The Cailleach (veiled one) is the center of my trilogy titled Dark Goddess. I chose her because she is known in Ireland and Scotland, which corresponded with the settings of my story. She is one of the oldest goddesses who personifies the cutting winds and harshness of the northern winter. She is usually an old hag, but there are Irish myths that show her as a beautiful young maiden. In legends, she appears to the hero as a hideous old woman to test his heart for kingship. The one who kisses the old hag is rewarded””she changes into a beautiful maiden and bestows sovereignty on him.
There are many stories about her, but the one I focused on is the legend of The Cailleach and Brigit. The Cailleach ruled in the winter months and Brigit ruled in the summer months. The part that interested me about this legend is that they may have been two different faces of the same goddess. I decided to write a story using that theory and what may have caused that to happen.
In my trilogy, the Cailleach’s destiny is entwined with that of an Irish clan and goes back to the battle between the Milesians and the Tuatha de Danaan of ancient Ireland. She makes an appearance in the first two books, but the third book of the trilogy (Winter’s Requiem) belongs to the Cailleach. In the first book in this trilogy, Cat’s Curse, she is known in the highlands as Cat Anna. She has put a curse on Aedan’s clan””if the males in the clan so much as touch a female, they are changed into a black cat.
http://kelleyheckart.com/cats_curse.html
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:
“Where is your demon lover?” She stepped into the clearing, bringing her own weather with her. A tempest wind whirled around her, sending the flames of the fire into a wild, terrifying dance.
Whimpering, Fian held her tail between her legs.
“What do ye imply by that, Cat Anna?” He kept vigilant eyes on her. Blinding white-blue hair, like twilight reflected off snow, tumbled around a seemingly innocent face. Doeskin clothed her tall lithe body, wild and thrilling to the warrior in him. In this huntress guise she appeared beautiful, but she had the face of a beauty that belied a dark nature.
“You do not know, do you?” Wicked laughter erupted from her delicate pale throat.
He wanted to wrap his hands around her throat and strangle her.
“I will tell you then. Last night, Cardea visited you, seduced you, and drank your blood, which is what she does to all of her victims.”
“Ye are a liar,” he growled.
“Oh, it is no lie.”
He remembered the vivid dream he had and rage fumed within him. How could Cardea do that to me and expect me to continue to trust her? “If this be true then why did I not turn into a cat?”
“Because only a human woman’s touch can turn you into a cat and Cardea is not human, not anymore.”
Could she be telling the truth?
Flapping wings sounded in the night and Cardea appeared, a look of pure hatred on her face. “What are you doing here?”
“Just talking. I will be taking my leave now.” Cat Anna waved her arms and disappeared in a blinding flash.
“Did she try to harm you?” Cardea rushed over to him.
“Nae.” His insides blazed with fury at the thought of Cardea deceiving him in such a way. He could not look at her.
“What troubles you, Aedan?”
“Was it a dream I had last night or did ye seduce me without my consent, Cardea? Did ye feed off of me?” That she would feed off of him like he was one of her victims displeased him the most.
Cardea looked down. “Yes, but”¦”
“I do not want to hear what ye have to say,” he scowled. The sky lightened with the first hint of approaching dawn. He turned to leave, but stopped and faced her, fighting the various emotions boiling within him. “I trusted ye. How could ye execute such an act of betrayal, casting enchantments on my mind and”¦body?”
“Aedan”¦I”¦”
“Nae, I do not want to hear yer answer.” The memory of his dead wife’s face flashed before him. Recalling her betrayal, he could not bring himself to forgive Cardea now. The wound of her deceit still bled.
“Please, Aedan, let me explain.” She stepped toward him, her eyes glistening with tears.
Holding the wooden tipped arrow in a tight grip, he shot her a warning look. “Leave me be.” He backed away from her, leaving the clearing, his body trembling with rage and feeling too wounded by her deception to even allow her to explain. Aedan needed to get away from her before he did something he would regret.
He would fight Cat Anna by himself.
———————————————————————————————————
Reviewer Top Pick! This amazing story is very refreshing in the current romance genre. The storyline had a bunch of twists and turns that kept my attention and intrigued me with anticipation. I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next book (Beltaine’s Song), Book Two in the Dark Goddess Trilogy, as I have become addicted to the strength, courage and real human facets of the characters in this saga.
Reviewed by: Lydia Ferrari at Night Owl Romance Reviews
Online Link: http://www.nightowlreviews.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.aspx?daoid=51
Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author
Captivating…Sensual…Otherworldly
http://www.kelleyheckart.com
http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/CelticChick
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604
Buy links for Kelley’s books: http://kelleyheckart.com/BookShelf.html
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.
Leave a Comment