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  HEALER

  “In Healer, Linda Windsor combines a knack for thorough research and the skill to draw from it judiciously in telling an engaging story. She weaves together a rich and detailed tapestry of sixth-century life in Scotland. Her notes about Arthurian characters, the Grail Palace, and the bibliography are well worth reading. Linda has done her homework and written a fine story.”

  Randy Alcorn, author of Safely Home and Deception

  “As a longtime, unabashed fan of Linda Windsor’s novels, I have been waiting and hoping for a new medieval book from her for several years. Not only did Healer not disappoint, it exceeded my expectations. A beautiful, heart-pounding love story set firmly against a backdrop of clan fighting and supernatural warfare kept me glued to this book. The next book in this series cannot come soon enough!”

  Tracey Bateman, author of Thirsty

  “One of the best historical novels I’ve read in years. Windsor painted a picture that allowed me to journey through sixth-century Scotland—to laugh, to cry, to shout victory, and to praise God for watching over His own. Exquisitely written. Never-to-be-forgotten characters woven with a plot that touches the world we live in today.”

  DiAnn Mills, author of A Woman Called Sage and Sworn to Protect

  “With the first book in her Brides of Alba trilogy, Linda Windsor beautifully melds Arthurian legend with early Christianity in an unforgettable story of forgiveness and reconciliation that captivated me at the first page and became my constant companion until the last. I impatiently await the next two books.”

  Tamara Leigh, author of Leaving Carolina and Nowhere, Carolina

  “Windsor weaves together a rich tapestry of intrigue, love, and faith set in Arthurian Scotland. With her beautiful prose she transports you into Brenna and Ronan’s world, a place where hope and light overcome despair and darkness. Prepare to be swept away by Healer.”

  Kathleen Fuller, best-selling author of the Hearts of Middlefield series

  “Linda Windsor’s Healer takes us back to a little-known time. Rich in historical atmosphere, memorable characters, deep emotion, and the triumph of faith—what more could a reader want?”

  Lyn Cote, author of Her Abundant Joy

  “This is a beautiful story, full of mystery, romance, and—most of all—redemption. Linda Windsor has written a breathtaking saga combining history and faith with imagination to create a page-turning tale that lingers long after the final paragraph. I can hardly wait for the next book!”

  Janelle C. Schneider, author and spiritual director

  Other Books

  by Linda Windsor

  HISTORICAL FICTION

  Fires of Gleannmara Trilogy

  Maire

  Riona

  Deirdre

  The Brides of Alba Trilogy

  Healer

  Thief (Summer 2011)

  Rebel (Summer 2012)

  CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

  Piper Cove Chronicles

  Wedding Bell Blues

  For Pete’s Sake

  Moonstruck Series

  Paper Moon

  Fiesta Moon

  Blue Moon

  Along Came Jones

  It Had To Be You

  Not Exactly Eden

  Hi Honey I’m Home

  HEALER

  Published by David C. Cook

  4050 Lee Vance View

  Colorado Springs, CO 80918 U.S.A.

  David C. Cook Distribution Canada

  55 Woodslee Avenue, Paris, Ontario, Canada N3L 3E5

  David C. Cook U.K., Kingsway Communications

  Eastbourne, East Sussex BN23 6NT, England

  David C. Cook and the graphic circle C logo

  are registered trademarks of Cook Communications Ministries.

  All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes,

  no part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form

  without written permission from the publisher.

  This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. (Public Domain.) The author has added italics to Scripture quotations for emphasis.

  LCCN 2010921502

  ISBN 978-1-4347-6478-2

  eISBN 978-0-7814-0449-5

  © 2010 Linda Windsor

  Published in association with the literary agency of Alive Communications, Inc., 7680 Goddard St., Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO.

  The Team: Ingrid Beck, Ramona Tucker, Amy Kiechlin, Sarah Schultz, Caitlyn York, Karen Athen

  Cover design: DogEared Design, Kirk DouPonce

  Sixth-century map © 2010 Linda Windsor and David C. Cook

  First Edition 2010

  To my mom and children,

  for their support and sacrifices to allow me time to research and write this novel.

  My son Jeff’s by-the-Good-Book faith helped keep me grounded,

  while my daughter, Kelly, challenged me to find ways to fish for men

  who would not heed Scripture from the other side of the boat.

  To David C. Cook,

  for giving me the wings to fly with this project.

  And finally, to my Heavenly Father,

  the Great Creator who would not let me be until I wrote of the things He placed on my heart. Thank You, Jesus, for Your love and grace.

  Dear Reader,

  Many of you are aware of my passion for historical research. When a friend forwarded me a magazine article about what happened to the Davidic line after the nation of Israel scattered (1 and 2 Kings), I became intrigued by the possibilities. So I started a three-year journey of earnest research that birthed this new series.

  With the Brides of Alba series, I am once again stepping into the Dark Ages and surely controversial histories and traditions. It is set in the late sixth-century Scotland of Arthur, prince of Dalraida—the only historically documented Arthur. Most scholarly sources point to Arthur, Merlin, and even Guinevere/Gwenhyfar as titles, so it’s easy to see why the Age of Arthur lasted over one hundred years. There was more than one Arthur. The Dark Ages become even darker when you consider that there was no standard for dating and even the records that exist are written in at least four different languages. Neither names, dates, place names, nor translations are completely reliable. So I quote eighth-century historian Nenius: “I have made a heap of all I could find.”

  The Prince Arthur of Healer, like his historical forefathers, had claim to the royal bloodline of David and that of the apostolic priestly line from the first-century family and friends of Jesus according to multiple sources. A few are listed in the Bibliography (see “Bibliography”). Because my hero and heroine are of similar heritage, they are greatly affected by the rules and traditions of these sacred lines. Just how they were affected, came from the Arthurian scholars’ works highlighted in the booklist, Chadwick in particular. From these books come an Arthur and a Scotland/Britain that is unique to history, tradition, lore, and the Christian faith. (See “Arthurian Characters” and “The Grail Palace” for more.)

  If figuring out who was who wasn’t hard enough, I also tackled the task of showing our fledgling early church and faith struggle in this time before science evolved from what was known as nature magic—and from where nature magic was often supplemented or replaced by miracle or dark magic. It is the last two that involve the supernatural—divine miracle or demonic magic. Nature magic (protoscience) was the knowledge and use of the properties of God’s wonderful creation, a knowledge practiced by my Christian heroine and accompanied by God. But sometimes it was used for evil and
accompanied by dark magic. I can tell you that the research of some elements needed for the story left me unsettled and clinging to God’s shirttail and Scripture for discernment.

  I found myself reading and rereading the verses below as I worked on this novel and endeavored to show the difference between Christians and nonbelievers, as well as between the Christian Celtic or druidic priests, the Roman priests, and the nonbelieving druids. (Bear in mind that druid in that time was a word for all professionals—doctors, judges, poets, teachers, and protoscientists as well as priests. Druid meant “teacher, rabbi, magi, or master,” not the dark, hooded stereotype assumed by many today.)

  With regard to nature magic as well as the power of the Holy Spirit in the believer, I gravitated in my work to these verses:

  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.—2 Corinthians 4:18

  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.—Luke 8:10

  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.—1 John 4:1–3

  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.—John 15:5

  Many of you know how my daughter was stalked and assaulted in college, how she blamed and turned against God and became involved in Wicca, or white witchcraft. It was through research for another Dark Age series, the Fires of Gleannmara, that I learned by God’s grace to witness to her effectively when she would not hear anything from the Word. I have included even more on this kind of research in Healer, Book One of the Brides of Alba series.

  To reach my daughter, I had to fish from the other side of the boat. This was revealed to me once when I read the story of how the disciples had fished all night with no success. Then Jesus told them to try the other side of the vessel. They did and netted a boatload. My child would not listen to Scripture, but she was all ears for the history and oral traditions of the era that became the origins of many of today’s New Age beliefs.

  These historical and oral traditions underscored or clarified what Scripture revealed, separating the wheat from the chaff. They distinguish between works done for the glory of God, praising Him for creation and its properties (or use of nature magic, or protoscience), and those done for self-edification and/or to harm others. They reveal how most druids knew who Christ was—the Son and Messiah ordained by the Creator—because their forefathers had recorded the astrological phenomena of His birth star and the darkness after His death (see www.BethlehemStar.com to see how NASA technology and accepted history are used to affirm this). And they define the line between the light use of nature magic, often aided by the Holy Spirit, and the dark use of the same knowledge, aided by demons.

  The results of my fishing were not as instant as that of the disciples. It took a journey of eight years before my daughter was ready to jump into the boat. But the net had been cast and repeatedly mended each time I found something new to share, something that built on common ground and carried her one step closer to Christ. Both mother and daughter emerged stronger from that storm—stronger in faith, friendship, and love. I share this story because maybe someone out there needs to know how to approach a beloved nonbeliever who will not hear Scripture or traditional witness … but must be reached from the other side of the boat.

  This is my passion. To reach out and enable others to reach out effectively to those who are swimming on the other side of the boat from the written Word with a net that will bring them to Christ, the Living Word.

  With all my heart,

  CHARACTER LIST

  O’BYRNE Clan of Glenarden

  (colors are red, black, and silver/gray)

  Aeda—Tarlach’s late royal Pictish wife; mother to Ronan, Caden, and Alyn

  Ailill—bard

  Alyn—Tarlach and Aeda’s third son

  Bron—a penniless cripple taken in by Brenna; from the Highlands with widowed mother

  Caden—Tarlach and Aeda’s second son

  Cú—Tarlach’s wolfhound

  Dara—Glenarden’s midwife

  Egan O’Toole—Glenarden’s champion

  Gillis—master of the hounds

  Kella O’Toole—Egan’s daughter; foster sister to Ronan, Caden, and Alyn

  Rhianon—Caden’s wife from Gwenydd of North Wales; daughter of Idwal and Enda

  Ronan—Tarlach and Aeda’s eldest son and heir

  Rory—Ronan’s alias

  Tarlach—clan chief/king, also known as the Glenarden; of royal Irish descent (Davidic bloodline)

  Vychan—steward

  GOWRYS Clan—Subclan of O’Byrnes

  (colors are red and green)

  Brenna—daughter of Llas and Joanna; heiress to Gowrys

  Daniel—Donal’s son and Gowrys princeling; hostage to the O’Byrnes

  Donal—Brenna’s cousin and current Gowrys clan chief

  Ealga—Brenna’s nurse and mentor; Joanna’s cousin

  Faol—Brenna’s silver-white wolf

  Joanna—Llas’s slain queen and mother of Brenna, descended from British apostolic bloodline of Arimathea

  Llas—father of Brenna; slain chieftain/king

  Kingdom of GWYNEDD

  (colors are pale blue and black)

  Enda—Rhianon’s mother

  Heming—hunter and soldier of fortune

  Idwal—Rhianon’s father

  Keena—Rhianon’s maidservant since birth

  PRIESTS

  Brother Martin—the priest who tutored Brenna

  Brother Michael—young priest who accompanies his senior Brother Martin

  Dupric, bishop of Llandalf—wants to start a monastery on land where Brother Martin lives (a historical bishop who may also be Merlin Emrys)

  ARTHURIAN CHARACTERS

  (see “Arthurian Characters”)

  Prologue

  Manau Gododdin, Alba

  Sixth century AD

  A deadly danger lurked in the sleepy hollow.

  The night mist hung low above the crannog, cloaking the steep cliff that protected the fortress’s back as well as the still, reflectionless water surrounding its other three sides. But that was not all it obscured. Warriors, some clad in the rich red, black, and silver of the O’Byrne clan, crept like a pack of wolves from leather and tarred curraghs onto the shore of the Gowrys rath.

  The tall, bearded leader, hardened more by bitterness than war, lifted his head with a sudden uneasy awareness. Could she see him? Searching the murky darkness for the small village nestled about the keep, he envisioned the beautiful enchantress who’d captured his dreams night and day. ’Twould take more than the Gowrys fire-hardened stone tower to save her this night. With a sinister tilt of his lips, Tarlach O’Byrne raised his head and howled at the moon that refused to show its face. His words railed above the hushed scrape of the light, wicker-framed crafts his men drew onto the beach.

  “Sister of Avalon or bride of Sheol, I promised you I’d have you. Tonight is the night, Joanna of Gowrys!”

  Tarlach O’Byrne’s roar tore through the thin veil of slumber that Queen Joanna had induced with a concoction of soothing herbs to thwart her sleeplessness of late. Her ears rang as he beat the flat of his battle-axe against the painted Red Hand on his breastplate. The image was as clear as if he stood at her bedside, yet none shared the room save her husband, sleeping beside her.

  The queen grew cold all over, for in her mind’s eye s
he could see Tarlach, leading his bloodthirsty minions into the inner rath, beyond the stockade and earthenwork fortifications where unsuspecting guards, long accustomed to the natural protection of the lake and cliff, fell victim to the enemy’s silent but deadly weapons. Like creeping death, the O’Byrnes stole through the quiet cottages nestled in the enclosed grounds and made straight for the stone keep—for her beloved … for herself … for their child.

  It was not the first time the scene had played out in her dream, yet now Joanna was awake.

  Tonight is the night, Joanna of Gowrys.

  Joanna clenched her hands in a tight fold against her breast, whispering, “Father, take these horrors away. Leave me sleep in peace yet one more night.”

  She inhaled deeply and slowly released her breath though it were her will, her troubled spirit. Instead of the blessed peace that usually came, filling her mind with a sweet, reassuring psalm, Tarlach’s words boomed again and again, like the approach of war drums.

  Joanna’s blood congealed in her veins. This time it was real. Tarlach was here! She shook her husband with urgency. “He’s here, Llas. Heaven help us, he’s here!”

  “Who, Beloved?” Still in the sway of sleep, Llas of Gowrys rolled over and reached instinctively for the axe he kept at the head of the box bed.

  “Tarlach.” The answer came dry from Joanna’s throat.

  The mention of Tarlach, once a friend and now a foe, cleared Llas’s daze in an instant. He pulled Joanna to him long enough to remove the hated name from her lips with a fierce kiss. “God forgive me for not heeding your words, Beloved, for I cannot expect you to.” The pain and guilt in his voice when he released her was as sharp as the sword he seized. Before Joanna could reply, a bloodcurdling scream erupted from the lower chamber of the round tower, affirming that the chieftain of Glenarden was in the keep. Shouting and the clash of metal vibrated in the air. Women and children screamed.

  God have mercy!

  With all her heart, Joanna called after Llas as he unbolted the door to join his men below. “I do forgive you, Llas. Now and always.”

  He mustn’t go to the Other Side with this burden of guilt. She knew Llas understood her gift of second sight no more than he could the savage pangs of childbirth, though the gift had never foretold wrong, even when the outcome was disastrous and men dear to them were lost.