Norse Hearts
Page 31
Cecil started to struggle wildly, hollering for help. They all did that when they realized their sins had found them and death was only moments away. At times like these, Alfgrímr felt his greatest peace—knowing that the scales were now beginning to level, pain for pain, fear for fear, and justice for justice.
The smell of urine rose in the air. “Is there any god you would like to pray to?”
Cecil’s tears and pleas of innocence fell in the silence.
Alfgrímr spoke for the last time.
“I am going to gag you now so your screams will not embarrass you and ruin such a beautiful day.”
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Appendix 1
Abbot Forthred: Grandfather to Seraphina, Father to Landis, and Brother to Æthelwald Moll, King of Northumbria
Æthelwald Moll: King of Northrumbia, the historic petty kingdom of Angles, in medieval England, from 759 to 760 AD
Alfgrímr: Known as the Ferryman. Takes pride in being a spy and an assassin. His name means “elf mask”
Arnbjørn: Danish King, Father of Bengtha and Ragnvald, archenemy of Jarl Roald
Aunt Aleen Smarth: Sister to Seraphina’s birth mother
Basina: Black-haired, hazel-eyed Frankish slave that was nursemaid to Einar, Mother to Gunnar and Ljúfa
Bengtha: Danish princess captured by Roald, and wife to him. Gray-eyed, beautiful blonde
Cecil Allard: Son of landowner Hadris Allard and Seraphina’s betrothed. Thin, handsome, with brown eyes and no scruples
Dagfinn: Seventeen-year-old Anglo Saxon ex-slave and shield hand of Einar. Brown haired, blue eyes, and lanky
Einar Herjolfsson: Born 735 AD, age twenty-five. Name means “lone warrior – battle leader.” From Dusavik Bay, inland, owns land and farms in Rogaland, Norway. Einar’s mother died at birth, and he was nursed by Basina, who became his stepmother. His father died in battle when Einar was fifteen. He pledged loyalty to Jarl Roald at fourteen, and at sixteen, he was asked to become his shield hand. At age of eighteen he saves Jarl Roald’s life, and marries Káta, the blacksmith’s daughter.
Elsjorn: One-eyed – Einar’s helmsman and best warrior
Gunnar Hynnsson: Stepbrother to Einar Herjolfsson. Twenty-six years old, his mother is Basina
Hadley: Childhood friend and handmaiden to Seraphina
Hadris Allard: Landholder of Cawood, Britain and father of Cecil
Heilig: Bengtha’s thrall
Herjolf: Einar’s father, and sword hand to Jarl Roald. Died in battle when Einar was fifteen
Hjörleif Hjorsson: Ruler of Rogaland – late 700. He was called Hjörleif the Ladies’ Man (Hjrleifr inn kvensamr), because he had three wives and various other slaves.
Iohannes: A childhood friend of Seraphina, older brother of Hadley, ordained monk
Jarl Bjarni of Tau: A man with the build of a blade of grass and squinty eyes, ally of Jarl Roald
Jarl Fridtjof: Jarl of Breiðoy – Shetland Islands
Jarl Gudbjart: Jarl of Hundvåg - rotund man with graying hair pulled back into a braid that hung to his waist. Ally of Jarl Roald
Jarl Roald Igoreksson: Jarl over the Port of Stafangr
Jarl Thorvald of Buøy: Ally with Jarl Roald
Káta: Einar’s first wife, killed during raid. Her name means “glad, cheerful”, and she was the daughter of local blacksmith
Knute the Dane: A vikingr raider of Danish descent. Responsible for killing Einar’s wife, Káta
Ladye Aaren Forthred: Stepmother to Seraphina, mother to Celeste, Seraphina’s sister
Landis Forthred: Seraphina’s father. (Son to Abbot, Seraphina’s grandfather)
Ljúfa: Sister of Einar. Her name means “beloved, gentle, mild.” Fifteen years old and half-sister to Gunnar, she is blue eyed and blonde
Lothar: Brother to Basina – Frankish - Merovingian line
Mara: Slave brought from the Volga trade route. Brown, sloe-eyed, and brunette. Stout of body and heart. Becomes Seraphina’s helpmate and teacher
Mepern: Stable keeper for Seraphina’s family. Teaches her swordplay and dies in the raid on the chapel
Ragnvald: Brother to Bengtha
Seraphina Forthred: Angles (English) landowner’s daughter. Daughter to Landis Forthred, son of Abbot Forthred, brother to King Æthelwald Moll, King of Northumbria. Anglo name means “fiery ones, angels”
Thorg Bjornsson: A young mercenary Swedish warrior seeking a clan
Uncle Bratten Smarth: Seraphina’s uncle who owns land outside of the village of Grimsby
Appendix II General
Afi: “Grandfather” in Old Norse.
Amma: “Grandmother” in Old Norse.
Ammadóttir: “Granddaughter” in Old Norse.
Angles: The Anglican language and name in the 700–800 AD, of a group of people who settled Britain.
Bacraut: Old Norse curse word meaning “asshole”.
Binda: Old Norse for “dress”.
Bindrunes: The combination of several runes to create a symbol that will allow the power of the words to create a beneficial energy for the wearer to receive.
Blacktoft: Village that sat on head waters of Ouse and Trent rivers before they became the Humber.
Blood Eagle: A form of torture and death. A Viking would chop through the backbone of the victim and pull out the lungs and lay them on the shoulders like wings.
Blót: Old Norse word for “sacrifice”.
Breiðoy: Located in the Shetland Isles and now called Bressay. Means “broad island” in Old Norse.
Bruð-hlaup: End of wedding celebration, or “bride running,” races to the longhouse to see who would serve the ale.
Buøy: Island near narrow channel into Stafangr.
Cawood: A large village that was close to the north district of York (or current-day Yorkshire).
Coastal Glossary: Terms used to describe sea and land formations and actions.
Dagr: In Norse mythology, Dagr (Old Norse “day”) is day personified. This personification appears in The Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and The Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri. Sturluson
Drakkar: Term used for a type of Viking warship.
Draugr: “The animated corpse that comes forth from its grave mound, or shows restlessness on the road to burial.”
Drengr: Bold, valiant, worthy man. A drengr possessed bravery, nobility, magnanimity, a sense of fair play, respect for others, the strength to do what is right, and a sense of personal honor.
Dusavik: Bay on Rogaland. The name Dusavik derives from the adjective “mode,” which means “gentle, nice, subdued.” This bay has been considered a safe haven, especially for those coming straight from the North Sea. This is where Einar has his landholdings.
Einherjar: Fallen warriors whom the Valkyries choose to gather into Valhalla.
Ekki: In Old Norse means “no”.
Ell: A common measurement that went from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. About eighteen inches.
Ellewoman: Old Norse for women who were called hollow behind, meaning they had no heart, no pity, and empty smiles.
Eoforwic: The Old Norse name for the town of York in the 700 – 800 AD.
Faering: Small two-oared boat.
Fífl: Old Norse for “fool, idiot”.
Fjord Horse: Small, tough, Norwegian breed of horse.
Flanders: Basina’s home village. A historic area settled in Francia that would become a country later in the 7th century.
Flyting: A form of Old Norse entertainment. To come up with a witty reply, or the best sarcastic reply.
Forseti: Old Norse god of justice, peace, and truth.
Fótbítr: Old Norse sword name meaning “leg biter”.
Freemen: The middle class of the Norse culture.
Freewomen: The mi
ddle class of the Norse culture.
Freyja: (Old Norse: “Lady”), most renowned of the Norse goddesses, who was the sister and female counterpart of Freyr and was in charge of love, fertility, battle, and death.
Frigga: Wife of Odin, queen of Asgard, goddess of
motherhood and marriage.
Gildr: Old Norse for “fine”.
Gnógr: Old Norse for “enough”.
Greatdaughter: “Granddaughter” in Angles.
Greatfather: “Grandfather” in Angles.
Greatmother: “Grandmother” in Angles.
Hæstkuk: Old Norse for “horse penis”.
Handfesta: To strike a bargain by joining hands in marriage.
Handsal: Entering into a formal agreement of betrothal with a hand-clasp.
Harbard: Ferryman for the dead.
Haugesund: Home port of King Hjörleif Hjorsson.
Hausakljufr: Old Norse for “skull cleaver.” Name of Einar’s sword.
Hávamál: Sæmund’s Edda – Odin’s words of wisdom.
Hedeby: Danish trading hub and fortified town.
Hnefatafl: Board game, similar to modern-day chess.
Hnefi: or “king”.
Hólmganga: A duel of honor.
Hólmlausn: hólm-ransom (hólmlausn) was three marks of silver paid by the combatant in a hólmganga who was wounded the worst.
Höslur: In hólmganga, at the edge of the three borders around the cloak laid out for the battle area, four posts, which are called höslur (hazels), must be present.
Hrafnvængr: Old Norse for “raven wing.” The name of Jarl Roald’s longship. Old Norse Dictionary, complied by Ross G. Arthur.
Huginn: From Old Norse, meaning “thought.” In Norse mythology, Huginn was one of two ravens who flew all over the world, Midgard, and reported information back to the Norse god, Odin.
Humber Estuary: A large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England, leading to the North Sea. It is formed by the confluence of the tidal rivers of the Ouse and Trent.
Hundvåg: A small island in the Rogaland county, Norway. 1.8 square mile of flat land. The small island of Buøy is connected to the south side by a small isthmus.
Hunns: Meaning literally “knobs” and referring to the pawn-like men.
Inn mátki munr: The “great passion” – soul mates. “All the foregoing aside, people being what they are, some pagan Scandinavians certainly knew love as passionate as any immortalized today in song. The Vikings named it inn mátki munr, ‘the mighty passion.’ ”
Já: Means “yes” in Old Norse.
Jörmungandr: In Old Norse, this means “huge monster.” In Norse mythology, this was known as the Midgard
Serpent, circling the world. As a sea serpent, it was the middle child of Angrboða and Loki.
Jørpeland: The land south of Stafangr.
Jötunheimr: One of the Nine Worlds and the homeland (heim ‘home’) of the Giants of Norse Mythology — Rock Giants and Frost Giants.
Karve or Karv: Small version of a Viking cargo/warship.
Karmsund strait: Is a strait located in Rogaland county, Norway. The thirty-kilometer long strait divides the island of Karmøy on the west and the mainland of Norway and island of Vestre Bokn in the east. The town of Haugesund lies at the northern end of the strait, and the town of Kopervik lies in the central part of the strait.
Knarr: Larger version of a karve, more oars and more room for cargo.
Körmt: Old Norse name for Karmøy, Norway.
Ljósálfar: Light elves.
Meyla: Means “little girl” in Old Norse.
Midden: Dump for domestic waste.
Miklimunnr: Means “big, loud mouth” in Old Norse.
Mjölnir: Thor’s hammer, a most fearsome weapon.
Móðir: Old Norse for “Mother”.
Mónaþfylen: Old English - Time of full moon.
Mundr: Wedding present from groom’s family.
Muninn: From the Old Norse, “memory” or “mind.” Muninn is one of a pair of ravens that fly all over the world, Midgard, and bring information to the god, Odin.
Ná-folr: “Corpse-pale”.
Níðhöggr: Eater of the dead.
Níðingr: (NEETH-ing-uhr): Villain or vile person in Old Norse.
Niflheim: (pronounced “NIF-el-hame;” from Old Norse Niflheimr, “World of Fog”) – One of the nine worlds of the Norse mythology. The land is filled with ice, fog, and darkness. It is very cold and is said, in Snorri Sturluson’s poetic rendition of the Eddas, to be the land of Hel, (Hel is Loki’s daughter) and the dead.
Nithing Pole: A pole used to insult or curse. Often, runes were cut into the pole and the head, or heads, and skin of a horse is put on it. Can also be used to mount enemy heads.
Njörðr: In Norse mythology, Njörðr is a god among the
Nóregr: What the Norwegians called themselves in Old Norse.
Nornir: Three Norns who are in charge of Fate. They live at the Well of Wyrd, next to the exposed root of the World Tree, in Asgard. Their names are Urd (that-which-is), Verdandi (that-which-is-becoming), and Skuld (that-which-should-be).
Norp weg: Anglo pronunciation of Norway. The Old Norse name for Norway was Nóregr, the Anglo-Saxon used Norþ weg, and in mediaeval Latin, it was Northvegia.
Odin: Old Norse main god, All-Father, Odin, Woden, has a rich history. Like all Norse gods, is a rather complex personality.
Odinørindi: Old Norse for “Odin’s breath.” Sorrel-colored stallion belonging to Einar.
Ormrvindr: Old Norse for “serpent wind,” name of Gunnar’s ship.
Ouse River: Flows west towards the Humber estuary and is joined by the River Trent at the mouth of the Humber.
Þrymskvida: Ritual ensuring a couple’s fertility by hallowing the bride with Thor’s hammer during the ceremony Part D of Wedding Ceremonies.
Ragr: Old Norse for “coward”.
Rygjafylke: Old Norse name for Rogaland, Norway.
Sax: Short-bladed knife.
Seid: Magic used for divination and interpretation of omens for positive as well as destructive purposes.
Seiðkonur: Female sorcerer.
Seiðr: One who practices sorcery.
Seletun: Name of the town of Selby, England in 700-800 AD.
Sjaund: A funerary drinking ritual.
Skinfaxi: Horse ridden by Dagr, son of the Dawn. His mane is so bright it gives its light to the earth.
Skreyja: Old Norse for “incompetent”.
Skuldelev: A sort of ferry boat with up to six oars.
Smár hyrr: Old Norse for “small or little flame”
Sofa: Old Norse for “sleep”.
Stafangr: The Old Norse form of modern day Stavanger, Norway. The origin of the name has been discussed for decades, and the most common interpretation is that it originally was the name of the inlet now called Vågen, which was the original of the city on the east shore of the
bay.
Svartr fjðr: Old Norse for “black feather,” the name of the Dane Ragnvald’s ship.
Thor: Protector of humankind, with his hammer, Mjölnir,
which makes him physically powerful.
Tiösnur: Four poles put through loops on the four corners of a piece of material that staked out the fighting area of a hólmganga.
Ulfberht: Viking sword of unusual quality.
Valhalla: The great feasting hall of fallen warriors in Asgard.
Valkyrie: The Valkyries are women warriors who bring the bravest who die in battle to the afterlife hall of Valhalla.
Veslingr: (VEHS-ling-uhr) Means “puny wretch” in Old Norse.
Vestfold: A petty kingdom of Norway – 700 – 900 AD.
Vikingr: Old Norse word for “pirate” or “adventurer” The Viking World by James Graham-Campbell.
Vindálfr: Old Norse for “wind elf” - Linguistics Research Center.
Weregild: If a combatant was killed during hólmganga, then the family of the deceased was to be given a weregild (blood payment
) to cancel the debt of a life taken by the victor. This was to also keep a blood feud from arising, stopping the family of the deceased from seeking revenge on the combatant who had killed their loved one in this duel of honor.