daoine-sidhe

This prologue recounts the mysterious invasion of Northern England in 1110 by the Daoine Sidhe, a fairy host that swiftly conquers key towns through magical means and strategic warfare. A young human boy, raised by the fairies and claiming a Norman aristocratic lineage, emerges as their leader and establishes a new system of magic blending fairy and human elements, marking the beginning of a three-century reign. The chapter also reflects on the nature of fairy magic and its integration into English magical practice, highlighting the boy's unparalleled influence on the art.