HISTORICAL FICTION

Kettil And Gurim Are Killed By Haraldsson

Chapter 7 — Rollo leaves Long Meadow for a season of viking

Autumn along the Somme River —

The autumn equinox was drawing to a close, and the weather became cooler as rain showers became more frequent. Rollo was surprised at the number of people who appeared in the hamlet. More than a hundred others who hadn’t sailed with Rollo, nor were residents of the new hamlet of Longpré, appeared and joined in the seasonal celebrations. Most of the village residents were a mixture of Picts, Danes, and Franks. A few Flemish people were also visible.

Like the Picts, many of the local people were clothed in as little as possible in spite of the weather. The exception were those Franks who were tradesmen and landowners who used their clothing to distinguish themselves from the others whom they viewed as socially, and even racially inferior.

Rollo could now see differences between the Ambiani and the Picts, though the differences were minor. There was no doubt that the two peoples shared a common ancestry. He was in Picardy, the land of the blue-painted people. And now, a small part of that land was his and would remain his through his son Lug, and grandsons, who would be half Dane and half Ambiani.