The three knights left the church and went to the new inn where they were intent on enjoying some wine and a hot meal. The Belanus Inn stood at the crossroads near the bridge, replacing an old inn which had been destroyed in a fire not that many years earlier. Guillaume looked at the sign which featured a pathetic image of a golden-haired Celtic god holding a wooden mug of ale. Naturally, in deference to the power of the Church…
Guillaume, Seigneur de Longpré, sat astride his charger with the other knights of Picardy and Flanders, including his younger brother, Pierre. Many of the military force ranked behind them and other nobles were descendants of the ferocious Celts who had given the Romans, who had passed through Picardy and Flanders, so much grief. Of all the Celtic peoples, the Belgae were the fiercest fighters. Guillaume’s foot soldiers were comprised of a blend of these Celtic people and the Franks who…
I’ve wrestled a long time with the idea of telling my story. My name is Lugh, just Lugh. I don’t have a middle name or a last name. Over the years I have had so many names that I have found the need to adopt because of who I am. I am an immortal. Well, immortal in a strange kind of way. I could die, but I would soon be reincarnated. That doesn’t sound too difficult to believe if only…
Two days after the meeting with his father, both Guy and Pierre were called to meet with the Captain of the Count’s guard. “The two of you are to accompany the Duke’s son to Picquigny. You will represent the Count with extreme dignity. Be prepared to ride tomorrow morning. You will wear the uniform of the guard for this occasion only. Don’t think for one moment that this is my idea or that I approve. You are much too young…
Guillaume, Count of Normandy, had finally achieved a measure of peace in his battles against the Count of Flanders, before the onset of winter in 942. The Count of Amiens, along with the young King Louis and his advisors, had arranged to have a peace settlement gathering near Amiens, at Picquigny, a village along the Somme River. There was a fortified castle on the island near the village where the negotiations for peace were to be ratified with a hoped-for…
With Guillaume’s departure, Acelynn took their son on a journey to the north, leaving the inn in the hands of a trusted couple, who, like her, were descendants of the Ambiani. Their destination was a clearing in the forest that could only be discovered with a guide. Acelynn had relayed a message to meet the guide just outside of the village of Long, at the edge of the forest. The travel to Long was by a horse-drawn wagon. “Guillaume,” Acelynn…
“My that’s a long sword that you carry, Guillaume,” a beautiful young woman with dark hair remarked. As Rollo had mentioned, the women of Longpré were indeed willing to spread their legs for Guillaume. “Which sword are you referring to,” Guillaume laughed in return. He had just bedded the granddaughter of the inn’s owner. “Does it matter,” laughed Acelynn. “Both are ridiculously long. I shall call you Guillaume de Longue-Épée, Long Sword.” For the next few days, Guillaume spent his…
Since Rollo was still young enough to father more children, any son that would be born in the future, would become Rollo’s heir. Gisela, the daughter of King Charles of Francia, was too young to consummate the marriage arranged by her father in 911 AD. Poppa’s son, Guillaume was still the only known son of Rollo. The threat to Guillaume’s future as Rollo’s heir was minimalised. Life in Rouen went on as it had before for the young man. Guillaume…
Rollo did win concessions of land from the King of Francia, not as much land as he had asked for, but a good beginning none-the-less. The victory was bittersweet as it hadn’t been long before he heard of the massacres in Long and Longpré. Derelie and his son and daughter had perished at the hands of Haraldsson and his men. The news hardened him. He knew that he didn’t have the men to mount an attack on Haraldsson in Norway….
Eric Haraldsson had failed to kill the man who had executed his son. Hearing that Rollo had gone south, into Francia, King Haraldsson knew Rollo was out of reach. However, he had heard that Rollo had a son of his own. Not satisfied that he had exacted revenge with killing Kettil and Gurim, the king needed more. Until he had the chance to kill Rollo himself, he would kill all of Rollo’s children and his wife. While Rollo sailed down…