History Literature / TheAncientFutureTrilogy

* CainAndAbel: Caradoc is out to claim the throne of Gwynedd and is more than prepared to kill his brother Maelgwn.

* {{Reincarnation}}: A major element of the series; not only is reincarnation a reality, but various characters from the Dark Ages have been reincarnated as close friends and relatives of Tory in the 20th-century, easily recognized by their physical similarities. Among other things, Brockwell is Tory's brother Brian and Lady Catlyn is Tory's Aunt Rose. More unusually, it's eventually made clear that reincarnation doesn't obey the laws of linear time: it's possible for early incarnations of the same person to crop up in the 20th century and for later, more advanced incarnations to appear centuries ''earlier.'' [[spoiler: Things get really complicated when Taliesin is found to be a later incarnation of Teo, Tory's ''sensei''... and even moreso when Tory bumps into Miles Thurlow, one of Maelgwn's "earlier" incarnations in 20th-century.]]

* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler: Cadogan. On top of being a rapist and a traitor, he's also a spineless rat, not to put too fine a point on it. In order of appearance: his only reservation over the rape of an eight-year-old Ione was the prospect of getting caught, his strategy for capturing Tory involved taking a hostage to force her to surrender, and after being cornered by his now-adult victim, he's left cowering and begging for mercy from Maelgwn.]]

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: The Dark Ages are ''not'' renowned for feminism or marriage equality; the use of women as commodities to be sold via marriage is considered perfectly normal, as is physical abuse and rape. Prostitutes are considered ''lower'' than second-class citizens, and simply living with them is enough to end up being branded with the same stigma even if you're chaste - as Ione knows too well. Needless to say, this is one of many things that Tory sets out to change once she becomes queen, banning the most misogynistic traditions, harshly punishing rapists, turning the local brothel into an orphanage, and allowing women representation in politics

* HopeSpot: The rule of Tory and Maelgwn results in what looks like the beginning of a golden age, during which [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent people start to let their guard down]]... unfortunately paving the way for a surprise attack [[spoiler: in which Sir Cadogan abducts a heavily-pregnant Tory and delivers her to Powys.]]

** Also, while Brockwell is provided with half a suckling pig at their breakfast next morning, Tory is provided with the one meal she's been missing for the last few months: a burger, fries, and a Coke.

* SnowEqualsDeath: It's during the winter that [[spoiler: Cadogan betrays Gwynedd and kidnaps Tory]], resulting in a colossal battle in Powys that ends with the deaths of [[spoiler: Cadogan, Caradoc, Chiglas, and Tory's unborn child - not to mention nearly Tory herself.]]

* CreateAPlaygroundForEvil: The ultimate goal of Mahaud is to make Britain as hellish as possible so that her malignant presence can be sustained, allowing her to go on feeding and enjoying herself indefinitely, hence why she's so opposed to Taliesin's plans.

* DeathActivatedSuperPower: [[spoiler: As it turns out, Rhun has inherited Tory's immortality, even though he appears mortal enough to be afflicted with the plague. It turns out that in order to activate the immortal gene, Rhun has to die... which he does.]]

* {{Immortality}}: The Immortals of the series are all unaging and possessed of a near-unbeatable HealingFactor; plus, as they grow older, they also develop all manner of other powers, including everything from telepathy, telekinesis, shapeshifting, teleportation, and many others. Taliesin and Myrddin are both prominent members of the Immortals. [[spoiler: By the midway of the first book, so is Tory... and as the series goes on, a growing chunk of the cast achieve immortality as well.]]

* TookALevelInJerkass: Maelgwn, after being led to believe that Tory betrayed him, stops giving a shit and refuses to lift a finger to help the rest of the kingdom - forcing Rhun to step in to act in his stead. He eventually comes to his senses once he realizes his mistake, but by then, it's almost too late: Mahaud's infected him with a deadly plague.

* SheCleansUpNicely:
** Maelgwn and the rest of his entourage look much more presentable once they make it back to civilization and have a chance for a shave; it's because of this that Tory realizes that Brockwell is actually a dead ringer for her brother Brian.
** Katren is initially rather waifish and frail thanks to her impoverished upbringing, not to mention the abuse she's recently suffered from her husband. After being taken in by Tory, Katren blossoms into a fashionable darling of the court.

Unfortunately, Mahaud the hag is not done trying to destroy everything Taliesin has built, and with help from the Saxons, returns to wreak havoc on Gwynedd - worst of all via a deadly plague. With the disease incurable, Tory is forced on a journey to Atlantis in order to save her loved ones...

* CruelMercy: [[spoiler: After being cornered by Iona, Cadogan begs Brockwell to kill him rather than leave him at the mercy of his former rape victim. Brockwell coldly remarks that he'll consider it in a couple of hours, and leaves Iona to her fun.]]

* DirtyCoward: [[spoiler: Cadogan. On top of being a rapist and a traitor, he's also a spineless rat, not to put too fine a point on it. In order of appearance: his only reservation over the rape of an eight-year-old Iona was the prospect of getting caught, his strategy for capturing Tory involved taking a hostage to force her to surrender, and after being cornered by his now-adult victim, he's left cowering and begging for mercy from Maelgwn.]]
* TheDogBitesBack: [[spoiler: When the time finally comes for Cadogan to face justice for his crimes, first in line to deliver it is none other than Iona, the woman he raped. He's last seen being dragged screaming into a cell by a very satisfied-looking Iona.]]

** [[spoiler: Cadogan is able to take out Iona by violently opening a door into her face as she moves to answer it, knocking her unconscious and leaving her unable to stop him from capturing Tory.]]

* ThrowTheDogABone: [[spoiler: After so many years of trauma and isolation as a result of her rape at the hands of Cadogan and Chiglas, Iona is idolized for her defeat of Ossa the Saxon, begins a loving relationship with Sir Tiernan, and even has her tongue restored by the Goddess.]]
* TongueTrauma: Iona, a bodyguard to the local prostitutes and an eventual student of Tory, had her tongue cut out many years ago. [[spoiler: A horrifying flashback reveals that it was in order to prevent her from revealing that she was raped by Caradoc and Cadogan]]. Following the disaster at Powys, [[spoiler: Tory (while channeling the Goddess) rewards Iona for her service by restoring her tongue.]]

* TongueTrauma: Iona, a bodyguard to the local prostitutes and an eventual student of Tory, had her tongue cut out many years ago. [[spoiler: A horrifying flashback reveals that it was in order to prevent her from revealing that she was raped by Caradoc and Cadogan]]. Following the disaster at Powys, Tory (while channeling the Goddess) rewards Iona for her service by restoring her tongue.

** Tory has a tendency to get complacent when she feels victorious, leaving herself open to threats or failing to pay attention early warning signs. Early in the first book, this tendency results in her getting slugged in the cheek by Brockwell during their introductory duel (though she recoups and wins anyway). Later, she also fails to heed the prophetic dreams or notice that Teo is behaving distinctly out of character. The former results in [[spoiler: her being captured by Cadogan and losing her baby to Mahaud]]; the latter results in her [[spoiler: being blindsided when Teo turns out to be possessed by Mahaud and takes Naomi hostage.]]

* TongueTrauma: Iona, a WildChild grown up and eventual student of Tory, had her tongue cut out many years ago. [[spoiler: A horrifying flashback reveals that it was in order to prevent her from revealing that she was raped by Caradoc and Cadogan]]. Following the disaster at Powys, Tory (while channeling the Goddess) rewards Iona for her service by restoring her tongue.

* WildChild: Iona is believed to have grown up wild and has great difficulty fitting in with society, hence why she can only fit in among the prostitutes at a village brothel - up until Tory takes her in. [[spoiler: Both the psychological trauma and the loss of her tongue are due to her rape at the hands of Cadogan and Caradoc.]]

** Myrddin, Taliesin's predecessor and the legendary Merlin himself, is equally immortal and - if anything - possessed of even greater knowledge. [[spoiler: He's currently undercover in the 20th century as Tory's father.]]
* {{Reincarnation}}: A major element of the series; not only is reincarnation a reality, but various characters from the Dark Ages have been reincarnated as close friends and relatives of Tory in the 20th-century, easily recognized by their physical similarities. Among other things, Brockwell is Tory's brother Brian and Lady Catlyn is Tory's aunt. [[spoiler: Things get really complicated when Taliesin is found to be a distant incarnation of Teo, Tory's ''sensei''... and even moreso when Tory bumps into Maelgwn's 20th-century incarnation.]]
* ReincarnationRomance: Tory and Maelgwyn keep meeting up across history and (depending on who they reincarnate as) often fall in love; their current attraction, love, and eventual marriage is no exception. Likewise, other reincarnations fall for the same characters they fell in love with during the Dark Ages. [[spoiler: For good measure, while trapped in the 20th century, Tory eventually becomes close with Maelgwn's present-day incarnation - even marrying him in a later book.]]

* BigBad: The hag Mahaud, the HumanoidAbomination playing the kingdom of Powys from behind the scenes; even after Powys falls, the threat of Mahaud remains - and follows Tory back to the present.

* ReincarnationRomance: Tory and Maelgwyn keep meeting up across history and falling in love, and that their current attraction, love, and eventual marriage is no exception. Likewise, other reincarnations fall for the same characters they fell in love with during the Dark Ages. [[spoiler: For good measure, while trapped in the 20th century, Tory eventually becomes close with Maelgwn's present-day incarnation - even marrying him in a later book.]]

Tory Alexander, an Australian martial-artist and musician, is travelling through Wales in the 1990s when a stopover by a stone circle in the wilderness results in her being unexpectedly flung backwards through time to 519 AD. Moments later, she makes the acquaintance of Prince Maelgwynn, heir to the throne of Gwynedd, and manages to impress him by beating his champion in hand-to-hand combat. Welcomed into the prince's entourage, she finds herself gaining influence at court through her knowledge of history, knowledge of martial arts, and 20th-century technology - gradually altering the course of history.

However, it soon becomes clear that Tory's arrival in Dark Age Gwynedd was not unforeseen: her journey through time was orchestrated by none other than Taliesin, the legendary prophet and wizard of Maelgwynn's court, in order to change history for the better. As time passes and history drifts further off-course, Tory and her allies soon find themselves pitted not only against rival kingdoms and Saxon raiders, but against more supernatural threats trying to block Taliesin's plans for a better future, leading Tory on an escalating journey through history: to the 20th century, to the golden age of Atlantis, to the not-too-distant future, and into distant space.

** Taliesin is four thousand years old and fits the "wise, immortal sage" variant of this trope to a T, having had eons to develop his powers, study the future, and acquire priceless works of Atlantean technology. Needless to say, he serves as an advisor to Maelgwyn and a mentor to Tory.

* {{Reincarnation}}: A major element of the series; not only is reincarnation a reality, but various characters from the Dark Ages have been reincarnated as close friends and relatives of Tory in the 20th-century, easily recognized by their physical similarities. Among other things, Brockwell is Tory's brother Brian and Lady Catlyn is Tory's aunt. [[spoiler: Things get really complicated when Taliesin is found to be a distant incarnation of Teo, Tory's ''sensei''... and even moreso when Tory bumps into Maelgwyn's 20th-century incarnation.]]
* ReincarnationRomance: Tory and Maelgwyn keep meeting up across history and falling in love, and that their current attraction, love, and eventual marriage is no exception. Likewise, other reincarnations fall for the same characters they fell in love with during the Dark Ages. [[spoiler: For good measure, while trapped in the 20th century, Tory eventually becomes close with Maelgwyn's present-day incarnation - even marrying him in a later book.]]

* AFormYouAreComfortableWith: Taliesin is not actually the old man he presents himself as. [[spoiler: His true form is identical to Teo, Tory's ''sensei'' and ex-lover - hence why he prefers to resemble someone else to avoid upsetting her or getting in the way of her relationship with Maelgwyn.]]

** Brockwell is handsome after a decent shave and groom, considers himself god's gift to women, and already has a bastard son running loose; once he warms to Tory, he flirts with her. Tory politely but firmly turns him down, especially since he's a past incarnation of ''her own brother.'' For good measure, a good chunk of his character development features him learning how to be faithful to one woman, grow out of his sexist habits, and take responsibility for his son.
** Sir Cadogan, one of the knights under Maelgwyn's command, is even ''more'' lecherous than Brockwell - to the point of trying to flirt with her from the moment they meet. Tory also shoots him down in flames, much to the amusement of the other knights, but he tries to press the issue when the two of them are alone - and ends up limping away with a pair of extremely bruised testicles for his trouble. Also, as time goes on, it becomes clear that he's not ''just'' a misogynist and a lecher: [[spoiler: he's a rapist, having teamed up with Prince Caradoc to gang-rape Iona when they were younger.]]
* TheHighQueen: By the time she actually marries Maelgwyn and becomes queen, Tory has developed enough of a reputation with the people to make her widely renowned as a wise, just, and magnificent ruler throughout Gwynedd, even being perceived as an incarnation of the Goddess thanks to her infrequent possession by otherworldly spirits.
* HopeSpot: The rule of Tory and Maelgwyn results in what looks like the beginning of a golden age, during which [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent people start to let their guard down]]... unfortunately paving the way for a surprise attack [[spoiler: in which Sir Cadogan abducts a heavily-pregnant Tory and delivers her to Powys.]]
* ImperiledInPregnancy: Tory ends up on the receiving end of a kidnapping after getting pregnant with Maelgwyn's child, [[spoiler: during which she is imprisoned in Powys and menaced by the witch Mahaud for the first time. She ends up losing the baby as a result, and the trauma would have killed her if it wasn't for Taliesin's potion of immortality.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Brockwell, Maelgwyn's champion, is a boorish, uncouth, and distinctly misogynistic character when Tory first meets him. However, he's also fiercely loyal to Maelgwyn and despite his vicious temper, actually has a good heart. As time goes on, he and Tory soften towards each other - especially once he shaves off his beard and she realizes he's a dead ringer for her beloved brother. By the end of the story, Brockwell is Tory's friend and student in the martial arts.

* SymbioticPossession: Tory is infrequently possessed by the spirit of Maelgwyn's mother as the narrative progresses; though she's a little bemused by the process at first, she's more than willing to turn WillingChanneler if the situation calls for it.
* ThisIsMyBoomstick: Tory is able to use Tae-kwon-do to impress Dark Age knights, ultimately earning her a reprieve from being murdered on suspicion of being a witch. Later, her Walkman and instamatic camera also make her a subject of awe around Maelgwyn's court.

** According to Taliesin, Maelgwyn used to have this ability as a child but lost it when he grew up and his education became more traditionally Christian.

* WouldHurtAChild: Once Tory bears Maelgwyn a child, Rhun, Mahaud proves more than willing to try to capture or kill the baby - though thankfully Rhun's too well-defended for a direct assault.

Set twenty years after the first novel, the reign of Tory and Maelgwyn has been a prosperous one: the land is at peace, their allies are contented, and the now-adult children of the rulers of the land are well on the way to making names for themselves, most prominently Rhun, Tory's firstborn son.

* FindTheCure: With Maelgwyn dying of Mahaud's plague, Tory realizes that the only that can save his life is a potion of immortality - but the only way to find it is to venture even further backwards in time to Atlantis, where the bulk of the story takes place.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After he ''finally'' realizes that he was deceived into spurning Tory and driving away Taliesin, Maelgwyn is immediately overwhelmed with remorse.
* SadisticChoice: After finally getting the immortality potion she needs to save Maelgwyn's life from the plague, Tory realizes to her horror that Rhun's been infected as well... and there's only enough potion for ''one'' of them. [[spoiler: It takes some input from a future incarnation of Tory to reveal that the best option is to save ''neither'' of them: Rhun was conceived after Tory took her own potion of immortality and will have inherited eternal life from her, so he must die to activate his powers; Maelgwyn can be taken to an otherworldly site where he can be healed, but it will result in him being put on a celestial bus until he's been reborn as an immortal. The potion of immortality, meanwhile, can be saved for someone else...]]
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: After realizing that Mahaud has ruined all his hard work and turned Maelgwyn against him ''and'' Tory, Taliesin teleports himself the hell out of Gwynedd.

* TookALevelInJerkass: Maelgwyn, after being led to believe that Tory betrayed him, stops giving a shit and refuses to lift a finger to help the rest of the kingdom - forcing Rhun to step in to act in his stead. He eventually comes to his sense once he realizes his mistake, but by then, it's almost too late: Mahaud's infected him with a deadly plague.
* WeHaveBecomeComplacent: Taking place several years after the previous novel, Gwynedd has enjoyed a long and prosperous rule thanks to Tory and Maelgwyn, and the land is at peace. Unfortunately, Mahaud takes this as an opportunity to turn the Saxons against Gwynedd, empowering their chieftain into a significant threat to the peace - resulting in a swathe of destruction being carved through the country before Tory and Taliesin can recover.]]

* TricksterMentor: Keridwen turns out to be a much more mischievous kind of mentor than Taliesin and isn't above playing tricks on Gwion in order to help him learn - and secretly encouraging him to be more unscrupulous in order to achieve the best possible ends.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters: Each book has so many characters of varying importance that there's usually a list attached, and things only get more complicated when it comes to characters who are actually past or future incarnations of each other.

* TheHighQueen: By the time she actually marries Maelgwyn and becomes queen, Tory has developed enough of a reputation to have her widely renowned as a wise, just, and magnificent ruler throughout Gwynedd, even being perceived as an incarnation of the Goddess thanks to her infrequent possession by otherworldly spirits.

* {{Immortality}}:
** Taliesin later confesses that he was born over four thousand years ago and has been immortal ever since thanks to his rebirth in the womb of Keridwen.
** [[spoiler: After Tory is mortally wounded following her ordeal in Powys, Taliesin gives her an incredibly rare potion of immortality to save her life. Consequently, she is essentially ageless and virtually indestructible, and remains so for the rest of the trilogy.]]
* ImmortalGenius:
** Taliesin is four thousand years old and fits the "wise, immortal sage" variant of this trope to a T, having had eons to develop his powers, study the future, and acquire priceless works of Atlantean technology. Needless to say, he serves as an advisor to Maelgwyn and a mentor to Tory.
** Myrddin, Taliesin's predecessor and the legendary Merlin himself, is equally immortal and - if anything - possessed of even greater knowledge. [[spoiler: He's currently undercover in the 20th century as Tory's father.]]
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Brockwell, Maelgwyn's champion, is a boorish, uncouth, and distinctly misogynistic character when Tory first meets him. However, as time goes on, the two of them soften towards each other - especially once he shaves off his beard and Tory realizes he's a dead ringer for her beloved brother. By the end of the story, Brockwell is Tory's friend and student in the martial arts.

* {{Reincarnation}}: A major element of the series from this book onwards; it turns out that various characters from the Dark Ages have been reincarnated as close friends and relatives of Tory in the 20th-century, hence why they look so familiar. Among other things, Brockwell is Tory's brother Brian and Lady Catlyn is Tory's mum. [[spoiler: Things get really complicated when Taliesin is found to be a distant incarnation of Teo, Tory's ''sensei''... and even moreso when Tory bumps into Maelgwyn's 20th-century incarnation.]]
* ReincarnationRomance: Taliesin eventually reveals that Tory and Maelgwyn keep meeting up across history and falling in love, and that their current attraction, love, and eventual marriage is no exception. [[spoiler: For good measure, while trapped in the 20th century, Tory eventually becomes close with Maelgwyn's present-day incarnation - even marrying him in a later book.]]

* StableTimeLoop: During her visit to Atlantis, Tory ends up helping Taliesin [[spoiler: to acquire the potion of immortality that he will eventually use on her past incarnation so she'll become immortal and survive her ordeal in Powys]], thus paving the way for her visiting Atlantis in the first place.

* TraumaCongaLine: Minor character Bran is put through the ringer in a very short space of time: he gets killed in battle, recruited into an army of zombies, brought back to life, menaced by a dragon, dragged into the otherworld, and bitten by an air elemental. As such, he takes some umbrage at being called "timid."

* ImperiledInPregnancy: Tory ends up on the receiving of this after getting pregnant with Maelgwyn's child, [[spoiler: getting kidnapped by Sir Cadogan, imprisoned in Powys, and menaced by the witch Mahaud for the first time. She ends up losing the baby as a result, and the trauma would have killed her if it wasn't for Taliesin's potion of immortality.]]

* TongueTrauma: Iona, a WildChild grown up and eventual student of Tory, had her tongue cut out many years ago. [[spoiler: A horrifying flashback reveals that it was in order to prevent her from revealing that she was raped by Caradoc and Cadogan.]]

* HandsomeLech:
** Brockwell is handsome after a decent shave and groom, considers himself god's gift to women, and already has a bastard son running loose; once he warms to Tory, he flirts with her. Tory politely but firmly turns him down, especially since he's a past incarnation of ''her own brother.'' For good measure, a good chunk of his character development features him learning how to be faithful to one woman, grow out of his sexist habits, and take responsibility for his son.
** Sir Cadogan, one of the knights under Maelgwyn's command, is even ''more'' lecherous than Brockwell - to the point of trying to flirt with her from the moment they meet. Tory also shoots him down in flames, much to the amusement of the other knights, but he tries to press the issue when the two of them are alone - and ends up limping away with a pair of extremely bruised testicles for his trouble. Also, as time goes on, it becomes clear that he's not ''just'' a misogynist and a lecher: [[spoiler: he's a rapist, having teamed up with Prince Caradoc to gang-rape Iona when they were younger.]]
* HopeSpot: The rule of Tory and Maelgwyn results in what looks like the beginning of a golden age, during which [[WeHaveBecomeComplacent people start to let their guard down]]... unfortunately paving the way for a surprise attack [[spoiler: in which Sir Cadogan abducts a heavily-pregnant Tory and delivers her to Powys.]]

* {{Reincarnation}}: A major element of the book; it turns out that various characters from the Dark Ages have been reincarnated as close friends and relatives of Tory in the 20th-century, hence why they look so familiar. Among other things, Brockwell is Tory's brother Brian and Lady Catlyn is Tory's mum. [[spoiler: Things get really complicated when Taliesin is found to be a distant incarnation of Teo, Tory's ''sensei''... and even moreso when Tory bumps into Maelgwyn's 20th-century incarnation.]]
* ReincarnationRomance: Taliesin eventually reveals that Tory and Maelgwyn keep meeting up across history and falling in love, and that their attraction, love, and eventual marriage is no exception. [[spoiler: For good measure, while trapped in the 20th century, Tory eventually becomes close with Maelgwyn's present-day incarnation - even marrying him in a later book.]]

** Sir Cadogan, one of the knights under Maelgwyn's command, is even ''more'' lecherous than Brockwell - to the point of trying to flirt with her from the moment they meet. Tory also shoots him down in flames, much to the amusement of the other knights, but he tries to press the issue when the two of them are alone - resulting in Tory drop-kicking him in the balls. Also, as time goes on, it becomes clear that he's not ''just'' a misogynist and a lecher: [[spoiler: he's a rapist, having teamed up with Prince Caradoc to gang-rape Iona when they were younger.]]

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: One of Taliesin's many magical powers is shapeshifting; as with his mythological counterpart, he used it for use in a ShapeshifterShowdown with his spiritual mother Keridwen. In the present, he uses it to disguise his true appearance [[spoiler: preventing Tory from realizing that he's actually identical to her ''sensei'' and ex-lover Teo.]]

* MagicFeather: Early in the story, Keridwen gives Gwion a bottle of potion that she claims can give him the wisdom of the gods; Gwion later gives it to his King, claiming that the vial is an amulet that would imbue him with divine favor and allow him to complete his quest. It works... and Keridwen reveals her trick to Gwion, revealing the power of belief in the process.

* TricksterMentor: Keridwen turns out to be a much more mischievous a mentor than Taliesin and isn't above playing tricks on Gwion in order to help him learn - and secretly encouraging him to be more unscrupulous in order to achieve the best possible ends.

* ChekhovsGun: The immortality potion from the previous book finally comes in handy [[spoiler: when Brian is fatally wounded early in the book, allowing Tory to finally make her brother immortal.]]

* GoodThingYouCanHeal: When the time comes to reveal the immortality achieved back in the first book, [[spoiler: Tory demonstrates by stabbing herself in the hand.]]

* WeHaveBecomeComplacent: Taking place several years after the previous novel, Gwynedd has enjoyed a long and prosperous rule thanks to Tory and Maelgwyn, and the land is at peace. Unfortunately, Mahaud takes this as an opportunity to turn the Saxons against Gwynedd, empowering their chieftain into a significant threat to the peace - resulting in a swathe of destruction being carved through the country before Tory and Taliesin can recover.]]

* HopeSpot: The rule of Tory and Maelgwyn results in what looks like the beginning of a golden age, during which [[WeHaveGrownComplacent people start to let their guard down]]... unfortunately paving the way for a surprise attack [[spoiler: in which Sir Cadogan abducts a heavily-pregnant Tory and delivers her to Powys.]]

* WeHaveGrownComplacent: Taking place several years after the previous novel, Gwynedd has enjoyed a long and prosperous rule thanks to Tory and Maelgwyn, and the land is at peace. Unfortunately, Mahaud takes this as an opportunity to turn the Saxons against Gwynedd, empowering their chieftain into a significant threat to the peace - resulting in a swathe of destruction being carved through the country before Tory and Taliesin can recover.]]

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: One of Taliesin's many magical powers is shapeshifting; as with his mythological counterpart, he used it for use in a ShapeshifterShowdown with his spiritual mother Keridwen. In the present, he uses it to disguise his true appearance [[spoiler: preventing Tory from realizing that he's actually identical to her ''sensei'' and ex-lover Teo.]]

* ThisIsMyBoomstick: Tory is able to use Tae-kwon-do to impress Dark Age knights, ultimately earning her a reprieve from being murdered on suspicion of being a witch. Later, her Walkman and instamatic camera also make her a subject of awe around Maelgwyn's court.