Since she had begun appearing in his dreams, his pale-haired lover had slowly become his one hope of happiness. She’d given herself to him again and again, holding nothing back, so generous and passionate a lover that he’d felt humbled. She’d whispered her love to him as well, her voice sweet and low as she’d lavished him with affection and devotion. To his mind, surely if she had given her heart to him so entirely when they’d been slaves in the Sluath underworld, then it would be so again when she found him. At long last he would have a mate of his own, a woman with whom he could share his life and his heart.
So she had come, too, as suddenly as the battle with the Sluath had ended.
Seeing her fall from the sky had near paralyzed Broden. She’d been so still at first, he’d thought her dead. He vaguely remembered falling to his knees in despair. Yet the Gods had not been so cruel as that. When he’d touched her, he’d felt her warmth, and the whispering pulse of her heart. He stroked his hand over her hair, feeling again the slippery weight of it. In his dreams the pale silk of it had veiled them as she’d kissed his throat, and spoken of her love.
Her love indeed.
Broden emptied half the bottle before he set the whiskey aside, and pressed his hand to his throat. Why the wound had not closed should have worried him. Thanks to the healing powers of his immortality he and the other Mag Raith hadn’t suffered from a lasting injury in more than a thousand years.
From this ye cannae flee, Sileas’s icy voice gloated from his memories.
• • • • •
Buy Broden (Immortal Highlander, Clan Mag Raith Book 4)
Glossary
Here are some brief definitions to help you navigate the medieval world of the Clan Mag Raith series, and also Nellie’s Roaring Twenties Slang below.
Clan Mag Raith
amaro: a bittersweet herbal liqueur blended with gin and vermouth to make a Hanky-Panky cocktail
aquila: Latin for “eagle”, the standard of a Roman legion
aulden: medieval slang for "archaic"
bairn: child
Banbury tale: Victorian slang for a nonsensical story
bannock: a round, flat loaf of unleavened Scottish bread
bloodwort: alternate name for yarrow
bloomers: Victorian word for "trousers"
blue-stocking: Victorian slang for “intellectual”
boak: Scottish slang for “vomit”
borage: alternate name for starflower (Borago officinalis)
broch: an ancient round hollow-walled structure found only in Scotland
burraidh: Scots Gaelic for “bully”
cac: Scots gaelic for “shit”
c’est bon: French for “it’s good”
chanter: a woodwind instrument used alone as practice for playing the bagpipes
chebs: Scottish slang for “breasts”
conclave: druid ruling body
Cornovii: name by which two, or three, tribes were known in Roman Britain
cossetted: cared for in an overindulgent way
cottar: an agricultural worker or tenant given lodgings in return for work
Cuingealach: Scots Gaelic for “the narrow pass”
curate: a member of the clergy engaged as an assistant to a vicar, rector, or parish priest
deadfall trap: a type of trap fashioned to drop a heavy weight on the prey
deamhan (plural: deamhanan): Scots Gaelic for demon
dolabra: Latin for “pickaxe”
don’t take any wooden nickels: early 20th century American slang for “don’t do something stupid”
doss: leaves, moss, and other detritus covering the ground dru-wid: Proto Celtic word; an early form of “druid”
drystane: a construction of stacked stone or rock that is not mortared together
dunnage: Victorian slang for “clothing”
fash: feel upset or worried
fizzing: Victorian slang for "first-rate" or "excellent"
fletching: feathering an arrow
floorer: Victorian slang for "knocking someone down"
flummery: a custard-like Welsh dessert made from milk, beaten eggs and fruit
footman: a liveried servant whose duties include admitting visitors and waiting at table
forthright: honest
fortitude: courage under pressure
frittata: Italian egg dish similar to a crustless quiche
gainsay: contradict
give the sack: English slang for "firing someone from their job"
gladii: Latin plural of gladius or “sword”
glock: Victorian slang for “half-wit”
gongoozler: Victorian slang for "an idle, dawdling person"
goof: early 20th century American slang for "a man in love"
grice: a breed of swine found in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and in Ireland
groat: a type of medieval silver coin worth approximately four pence
gu bràth: Scots Gaelic for forever, or until Judgment
Guédelon: a 25-year-long archaeological experiment in Treigny, France to recreate a 13th century castle
hold your wheesht: Scottish slang term for "maintaining silence and calm"
hoor: medieval slang for "whore", "prostitute"
Hussar: member of the light cavalry
in the scud: Scottish slang for “naked”
jem: Medieval Scots slang for a person prized for beauty and excellence, a "gem"
jess: a short leather strap that is fastened around each leg of a hawk
kirk: Scottish slang for "church"
kithan:Medieval Scots term for a "demon"
knacker: Victorian slang for "an old, useless horse"
laudanum: a tincture of opium
luaidh: Scots Gaelic for “loved one” or “darling”
mademoiselle: French for “Miss”
maister: medieval slang for "master" or "leader"
make a stuffed bird laugh: Victorian slang phrase for something that is "preposterous or contemptible"
máthair: Scots Gaelic for “mother”
nag: slang for horse
n’aie pas peur: French for “”Don’t be afraid”
naught-man: an unearthly creature that only looks like a man
nock: the slotted end of an arrow that holds it in place on the bowstring
non: French for “no”
nous sommes tes amis: French for “We are your friends”
oui: French for “yes”
panay: alternate name for self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)
pantaloons: Victorian word for "trousers"
parti: the ideas or plans influencing an architect’s design
peignoir: Victorian-era woman’s garment similar to a "negligee or a light dressing gown"
peridot: a green semi-precious mineral, a variety of olivine
peyrl: Scots Gaelic for “pearl”
plumbata: lead-weighted throwing dart used by the Romans
pomatum: greasy, waxy, or water-based substance used to style hair
quern: a primitive hand mill for grinding grain made of two stones
reste en arriére: French for “Stay back”
rollicking: fun and boisterous
rooing: removing sheep’s loose fleece by hand-pulling
sham: false, fake
sica: a long curved dagger
skeg: Scots Gaelic for “demon”
spend: ejaculate
stand hunt: to watch for prey from a blind or place of concealment
stele: an upright pillar bearing inscriptions
stockman: a person who looks after livestock
strewing: plants scattered on the floor as fragrance, insecticide, and disinfectant
tapachd: Scots Gaelic for “an ability of confident character not to be afraid or easily intimidated”
taverit: Scottish slang for "worn out, exhausted"
tear bottle: Used in the Victorian revival of the ancient custom of catching tears of mourning in a small vial with a
loose stopper. When the bottled tears evaporated, the period of mourning was considered over.
touch-reader: a person with psychometric ability; someone who touch objects to envision their history
trigging: in stonework, using wedge pieces to secure a construct
treadwheel crane: a human-powered wooden wheeled device used for hoisting and lowering materials
trodge: Scottish slang for “trudge”
valise: a small traveling bag or suitcase
vous parlez anglaise: French for “Do you speak English?”
woundwort: alternate name for wound healer (Anthyllis vulneraria )
Roaring Twenties Slang
baby: a person (male or female)
ball-and-chain: spouse
bangtail: horse
bathtub swill: poor, cheaply-made liquor
beef: argument, conflict
bee’s knees: a highly admired person or thing
behind the eight ball: in a difficult position
big cheese: man in charge, the boss
big sleep: death
bigshot: important person
blow: leave
body blankets: precursor to body bags
boob: idiot
breeze: leave
button man: hit man, killer for hire
buzz: looks for a person, comes to a person’s door
cat’s meow: splendid
chill off: murder
chippy: a loose woman with few or no morals
chump: a gullible person
clip: shoot
copper: law enforcement officer
dame: woman
dish: a pretty woman
dive: a low-class place
dizzy doll: clueless
do it up: party, drink, carouse
drill: shoot
droppers: hired killers
duck’s quack: the best thing ever
duds: clothes
dump: dirty, disorganized, unattractive place
flapper: a fashionable, fun-loving young woman who defied conventional thinking and behavior
flatties: police
flim-flam: swindle, con job
floorflusher: an experienced dancer
floozy: an experienced promiscuous woman
get stuck on: have a crush on
gander: look
goon: bad guy, thug
gunned down: shot
Hanky-Panky: a cocktail created in 1925 by Savoy bartender Ada Coleman
hatchet man: assassin
hinky: suspicious
hobo: drifter
hooch: liquor
hoof: dance
horse feathers: nonsense
Houdini: someone who is punctual
huffy: offended
in the altogether: naked
the cat’s pajamas: something very good, excellent
jake: okay, fine
jam: trouble
Jeepers: a mild oath, a euphemism for Jesus
joint: place
kisser: face
kitty: female genitals
loony: insane
lug: a dull-witted man
make like the canary: inform to the police
making whoopee: having sex
maroon: a person who is easy to deceive
Mickey Finn: a drink doctored with knock-out drugs
mug: stupid man
ossified: drunk
out on the roof: dizzy, drunk
palooka: unintelligent man
peaches: breasts
peeve: annoy or upset
petting: kissing, caressing and touching
petting party: make-out session
plant: bury
plug: person
pro skirt: prostitute
Prohibition: From 1920 until 1933, a constitutional national ban on the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States
pug: boxer
pumped full of lead: shot multiple times
pushover: easy
put the finger on: blame
put the screws to: interrogate by force
put the squeeze on: coerce or intimidate
rags: clothes
rat out: inform on
ritzy: very elegant
rube: an easy mark
sap: dunce
score: the reckoning of a situation
scram: run away
shack: reside
shakes out: proven to happen
sharper: swindler
sheik: handsome, sexy man
skirt: woman
snitch: informant
song and dance: deception
sister: woman
skedaddle: leave quickly, run
speakeasy: a bar or nightclub that sold alcohol illegally during Prohibition
swank, swanky: elegant
tot: small child
trouble boys: gangsters
you slay me: you’re hilarious
sap: hit
sitting pretty: to be in an ideal situation
smarts: hurts
spike: nail
squeeze: girlfriend
stickler: a person who always follows the rules
upsidaisy: a phrase said to reassure someone (usually a child) being lifted
wise guy: smart aleck
yammer: to speak loudly
Pronunciation Guide
A selection of the more challenging words in the Immortal Highlander, Clan Mag Raith series.
Aklen: ACK-lin
aquila: uh-KEE-lah
Bacchanalian: back-NIL-ee-ahn
bannock: BAN-ick
boak: BOWK
Bridget McMurphy: BRIH-jet mick-MER-fee
Broden mag Raith: BRO-din MAG RAYTH
burraidh: BURR-ee
cac: kak
Carac: CARE-ick
Clamhan: CLEM-en
Cornovii: core-KNOW-vee-eye
Cuingealach: kwin-GILL-ock
Cul: CULL
Danar: dah-NAH
Dapper: DAH-purr
Darro: DAR-oh
deamhan: DEE-man
dolabra: dohl-AH-brah
Domnall mag Raith: DOM-nall MAG RAYTH
Dun Chaill: DOON CHAYLE
Eara: EER-ah
Edane mag Raith: eh-DAYN MAG RAYTH
Fargas: FAR-gus
Fiana: FEYE-eh-nah
Fraser: FRAY-zir
Frew: FREE
frittata: free-TAH-tah
Galan Aedth: gal-AHN EEDTH
gladii: GLAHD-ee-ee
groat: GROWT
gu bràth: GOO BRATH
Hal Maxwell: HOWL MACK-swell
Helen Frances Quinn: HELL-uhn FRAN-sess KWIN
Hussar: hoo-ZAHR
Iolar: EYE-el-er
Jackie Facelli: JA-kee fah-CHELL-ee
Jaeg: YEGG
jem: GEM
Jenna Cameron: JEHN-nah CAM-er-ahn
John McMurphy: JAWN mick-MER-fee
Kiaran mag Raith: KEER-ahn MAG RAYTH
kithan: KEY-tin
laudanum: LAH-deh-num
luaidh: LOO-ee
Lyle Gordon: lie-EL GORE-din
Mael mag Raith: MAIL MAG RAYTH
maister: MAY-ster
Mariena Douet: mah-REE-nah DOO-eh
marster: MAR-stir
Mary Gowdon: MARE-ee GOW-don
máthair: muh-THERE
Meirneal: MEER-nee-el
Michael Patrick Quinn: MYK-uhl PAH-treek KWIN
Mickie: MIH-kee
Nectan: NECK-tin
Nellie: NELL-ee
parti: PAR-tee
peignoir: pen-WAH
peyrl: PEH-rill
plumbata: PLOOM-bah-tah
pomatum: pah-MADE-uhm
quern: KWERN
Rodney Percell: RAHD-knee purr-SELL
Rosealise Dashlock: roh-see-AH-less DASH-lock
Seabhag: SHAH-vock
Serca: SAIR-eh-kah
sica: SEE-kah
Sileas: SIGH-lee-ess
skeg: SKEHG
Sluath: SLEW-ahth
tapachd: TAH-peed
taverit: tah-VAIR-eet
tisane: TEE-zahn
trodge: TRAHJ
valise: vuh-LEES
Wachvale: WATCH-veil
wheesht: WEESHT
Dedication
For Mr. H.
Copyright
Copyright © 2019 Hazel Hunter
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
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