Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land The ferocious, tottering man at the door of this house yields his weapon and reaches out to point to his empty woodbin. Repeating the words of the thrall for “heat,” as “heit” and “man,” I’ve been given a name, “Heit-man.” I lay the logs inContinue reading “#63.10, Tues., Dec. 24, 2024”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
#63.9, Thurs., Dec. 19, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land At every village door is a woodpile that will dwindle as the night grows colder. I watch from the woods. I see one door with only a few random sticks where the woodpile should be and the thread of smoke from that house isContinue reading “#63.9, Thurs., Dec. 19, 2024”
#63.8, Weds., Dec. 18, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land It’s late in the day when the men I follow arrive at their village. Here, the houses are clustered together, with a wall of wood planks and the doors facing the sea. The other ends of the houses are nearly buried in the berm ofContinue reading “#63.8, Weds., Dec. 18, 2024”
#63.7, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land I’m keeping my distance following the sled and the men who are transporting a captured woman and the spoils of an attack on the village that was once her home. She is to be a slave, a thrall. She told me all the men ofContinue reading “#63.7, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024”
#63.6, Thurs., Dec. 12, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land I watch from this distance hiding in the brush as the marauders rescue their chain and lay it limp and lifeless back in the sled. Now Mara is dragged to the sled. How can it be that it was Mara that called out to tellContinue reading “#63.6, Thurs., Dec. 12, 2024”
#63.5, Weds., Dec. 11, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land Dawn edges between the board slates of this shelter. It is a rosy red streaked morning and foreboding of a stormy winter’s day. I don’t know what I will do with this freedom I’ve gained by loosening the chain. I’m tired and starving andContinue reading “#63.5, Weds., Dec. 11, 2024”
#63.4, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land Considering the chain — The chain is undoubtedly more valuable to my captors than am I. It’s simply the only proof they had that I’d been captured. Maybe the chain was a prize in a raid. Or maybe it was made by their own smiths,Continue reading “#63.4, Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024”
#63.3, Thurs., Dec. 5, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land This woman in shackles speaks in the comfortable language of Frankish Gaul. She tells me men are most often killed when they are captured and the women are taken as slaves. So, she says, I should be fortunate they only wrapped me in heavy chains.Continue reading “#63.3, Thurs., Dec. 5, 2024”
#63.2, Weds., Dec. 4, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land An apprehension shadows me as I walk toward the sunset unprepared for nightfall. I feel like I’m being stalked. I no longer fear wolves or any sort of wild thing seeking prey. And how often is this feeling of another presence discovered to be theContinue reading “#63.2, Weds., Dec. 4, 2024”
#63.1, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024
Historical Setting: An unknown time in a cold land Dear God, thank you for life and breath and time alone… but I find myself now on a blank slate of winter earth that seems endless. I’ve seen signs of other mortals and I know your invisible presence is here too. Thank you for stayingContinue reading “#63.1, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024”
Lazarus Ink 