Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil I’ve seen merchant caravans purposed with selling and armies driven by power of a hope for victory. I’ve been on pilgrimages, and I’ve been in a band of refugees — Jews leaving Jerusalem for Ephesus — but I’ve never known an entourage to travel with no knownContinue reading “#38.2, Weds., Nov. 2, 2022”
Category Archives: Historical Fiction
#38.1, Tues., Nov. 1, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons to Luxeuil Winter is already showing up in this land. It’s a cold morning. The women are glad to wear wool monk’s robes today. Jack is feisty in all this icy morning clarity so the donkey cart moves right along but now the cow can’t keep up tied toContinue reading “#38.1, Tues., Nov. 1, 2022”
#37.12, Thurs., Oct 27, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons I learn that the King was expecting me to take a message on to Father Columbanus to tell him everything will change. In fact we will be leading the construction crew — the same workers who already know how to build a monastery as they have done here inContinue reading “#37.12, Thurs., Oct 27, 2022”
#37.11, Weds., Oct. 26, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Châlons Father Felix is telling me about King Guntram’s plan to move Father Columbanus from Annegray to Luxovium. Columbanus has not yet heard of this plan but already preparations have begun to send the workers who are completing this project on to begin another similar build in the foothills ofContinue reading “#37.11, Weds., Oct. 26, 2022”
#37.10, Tues., Oct. 25, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Traveling to Châlons So now we are a great procession of cow, donkey and cart, followed by four fully armored servants of the Bishop of Rome on fine horses, all laden with swords and shields and horse covers of rich silks, prepared to deliver a message to the king ofContinue reading “#37.10, Tues., Oct. 25, 2022”
#37.9, Thurs., Oct. 20, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Along the Loire from Tours to Orleans Preparing for our journey we have bent willow reeds over the bed of the cart to make the tarp into a roof and we’ve filled the cart with fleeces and wools and bags of grains along with the herbs we gathered where Eve’sContinue reading “#37.9, Thurs., Oct. 20, 2022”
#37.8, Weds., Oct. 19, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Bertigan’s Estate near Tours Tonight we are guests of the Count’s where the people are my own family. Here, my son Ezra is now the elder patriarch. Everyone calls him “Papa” and they help him from the chair. When he speaks they listen. When they speak I wonder if heContinue reading “#37.8, Weds., Oct. 19, 2022”
#37.7, Tues., Oct. 18, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. A Pagan village near Tours The custom of Largin’s tribe is to give gifts even for little things. They show joy by giving. Maybe we all do, but this practice actually marks who these people are. So midwives who arrive on time surely are gifted. It would complicate ourContinue reading “#37.7, Tues., Oct. 18, 2022”
#37.6 Thurs., Oct. 13, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. A house in the Pagan village Thole and Largin caught up in wonder argue incessantly over taking turns to hold the baby. Both father and grandfather have acquired that skill overnight. Tilp is doing well, Ana says. Colleen recites instructions in monotone. I’ve known some who are Irish ceaselessly yammerContinue reading “#37.6 Thurs., Oct. 13, 2022”
#37.5, Weds., Oct. 12, 2022
Historical setting: 589 C.E. Pagan Village near the Loire Thankfully, the assignment we are given is hard work and takes us until nightfall. Whenever we are near the cottage we hear sounds through the thatch, sometimes, murmurs and conversation, sometimes the cry of a woman in birth. Yet there is never that terrible emptyContinue reading “#37.5, Weds., Oct. 12, 2022”
Lazarus Ink 