Page 1

GLOSSARY

AEtlaquoy

AEtla is Old Norse for “fated,” and “quoy” is Old Norse for a farm livestock enclosure.

Due to Orkney’s location and history, its place names are more likely to have Old Norse linguistic roots than Scottish Gaelic ones.

Each-uisge

Many cultures have legends about dangerous water spirits that take on different forms. Most famous from Scottish lore are kelpies , water spirits that can take either horse or human form and live in freshwater rivers or lochs.

In contrast, the lesser-known Each-uisge are ocean dwellers and known to be more vicious.

In legend, they usually take on the form of a handsome man or beautiful woman to lure humans to their deaths.

Often they appear as ordinary horses, enticing a human to ride them—which never ends well for their prey.

I have taken considerable liberties with the legends of the Each-uisge , developing culture, history, and even biology for them well beyond their traditional folklore.

It was my hope to preserve their aura of mystery and danger, as well as the predatory ruthlessness that drives them.

Jorsay

From Old Norse, loosely “Horse Island.” The Isle of Jorsay is my own invention and not a real Orcadian island.

Trow

A mischievous creature from Orkney and Shetland lore, dwelling underground in ancient mounds.

They have a human-like appearance but are far smaller, and they usually appear old and wizened, with gray skin.

If trows’ mounds are disturbed by humans, they are known to take revenge.

They are also known for entering unlocked houses at night and even stealing the occasional baby from its cradle.

Keep your bolts fastened!

Witches

In the late eighteenth century, Orkney was home to some of the most infamous witch trials in European history.

Before that, for centuries, magic was considered a reasonable explanation for many phenomena of daily life.

Some folktales maintain that a witch’s curse is responsible for the Swilkie, a dangerous whirlpool in the Pentland Firth.

In fact, another name for the Swilkie is the Sea Witch’s Wheel…