Belle Fontaine
(The sequel to Beautiful Snare)
In Celtic Britain, circa 80 AD, the warrior queen fondly called Bekah is found dead by her yeoman Ywain and another young kinsman Angus. There is nothing the men can do but give her a decent burial and then continue their journey to the north in hopes of finding any surviving members of their clan, especially Bekah’s daughters Morganand Jenna, and their maid, Alanna. Bekah,however, refuses to believe she is truly dead and chooses to disobey the command of the Goddess to follow Her to the Other Shore. Instead, Bekah argues repeatedly with the old wiseman Keenan, who appears once more in spirit to try to help Ywain and Angus accomplish their goal of reuniting with remaining family members after the utter destruction of the towns of Muirray and Lynmer. When Ywainrealizes that he not only has the ability to meet intimately with Bekah in his dreams, but also to hear and see her spirit during waking hours, all kinds of troubles ensue, including a dire confrontation with the Pictish leader, Randall, an uncomfortable interaction with Ywain’swife, Nola, and his infant son, Wallace, and an odd alliance with Bekah’sbrothers Malcolm and Lloyd. Varying circumstances lead some of them to a small, remote island that harbors a healing spring called Belle Fontaine, as well as an impaired woman by the same name who is said to be able to cure any illness or injury. Despite many difficulties and losses, Ywainperseveres, endures and manages to saveAngus, Jenna, Morganand Wallace, only to find himself in a to-the-death altercation with his and Bekah’sold nemesis, and Belle Fontaine’sfirst and only love, Antonius Augustus.