HISTORICAL FICTION

The Village of Long Meadows

Chapter 6 — A place in Picardy for Rollo to call home

A field of Woad along the Somme River —

After a period of four days of constant rowing and just over a week of favourable winds, Rollo finally reached the mouth of the Somme River, and the tiny community of Saint Valery. They had stopped along the way at a few coastal ports to refresh food and water supplies. Unknown to Rollo and his men, Eric Haraldsson had already set sail for the Western Isles in an attempt to claim the islands as an extension of his own kingdom in Norway. A different story was slowly beginning to unfold, one that would change Rollo’s destiny forever.

As the longboats entered the Somme River, the pace of travelling began to slow down. Brest stood beside Rollo as the boat was rowed against the current. A mild breeze made the rowing less strenuous. Brest watched for the signs which indicated which branch of the river needed to be taken. Every so often, a few scattered dwellings indicated a hamlet.

The going was slow as they pushed against the current heading upriver. It was mid-morning on the third day when Brest pointed out a tributary that lead to a series of small, lake-like lagoons. The rowers’ pace slowed as they navigated through the maze of lagoons. Finally, Brest pointed out a pair of docks on the northern shore.