Ok so this last line of part 1 where Vivian says "Oh, Mallory. You never do" got me wondering about why Vivian always refers to Owen as Mallory...

Turns out, the name Mallory, likely derives from the old french meaning unlucky 👀

Then I got curious about Una. Una can mean "one" - which I think is the most common meaning that the reader would have caught onto quickly. The name "Una" makes sense in the context of her story being the first knight. BUT Una could also mean "lamb" in old irish. Una as the lamb for slaughter makes sense now that we know this story is an endless cycle where she is sent to her death over and over to secure the might of Dominion in the future.

BUT ALSO going back to the themes of catholicism: Owen brings Una to Cavallon Keep and intends to watch her die in the ambush; but at the last moment has a crisis of faith and decides to warn her of the archers before they can shoot her. This reminded me of the biblical story of Abraham sacrificing his son to God. In that story, God asks Abraham to prove his loyalty by sacrificing his son. Abraham brings his son to the mountaintop but tells his son that that are going to be sacrifing a lamb. When the son asks where the lamb is, Abraham responds that God will provide. At the last minute before Abraham kills his son, God stops him saying that it was all a test and that he proved his loyalty. God then provides a ram which they slaughter instead. Una is the lamb/son in this case and Vivian becomes "God" sending Una/the lamb to slaughter. In an earlier post, I had said that Owen was "God" but now, that role has transitioned to Vivian as we learn that she is the one actually pulling the strings, not Owen.

And finally, Yvanne/Yvonne means "Yew" in old french...a coincidence??? I think not!!