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The bastard daughter of gypsy piano-tuners, I am an artist, a musician, and an armchair anthropologist, with interests ranging from medieval illumination to Taoist philosophy, and touching just about everything in between.

Graidhne na Ruadh is a Celt, living as thrall-wife to a Chieftain in 6th century lower Iceland. She is also a bard, and an Orja, or priestess. (This may seem an unusual combination, but the abilities of captive thralls or slaves among the Viking peoples were generally acknowledged, and put to good service. Such captives, if they accepted their new life, were often treated nearly as well as family, and not only permitted, but expected to use any and all of their skills to the betterment of their captive clan. Excelling in doing so could often improve their status, and allow them to be treated as free equals.)