Trading with the Enemy
With traces of dried blood adorning their hulls the ashmen inched up the river. The natives watched from afar, events over the last decades had taught them to be very careful when the sea pirates appeared. Gunnar saw them but did not worry, for this time he intended to stay, and to create a place of trade. When he saw the ruined city and the open land bordering the forest of Galtres, he knew Freya smiled on him. The other two longships followed the Dawn-raider to the river bank, and Yorvik was born. This time Gunner sent the thrall Aldred on land first, not a warrior.
This Post Has 21 Comments
Well done left me wondering what happens next…
Thank you Michael, Aldred will become a Jarl for his services to Gunner.
A nice piece of historical fiction.
Thank you Iain,
Very nice, I like historical fiction. as Michael said, it does leave a lot to the imagination.
Like everybody else, I like the fact that the ending is left open to the reader’s imagination 🙂 Great job!
Thank you Angie, the feedback from you and everyone else has helped me to think about how I write.
Great story! Gunnar found the place he wanted to put down roots and start a trade business. I wonder what happens to Aldred?
Hi PJ. Because of the advise and help Aldred’s gave to Gunner, he was made a Karl [a freeman]
That is very interesting, Mike!
Lovely story – the funding of one of my favourite places too! And as I read the opening – that change from battle to trade – I was thinking of York. Mind you, that could also be because I’m in the process of writing a book based their 🙂 Nicely written Michael
Hi Lynn, I have featured York [Eboracum was its Roman name] in several of my longer stories. I visit York quite often, travelling there by train which takes about an hour. I am pleased you enjoyed the story. Regarding York; what time point are you writing about?
I love historical fiction, especially one that stops and peeps at lives in new lands. This one looks all set for some great exploration.
Thank you for your comment Neel, I have often written about the tribes and countryside to the west of York [Eboracum or Yorvik] this area interests me as there was an ancient path crossing England from east to west via the Aire Gap in the Pennines. A gap which allowed contact between Ireland and Europe via northern England
Lovely historic take on the prompt. I wanted to call my first daughter Freya. Nice story.
Nice story and I learned a lot from the comments.
The comment section can be quite illuminating I also often learn so much from them.
A great way to bring in some of York’s history, Michael. A nice piece of historical fiction and intriguingly open-ended.
Thank you so much for your comments. They really do help.
Perfectly titled.
Thank you so much Dawn,