Traveller Inceptio
39

Report - Traveller 2

Well, we’re on the road and have stopped for the night. We’ve been following a faint path that is little more than a sheep track, though it’s supposedly the main road to Giolgrave. No wonder the village has few visitors. We’ve been led by Brother Horsa as he’s travelled to Snotengaham once before and supposedly knows where he’s going.

I’ve left the others by the fire and they leave me to my mysterious ways. No doubt the priests think I’ve a personal link to God himself, but I’m recording this report as I kneel and pray. They probably think I’m strange enough without me being seen talking into a microphone, even if it is the size of a pea.

I haven’t given a detailed report for the last couple of days as I wanted to get my thoughts together and I’ve been barely left alone. I warned you of this, so I hope you didn’t panic.

So, where am I? I suggest we’re in the area of forest that, in about five-hundred years, will be the home of the legendary Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men. This forest is huge, and though I’m not sure if it will actually become part of Sherwood Forest, it’s certainly worthy of inclusion. This path we followed today cut through patches of typically dense forest, though now it is becoming sparse and visibility is about a hundred metres or more. Owing to the relaxed attitudes of my travelling companions, no hostiles are expected.

So the mission, as you know, is for us to journey to Snotengaham, which will eventually become modern Nottingham, to collect a valuable scripture from the monastery there and then return it to the Giolgrave monastery for safe keeping. Apparently, compared at least to the scriptures Aldfrid and the monks use, this is quite a tome and a work of art. It will be interesting to view, if I can, and I promise I’ll have images and maybe even video for you. As you know, these guys have no concept of a Bible as such, so every collection of scripture is different, which is kind of cool. If I’m right, this will be an artefact truly worthy of detailed examination. Abbott Aldfrid is terrified it could be destroyed, as there are rumours that Danes, meaning the Vikings, are heading for Snotengaham and may arrive over the coming months.

Abbott Aldfrid, of course, saw some justification in my presence because, as you know, they think I’m some kind of incarnation of the Archangel Michael and feel my role is to protect the monks in their journey. As I’ve been aching to move on for weeks now, this is the perfect excuse for some wider-ranging research.

As soon as he heard I was accompanying the monks to Snotengaham, Godric invited me over for a beor and a bowl of Hilda’s delicious stew. He spoke to me about the journey and was helpful. You know, told me of areas where bandits may frequent and warned me of the tendency of villagers to take advantage of travellers, charging too much for food and shelter or even robbing them and leaving them either naked or dead. Apparently, travelling monks were once common and the communities respected the brothers as they journeyed, but it seems those days are past. Godric feared our party could be deemed a soft target, so I have to keep sharp.

I got the impression that Godric was a little fearful that I wouldn’t return.

He wasn’t the only one, as Yffi and the hunters gave me a parting gift. It’s an amulet made from one of the boar’s teeth, set in copper wire and tied to a leather thong to have it fashioned into a pendant. I’ve sent an image and a selfie. As you know, when we were carrying the boars they told me how, after our ceremony, I was now part of the brotherhood of hunters. I noticed how others wore similar amulets and Aeoelhun would often hold his and mutter prayers in the forest. They treat the forest, the deeper parts anyway, as something to fear, something held in awe. In the village, the hunters wear wooden crucifixes like the rest of the villagers, so I wonder which of their charms are worn in times of war.

It seems the hunters like a foot firmly planted in each spiritual camp.

Yffi spoke to me at length of the mystery of the forests, of the old deities who still live in the deepest parts and occasionally venture forth to punish those who forget the old ways. He told me how children could be taken or sheep killed if a person thought little of the gods of their forefathers. Yffi and the other hunters were quite fascinated by my tattoos. As you know, my tatts were part of my first platoon days, but to Yffi such marks were of the old people and old ways and he seemed pretty confused about the whole thing. After all, the monks tell them I’m someone called of God, yet my tattoos make me a herald of the old gods. No wonder poor Abbott Aldfrid had a mild panic when I had to fight Ceolwulf.

Anyway, I’ve recorded my impressions and my detailed recollections of the conversations with the hunters and you will replace that additional file with this report.

So, back to Godric, who didn’t just want to wish me well.

As you know Godric, his family and I have become close friends. While the monks are terrific, Godric’s family is becoming like a proxy family to me and I’m always over at their home for a meal or to play music. Sometimes we even go into the forest to pick herbs and mushrooms. I know Eabae still looks to have a crush on me. You have a good number of images and footage of her. She’s a stunner, such a sweet kid, and Hilda certainly keeps her eye on her. I treat her like a little sister.

Hang on...no. I just thought I heard someone, but it seems to have been a fox.

Anyway, where was I. Oh yes, I think I mentioned that Godric’s family all treat me like I’m family, which is really special. Even little Cyneburg now comes to sit on my knee a while. Such a bonny, wee thing she is. I must say she has become a favourite.

Just a quick comment: one of my first impressions of being here was how everyone has body odour. While clothes are cleaned at times, they can’t just pop them into a washing machine, so washing is a bit of an annual event, for clothes anyway. However, Hilda keeps her brood clean and there are many times when, as a family, everyone heads into the forest to swim at some of the best swimming holes. Most of the time the men and boys head to one waterhole and the women to another nearby. I’m not sure if the women strip off, but we lads do and for a while there the lads stared at my tattoos, but now they just accept the way I am. Just to let you know that the boys and Godric have been circumcised, so I fit in, thank goodness.

I’ve also become rather close to their eldest son, young Eadric. As the eldest son of a thegn, he has a responsibility to learn the arts of war and leadership. The village men treat him well. Sure, they give him a hard time, like when he joined us after the hunt, but it was all in fun and still respectful. Godric is a good and capable man but I think he suspects that in me Eadric has someone else to learn from besides himself and Ceolwulf, who tends to be a bit gruff and unfriendly.

Anyway, after our meal, Godric shooed the rest of the brood away and it was obvious he wanted to chat. Godric has a habit of sweeping his moustache with his finger to remove food stuck there after eating. Sometimes I have to wash my moustache to remove food juices as they can dry and smell. I still don’t have the whole moustache thing down, even after all this time.

Now you might have footage on this. Godric leaned over to me, as if in confidence, and told me what a good lad Eadric is, how he is close to being a man. He told me he has a brother in Snotengaham who’s a blacksmith of note. He said something like my brother is a man skilled in making swords. He was taught the old way to make weapons of rare beauty and has made swords for thegns in Snot and in Wessex. The King knows his name, as the King does mine, and he jabbed his thumb to his own chest, reminding me that he’s a man of influence. My son Eadric is of the age where a man of land can own a sword. To be a man and fight like a lord, that’s important to all of my sons.

He decided that we should walk to the hall. While he did so, he chewed on one of those twigs, as they do. I’ve described these twigs and the plant from which they come as I suspect they might have qualities that might prevent tooth decay or pain. Samples have been collected for when I return.

In the hall, we sat and Godric said something like Lord Michael, you have become a friend to the people of Giolgrave, to the monks and to my family. You are a man to be trusted.

I thanked him, but wondered where this conversation was heading.

He then asked me if Eadric could accompany me to Snotengaham so he could visit his uncle and pick up a sword that Godric had commissioned. I know this is a very important thing for Godric and Eadric. Godric said it was a journey he would normally make himself, but he can’t do it now because of the unsettled nature of things, with the rumours of Vikings and all. He asked that, as we travel, I teach Eadric how to fight and to treat the journey as a time for Eadric to learn.

What could I say? I couldn’t say no, but it will be good to train Eadric a little. I think I’ll show him a thing or two that his father hasn’t seen. Besides, the story of the blacksmith sounds interesting. If this smith is as good as Godric says, his work will be well worth examining.

So, bit of a long report this time.

Two days later, here we are, on the way to Snotengaham.

Our little group, besides Eadric and I, includes Brothers Oeric, Horsa and Tondbert, who I haven’t spoken of as yet.

I’ll transmit now and continue my report update on the morrow. You should have plenty of images and footage as usual.

Signing off.