. “Yes and no.” She held up her hands. “First we must discuss this alliance between King Galan and Aedan. Then we can move on to more mundane tasks.”

His astute eyes rested on her. “It seems simple enough. I know that Galan has been cut off from King Bridei.”

“And I know how badly Aedan needs Galan’s help to take back his kingship from his cousin. I know he will have to battle for it since his cousin has sent men to kill him.”

He seemed flustered by all of her insight into the matter. “So, it seems they are both at a disadvantage. What will it take to make this alliance work?”

“High status hostages will be exchanged with both sides.”

Columcille nodded.

“Fenloch will be exchanged for Aedan,” she declared.

“This is unacceptable!” he roared, losing his composure. “Ye are deceitful and I will not agree to these terms.” A vein pulsed on his forehead and Cardea imagined his face turned bright red behind his thick beard.

Cardea smiled, pleased that she’d unnerved him. She noticed how his thick native brogue returned when he was angry. With a nonchalant attitude she said, “If you do not agree to these terms, you and your warriors will die. King Galan’s warriors have surrounded the entire area. You will not escape unharmed.”

“Ye are a demon!” he spat.

She ignored his outburst. “Do you agree to my terms?”

“I agree, but Aedan will wed Fenloch and you cannot stop it,” he growled. “Do you think by keeping him here you can change it?”

“No. I am only trying to do what is best for Galan. I do not trust you to keep his best interests in mind.” She paused. “Aedan will wed Fenloch after Samhain if you still feel strong about their union.”

His brows furrowed and his eyes filled with distrust. “I warned you I would take back that which I gave to you. You should have stayed away.”

She smiled, wanting to blurt out her secret to him, but decided to keep it from him for now. “You can try.” She stood. “I believe we are finished.”

She left him sitting in the darkened church.

A guard waited for her outside. “I am to escort you to the feasting hall, my lady.”

Columcille came up behind them. “Perhaps I should escort you to show that we have come to an agreeable decision.”

She arched a brow and accepted his arm.

“I do not understand what you are planning, but I will find out,” he whispered, his voice cool and threatening.

Amid cheers from the men gathered in the feasting hall, they entered, flashing victorious smiles. If she could not tell the brothers apart before, she could now. Aedan stared at her, scowling, his face as dark and surly as a winter storm cloud.

The sight of him made her breath catch in her throat, thinking how handsome he looked despite the split lip and other bruises on his face. She fought the urge to go to him and kiss his wounds. He traded in his drab clothes and worn brat, looking like a fiercely handsome warlord in his armor and finely woven purple cloak. Her pulse raced with excitement.

The memory of him fondling Caitlin rushed back into her thoughts, darkening her mood to anger, her excitement fading.

Ignoring his hostile stares, she settled herself next to Galan, her heart pounding like drums inside her ears, drowning out the conversations around her.

****

4 Cups! Cat’s Curse is a wonderful story full of spells, trust, betrayal, and for the two, unconditional love. I love how the subplots built up the main story. Every character is developed. The dialogue and action keeps the book fast paced”¦ The action blends into the story and love scenes are sensuous instead of graphic, along with being very compelling. This well thought out story is a very easy to recommend historical. I look forward to more of this trilogy.
Anya
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/catscursebookone.html

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating…Sensual…Otherworldly

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A Greek vampire, Celtic kings, vengeful goddesses, an ancient faery curse”¦

All three books of my Dark Goddess trilogy are available in Print and Ebook. Set in Dark Age Scotland, I mixed history with a Samhain/Beltaine myth that revolves around an Irish clan and the goddesses Brigit and Cailleach. http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html