Historical setting: 589 C.E. Cottage in the Vosges “So it will be longer walk for us to Luxovium.” I’m just thinking aloud to the Brother Servant. “We will have to go ten miles now.” “You’ve no idea where Luxeuil is, Ezra? Your hill cottage is a stopping place on the way there. PeopleContinue reading “#38.12, Thurs., Nov. 24, 2022”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
#38.11, Weds., Nov 23, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. At home in the Vosges Mountains On this new day the earth is glittering pure and glazed in snow — a blank page for new beginnings. This morning we will climb the hill to the cottage we left last summer as a still sleeping dream of a home. Brother ServantContinue reading “#38.11, Weds., Nov 23, 2022”
#38.10, Tues., Nov. 22, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. the road home Months ago, Ana and I had journeyed so long on horseback following a different route to deliver messages to the Bishops of Austrasia. Now we have a more direct path and it seems we are already starting the climb into distant mountains. The infant in Ana’sContinue reading “#38.10, Tues., Nov. 22, 2022”
#38.9, Thurs., Nov. 17, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil The well is restored and now I’ve gotten myself out. The four barbarians are here with the people from the cottages and they are passing a flask of ale and celebrating the success of the well water I’m doused in. And here I am, shivering, unnoticed, uncelebrated. DearContinue reading “#38.9, Thurs., Nov. 17, 2022”
#38.8, Weds., Nov. 16, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil Now, deep in the well, I can see the dot of sky above me and I am assured there is an earth above. Even the sky continues to be. It isn’t as cold here as I’d anticipated. Though I find my looped and knotted rope wasn’t longContinue reading “#38.8, Weds., Nov. 16, 2022”
#38.7, Tues., Nov. 15, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil In the dawn tranquility and the stagger of morning sleepiness, we make our way to the center of the cottages where there is this community well. Without words, we who will work today are unloading the wagon of ropes and pulleys and we’ve set a tri-pod ofContinue reading “#38.7, Tues., Nov. 15, 2022”
#38.6, Thurs., Nov. 10, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil It’s dusk and we’ve stopped at a cottage in a cluster amid these fields and vineyards. These people are hospitable to our cow, donkey and mules, but they haven’t much concern for the eleven of us humankinds. They won’t hear a word of our plan to tradeContinue reading “#38.6, Thurs., Nov. 10, 2022”
#38.5, Weds., Nov. 9, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil Stuck in the mud as we are, we unhitch the team and lead the mules back to solid ground by the creek. The wagon is unloaded so we can lift it out of the mud. Here are chains and pulleys lots of heavy rope, a sledge hammerContinue reading “#38.5, Weds., Nov. 9, 2022”
#38.4, Tues., Nov. 8, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil I know of three ways to plunge ill-prepared into a journey on the wilderness edge of winter: brut ignorance and suffering strength; clever schemes using sparse resources; or we could simply trust the grace of God. Based on my long years of forever I suggest we firstContinue reading “#38.4, Tues., Nov. 8, 2022”
#38.3, Thurs., Nov. 3, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil Now I’ve learned this band of men who were supposed to have a leader were sent to help turn the ruin called Luxovium into a substantial refuge for the Irish father and his monks. These pilgrims and workers thought it would be only eight miles to Luxeuil.Continue reading “#38.3, Thurs., Nov. 3, 2022”
Lazarus Ink 