Set in Norway in winter 850 AD, this is
the story of Asa Sigrundsdottir, a shield maiden, and Eirik Ivarson, the
warrior she discovered frozen on his horse in the snow. Eirik had fled his home
when outcasts attacked and killed his father, the jarl. Struggling with one of
the attackers, he went over a crest into the sea.
Revived at Asa’s home, Eirik returns
the kindness her people have shown him by reading the runes for the people, as
he learned from his mother, and helping Asa carve the runes into the dragonhead
she is working on for the stem of a longship.
Asa is afraid of a man’s touch from an incident
six years’ earlier. The author was very slow to reveal what it was. From the
beginning I assumed it was a rape (Eirik assumed it was abuse). Anyway, at the
suggestion of her brother, Asa learned a warrior’s skills to be able to protect
herself. In doing so, she earned the respect of the warriors, a shield maiden
fighting alongside them.
Eirik tells no one he is a jarl or even
where he comes from, which seemed odd, but blends in with the other warriors,
fighting when the village is attacked by outcasts. He spends much of his days
carving a stone tribute to Asa’s dead father, the former jarl of her people.
Her brothers wonder just where he goes each day, but no one follows him to the
nearby shed where he works.
Eirik had to be the most gentlemanly
Viking I’ve ever encountered: polite to all, sensitive to Asa’s every mood,
caring of her dark past which he thinks was abuse, and willing to do whatever
he can for her with never a cross word. Asa did nothing to encourage his
affection. It seemed to be mostly an attraction on his part until the end.
The story reflects the author’s considerable
research into the Norsemen’s pagan beliefs and religion. Beautifully written, much
of the story is taken up with the description of applying the magical runes to
Asa’s dragon head that seems to come alive under Eirik’s touch. One could have
wanted more description of the setting, the winter landscape, the wildlife
(never heard a wolf; never saw a dog; the men went hunting and brought back elk,
but we didn’t see the hunt or the elk), and even the inside of the longhouse
where most of the story took place I wanted more description. The characters
are well developed, especially Asa’s twin brothers and Estrid, Asa’s jealous
cousin who meant her ill.
Recommended for those who love Viking
stories steeped in Norse mythology.
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