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  Torin rushed over to his uncle’s cart to safely stow the wooden mews containing his valuable birds to sell at the gathering. After locating his horse in the animal stalls, he lifted the saddle onto its back and fastened it. The bridle was put on, and soon all of his belongings were strapped in place.

  He spotted Hróaldr watching his father’s loyal followers preparing to leave. Torin called him over. “Come here, Cousin—I have a job for you.”

  The boy ran over to him wearing a solemn expression. He stared at the ground as Torin spoke. “I am glad you are staying with your mother. Do you know why?”

  Hróaldr shrugged in response.

  “I do not trust anyone other than you with the gyrfalcon I brought back,” Torin answered, leaning against his horse. “It is young and needs to grow comfortable with men. Wait two days in between feeding, and you must only—”

  “Feed it with the glove.” Hróaldr finished his sentence.

  “That is right,” Torin said. “Do as I have taught you, and when we get back in two weeks you can help me fit it with a jess.”

  The boy sighed. “When you get back you will have arranged a wife, and you will not care to teach me anything.”

  Torin raised his eyebrows at his cousin. “If you are not careful, I will arrange for a wife for you too!”

  “No!”

  “Very well. Thank you for helping me. Before you can blink, you will be at the Althing.” He jumped onto his horse to join the others who were beginning to move away from the longhouse, toward the boundary wall and gate.

  He arrived at the front of the procession where his uncle and cousin were riding. When Ingvar, a younger image of his father, saw him, he smiled and asked Fólki, “Did you say you told him to clean his face before we left?”

  The two men shook their heads at him. Fólki sighed and said, “This is why we will find you a wife. The right one should inspire you to keep yourself tidy and away from things that will cloud your mind.”

  Torin dropped his chin to his chest and glared at the horizon. He saw no benefit in wasting energy on his appearance. If he took two weeks between shaving the whiskers on his neck and face, it didn’t matter to him. And it was the poisonous shark meat that had helped him get to sleep the night before. It was the only thing that kept his pain in check.

  “No woman,” Torin answered, “could ever have that amount of power.”

  Fólki’s green eyes twinkled in response. “Shall we make a friendly bet on it?”

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  Research Notes

  All things books-

  Before paper was widely milled commercially in Britain (mid-sixteenth century), parchment was the writing material of choice during the thirteenth century. It was made from animal skins (goat, cow, sheep) that are soaked, dehaired and stretched on large frames. Vellum is another type of parchment derived from baby calves (think veal).

  Ink was made from oak galls, which are bulbous “nuts” created when gall wasps lay their eggs in an oak leaf. The oak galls are dried and crushed, then allowed to soak in water or alcohol (ale/wine), strained and mixed with iron sulfate and gum arabic.

  There were few widely known poets, scholars and writers in the thirteenth century. At the end of the 1200’s, Marco Polo’s travelogue was published and one of the most widely known Old English epic poems, Beowulf, had already long been written.

  During this timeframe in history, there were no printing presses. It was the job of a scribe to copy a book. Most books in circulation were those important to the church and were religious in nature.

  Black Shuck-

  Fables of a ghostly black dog roaming the countryside can be found throughout the British Isles. Its name differs depending on the location of the story, but in East Anglia, it is known as the Black Shuck. The earliest description can be dated back to the twelfth century.

  In 2014 the mysterious remains of a large dog were excavated that dated back to the seventeenth century. It made people wonder if the three foot tall hound could be linked to the legend.

  Odds and Ends-

  It appears that some people living in the middle ages may have slept in two cycles, going to bed at sunset and waking in the middle of the night to conduct business, say their prayers, or do something a little more fun—have sex. After being up for an hour or two, they would have gone back to sleep to wake early in the morning.

  Bedrooms and beds were a privilege for the wealthy or royalty. Even early manor houses only provided one separate room for the lord. Everyone else (servants and guests) would have found a place to sleep on the floor in the hall if they did not have a cottage of their own.

  Rushlights were used by commoners who could not afford beeswax candles. They were made by dipping a rush into tallow (animal fat).

  Women in the Middle Ages-

  During this time in history, women were subservient to men and considered morally weaker. There were few possibilities to rise to power. Within the church abbesses could gain seniority over men. Powerful women could be born into royalty, including Queen Isabella from the fourteenth century.

  Wealthy noblewomen were expected to take care of their homes and produce male heirs, which was a dangerous proposition. Minor complications today might have meant death to the mother or child in the thirteenth century.

  Peasants and townswomen were expected to assist their husbands and fathers in the fields, or with their businesses and trades. They worked long hours to support their families doing hard physical labor.

  Upperclass women might have been taught how to read and write by their mothers or private tutors, although the lower classes would not have had the time for it, nor was it supported by the church, which was the primary resource for public education for wealthy young boys at the time.

  About the Author

  Natasha Brown’s active imagination has always been a distraction. When she was a child, the forest outside her home, and books read in the dark past bedtime taught her that exciting worlds are created with dreams and a voice. Once she started writing she couldn’t break the habit. She is likely busy at work now, researching, planning and chatting with her future characters.

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  @writersd3sk

  writersd3sk

  www.natashasbrown.com