Queen of Fates: A triptych tale of Pictish Destiny

Queen of Fates is a revised and re-edited edition of Destiny of the Picts, now reimagined and restructured as a Celtic triptych tale-an intricate narrative inspired by the sacred rule of three. In keeping with ancient bardic tradition, the story unfolds across three interwoven lives: Queen Der-Ilei of Alt Clut, her son King Nechtan map Der-Ilei, and his foster-son King Oengus map Fergus. Each of their stories forms a distinct narrative panel, building upon the last in complexity and depth-like the three arms of a triskelion turning through time. Rooted in the mythic symmetry of three gods, three goddesses, and three cycles of sovereignty, this new edition reflects the ancient method of storytelling in which bards would recount a tale three times-each telling layering meaning, nuance, and revelation. The triptych form, often associated with sacred art and religious altarpieces, here becomes a literary structure: three generations of Pictish royalty woven into one spiralling narrative of power, belief, and rebirth. Set against the backdrop of early medieval Scotland and the decline of Northumbrian dominance, Queen of Fates explores dynastic marriage, religious transformation, and political upheaval with historical precision and literary sophistication. Grounded in early medieval law, ecclesiastical history, and Celtic spiritual tradition, the novel offers both a compelling chronicle of real events and a meditation on how identity, legitimacy, and leadership are forged across time. This is a story where sovereignty is not merely inherited-it is earned, challenged, redefined. Passed from mother to son, from ruler to heir, it becomes a burden, a blessing, and a becoming.