"Fantasy and virtual reality and time travel, with a little twist of history and mythology, Kath Berryman’s novel, “Erinland”, is a compelling narrative of ninth century Norway and Ireland. The lush depiction of the Irish landscape and the detailed accounts of the powerful mythological beliefs that dominated the lives of the Irish and the Vikings, thread their own mysterious web of compassion, fear and riveting suspense." - Emily, Goodreads
Two troubled young adults find themselves key players in a deadly game that spans the 21st century and the Viking Age.
Amy, finding it difficult to ‘fit in’, becomes increasingly obsessed with the virtual reality game Erinland.
The VR characters and the mist of Erin begin to invade Amy’s dreams and her waking moments. She finds herself drawn into Erinland in 9th century Ireland. Amy becomes part of this mystical world as she joins in the struggle to defeat the Viking raiders.
The VR characters and the mist of Erin begin to invade Amy’s dreams and her waking moments. She finds herself drawn into Erinland in 9th century Ireland. Amy becomes part of this mystical world as she joins in the struggle to defeat the Viking raiders.
Richard has a complicated home life and feels he doesn’t belong anywhere. A series of events finds him desperate and living on the streets, where he finds himself dragged into 9th century Norway by a Viking warrior.
Richard finds acceptance with the Vikings and joins them on a colonisation raid to Ireland.
Richard finds acceptance with the Vikings and joins them on a colonisation raid to Ireland.
EXCERPT
Chapter 1
The Beginning
The
wind of the boglands howled, shrieking with the voices of tortured souls
entwined with the steaming peat.
‘We must protect the
chalice and the sacred writings!’ cried Niamh of the Golden Hair. The sound of
her commanding voice reduced the sound of the wailing wind to a frustrated
whisper. The woman wheeled her powerful steed around and galloped off towards
the distant bog lights, leaving a flurry of mud in her wake.
The sign had come. Tadhg
the great warrior knew that Niamh of the Golden Hair would only appear if the
sacred relics were in danger of being destroyed and absorbed into the dark
culture of the barbarians. He had to go to the Abbey and protect the sacred
objects from defilement. A primal howl made him spin around to see the brutish
face of his aggressor. Metal clashed against metal, war cries wailed, flesh and
bone hacked until Tadhg fell on the battlefield.
‘AAARGH!’ Tadhg gasped,
fighting for air as he sank to the ground, choking in the mire of mud and
blood. Clasping his cleft sword, his breath came in ragged gasps then finally
faded. Tadhg’s face and body contorted, shimmering as he slowly grew fainter
and seeped into the boglands. It had been his battlefield and now it was his
final resting place. A huge Viking towered over Tadhg, howling triumphantly.
The howling continued until the whole scene faded to grey.
Niamh of the Golden
Hair’s face popped onto the computer screen. Her serene voice came out of the
speaker. ‘Erinland is at risk of disappearing. The chalice and writings
have fallen victim to the barbarous Vikings. You have lost another incarnation.
Be careful, small one.’
Amy grabbed the sides of
the computer screen and shook it savagely. ‘Bloody hell, this virtual reality
world is driving me crazy! I’ve lost another incarnation. Useless Irishmen, no
wonder the Vikings invaded them. Stupid bloody Vikings, stupid Tadhg! Sacred
objects? Yeah right, Niamh of the Golden Hair. What a load of horse crap! Tadhg
needs a good kick up his hairy butt.’
‘Amy Bradshaw, stop that
language at once! What do you think you’re playing at? I do my best to raise
you to be a lady! Why do you think I send you to that expensive private
school? Not to learn language like that! You’re a disgrace. When is the last
time you brushed your hair? This bedroom is a garbage dump!’ The last word came
out as a hiss.
Amy jumped at the sound
of her mother’s voice. She thought her mother was in the kitchen washing up after
dinner, totally out of earshot.
Amy’s mother continued
with the tirade as Amy cringed on the bed. ‘Anyway, you are supposed to be
doing your homework, not surfing the net. You’re banned from the computer for a
week, it is only to be used for homework. Oh, and I’ll be supervising you, so
don’t get any ideas!’ she exclaimed.
Amy had to think of
something quickly. ‘But, Mum, this is homework. In History we are
learning about Vikings and how they were forced to migrate and invade other
lands. It’s really interesting. We have to research their culture, art, and
craftsmanship and what influence it had on the places they conquered,’ cried
Amy. ‘I was researching,’ she added, trying to sound as indignant as possible.
Amy’s mother looked at
her suspiciously. ‘Researching?’ she said a little more calmly. ‘Then why did
I hear all that yelling and screaming?’
Amy thought she could
sense a crack in her mother’s armour. She decided to weave a bit of truth into
the lies—half-truths usually had a ring of plausibility to them.
‘Well … We have to go
onto a virtual reality site to give us a hands-on view of life in Viking times.
We make a village and even get to design our own Celtic jewellery!
On the virtual reality
site, we learn how to simulate Viking warriors sparring with each other. I was
yelling at the warriors fighting!’ she said.
‘You know about this,
Mum! Mr Lord gave us the website details in our history class today, and I gave
you the permission note last week. Remember? Anyway, you can ring him if you
don’t believe me.’ Amy uttered these last words in an almost accusing tone.
Her mother’s expression
softened, slightly. ‘Oh, I see. Well … I suppose if it’s for school … But you
know, I might just contact that Mr Lord. This research seems to be encouraging
a bit too much passion in you. Now get to bed before I change my mind, and
don’t forget to clean your teeth.’
Amy snapped off the
computer and stomped off to the bathroom. At least she had fooled her mother
into thinking that she was concentrating on her school work, which couldn’t be
further from the truth. And she could still play Erinland without her
mum knowing what she was doing. I could even buy one of those VR headsets to
make the game more real. I bet Mum wouldn’t even work out that I had it! I
wonder … She would probably find out sooner or later but it would be worth it,
Amy thought absently as she spat the slimy residue of toothpaste and saliva
down the sink.
She rinsed her mouth and
splashed her face with cold water, staring hard at her reflection in the
bathroom mirror. It wasn’t a bad face. Not too pretty, but not too ugly either.
She imagined herself in ancient Erin fighting at Tadhg’s side, away from the
bitchy girls at school with their bitchy texting and sniggering behind their
hands. School. God, Amy hated school. School, no way! But talking to gods and
minor deities? Protecting ancient manuscripts and chalices from the Raiders?
She could live with that. She might even be a goddess herself! Niamh of the
Golden Hair? No … Amy of the Spotty PJs! Yep, that would be fun. No bullying,
no one to nag me to death, and I wouldn’t even have to clean my teeth, she
silently told her smiling reflection.
‘Night, Mum,’ Amy called
out.
‘Night, Amy. Lights off,
straight to sleep now,’ replied her mother, almost back to her normal self. Amy
was tempted to wait until the house was quiet and play online again, but
contented herself with the major win over her mum. She had to admit that she
was becoming a bit obsessed with the virtual reality world. At least in Erinland
she had some control. In her ‘real’ life she had no control. She didn’t
have any friends. Not even one. The ‘lovely private school girls’, as her
mother called them, were proper cows.
Her fascination for the
virtual reality game was starting to worry her though. Not only was it taking
up all her spare waking moments, but she was starting to dream about it too.
The mists of Erin were invading her slumber. Tadhg spoke to her, whispering of
the beauty of ancient Erin. His voice was like a bubbling stream, hypnotic and
fresh, but it had an underlying strength that commanded respect. The words he
spoke weaved a tapestry of images of the heroism of battle and the struggle to
save the holy relics from the barbarians.
As Amy jumped into bed
and pulled the doona up to her chin, she didn’t notice the dark shadows
gathering in the corner of the bedroom. She switched off the bedside lamp and
closed her eyes. Her mind was still racing, an adrenalin high, mentally logging
past fatal mistakes and planning future strategies for her next session in Erinland.
God! Why can’t I sleep?
she moaned to herself. Oh well, I’ll have to say some prayers, that always puts
me to sleep. She sighed deeply and started to pray, mouthing the words
absent-mindedly. But her mind was still awash with thoughts of ancient Ireland,
craggy mountains covered in moss and mist, and boglands, full of treacherous
sinkholes and mystical beings. She found herself praying to the Holy Bogg Demon
and Our Tadhg instead of the usual Christian deities. Finally, she drifted off
to sleep. She was in Erinland, dreaming of the moist, green land and the
heroes that fought and died for their cause.
Then a curious thing
happened. The shadows in the corner of her room began to gather and become a
dense black mass drifting slowly towards her bed. It exuded a pungent smell.
The scent was intoxicating, causing her to sink into a deeper slumber. A
draught stole its way through the open window, bringing a heavy mist into her
bedroom. The mist twisted with the shadows, creating an energy that was concentrating
itself above Amy’s sleeping form. She stirred slightly in her sleep, as if she
sensed another presence.
Sensuously, swirling
tendrils of mist played around Amy’s feet, massaging her like hundreds of tiny
pulsating fingers. They beckoned with a silken touch and oppressive sweetness
to slide into the suffocating decay of the boglands. She felt herself being
wooed by an unseen presence. Heavy blackness descended and she felt herself
being sucked into the soft, moist peat. She waited, not daring to breathe.
‘Follow me,’ the
fetid gurgle bubbled up from the depths of the bog, making Amy’s head swim.
There were other sounds too. Guttural voices and desolate moaning swished
around the room making her feel nauseous. ‘Follow me,’ intoned the
voice, as old and enduring as granite, yet with enough venom to become a
deadly, scorching lava. The compulsion to obey was almost overpowering. Yet
fighting deep within Amy’s psyche was a strong urge to reject the evil command
and to emerge out of the blackness into the clean, bright light.
The fear and desolation
she felt was tightening its grip. Gone was the sensuous feeling of massage; now
all she could feel were icy fingers grasping at her neck and torso pulling her
down into the bog. The guttural voices became louder, drowning out all other
sounds, making her blind with fear. Amy violently shook her head trying to rid
herself of the evil sensation but the movement increased the demon’s hold on
her.
A vague speck appeared
in the distance, something resembling a light. Amy concentrated on the light
and tried to block out the voices. She continued to concentrate, trying to
force away the panic that shrouded her. She repeated to herself, ‘Look at the
light, the light is my salvation.’ These words became a kind of prayer as she
repeated them constantly.
Gradually, the tendrils
of mist and the icy fingers lessened their hold. Amy chanted the words louder
and with every fibre of her being. Finally the grip became a grasp, then it
vanished. The voices trailed off, dissolving into an eerie wind—the catchcry of
the boglands. A shrill sound, like the neigh of a horse, lingered then died
away. Amy thought she heard the sound of a horse galloping in the distance.
She opened her eyes. Her
face and body were dripping from the exertion of her experience. She got out of
bed for a drink of water and it was then she noticed something strange. A faint
glow emitting from the corner of her bedroom. It was coming from her laptop.
The glow started blinking in a staccato rhythm, gaining brightness. Amy stared
hypnotically into the strobe. The glow grew larger and brighter. An electronic
surge overflowing from the monitor and onto the floor. The tide edged its way
across the carpet and came to rest at Amy’s feet. It started to rise from the
floor, undulating and pulling, crashing against itself like a deadly rip in the
ocean. Gradually the atoms composed themselves into the recognisable form of
an old woman.
The old woman looked
like those Amy had seen on park benches, the kind that carried all their
belongings in a couple of shopping bags. They were usually dirty, drunk, and
abusive. This woman was approximately 160 cm tall; her hair was dark brown and
it seemed to be caked in mud and dead leaves. Her skin was grey and very lined.
Her unblinking eyes were dark brown. She stared at Amy steadily. The woman wore
a simple brown tunic. It was well worn and patched in several places. Her hands
were large and her nails were ragged and putrid. These hands had seen some very
hard work in their time. She had an overall earthy smell, giving the impression
of an ancient relic. For one so dishevelled, the old woman seemed to radiate a
strength which commanded respect from those in her presence.
‘Oh … my ... god … shit!’
yelled Amy.
‘Be still! You shall not
profane the higher power in my presence! Profane with your tongue no more,
lest you block your path to the highest power,’ replied the old woman. ‘Ditto
what I said before. Who are you?’ hissed Amy.
The old woman spoke, ‘Do
not be afraid, small one. You are not in the land of the walking shadows. Your
destiny weighs heavier than that. I am Heiran, Cailleach, or wise old woman.
‘I am old. I am as old
as the earth, and older than mankind. I have come in many forms and returned
many times through the ages. I have been ridiculed and even killed in
ignorance, yet all who have known me have been made richer by my passing.’
The old woman’s clear
eyes continued to stare into Amy’s. They bored into her thoughts, exposing her
soul. Amy frantically backed towards the bedroom door. ‘Mum!’ Amy yelled.
‘Mum, Mum, Mum!’ Amy thought she might be asleep or hallucinating. She
had heard of this sort of thing happening before. Her friend at school had a
psychotic episode after taking some illicit drugs. She thought she could see
spiders coming out of the walls. She ended up curling herself in a ball in the
corner of the classroom screaming. But Amy had never touched any kind of drugs.
‘Your mother can’t hear
you,’ said the old woman.
‘Mum! Mum, please come,
I need you, I am so scared!’ Amy screamed.
‘Your mother cannot hear
you,’ the old woman said calmly. ‘She has not been chosen by the Niamh of the
Golden Hair. She is to remain on this earthly plane.’
Amy winced at the
mention of the name ‘Niamh of the Golden Hair’. An unbelievable thought
occurred to her. ‘No … no,’ she whispered.
Amy looked more closely
at the woman. Bloody hell, this old bag is straight from the virtual reality
world! Thinking quickly, she lunged towards her laptop and snapped off the ower
switch. The computer sputtered, the light extinguishing with a visual ‘pop!’
Amy turned, satisfied that she was once again by herself.
Heiran stood peering at
Amy with a quizzical expression. She wasn’t going anywhere. ‘Child, why did
you still the droning creature? Killing the droning creature will not rid you
of me. It is a portal to Erinland. Do not be foolish, small one! I have
come to you for a purpose. I am the messenger of Niamh of the Golden Hair. She
is the mystical mistress and handmaiden of the highest power. She has sought
you out. Your strength is known to the Lady. She has witnessed your battle with
the evil Bogg Demon. You have been tested and have overcome its tempting
advances. You have proven your worth to the Lady. The darkness in your soul has
succumbed to the clean brightness of the highest power, this time.’
Amy stood still,
disbelief washing over her. She wondered how the old woman, the Cailleach as
she called herself, knew about the nightmare she just had. Her skin crawled at
the memory of the stinking, suppurating bog; the invisible icy fingers
clutching and dragging her down into a world of darkness and evil. An
involuntary shudder racked her body.
The old woman continued,
‘Tadhg the great and noble war chieftain is closely acquainted with you. You
and the droning creature have sent him to his death many times by the steel of
the Vikings’ blade. Now he has come to his last incarnation. If he dies and the
sacred relics fall victim to the barbarians a final time, our way of worship
and our way of life as we know it will be drowned in a black tide of paganism.
‘The holy objects must
be saved and hidden, so that future generations can realise the dedication of
the faithful. Their beauty must be emulated and revered as a mere shard of the
glory of the highest power—that which you call God. Even now there is another
from your world who is being wooed by the Raiders. Time is running short!’
cried the old woman.
‘But it’s only a stupid
virtual reality world, it’s not real. It’s not my fault!’ Amy cried. She
ran across the room and reached for the door handle. Heiran raised her hand.
From her stubby dirt-grained fingertips came a light so dazzling that Amy’s
eyes watered trying to fight the glare. The light sparked, crackled, and
twisted past her to the door handle where it fastened itself—a supernatural
forcefield that no human could break.
‘Be still! You
cannot run from your fate. Face your destiny, lest it follow you until the end
of your incarnations, festering and growing like a great mortal wound. The
highest power will buoy you and deliver you to your fate.’ The dark eyes bored
through Amy, compelling her to obey the Cailleach.
Amy put out a tentative
hand. She brushed Heiran’s hand with her fingertips. Vibrant, glowing warmth
flowed from the Cailleach, swamping Amy’s body. The force sent her body into
spasms as her heartbeat quickened, blood pounding in her ears. She squeezed her
eyes shut and cried out for her mother.
‘Amy? Amy, is that you?
I thought I heard you calling.’ The far-off reedy voice of her mother tried to
puncture the veil of energy with intermittent stabs. Amy tried to speak. When
she opened her mouth, nothing came out. She could hear her mother speak again
but her voice trailed off.
Then the blackness came.
Amy was sucked and pummelled through a tunnel of rushing air as though in the
slip-stream of some giant racing force. The air was dry and electric and Amy
could feel sparks fly from every shaft of hair on her body.
Gradually, the wind died
down and she thudded onto her back into a soft, mushy surface. Amy opened her
eyes. Directly above her was the majestic form of a white stallion. Its barrel
chest overshadowed her as it snorted and pawed at the ground, spraying tiny
smuts of peat into Amy’s face. Steam rose from the beast’s body as he danced
and wheeled, eyes rolling back and ears flattening against his head, shrieking
a terrified neigh. Just below his forelock in the middle of his forehead was a
protrusion that looked like a horn. Amy had heard of the fabled unicorn and its
magical powers. She realised she was face to face with a legend. Well almost
face to face. She dragged herself out of the mud and shook off the bog water,
evading the powerful thrashing hoofs of the unicorn.
‘Greetings, small one.’
The musical voice came from atop the unicorn. Amy gazed at the dazzling
brightness and saw a lovely woman astride her steed. Her face had the translucent
glow of a deity, and her skin was unlined and beautiful. A crown of gold was on
her head. A halo of golden tresses wound around her head and trailed down her
back. She was dressed in a flowing garment of mauve silk which was richly
decorated with intricate gold and silver constellations. The garment fell
around her and trailed to the ground. The Lady looked not much older than Amy
herself, but her eyes beheld a wisdom and grace belonging to an ageless soul.
The Lady sat
effortlessly atop her substantial steed, controlling it with a subtle movement
of a leg, a gentle verbal command, or the brush of a hand. Amy could see no
tack whatsoever on this ‘horse’ and stood in awe at the Lady’s obvious power
and control over it.
The Lady spoke, ‘They
call me ‘Niamh of the Golden Hair’. My messenger, Heiran, has transported you
here with the help of the ultimate power. She has performed her task well. She
has other duties. She will leave us now.’ Amy turned to see that the old woman
was gradually fading to grey, dissipating into the atmosphere. A faint smile
played on Heiran’s lips and then she was gone. ‘Please don’t leave me,’ Amy
pleaded. ‘I need you to get home!’ Her eyes darted from side to side, taking in
her surroundings like a trapped animal. A feeling of panic was rising from the
pit of her stomach, causing her throat to constrict. She realised she was in
boglands, probably in ancient Ireland … straight from the virtual reality
world, in Erinland … oh shit!
The large, spongy, and
uneven surface of the bog looked treacherous to the uninitiated. Amy could see
small bodies of water, sinkholes, between the drier hummocks. She saw tracks
made from planks of wood and thin branches meandering their way across the
soggy mass. Amy wondered what they were for. She wondered if she should run
away. Where would she go? How could she get home? She was cold and covered in
bog water and a bloody great unicorn was standing over her. ‘Shit! Shit! Shit!’
she hissed.
The Lady’s voice
demanded her full attention. ‘Are you willing to help regain the sacred objects
from the barbarians and transport them to a safe place, yet to be ordained?
The war chieftain Tadhg is depending upon you. You are responsible for his last
incarnation. He is a fearless warrior with unmatched integrity and the will to
lead his followers to victory. It is written that one will come with strength
to match that of our greatest warrior and together they will lead us to victory
and cleanse Erinland of the barbarous intruders. I believe you are the
one,’ said the Lady.
‘Amy of the droning
creature,’ she continued, ‘behold your brother, Tadhg, who is bound to your
soul.’ Slowly, the Lady spread out her arms. Gradually, a shimmering mist rose
from the bog. The mist moved, darting in front of Amy’s face making her eyes
smart. The mist increased in size, brightness, and form to become a tangible,
living, breathing human being.The young man now standing before Amy was shorter
than some boys in her class at school, but he boasted a powerful physique. He
had long, thick, curly black hair which was held at bay by a piece of leather
thonging tied around his forehead. His neck was thick and powerful and his
muscles rippled as he shrugged his body, stretching his limbs like a beautiful
butterfly emerging from a chrysalis.
Tadhg was dressed for
battle. Covering his body was unusual armour. It was cloth, but it was
stiffened with a tar or a pitch-like substance. The armour was padded and
layered to absorb the shock of the heavy weapons of his foe. Amy could see the
slashes and dents in the surface as if it had been bludgeoned with some heavy
instrument, wielded by someone with incredible force. In his hand Tadhg held a
heavy sword that looked sharp and lethal but well worn, as if it had hacked
many a limb and thirstily let litres of blood from the veins of its opponents.
Tadhg spoke, ‘Amy of the
droning creature, I know you well. Come forward and witness your handiwork. My
body is young but well used and greatly scarred. See the great wound that my
enemy hath wrought. This is the wound that would claim me for the land of the
walking shadows. See how it grows and festers, as our enemy’s reign over this
fair land. Will you let them plunder and kill all in their path, or will you
draw on your deep well of strength and aid me and my followers?
‘Answer me. The evil
forces are gathering power. The Bogg Demon grows restless, there is one from
your land who is being wooed by it. Hasten with your answer, little sister,
time is very short.’
‘No!’ Amy
screamed, shaking her head. ‘I don’t want to be here anymore, please let
me go home! I don’t believe this is happening! I really do not believe this is
happening. Please, let me go!’After a long silence Tadhg
continued bitterly, ‘Make no mistake, little sister, this is no dream. This is
real. You are here. By your rebuff you have foresworn me to eternal damnation.
My soiled soul will never know true fulfilment. I can never attain the pure
white light or see my father’s face. With your turning away, I have failed the
task appointed me. The sacred objects and all they stand for are lost forever,’
he gasped.
A look of pain crossed
Tadhg’s battle-stained face. ‘Aahh, the burning, it begins again. My wound is
growing. See the gore rising, ready to burst forth from the banks of my flesh.
I feel myself slipping … slipping into the land of the walking shadows. Alas, I
have failed! The Bogg Demon awaits my soul for eternal torture. Farewell, Amy
of the droning creature, my death be on your head. Farewell my Lady, Niamh of
the Golden Hair,’ he whispered.
Amy watched as Tadhg
writhed in agony. The great wound gushed blood and putrefied; hundreds of tiny
maggots crawled in it, feasting on his flesh. The stench stung Amy’s nostrils
as she felt the bile rise in her throat. It was as if the cycle of decay had
hit the fast forward button as Tadhg’s body disintegrated before her. She knew
that she was witnessing something real, something she apparently had control
over. She wanted desperately to stop it. ‘My Lady!’ Amy screamed. ‘Please help
me!’
The Lady looked steadily
at Amy. ‘Are you resolved to assume this task appointed you and help the noble
war chieftain?’ she said.
‘Yes, yes, I’ll do
anything, just make it stop!’ Amy cried.
The Lady slowly replied,
‘It is up to you to halt the cycle, child. Listen with your heart and you will
know the answer.’
Tadhg, close to death,
had fallen into the mud succumbing to the loss of blood and the bitterness of
his failure. His life force was barely hanging on. Amy could hear a dull roar
building up in the distance. It seemed to be resonating in the depths of the
bog. She instinctively realised that the Bogg Demon was gathering force, ready
to usurp and conquer Tadhg’s soul.
She concentrated
inwards, blotting out the horror that was before her. But there was no answer,
only the sound of her terrified heart. Amy concentrated harder. She was close
to despair when a voice inside her head said, ‘Look to the bog. A herb growing
at your feet is Tadhg’s salvation. It is the herb used by the druids, it will
restore the war chieftain.’ Amy frantically grabbed for the plant at her feet.
As she ripped the roots from the sodden peat, she noticed that the herb was
bathed in a bright light giving off a brilliant, shining, living aura. A
beautiful chant, more like a prayer, came drifting from the air around her:
All
hail thou holy herb vervain
Growing
on the ground
On
the Mount of Calvary
There
thou was found
Thou
helpeth many a grief
And
staunchest many a wound
In
the name of sweet Jesu
I
lift thee from the ground.
Amy stood up, a bunch of
the herb clutched in her right hand. Her strength and confidence seemed to
return, getting stronger by the moment as she held the holy herb. ‘Game on!’
she muttered to herself, and then turned to the Lady. ‘Let’s see how far this
stuff gets Tadhg in his last incarnation!’
Chapter 2
Aidan
Brother
Aidan never tired of looking at the holy manuscript. The beautiful, intricate
plait-work and spiral knots, and the complex panels with their ornamental and
sometimes comic figures, could hold him entranced for hours. The volume he now
held in his hands contained the Gospels of the four Evangelists. It was a
masterpiece of richly decorative art. The vibrant yellows, reds, blues, and
greens cascaded and swirled, jumping from the pages in a brilliant cacophony of
colour.
Scribes and artists had
worked together on this and other texts to create magnificent works of
art—symbols of the Christian faith. The gospels and accompanying summaries
Aidan was studying were of the mixed text incorporating Vulgate, with many words
and phrases of old Latin. It was bound in a carved leather casing. The swirls
and knot-work of the volume were faithfully reproduced on the leather casing, a
beautiful, enticing prelude to the breathtaking symphony it housed. The text
itself was written on calf-skin or vellum, a longer lasting medium than
parchment, and one that absorbed the pigments in a more permanent manner. Aidan
pored over the large full-page illustrations in the gospels’ text, a practice
employed by the monks to emphasise the significant parts of the story. Key
events such as the arrest of Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection were
illustrated as complex full-page designs.
Throughout the whole of
the manuscript appeared the symbols of the Evangelists, four of Jesus’ apostles:
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Matthew was represented by a man, Mark by a
lion, Luke by a calf, and John by an eagle. Other animals, such as fish, cats,
mice, hens, snakes, dragons, and many kinds of birds, were used also; sometimes
clearly symbolising a section of text and at other times simply for lively
decoration. A knot of emotion welled in Aidan’s throat as he paid homage to the
holy manuscript, a precious icon to his faith. Reverently, he replaced the
precious manuscript in its niche.
Brother Aidan was
visiting the monastery in Armagh. In the past, this area had been the centre of
the church in Ireland but now it was a monastery, a major library, and
scriptorium, housing some of Christianity’s greatest treasures. Over the
centuries, since the life of St Patrick, the Christian Church had gradually
dominated the society of Ireland. Monasteries were built as religious fervour
grew throughout the country. Aidan was here to borrow some of the monastery’s
lesser texts. He would take these back to his monastery in Durrow to be copied
by his scribes for the library, then the originals would be returned to their
rightful place in Armagh. It was common practice among the monks and it enabled
other monasteries to have a wider Chapter 2: Aidan range
of working texts so that knowledge could be passed on to the faithful.
He wandered into the
scriptorium and glanced at an open manuscript currently being worked on. The
intricate carpet designs and illuminations were absolutely perfect, the work of
a true artist. But his keen eye noticed errors in the text itself. The scribe
undertaking this manuscript had poor Latin skills. The text had been corrupted
almost to the point of confusion. Aidan thought this was a poor copy for a
scriptorium of repute, so he made a mental note to bring this to the head
librarian’s notice.
‘Aidan.’ Brother Colman,
the head librarian, brought him back to reality. ‘I have found the volumes you
have requested. The Missals, Psalters, and Lives of the Saints are all ready
for you,’ he said.
‘Thank you, Colman, I am
in your debt. As the day is drawing in, if it is your wish, I will pray and sup
with you and be on my way on the morrow,’ replied Aidan.
‘That would be most
pleasing, Aidan,’ said Colman.
‘Your brothers here
would hear all your news and welcome a fresh face. But first, I would enlighten
you on a matter most pressing. We have had grave news that concerns us all. A
fellow brother from Bangor has sent us a message of warning. Raiders are said
to be on the move not far from that area. It is thought to be the Vikings
again, come to claim this land and defile it. The messenger told of many evil
deeds. It is rumoured that they torture and use us for sacrifice to their pagan
gods.’ Colman handed Aidan a crumpled piece of manuscript. It was a beautiful
piece of illumination but it was not finished. ‘Look to the margin, our brother
has written a message,’ said Coleman. Aidan read the hastily scrawled passage:
The
Northmen are coming from the sea … they appear under cover of evil fog, killing,
defiling, stealing … crumpled bodies strew the land, blood stains the soil …
brothers hang from the trees … women raped, defiled … we are animals to them,
bound for slaughter … brothers left, gone, deserters from our monastery …
Who will stand their ground when the pagans rain their worst on
us? Who? What will become of us? What will become of our faith?
Aidan was horrified. He
had heard of previous raids by the Vikings, led by a most vicious and merciless
leader, but he thought that the noble Taoiseach Tadhg had stilled his thirsty
blade forever. Coleman’s voice interrupted Aidan’s thoughts. ‘The Abbot wishes
to speak to you. I believe it is a matter of great urgency. Come, Aidan, we
will go to him now.’ Aidan hurried with Colman to confer with the Abbot,
wondering of what possible use he could be.
Abbot Bede was a sombre
holy man. His rough woollen tunic did not detract from his presence, in fact
the very plainness of the garment enhanced the calibre of the man it robed.
Though the Abbot was small and solid of stature, he was a man of strength, one
not easily fazed, with a body hardened by the harsh lifestyle of the times. His
hands were large; hands befitting a stonemason or a simple herdsman used to
manual labour, not a cleric of intellectual prowess. His hair was jet-black and
cropped short in the monastic style. From his face shone a pair of piercing
eyes filled with intelligence and the total conviction of a zealot. Today
those eyes were troubled and the huge hands were clasped in a gesture of concern.
‘Welcome, Aidan. It is always a pleasure to have our southern brothers stay
with us a while. Please, sit down. I trust your needs have been catered for
adequately. Did you find the resource material you required?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Aidan
replied. ‘I have been successful in finding the manuscripts our monastery
requires. I will have them returned to you as soon as my scribes have finished
with them. By years end, would that be satisfactory?’
The Abbot locked eyes
with Aidan. ‘Do not trouble yourself on that account, brother. If the news that
has just reached me is true, I fear that you will have possession of these and
other treasures for years to come. You see, the Raiders have travelled more
quickly than anticipated. Come, come. Walk with me.’
Abbot Bede breathed
deeply. His eyes became troubled and his brow furrowed. Aidan listened
intently. ‘Aidan, the noble war chieftain Tadhg has disappeared into the
boglands and is feared perished of a great wound, or devoured by the Bogg
Demon.
‘His army is mostly
dispersed, lacking the courage and leadership befitting true warriors. They
have left us to our fate. Tadhg’s sibling Gráinne has disappeared from our
midst, either killed or captured. If she is alive, I dare not think of the
torture in store for her. Our time for preparation is very limited. I had
estimated two full moons before thoughts of barricading and battle would come
to pass. As it stands now we will have to take our chances and try to stand our
ground with the weapons we can find. The messenger gauged just two weeks before
the marauders are upon us.’
They continued walking
and the Abbot moved closer. ‘I am glad only the two of us will hear what I am
about to say. You see, Aidan, not only do the Raiders burn and plunder our
villages and religious sites but they also destroy any evidence of the
existence of our way of life, and more importantly, our faith. Already, many
valuable manuscripts and sacred icons have been destroyed, while other holy
things have been profaned in the basest fashion. Our monasteries to the north
have been totally razed and all their treasures laid waste. They raise pagan
icons in place of our most beautiful monuments and practise idolatry to their
foul gods on consecrated ground. It is not only our lives that I fear for, but
our very souls and the souls of future generations.’
The Abbot paused for
breath as he nodded to a fellow monk walking toward them. He quickened his pace
and looked around furtively to check that no one else was about. He pushed a
thick wooden door in the wall of the passage. It creaked open to reveal another
narrower passageway. They continued walking. Abbot Bede did not speak again for
a while, so Aidan had time to take in his surroundings. They were entering a
part of the monastery that Aidan had not visited before. It was very dark and
dank. An occasional torch attached to the thick stone walls gave off a meagre
light. It was an insipid glow, but threw off enough brightness to guide their
feet on the uneven surface. The wall of the passageway looked slick with
moisture. Aidan realised that this part of the monastery was a secret place.
The Abbot continued speaking in a hushed voice, filled with emotion. ‘These
barbarians may break our bodies and burn our villages, but they must not
destroy our faith. We need to protect our most precious treasures. Aidan, I
believe a man such as you is worthy of the task. It is your duty to take these
holy things from here to a haven, far from the marauders, and protect them from
defilement by heathen hands. Quickly! Come into the inner sanctum.’The inner
sanctum was a tiny room behind the altar in a private chapel. It was a place
where no light penetrated, yet a light always burnt—a constant reminder of the
presence of God. This holiest of places, where the most precious manuscripts
and relics were kept. Aidan felt very privileged to be here. The Abbot’s eyes
darted about nervously to check that they were alone, and then he pressed a
stone protruding out of the smooth surface of the wall. With a loud scraping
noise the stone receded to expose a niche. The recess was smooth and rounded,
big enough to store a small barrel of wine. From the niche exuded a yellow
glow, a light dissipating through a richly decorated covering. Aidan could not
stop staring at the glow.
Abbot Bede spoke gently,
almost seductively, ‘Beautiful is it not? I will get to that presently. For
now, I will show you this most important and precious relic. The most exquisite
and powerful manuscript your critical eye will ever live to see. Look upon it.
Can you see a flaw in its text or illuminations? Could it not have been crafted
by the Archangels themselves?’ A glow of fanaticism had crept into the Abbot’s
face and Aidan felt a tingle of fear up his spine.
The manuscript Abbot
Bede spoke of was similar to the leather-bound volume Aidan had admired in the
library, although on closer inspection there was no comparison. This manuscript
had a distinct ethereal quality in its perfection. The vibrant colours fairly
hummed in their brilliance and the volume almost breathed with intensity—a
reflection of the love and faith that created it. Aidan could only stare transfixed,
tears of joy and respect unashamedly rolling down his cheeks. Once he had
composed himself, he studied the manuscript. The illustrations were so exact
and the colours were vivid. It was a work of true artistry. ‘The origin of this
manuscript is unknown. It is thought to have been transported from Ionia or
Northumbria some centuries ago but, before that, its history is very sketchy.
It may have come from the Continent, even Rome itself, so shrouded in mystery
is this treasure. But it must be preserved, this I know to be God’s will, for
the sake of those who created it and for future generations. I can sense that
you, Aidan, have been chosen for this task. Now, for the real prize, the
most holy of relics …’
Abbot Bede spoke
rapidly, oblivious to Aidan’s presence. ‘Did you know that tonight is the
anniversary of that most courageous act by our Father Patrick? Patrick, who
challenged the High King and his evil druids this very night, centuries ago.
On the hill of Slane, Patrick lit the paschal fire on pain of death, in
violation of the High King’s law. No other fire was to be lit in the vicinity
of the great festival fire on the hill of Tara. King Laoghaire saw Patrick’s
fire and called his druids to quell it. The druids’ response was, “If this fire
which we now see is not extinguished it will overpower all our fires and he
that has kindled it will overpower thy kingdom.” The King immediately summoned
the stranger to appear before him.
‘Patrick, our valiant
brother, and his followers marched to the castle. They sang ‘The Deer’s Cry’:
Christ
with me,
Christ
before me,
Christ
behind me,
Christ
in me.’
Abbot Bede paused, he
seemed distressed. From the folds of his robes he took a small flask and drank
deeply. His breathing became more even. He offered Aidan a swig from the flask.
Aidan declined; he wanted to keep a clear head.
The Abbot continued
talking. ‘Patrick also carried a sacred cup. A chalice so beautiful and
enticing that to look upon it unprepared could result in madness. A relic so
holy that the unchaste cower before it, covering their heads in shame, aware of
their unworthiness before the sacred vessel of God.
‘Many were cleansed by
the holy chalice that night. The old rites of fertility were practised for the
last time. Patrick had his first conversion on that Easter Eve and many a soul
was cleansed by the one true faith—Christianity. The most beautiful and
precious cup beckons. Cast your eyes upon the chalice and it will mesmerise you
with its mystical quality. A mere glimpse of this most venerable object will
prove your worthiness of the task before you.’
The Abbot spoke
raggedly, breathing in quick gasps. His skin was oozing perspiration, a moist,
shiny film formed on his forehead and upper lip. His hands had become clammy,
shaking in anticipation. His hands darted covetously towards the silken
covering then teasingly snapped back to his sides. Abbot Bede was enjoying the
power he held over Aidan. He could feel a crescendo building up in the walls of
the sanctuary, a tangible vibration bringing his nerves to breaking point.
Aidan held his breath as
the Abbot continued, ‘It has been said that this object is the one true cup,
the cup from which our Lord drank, transported in some mystical way to this
place of sanctuary. Could it be, Aidan, that the highest power has placed it
here for a specific purpose? Has it been hidden away to be preserved in this
pure state until its purpose is made known and its time has come? I firmly
believe that its time has come and that your fate is entwined with this
most sacred of relics.’ As he said this, the Abbot whisked the covering off in
a sharp movement, catching Aidan off guard.
Aidan had never seen
such a beautiful object. It seemed to be made of some unearthly metal, so
unusual was its appearance. Embedded in the surface were what looked to be
three jewels. These ‘jewels’ were placed equidistant from each other: a
sapphire-like gem with its clean blue hue; a pearl-like gem with its cool
chasteness; and a ruby-like jewel which appeared to throb and ooze blood. The
significance of the Trinity formation was not lost on Aidan. He believed that
the sapphire represented God, the Father; the pearl represented the dove, the
Holy Ghost; and the ruby represented Jesus, the Son of God who shed his
precious blood to save us. The chalice’s surface shone with an ethereal light
pulsing with life force and purpose.
Aidan put out a
tentative hand and brushed the cup with his fingertips. The result was
extraordinary. A wind roared in the tiny room. It tore through his body. A
cleansing tempest, exposing any self-doubts and tearing them from his soul. The
searing wind cauterised the gaping wounds of his negativity, filling the space
with love. Aidan was sure this strength came from God, the Father, working
through the Holy Ghost. He felt renewed. A pure, white light radiated from
within him—a furnace of faith that gave him true life.
At last Aidan spoke, ‘I
feel ready to perform the task ordained for me, Abbot Bede. Have no fear, I now
have the strength of spirit to carry this through. I will die protecting these
most sacred relics and will do so willingly.’
Abbot Bede stared, his
eyes full of respect. ‘I was right, Aidan. You are more than equal to this
task. When you have succeeded and the barbarians are driven from this land,
your name will be revered. Stories of your bravery and faith will abound. But
you must make haste, brother. Go to the kitchens and gather all you require for
your long journey. I will pack the precious relics so they appear as nothing
more than a monk’s effects. Hurry, my friend, I will see you safely away.’
Within the hour Aidan
had left the safety of the cloister, his heart full of courage and hope. He had
decided to travel south-west from Armagh towards his own monastery in Durrow, a
long journey but a route he knew well. He was sure the holy relics would be
safe there. Aidan was travelling by foot, a common occurrence for the monks of
his order. Any luxuries were avoided by the brothers so they could concentrate
their energies on their craft and their faith. The advantage of travelling
singly and on foot was that he could find cover quickly if the need arose, and
a lone monk attracted less attention than a large group. He covered a great
distance, being almost invisible in the darkness.
After travelling many
hours towards the river, Aidan decided to stop for the night. He came upon a
grove of ancient hazel trees, a perfect cover. They were nine in number and surrounded
a pool, their ancient branches hanging over the water. Aidan ate a hurried
supper of bread and cheese and drank some refreshing water from the cool, deep
pool. He regarded the trees around him. They were most unusual. By the light of
the moon Aidan could see that they had a quality about them, as if they were
awake, responsive to their surroundings. The nuts on the trees were most
curious. Crimson in colour, one tree held a particularly large nut. Its branch
hovered over the deep pool, quivering with the effort of holding the fruit. As
Aidan watched, the branch seemed to drop a little closer to the pool. Suddenly,
all the hazel trees began to sigh and thrash their branches, shaking the leaves
violently. The rhythm of the trees had a spellbinding effect on Aidan. Suddenly
the huge 28
nut
dropped towards the deep pool. A massive salmon jumped out of the pool and
gulped the nut down greedily. Aidan, astonished by the strange scene he had
just witnessed, was overcome with a feeling of drowsiness. As the trees
gradually stopped thrashing their branches, all the remaining nuts in the grove
withered and fell to the ground.
Without warning, Aidan
fell into a heavy sleep. He dreamt of ancient warriors and fabled heroes
fighting and falling for their cause. He dreamt of druids and monks, bishops
and marauders, fighting and slaughtering each other. He dreamt of the sacred
objects he carried and protected with his life. At first light, in the misty
steam of the morning, a huge bead of moisture tumbled from one of the ancient
trees and trickled into his ear. He woke up, shaking his head to rid himself of
the icy drop. As the fog of slumber lifted, Aidan smelt the delicious aroma of
fish cooking. He quickly gathered his things and followed his nose.
A short distance away he
discovered a clearing. In the centre was a blazing fire. Over the fire was a
spit with a huge salmon cooking on it. Aidan’s mouth watered. He had his own
meagre supplies to eat, but the wonderful smell of the cooking fish tempted
him. He glanced around the clearing again, searching for signs of life. There
was no one to be seen. Maybe he could just have a little taste of the fish.
Before Aidan’s conscience had a chance to gnaw at him, he reached down to pull
a small piece of meat from the salmon. He burnt his thumb on the hot flesh and
immediately stuck his thumb in his mouth to cool it.
It was then he felt warm
breath on his neck and heard a soft voice in his ear, ‘I see a holy man warming
himself by my fire.’ Aidan turned and saw a man dressed in resplendent white
robes and carrying a staff. His tunic was tied at the waist with a hemp girdle
and belted to it was a bronze dagger and sickle. Aidan had heard tales of the
ancient druids. Like most Christians, he thought (and prayed) that these
ancients had long disappeared with the growth of Christianity in Ireland.
‘Yes, wise one, the
warmth is very tempting on this brisk morning,’ Aidan stammered.
The druid sat next to
the fire on a fallen oak log and motioned for Aidan to sit beside him. ‘Did you
taste this salmon, holy man?’ asked the druid. Aidan looked at the ground
guiltily and confessed that he had. The druid sighed deeply. ‘Then, I suppose
this is for you,’ he said as he served the fish on a rough wooden platter and
handed it to Aidan.
‘But … this is food to
break your fast, I only had a taste,’ replied Aidan.
The druid rubbed his
forehead tiredly and exclaimed, ‘Christian, this is no ordinary fish! Have you
forgotten the ancient tales? Has our history and folklore been snuffed out
completely? Surely a learned man such as you would have heard the tale of the
‘Salmon of Knowledge’. Please eat your prize.’ Feeling very remorseful, Aidan
took the fish. The druid looked hard at him. ‘Do not feel guilty, Christian. It
is destiny that brings us to this spot. You were meant to taste the Salmon of
Knowledge. Please … eat. I am not displeased with you. While you eat, I will
tell of the legend of Fionn,’ said the druid.
Aidan greedily ate the
succulent fish.
The druid spoke, ‘Legend
tells of a young man named Fionn, the son of Cumhail MacArt. His father was
killed before Fionn was born. His mother, fearing for her son’s life, sent the
boy away to be trained by a druid on the Isle of Skye.
‘We of the druidic order
are great philosophers, striving to understand the elements of nature. In times
past, we gathered in groves and taught lessons, sharing tales in the shade of
the oak trees. The name ‘druid’ means ‘oak wise’. We are seekers of truth.
‘In the time of Fionn,
we ruled Éire, but our numbers are sparse now. As time has passed and beliefs
have changed we have almost been wiped out—almost! But there will always
be some of us left to guide the real seekers of truth.’
The druid paused for a
moment, looking closely at Aidan. He continued, ‘Fionn stayed on the Isle of
Skye until he was a young man. He had learnt many things during this time. He
could name all the trees in the wood. He knew herb-lore and the medicinal
properties of herbs. Being a young man, he was not content with his simple life
so he left the island to seek adventure. He searched for the ancient sacred
well which is the source of inspiration of all Éire.
‘He followed the river.
He travelled further and further upstream into the mountains and the wild
lands, the river becoming smaller and smaller until it was a tiny stream.
Finally he came to a well from which the stream sprang. A circle of old and
purpled hazel trees stood around the well. The ancients tell us that there is a
certain time when one of the trees will drop a hazelnut. If the hazelnut is
caught by a salmon before it reaches the water and if this salmon is caught by
a druid, the salmon will bestow great wisdom and inspiration. The environment
has to be perfect for the hazel trees to bear fruit and for the salmon to
reproduce.
‘Fionn circled the
ancient trees curiously. They seemed more alive than normal trees; their
branches thrashed as if in a strong breeze. The air was breathless, almost
overpowering. His nostrils sensed the delicious aroma of fish cooking. The
smell of simmering salmon made his mouth water and his stomach rumble with
hunger. Fionn found himself beside the hearth. The beautiful fish was before
him. He was tempted. Just a taste, he thought. It was such a large fish, surely
a small taste wouldn’t upset the owner of the fish. He reached over to rip off
a portion of flesh. He burnt his finger on the searing flesh of the salmon.
Quickly, he put his thumb into his mouth to ease the pain of the throbbing
thumb.
‘A druid emerged from the
grove of hazel trees and looked at him sternly. The druid questioned him
closely. He knew that he was face to face with Demne, a special youth who was
to be given a special gift. So say the ancients, so it is.
‘The druid knew that
this boy was the chosen one. He became a King and a leader of skilled warriors,
known as the Fianna.’
The druid looked
steadily at Aidan. ‘I speak to you of this tale, I am sure you know why. The
fish you have just eaten is the fabled Salmon of Knowledge. You are the chosen
one. You are the Fionn of this generation. Whatever journey or burden you
undertake will be lessened by the boundless knowledge you have absorbed. Just
as Fionn gained his wisdom from the Salmon of Knowledge, so have you, holy man.
So say the ancients, so it is.’
About the author:
Kathryn is a Sydney author whose interest in history and mythology was the catalyst for her debut novel Erinland to become a reality.
An adventure in the modern and ancient world, where the central characters seek acceptance and self-belief, the ‘players’ in Erinland find themselves in very different roles from their everyday life. Choices they make could mean the difference between life and death, with the consequences of these decisions reaching into their ‘real’ lives.
Written in the Fantasy genre, Book I bridges the ages, drawing on contemporary life and 9th Century history to create an authentic experience for the reader. A visual writer, she explores the mythologies of ancient Norway and Ireland, giving a tangible view of everyday life and the impact of the Gods in these two cultures.
Kathryn is married with three beautiful daughters. Amidst busy family life, she studied at University to become a Primary school teacher. When she is not teaching, she loves to write and dabble in other creative pursuits such as painting and drawing. She and her husband hope to realise their dream and move to the country one day – soon.
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Congrats on the tour, the book sounds great, and thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a very entertaining book! Can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI live in a part of Ireland colonised by the Vikings so it'll be interesting to see how the fictional matches with the factual!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a great fantasy read.
ReplyDeleteI always like time traveling books especially exciting times and places such as Ireland the the Vikings!
ReplyDeleteI like the book cover. I think that I will enjoy the characters and their story!
ReplyDelete