My son Jon trout was murdered. ‘Murder’. Such a black word. When it is spoken about one of your own, it cloaks you like an icy shroud. Stuns you with disbelief and drives you to your knees with grief. It is so sudden, not like the slow gentle death of an old man drifting into … Continue reading Chapter 97 – Sons

I felt bad about my eldest boy. It had not occurred to me at first, to satisfy his request for a bride price. I simply thought that Borg was the better opportunity for him and me, it was a complex holding with many intricacies and Herdis had not done an efficient job of managing it. … Continue reading Chapter 96 – The Apparition

Things were different than what I had always believed. Like a fog slowly lifting after many years until it was clear. It is true that in my younger days I could only see my life in pursuit of wealth and once wealth was plentiful then power. I had only the belief that it was destiny … Continue reading Chapter 95 – The Fog

They’ve always been against me. They would have killed me if they could. Jealous of me. But I knew how to consolidate power over them. It’s done by marriage; women are the pawns that bind families and clans. You shouldn’t have to resort to warring. I was set to take Solveig as my next woman … Continue reading Chapter 94 – Truths

Seven Clans It was a strange time. Life full of opposites. We loved the festivities, the feasts, and celebrations of holy days, Christian or Pagan, it made no matter. We gathered friends and enemies and for a brief time we shed the cloaks of our opposition, dropped shields, left weapons at the door, at least … Continue reading Chapter 93 – 1223 CE