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  Table of Contents

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  About High King of Britain

  Praise for the Once And Future Hearts series

  Title Page

  Who’s Who and What’s What

  Maps

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

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  About the Author

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  Copyright Information

  About High King of Britain

  All she wants is to fight for Arthur and Britain.

  Lady Mair is a daughter of Corneus—the house of perfect warriors—and wants only to serve Arthur, War Duke of Britain, as her brothers Lucan and Bedivere do. Yet King Alun of Brocéliande wants to make her his queen, which would mean leaving Britain and Arthur’s court.

  Alun’s younger brother and Mair’s best friend, Rawn, sees things as Mair does—nothing is more important than being the best warriors they can be.

  Only Mair is entangled in the politics of the kings and leaders surrounding Arthur, just as his army prepares to fight two major battles in one summer, and people wonder when Arthur will become High King of Britain.

  Plus, Rawn is hiding secrets of his own, that run counter to Mair’s desparate wish to be free to fight for Britain.

  This novel is part of the ancient historical romance series, Once and Future Hearts, set in Britain during the time of King Arthur.

  1.0 Born of No Man

  2.0 Dragon Kin

  3.0 Pendragon Rises

  4.0 War Duke of Britain

  5.0 High King of Britain

  6.0 Battle of Mount Badon

  7.0 Abduction of Guenivere

  8.0 Downfall of Cornwall

  9.0 Vengeance of Arthur

  10.0 Grace of Lancelot

  11.0 The Grail and Glory

  12.0 Camlann

  Readers have described Tracy Cooper-Posey as “a superb story teller” and her ancient historical romances as “written art”. Get your copy of War Duke of Britain today!

  Praise for the Once And Future Hearts series

  Imagine how good is the author in her craft that she is capable of surprising us her readers even though the Arthurian cycle is one of the most rewritten ones in western literature.

  What a great storyteller! I never thought that anyone could tell an Arthurian tale as well as Mary Stewart, but Tracy Cooper Posey has succeeded. I am just in awe of her ability to meld historical detail with legends and turn out a mesmerizing story.

  It takes me back to the magic I felt when reading Mary Stewart's stories of Merlin. Tracy Cooper-Posey has written another winner!

  As a long time, self proclaimed Arthurian Legend junkie I couldn't wait to dive into Tracy Cooper Posey's new series. Tracy once again proves to be a master story teller as she weaves the delicate threads of this beloved legend into her own.

  Oh my goodness. Of course I was not sure what to expect with this but what I got was a wonderful story set in the time just before King Arthur. Invading Saxons, Romans, Kings, princesses, mysteries, Merlin, and romance? Wonderful beginning to a new series and I cannot wait to read more.

  I also love the fact that her female characters are definitely not boring, whiny or TSTL.

  Tracy Cooper Posey is brilliant at weaving stories with individuals that are completely believable in their thoughts and dialogue.

  Ms Tracy has an amazing way of telling a tale. It’s magical :-)

  Who’s Who and What’s What

  On-line version, for easier reference. Tip: Bookmark the site page and this page in your book for future reference.

  Accolon: Accolon of Gaul. Minor son of Gaulish king. Companion to Uther.

  Aglovale: Son Pellinore and Alis. See Listenoise

  Agravaine: Son of Lot. See Lothian

  Alis: Wife to Pelinore (dec.) see Dunoding.

  Alun: King of Brocéliande. See Brocéliande

  Ambrosius Aurelianus: (Welsh: Emrys Wledig). High King of Britain (dec.) See Pendragon.

  Anwen of Galleva: Heroine, Pendragon Rises. See Galleva.

  Arawn Uther: Son of Arawn and Ilsa. See Brocéliande.

  Arawn: Hero of Dragon Kin. King of Brocéliande. See Brocéliande.

  Arthur: Son and heir of Uther Pendragon and Igraine. See Pendragon.

  Ban of Benoic: Brother to Bors, and exiled from his own kingdom by Saxon incursions. See Benoic.

  Bedivere: Welsh: Bedwyr. "Bedwyr of the Perfect Sinews". Oldest son of Bedrawd, Duke of Corneus. See Corneus.

  Bevan: King of Calleva. See Calleva.

  Blavet: Large tidal river, location of Lorient, capital of Brocéliande, Lesser Britain.

  Bors the Elder: King of Guanne. See Guanne.

  Bors the Younger: King of Guanne. See Guanne.

  Brandegoris: Brandegoris of Estangore. See Kernow.

  Brandérion: Village in Lesser Britain, the birth place of Ilsa.

  Brennus: Idris’ horse.

  Budic: King of Morbihan. See Morbihan.

  Cadfael: Hero of Born of No Man. See Dunoding.

  Cador: Duke of Cornwall. See Cornwall.

  Cai: Son of Ector. Companion to Emrys. See Galleva.

  Calleva: Kingdom in the south of Britain, neighbouring Cornwall. . See Calleva.

  Campbon: By the great Briére swamps of Lesser Britain. Capital of Guanne.

  Carnac: King Budic’s summer residence in Lesser Britain, where Ambrosius and Uther prepared to take back Britain from Vortigern. See Morbihan.

  Claire of Brandegoris: Mother of Elyan the White by Bors the Younger. See Kernow

  Claudas: Frankish King and conquerer. See Berry.

  Coria: Corbridge, in modern parlance.

  Cynbel: Emrys's horse

  Dinadan: Son of Brunor. Siblings: Breunor, Daniel. See Kernow.

  Dindrane: Daughter Pellinore and Alis. See Listenoise

  Dornar: Bastard son of Pellinore. See Listenoise

  Doward: Hill fort where Vortigern perished.

  Ector: Count of Galleva. See Galleva.

  Elaine of Listenoise: Daughter of Pellinore and Alis. See Listenoise.

  Elaine: Ban of Benoic’s wife. See Benoic.

  Elen: Daughter of Arawn and Ilsa. See Brocéliande. Wife of Cador of Cornwall.

  Ellar:
Lot’s seneschal

  Elyan the White: Son of Bors the Younger and Claire of Brandegoris. See Guanne.

  Evaine: Bors the Elder’s Queen. See Guanne.

  Forest Sauvage: Where Galleva is located, close by Hadrian’s Wall. See Galleva.

  Gaheris: Oldest son and heir of Lot. See Lothian.

  Gareth: Son of Lot. See Lothian.

  Gawain: Son of Lot. See Lothian.

  Gorlois: Duke of Cornwall. See Cornwall.

  Guanne: Kingdom in Lesser Britain. See Guanne.

  Guenivere: Welsh: Gwenhwyfar. See Camelard.

  Hector de Maris: Half brother to Lancelot du Lac. See Benoic.

  Héric: Ban of Benoic’s lands, within Guanne, Lesser Britain.

  Hoel: Hoel the Great, Hoel of Brittany. King of Morbihan.

  Horsa: A Saxon leader

  Idris the Slayer: Northern warrior. See Lothian

  Igraine: Daughter of Emlawdd Wledig. Wife to Gorlois of Cornwall. See Cornwall and Pendragon.

  Ilsa: Heroine of Dragon Kin. See Brocéliande.

  Iseult of Ireland: Daughter of Anguish of Ireland and Iseult the Elder.

  Kahedin: Son of Hoel. See Morbihan.

  King of the Magyars: Husband to Julia. Father of Sagramore. See Kernow

  Lady of the Lake: A title bestowed upon powerful women who control the Perilous Forrest and the Lake at the heart of Brocéliande. The title is not hereditary. See The Perilous Forest.

  Lamorak: Son of Pellinore and Alis. See Listenoise.

  Lancelot of the Lake: aka Lancelot du Lac. See Benoic.

  Leodegrance: King of Camelarde.

  Lot: King of Lothian.

  Lowri: Daughter of Cadfael and Lynette. See Dunoding.

  Lucan: Son of Bedrawd, Duke of Corneus.

  Lynette the Elder: Heroine of Born of No Man. See Dunoding.

  Mabon: King of Calleva.

  Maela: Daughter of Vortigern. Wife to Mabon. See Calleva.

  Mair: Daughter of Bedrawd, Duke of Corneus.

  Mared: Daughter of Bors the Elder. See Morbihan.

  Mark: Brother to Tristan the Elder. See Kernow

  Merlin: Myrddin Emrys. See Pendragon.

  Morbihan: Kingdom in Lesser Britain. See Morbihan.

  Morgan le Fey: Daughter of Gorlois and Igraine. See Rheged.

  Morguase: Daughter of Gorlois and Igraine. Wife of Lot.

  Morlaix: Kingdom north of Brocéliande, in Lesser Britain.

  Nimue: Lady of the Lake. See The Perilous Forest.

  Pellinore: King of Listenoise.

  Percival: Son of Pellinore and Alis. See Listenoise.

  Perilous Forest: The heart of the Brocéliande forest, where The Lady of the Lake lives.

  Rhiannon: Daughter of Anwen and Steffan. Companion to Cai and Emrys. See Galleva

  Sagramore: Son of the King of the Magyars and Julia, Princess of Rome. See Kernow.

  Scorff: Smaller river that runs into the Blavet by Lorient. Fresh water river.

  Steffan of Durnovaria: Hero, Pendragon Rises. See Galleva

  Tewdwr: Son of Hoel. See Morbihan.

  Tielo: Rhiannon's horse

  Tintagel: Fortified rocky island connected to mainland Cornwall by narrow natural bridge of rock.

  Tor: Bastard son of Pellinore. See Listenoise.

  Tristan the Elder: King of Kernow.

  Tristan the Younger: Bastard son of Tristan the Elder. See Kernow.

  Urien: King of Rheged.

  Uther: Uther Pendragon. High King of Britain.

  Vannes: Principal town of the kingdom of Morbihan.

  Vedra River: The Tyne, in modern parlance.

  Via Statra: Roman road between Vannes and Corseul, Lesser Britain

  Vivian of Maridunum: Mother of Merlin.

  Vivian: Accolyte of the Perilous Forrest. Lover of Nimue.

  Vortigern: High King of Britain. Died at Doward. Succeeded by Ambrosius. Wife: Olwen. Sons: Vortimer, Catigern. Daughters: Maela.

  Yr Wyddfa: Snowden

  HOUSES, CLANS AND TRIBES

  BENOIC

  Ban & Elaine

  Ban: King of Benoic

  Elaine: (see Brocéliande)

  Hector: Ban’s son (by Suzanne de Maris)

  Lancelot du Lac: Their son

  BERRY

  Claudas: King

  Claudin: His son

  Dorin: His son

  BROCÉLIANDE

  Arawn & Ilsa

  Arawn: King of Brocéliande

  Ilsa of Brocéliande: Arawn’s queen. (See Morbihan)

  Elaine: Arawn’s sister (see Benoic)

  Evaine: Arawn’s sister (see Guanne)

  Alun: eldest son of Arawn & Ilsa, King of Brocéliande

  Arawn Uther: second son of Aran & Ilsa

  Elen: Daughter of Arawn & Ilsa (see Cornwall)

  BRYNAICH

  Caradoc & Ula

  Caradoc: King of Brynaich

  Ula: Caradoc’s queen.

  Brigid: Caradoc & Ula’s daughter

  Cara: Caradoc & Ula’s daughter

  Nareen & Isolde: Caradoc & Ula’s twin daughters

  Newlyn: Caradoc & Ula’s son

  CALLEVA

  Mabon & Maela

  Mabon: King of Calleva

  Maela: Mabon’s queen. Daughter of High King Vortigern & Olwen.

  Bevan: Mabon & Maela’s son. King of Calleva (see below)

  Bryn: Mabon & Maela’s son. Partner of Druston (see Dunoding)

  Lynette The Younger: Mabon & Maela’s daughter. (See Dunoding)

  Bevan & Lowri

  Bevan: Mabon & Maela’s son. King of Calleva

  Lowri: Bevan’s queen. (see Dunoding)

  Branwen: Bevan & Lowri’s daughter

  Eira: Bevan & Lowri’s daughter

  Martyn & Trevor: Bevan & Lowri’s twins ons

  Betrys: Bevan & Lowri’s daughter

  Deryn: Bevan & Lowri’s daughter

  CAMELARD

  Leodegrance & Gwenhwyfach

  Leodegrance: King of Camelard

  Guenivere: Leodegrance’s daughter

  CORBENIC

  Pedr: King of Corbenic. aka The Fisher King

  Elaine: Pedr’s daughter

  CORNEUS

  Bedrawd: Duke of Corneus (serves Kernow)

  Bedivere: Bedrawd’s son, companion to Arthur

  Lucan: Bedrawd’s son, companion to Arthur

  Mair: Bedrawd’s daughter.

  CORNWALL

  Gorlois & Mari

  Gorlois: Duke of Cornwall

  Mari: Gorlois’ Duchess.

  Cador: Gorlois & Mari’s son (see below)

  Gorlois & Igraine

  Gorlois: Duke of Cornwall

  Igraine: Duchess of Cornwall (see Pendragon)

  Morguase: Daughter of Gorlois & Igraine (see Lothian)

  Morgan: Daughter of Gorlois & Igraine. aka Morgan le Fey (See Rheged)

  Cador & Elen

  Cador: Gorlois & Mari’s son. Duke of Cornwall.

  Elen: Cador’s Duchess. (See Brocéliande)

  Constantine: Cador & Elen’s son

  DUNODING

  Cadfael & Lynette

  Cadfael: Hero of Born of No Man. Vortigern’s War Duke.

  Lynette: Cadfael’s wife

  Bricius: Cadfael & Lynette’s son (see below)

  Alis: Cadfael & Lynette’s daughter (see Listenoise)

  Lowri: Cadfael & Lynette’s daughter (see Calleva)

  Drusan: Cadfael & Lynette’s son, partner of Bryn (see Calleva)

  Eogan: Cadfael & Lynette’s son (see below)

  Bricius & Maeve

  Bricius: Cadfael & Lynette’s son

  Maeve of Ireland: Bricius’ wife

  Cadoc: Bricius & Maeve’s son

  Tegan: Bricius & Maeve’s daughter

  GALLEVA

  Ector & Druscilla

  Ector: Count of Galleva

  Druscilla: Ector’s wife

  Cai: Ector & Druscilla’s son. Companion to Arthur.

  Steffan & Anwen of Gal
leva

  Steffan: Hero of Pendragon Rises

  Anwen: Heroine of Pendragon Rises

  Rhiannon: Their Daughter (see Lothian)

  GUANNE

  Bors & Evaine

  Bors The Elder: King of Guanne

  Evaine: Bors’ queen (see Brocéliande)

  Bors The Younger: Bors & Evaine’s son (see below)

  Lionel: Bors & Evaine’s son

  Mared: Bors & Evaine’s daughter (see Morbihan)

  Bors The Younger