Dragon's Way

Ian McKay Nunn

Description

A kingdom faces foreign invasion to emerge as the country that defined a modern nation

The Saxon kingdoms of Britain saw their land immersed in the ‘dark age’ of assault from the men from the east, the Ostmen. Only one kingdom was spared the occupation of the Danish warlords and their men hungry for a new land.
Crisis forces us to look to leaders. One who shows us a vision for life and our place in a land. A person considerate to all people, able to provide justice and protection, a leader gives hope to the community.
The Chronicle of the Ostmen: Book Two continues the clash of peoples, a conflict of cultures, a contest of religions, written by Mael MacConaill who sees the rituals and beliefs that nurtured the people to survive, grow and succeed.

Sujets

• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Xlibris AU
• Date de parution: 24 août 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781669830344
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

Dragon’s Way
The Chronicle of the Ostmen; book two
Ian McKay Nunn

Copyright © 2022 by Ian McKay Nunn.
 
ISBN:
Softcover
978-1-6698-3035-1

eBook
978-1-6698-3034-4
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rev. date: 08/11/2022
 
 
 
 
 
 
Xlibris
AU TFN: 1 800 844 927 (Toll Free inside Australia)
AU Local: [phone] ([phone] from outside Australia)
www.Xlibris.com.au
831556
Contents
Place Names

Readingum 871AD
Lundinium 871AD
Northumbria 872 AD
Mercia 872 AD
Wessex AD 875
Defnascir AD 875
Sumorsaete AD 877
Gleawecestrescir AD 878
Dragon’s Lair AD 878
Ethandun 878 AD

Acknowledgements
About The Author
Characters

Reviews for The Chronicle of the Ostmen, Maelstrom
The story is led by suspenseful twists, beginning when Mael is taken. He struggles to accept the capture of his people, and wrestles with his inability to help them. Instead, he awaits his fate ...
More compelling are the book’s religious details, as of those around Norse mythology, with its ideas about the world of the dead. ... details about the ancient kingdoms. - Foreward Clarion Review ***
. ... But Wessex and its king, Æthelred, seem the most resistant and may prove the Danes’ greatest challenge. While the battles rage, Mael must deal with Cuthbert, a boy whose unveiled animosity results in his recurrent bullying of both the lute player and Godiva. This epic series opener is brimming with vivid fictional and real-life characters.
- Kirkus Review
Life very quickly becomes about merely surviving. He learns many skills that will serve him well as he matures. His music and his value as a hostage keep him from certain death. … a lyrical story based on a strong foundation in history. He artfully weaves in critical myths and legends of the people to broaden the perspective of the narrative. These variations help illustrate how diverse and colorful the communities were who lived together during that era. His characters are vivid and multidimensional. The author demonstrates patience with developing them, which draws readers in. Full-scale battles and smaller sneak attacks pack the book with exciting action. The author introduces diverse military tactics used by the different nations. Leaving the audience at a critical point in the story, Nunn sets the table for the second book. Readers will be anxiously awaiting its arrival.
- The US Review of Books

Ninth th century Britain

Place Names
Æthelingaeg – Athelney
Aesce Hill – battle site near the Ridgeway north east of Reading
Afen – River Avon
Albion – Britain
Apeltun – Appleton-le-street, Yorkshire
Andefera – Andover, Wiltshire
Ard Mhacha – Armagh, Eire
Avreberie – Avebury
Baðum – (pronounced Bathum) Bath, Somerset
Basinga - Basingstoke
Beardastopol – Barnstable, Devon
Brycgstow – Bristol (place of the bridge)
Beorrocscir – Berkshire
Bristeinestune – Brighton
Caestre – Chester (Roman Deva)
Cantuctun – Cannington near estuary of Parrett Rv.
Cent – Kent
Ciltestere – Silchester (Roman Calleva)
Cippanhamm – Chippenham
Cirrenceastre – Cirencester
Cissa – Chichester
Colncaestre – Colchester
Contwaraburg – Canterbury, Kent
Cornwallum – Cornwall
Cranbone – Crambe, Yorkshire
Cunnit – River Kennet
Cynuit – old hill fort near Cantucton on Parrett Rv.
Defnascir – Devonshire
Denmearce – Denmark
Dereham – Durham
Dornwaracester – Dorchester
Durnovaria – ancient kingdom now mostly Dorset
Duhb Linn – Duhblinn, Dublin, Eire.
Eireann – Eire (Ireland)
Eoferwic – (Saxon) York
Ethandun – Edington
Escanceaster – Exeter, Devon
Fens – Wetlands of Norfolk
Flaot – Float River
Fording River – River Trent
Gifle – Yeovil, Somerset
Ciltestre – Silchester
Gipeswic – Ipswich, Suffolk
Givel – River Ivel, Yeo, Somerset
Givelcestre – Ilchester
Gleawecestre – Gloucester, Mercia
Glestingaburg – Gladstonbury a monastic enclosure
Grantabrycge - Grantaceaster – Cambridge
Haithabu – Hedeby, South Denmark
Hamtun – Southhampton
Hreapandune – Repton
Hrofeceastre – Rochester, Kent
Hymbre – River Humber (Anglo-Saxon)
Jorvik – (Danish) York
Kaldey – Caldey Island (Ynys Bŷr)
Leatestow – Lectestowe
Lindcyln – Lincoln
Lundene – Old Roman town Lundinium
Lundenwic – Saxon town up stream of Lundinium
Lyccidfeld – Lichfield
Maerlebeorg – Marlborough
Medeshamstede – Water Newton, Peterborough
Medwaeg – River Medway, Kent
Norðhymbreland – Northumbria
Old Sarum – Ancient settlement near Stonehenge
Ostangel – East Anglia
Palfleot – River Pawlett, Somerset
Pedredan – River Parrett
Readingum – Reading
Rhegged – south west Caledonia (Scotland)
Saefern – River Severn
Safernoc – Savernake Forest, Somerset
Sceapig – Isle of Sheppey
Sceptesberie – Shaftsbury
Scireburnan – Sherborne
Searoburh – Salisbury near Old Sarum
Snotengahamm – Nottingham, Mercian trading town
Sumorsaete – Somerset
Spinae – Newbury
Suth-sæxe – Sussex
Temes – River Thames
Thon – River Tone, Somerset
Trent – River Trent
Thornsaete – Dorset
Uisc – River Ex
Usa – The Ouse, Yorkshire – tributary of the Humber
Waecelingacaestre – St Albans (paved road for people of Waecel)
Wasche – The Wash, Norfolk,
Wedrebi – Wetherby, Northumberland
Werhamm – Wareham
Wiltun – Wilton
Wiltunscir – Wiltshire
Winburnan – Wimborne Minster, Dorset
Wintanceastre – Winchester
Worceastre – Worcester
Worgemynstre – Warminster
Readingum 871AD
W hen kings die, men look for leaders. They look to men of repute, men whose words unite them. Men who will regard, respect, value their worth. Hygel had come to be lord of a warband when its leader had died in battle. Only to lose two crews who deserted so they could take his hoard.
Hygel had accepted a leader’s role before he knew what it was to be. Caring for all his men and their people; showing them his plan, his vision, considering what they expected. Hygel was chosen before others who thought their experience and seniority mattered, more worthy, more deserving. But they could not capture the men’s imagination. They gave their oaths to serve the young lord but their words did not bind them. They desired wealth that was not theirs. They deserted and stole from their own people.
He opened the door of his hall, he expected it to be ransacked at the least if not burnt, but it looked much as he had left it, better in fact. They knew he had been coming; he was one of the last to return, of those who could return.
‘Good to see you, my lord.’ Arvid stood to welcome him.
‘And it is good to see that you are still with us.’ He told his old ship master who only looked a little fuller than he remembered, and waited till Hygel seated himself on a bench. Mead was served by a servant who received visual inspection from the men who followed their lord into his hall.
‘We had to get help, after we were raided.’ Arvid announced.
‘We were told Odomir died. Anyone else?’ Hygel inquired.
‘No, we were warned that Fornjot was coming. He was never happy that you were made leader over him,’ said Arvid.
‘Who warned you?’ Hygel asked with eyebrows raised. He did not expect that. It was his greatest fear that Fornjot would do as he liked when he passed the sentries into the palisade, all unaware of his desertion.
‘Well Magne knew something, because he acted as if he was lord soon after you left. Even Blythe could tell he was up to something. She heeded the warning signs, he treated her and Godiva like servants. As soon as Fornjot turned up with his men they forced us to a hut and they searched wherever they could.’ Arvid said.
‘Magne would not have told you,’ Hygel stated, and his old ship master smiled.
‘You would never guess who did.’ He paused, ‘Olaf told Blythe.’ Arvid slapped the table, ‘Blythe, you there?’ he yelled. The thin stern woman with hair tied back showing her familiar sharp features appeared with a pot of fish stew and bowls and spoons supported on her other hip.
‘I knew you would be hungry,’ she placed the steaming pot in front of her lord and dropped the bowls and spoons. Men stood to help themselves; Blythe glared at them until a full bowl was placed in front of Hygel. He rested his forearms on either side of the bowl, looked at her and smiled.
‘So, you are still available then?’ She pursed her lips.
‘They took Godiva,’ she said, tears welling in her eyes she paused, ‘It is good to have you back in one piece, my lord.’ She was to marry the unfaithful ship master, Magne. Hygel just starred and she was gone before he could ask any more of her. Hygel turned as he felt Arvid’s hand rest on his shoulder.
‘They took Godiva with them,’ he said quietly when she had left the hall.
‘Did they take anyone else?’ Hygel asked.
‘No, and they lost quite a few. It would have been a sorry tale if Olaf h