Sample from my novel From the Ashes
Chapter 2
BJORGVIN, NORWAY 1070 CE
The seagulls began filling the sky early in the morning, while there was no rain. They kept coming during the heavy showers later and stayed when sunshine followed the dark, dreary weather. They were flying all over the large coastal valley and the bay, along the steep mountains surrounding it.
– They’re always here on such occasions, a man said. – They know when the boats arrive.
And more and more people arrived with the birds, growing more and more excited. The first, smaller fishing boats appeared between Fenring the island and Bjorgvin the mainland. There were two quays. The largest belonged to the king. Both were filled with excited people.
The first smaller boats reached the shore. They were filled with herring. That didn’t really make people that excited. The small boats were usually filled to capacity. But the fishermen’s expression and wild cries did make the excitement spread like wildfire among the awaiting people.
– The sea is boiling, a man stepping off a boat shouted. – I’ve never experienced anything like it.
He was one of the older, experienced seafarers, and had caught fish since he was a boy.
The bigger boats entered the bay between the island and the small, nebulous town. The people standing on land, closer to the boats started shouting. The stories about the massive catches had begun circulating early that day, but people had just shaken their head good humored. Those stories were just too wild to be believed. Now, they were confirmed.
– The herring practically fought to get into the nets, the old-timer marveled and shook his head, not in denial, but in astonishment.
This had been a scarcely populated and fairly insignificant trading settlement until it had caught the king’s interest. Olav Kyrre, son of King Harald Hardråde had founded the town this year and called it Bjorgvin «the green meadows among the mountains». He already had his own royal farm, his own royal anything already. He clearly planned on staying. People had had mixed feelings about that at first, but now, they figured he brought luck and prosperity.
Everyone was caught in the growing euphoria.
– I’ve never even heard about it happening anywhere else, another man chuckled in gathering anticipation. – If it had, it must have been when the gods walked the land.
The legends, the oral stories spoke about the god kings many generations back, in an ancient time shrouded in mist and shadow.
The larger ships grew bigger in the horizon, visible to all. The chilly northern wind brought the stench of fish to people’s nostrils. People waved from the shore as the boats made their way to the quays. The tough guys onboard returned the waves reluctantly, fearful of appearing unmanly. A minute or two later, they didn’t care. They stood to their knees in fish, and kept jumping up and down, in spite of falling several times.
One of the largest boats had only a crew of five, all of them exhausted. A tall and big beardless youth crouched in the bow. He stared at the sky, at the seagulls, listening to their screeches. The long, red hair was so wet that it hardly moved in the wind. No matter how much rainwater he used to clean his face, he failed at getting rid of the salt.
– Hey, Kjell the Red, one of the fellow crewmembers shouted at him, – aren’t you happy Thor blessed our catch today?
A tired smile touched the worn, young face.
– Be careful with who you give thanks, another barked at the man, – if you want to enjoy your catch.
The old gods had become a touchy subject. The king worshiped White Christ. The hearty laughter had a notable touch of uncertainty.
The boats reached the shore. The quays didn’t have nowhere near the capacity to handle them all simultaneously. Some practically crashed their boats on land, not really caring in their perpetual euphoria. A few ran from their catch, not bothering to leave a guard. One man held up one single herring. He kept kissing it. The people who had been waiting and those who had been catching fish ran together to the houses. Women, men, children, rich and poor danced in the streets and the yards. This day would be remembered for a long time.
And it didn’t stop there. The boats returning to the sea in the coming weeks kept catching insane amounts of herring. The rumors about the riches in the ocean spread fast and throughout the land, spread beyond the time and the place. It seemed clear that these days and events would never be forgotten.
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Buy the book at
Annie Bloom’s Books (Portland)
Buffalo Street Books (New York)
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