Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. The baker and I are waiting in a monk’s chapel near the river, with the monastery gardens all around. Just beyond the wall is the place where the grasses grow and grains are harvested. But here I am with this commoner, a baker, a village merchant who has a veryContinue reading “#79.3 Tuesday, April 7, 2026”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
#79.2 Thursday, April 2, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. The baker and I set out to call upon the neighbor in baker’s complaint but apparently, this neighbor is the monastery. And the baker suffers a dreadful fear of God. Worse yet, he can’t distinguish between God and men of the cloth. He walks behind me with his head bowed.Continue reading “#79.2 Thursday, April 2, 2026”
#79.1 Wednesday, April 1, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Today I rule a cottage known by the very poor to be the “castle.” It is the assigned post of the ealdorman. Ousbert, the king-appointed captain of the guard in this region found the ealdorman who was here to be corrupt, and had him removed to await the king’s judgment.Continue reading “#79.1 Wednesday, April 1, 2026”
#78.13 Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. The ealdorman’s assigned house, (or “castle” if you are a pauper and have never been in a simple cottage) was purged of the fellow who had been appointed to this seat. The log book he kept for the king was taken away as evidence against him, along with all hisContinue reading “#78.13 Tuesday, March 31, 2026”
#78.12 Thursday, March 26, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Asking Ousbert for a King’s law written for ealdorman to know and use, he scoffed at what he calls an “outdated” reliance on books, reminding me in these times kings are made on the battlefield, not amid the dusty law books. Kings are, after-all. appointed by God. We differ. IContinue reading “#78.12 Thursday, March 26, 2026”
#78.11 Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Ousbert wonders why a temporary ealdorman, whose task is to settle minor disputes and send everyone’s taxes on to the king, should want to find a dusty old book of laws? He asks, “Why a book, when we have a God appointed king?” “How will I know whatContinue reading “#78.11 Wednesday, March 25, 2026”
#78.10 Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. The king’s man, Ousbert, assigned to Jarrow to protect this monastery and village from Viking attack is now focused on saving the village from the graft of an ealdorman also assigned his post by the king. Yesterday this ealdorman was carted away to the king’s dungeon along with the evidenceContinue reading “#78.10 Tuesday, March 24, 2026”
#78.9 Thursday, March 19, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. On this morning, my new “best friend,” Ousbert, is tapping on my door. “Eleazor! Wake up! I have a great idea!” “I was already awake.” “Let’s walk back to the ealdorman’s quarters and I will tell you what I have in mind.” I wonder, whyContinue reading “#78.9 Thursday, March 19, 2026”
#78.8 Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Ousbert and I return to our cells in the guest quarters. Tonight, I don’t light a candle. There is nothing I need to read and nothing else that needs to be written. I can just sit here in the darkness and sort through the shady corners of this day —Continue reading “#78.8 Wednesday, March 18, 2026”
#78.7 Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Historical Setting: Jarrow, 794 C.E. Ousbert and I are walking back to Jarrow passing through the pauper’s wood, this night. This is the path no one chooses. It is that dark place, imagined, but never visited — a wilderness of poverty that wilts the wings of angels and dirties the hems of their gowns. We’veContinue reading “#78.7 Tuesday, March 17, 2026”
Lazarus Ink 