I Burn Quhil I Se - I burn but am not consumed. That is the motto of the clan Macleod of Lewis, and it becomes the motto of Lewis Macleod in Naked Hero as The Journey Away draws to a close. It is inscribed on the clan badge - The Shining Sun in Splendour, which I thought was an appropriate way to describe the young hero at this stage in his life - trade 'sun' for 'son' and you pretty much have him.
This is the last blog I will make concerning The Journey Away. To make any more would give the ending away. But it is safe enough to say that near the end Lewis is presented with this badge - a reminder of his roots, the home that somehow he must find his way back to, which becomes the thrust of the second book.
Here is the scene...
He produced a small box from his jacket pocket – part of another suit which he’d bought earlier for the occasion. Lewis opened it to find a piece of lucky heather held on a silver badge, in the centre of which was a burning sun with a face on it, around which in a circle was some Latin wording.
“I recognise this as well – it’s the same as on my dad’s kilt pin,” said Lewis on examining it.
“The Macleod crest badge,” Lee explained. “It’s amazing what you can find in the shops in this town. A golden sun in splendour is what I was told – it seems appropriate.”
Lewis sheepishly smiled “Thank you... And what about this: I BIRN QUHIL I SE? I suppose that’s the clan motto. Jim knows Latin...”
“It means ‘I burn but am not consumed’,” interrupted Lee. “I looked it up. So off you go and burn up the final – shine like the golden son in splendour.”
This is the last blog I will make concerning The Journey Away. To make any more would give the ending away. But it is safe enough to say that near the end Lewis is presented with this badge - a reminder of his roots, the home that somehow he must find his way back to, which becomes the thrust of the second book.
Here is the scene...
He produced a small box from his jacket pocket – part of another suit which he’d bought earlier for the occasion. Lewis opened it to find a piece of lucky heather held on a silver badge, in the centre of which was a burning sun with a face on it, around which in a circle was some Latin wording.
“I recognise this as well – it’s the same as on my dad’s kilt pin,” said Lewis on examining it.
“The Macleod crest badge,” Lee explained. “It’s amazing what you can find in the shops in this town. A golden sun in splendour is what I was told – it seems appropriate.”
Lewis sheepishly smiled “Thank you... And what about this: I BIRN QUHIL I SE? I suppose that’s the clan motto. Jim knows Latin...”
“It means ‘I burn but am not consumed’,” interrupted Lee. “I looked it up. So off you go and burn up the final – shine like the golden son in splendour.”