Erinland
by
Kathryn Berryman
Genre:
Epic Fantasy
Two
troubled young adults find themselves key players in a deadly game
that spans the 21st century and the Viking Age.
Amy,
finding it difficult to ‘fit in’, becomes increasingly obsessed
with the virtual reality game Erinland. The VR characters and the
mist of Erin begin to invade Amy’s dreams and her waking moments.
She finds herself drawn into Erinland in 9th century Ireland. Amy
becomes part of this mystical world as she joins in the struggle to
defeat the Viking raiders.
Richard
has a complicated home life and feels he doesn’t belong anywhere. A
series of events finds him desperate and living on the streets, where
he finds himself dragged into 9th century Norway by a Viking warrior.
Richard finds acceptance with the Vikings and joins them on a
colonisation raid to Ireland.
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Chapter 2
Aidan
Brother Aidan never tired of looking at the holy manuscript. The beautiful, intricate plait-work and spiral knots, and the complex panels with their ornamental and sometimes comic figures, could hold him entranced for hours. The volume he now held in his hands contained the Gospels of the four Evangelists. It was a masterpiece of richly decorative art. The vibrant yellows, reds, blues, and greens cascaded and swirled, jumping from the pages in a brilliant cacophony of colour.
Scribes and artists had worked together on
this and other texts to create magnificent works of art—symbols of the
Christian faith. The gospels and accompanying summaries Aidan was studying were
of the mixed text incorporating Vulgate, with many words and phrases of old
Latin. It was bound in a carved leather casing. The swirls and knot-work of the
volume were faithfully reproduced on the leather casing, a beautiful, enticing
prelude to the breathtaking symphony it housed. The text itself was written on
calf-skin or vellum, a longer lasting medium than parchment, and one that
absorbed the pigments in a more permanent manner. Aidan pored over the large
full-page illustrations in the gospels’ text, a practice employed by the monks
to emphasise the significant parts of the story. Key events such as the arrest
of Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection were illustrated as complex
full-page designs.
Throughout the whole of the manuscript
appeared the symbols of the Evangelists, four of Jesus’ apostles: Matthew,
Mark, Luke, and John. Matthew was represented by a man, Mark by a lion, Luke by
a calf, and John by an eagle. Other animals, such as fish, cats, mice, hens,
snakes, dragons, and many kinds of birds, were used also; sometimes clearly
symbolising a section of text and at other times simply for lively decoration.
A knot of emotion welled in Aidan’s throat as he paid homage to the holy
manuscript, a precious icon to his faith. Reverently, he replaced the precious
manuscript in its niche.
Brother Aidan was visiting the monastery in
Armagh. In the past, this area had been the centre of the church in Ireland but
now it was a monastery, a major library, and scriptorium, housing some of
Christianity’s greatest treasures. Over the centuries, since the life of St
Patrick, the Christian Church had gradually dominated the society of Ireland.
Monasteries were built as religious fervour grew throughout the country. Aidan
was here to borrow some of the monastery’s lesser texts. He would take these
back to his monastery in Durrow to be copied by his scribes for the library,
then the originals would be returned to their rightful place in Armagh. It was
common practice among the monks and it enabled other monasteries to have a
wider Chapter 2:
Aidan range of working texts so that knowledge
could be passed on to the faithful.
He wandered into the scriptorium and glanced
at an open manuscript currently being worked on. The intricate carpet designs
and illuminations were absolutely perfect, the work of a true artist. But his
keen eye noticed errors in the text itself. The scribe undertaking this
manuscript had poor Latin skills. The text had been corrupted almost to the
point of confusion. Aidan thought this was a poor copy for a scriptorium of
repute, so he made a mental note to bring this to the head librarian’s notice.
‘Aidan.’ Brother Colman, the head librarian,
brought him back to reality. ‘I have found the volumes you have requested. The
Missals, Psalters, and Lives of the Saints are all ready for you,’ he said.
‘Thank you, Colman, I am in your debt. As the
day is drawing in, if it is your wish, I will pray and sup with you and be on
my way on the morrow,’ replied Aidan.
‘That would be most pleasing, Aidan,’ said
Colman.
‘Your brothers here would hear all your news
and welcome a fresh face. But first, I would enlighten you on a matter most
pressing. We have had grave news that concerns us all. A fellow brother from
Bangor has sent us a message of warning. Raiders are said to be on the move not
far from that area. It is thought to be the Vikings again, come to claim this
land and defile it. The messenger told of many evil deeds. It is rumoured that
they torture and use us for sacrifice to their pagan gods.’ Colman handed Aidan
a crumpled piece of manuscript. It was a beautiful piece of illumination but it
was not finished. ‘Look to the margin, our brother has written a message,’ said
Coleman. Aidan read the hastily scrawled passage:
The Northmen are coming from the sea … they appear
under cover of evil fog, killing, defiling, stealing … crumpled bodies strew
the land, blood stains the soil … brothers hang from the trees … women raped,
defiled … we are animals to them, bound for slaughter … brothers left, gone,
deserters from our monastery …
Who will stand their ground when the pagans rain
their worst on us? Who? What will become of us? What will become of our faith?
Aidan was horrified. He had heard of previous
raids by the Vikings, led by a most vicious and merciless leader, but he
thought that the noble Taoiseach Tadhg had stilled his thirsty blade forever.
Coleman’s voice interrupted Aidan’s thoughts. ‘The Abbot wishes to speak to
you. I believe it is a matter of great urgency. Come, Aidan, we will go to him
now.’ Aidan hurried with Colman to confer with the Abbot, wondering of what possible
use he could be.
Abbot Bede was a sombre holy man. His rough
woollen tunic did not detract from his presence, in fact the very plainness of
the garment enhanced the calibre of the man it robed. Though the Abbot was
small and solid of stature, he was a man of strength, one not easily fazed,
with a body hardened by the harsh lifestyle of the times. His hands were large;
hands befitting a stonemason or a simple herdsman used to manual labour, not a
cleric of intellectual prowess. His hair was jet-black and cropped short in the
monastic style. From his face shone a pair of piercing eyes filled with
intelligence and the total conviction of a zealot. Today those eyes were
troubled and the huge hands were clasped in a gesture of concern. ‘Welcome,
Aidan. It is always a pleasure to have our southern brothers stay with us a
while. Please, sit down. I trust your needs have been catered for adequately.
Did you find the resource material you required?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ Aidan replied. ‘I have been
successful in finding the manuscripts our monastery requires. I will have them
returned to you as soon as my scribes have finished with them. By years end,
would that be satisfactory?’
The Abbot locked eyes with Aidan. ‘Do not
trouble yourself on that account, brother. If the news that has just reached me
is true, I fear that you will have possession of these and other treasures for
years to come. You see, the Raiders have travelled more quickly than
anticipated. Come, come. Walk with me.’
Abbot Bede breathed deeply. His eyes became
troubled and his brow furrowed. Aidan listened intently. ‘Aidan, the noble war
chieftain Tadhg has disappeared into the boglands and is feared perished of a
great wound, or devoured by the Bogg Demon.
‘His army is mostly dispersed, lacking the
courage and leadership befitting true warriors. They have left us to our fate.
Tadhg’s sibling Gráinne has disappeared from our midst, either killed or
captured. If she is alive, I dare not think of the torture in store for her.
Our time for preparation is very limited. I had estimated two full moons before
thoughts of barricading and battle would come to pass. As it stands now we will
have to take our chances and try to stand our ground with the weapons we can
find. The messenger gauged just two weeks before the marauders are upon us.’
They continued walking and the Abbot moved
closer. ‘I am glad only the two of us will hear what I am about to say. You
see, Aidan, not only do the Raiders burn and plunder our villages and religious
sites but they also destroy any evidence of the existence of our way of life,
and more importantly, our faith. Already, many valuable manuscripts and sacred
icons have been destroyed, while other holy things have been profaned in the
basest fashion. Our monasteries to the north have been totally razed and all
their treasures laid waste. They raise pagan icons in place of our most
beautiful monuments and practise idolatry to their foul gods on consecrated
ground. It is not only our lives that I fear for, but our very souls and the
souls of future generations.’
The Abbot paused for breath as he nodded to a
fellow monk walking toward them. He quickened his pace and looked around
furtively to check that no one else was about. He pushed a thick wooden door in
the wall of the passage. It creaked open to reveal another narrower passageway.
They continued walking. Abbot Bede did not speak again for a while, so Aidan
had time to take in his surroundings. They were entering a part of the
monastery that Aidan had not visited before. It was very dark and dank. An
occasional torch attached to the thick stone walls gave off a meagre light. It
was an insipid glow, but threw off enough brightness to guide their feet on
the uneven surface. The wall of the passageway looked slick with moisture.
Aidan realised that this part of the monastery was a secret place. The Abbot
continued speaking in a hushed voice, filled with emotion. ‘These barbarians
may break our bodies and burn our villages, but they must not destroy our
faith. We need to protect our most precious treasures. Aidan, I believe a man
such as you is worthy of the task. It is your duty to take these holy things
from here to a haven, far from the marauders, and protect them from defilement
by heathen hands. Quickly! Come into the inner sanctum.’The inner sanctum was a
tiny room behind the altar in a private chapel. It was a place where no light
penetrated, yet a light always burnt—a constant reminder of the presence of
God. This holiest of places, where the most precious manuscripts and relics
were kept. Aidan felt very privileged to be here. The Abbot’s eyes darted about
nervously to check that they were alone, and then he pressed a stone protruding
out of the smooth surface of the wall. With a loud scraping noise the stone
receded to expose a niche. The recess was smooth and rounded, big enough to
store a small barrel of wine. From the niche exuded a yellow glow, a light
dissipating through a richly decorated covering. Aidan could not stop staring
at the glow.
Abbot Bede spoke gently, almost seductively,
‘Beautiful is it not? I will get to that presently. For now, I will show you
this most important and precious relic. The most exquisite and powerful
manuscript your critical eye will ever live to see. Look upon it. Can you see a
flaw in its text or illuminations? Could it not have been crafted by the
Archangels themselves?’ A glow of fanaticism had crept into the Abbot’s face
and Aidan felt a tingle of fear up his spine.
The manuscript Abbot Bede spoke of was similar
to the leather-bound volume Aidan had admired in the library, although on
closer inspection there was no comparison. This manuscript had a distinct
ethereal quality in its perfection. The vibrant colours fairly hummed in their
brilliance and the volume almost breathed with intensity—a reflection of the
love and faith that created it. Aidan could only stare transfixed, tears of
joy and respect unashamedly rolling down his cheeks. Once he had composed
himself, he studied the manuscript. The illustrations were so exact and the
colours were vivid. It was a work of true artistry. ‘The origin of this
manuscript is unknown. It is thought to have been transported from Ionia or
Northumbria some centuries ago but, before that, its history is very sketchy.
It may have come from the Continent, even Rome itself, so shrouded in mystery
is this treasure. But it must be preserved, this I know to be God’s will, for
the sake of those who created it and for future generations. I can sense that
you, Aidan, have been chosen for this task. Now, for the real
prize, the most holy of relics …’
Abbot Bede spoke rapidly, oblivious to Aidan’s
presence. ‘Did you know that tonight is the anniversary of that most courageous
act by our Father Patrick? Patrick, who challenged the High King and his evil
druids this very night, centuries ago. On the hill of Slane, Patrick lit the
paschal fire on pain of death, in violation of the High King’s law. No other
fire was to be lit in the vicinity of the great festival fire on the hill of
Tara. King Laoghaire saw Patrick’s fire and called his druids to quell it. The
druids’ response was, “If this fire which we now see is not extinguished it
will overpower all our fires and he that has kindled it will overpower thy
kingdom.” The King immediately summoned the stranger to appear before him.
‘Patrick, our valiant brother, and his
followers marched to the castle. They sang ‘The Deer’s Cry’:
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me.’
Abbot Bede paused, he seemed distressed. From
the folds of his robes he took a small flask and drank deeply. His breathing
became more even. He offered Aidan a swig from the flask. Aidan declined; he
wanted to keep a clear head.
The Abbot continued talking. ‘Patrick also
carried a sacred cup. A chalice so beautiful and enticing that to look upon it
unprepared could result in madness. A relic so holy that the unchaste cower
before it, covering their heads in shame, aware of their unworthiness before
the sacred vessel of God.
‘Many were cleansed by the holy chalice that
night. The old rites of fertility were practised for the last time. Patrick had
his first conversion on that Easter Eve and many a soul was cleansed by the one
true faith—Christianity. The most beautiful and precious cup beckons. Cast your
eyes upon the chalice and it will mesmerise you with its mystical quality. A
mere glimpse of this most venerable object will prove your worthiness of the
task before you.’
The Abbot spoke raggedly, breathing in quick
gasps. His skin was oozing perspiration, a moist, shiny film formed on his
forehead and upper lip. His hands had become clammy, shaking in anticipation.
His hands darted covetously towards the silken covering then teasingly snapped
back to his sides. Abbot Bede was enjoying the power he held over Aidan. He
could feel a crescendo building up in the walls of the sanctuary, a tangible
vibration bringing his nerves to breaking point.
Aidan held his breath as the Abbot continued,
‘It has been said that this object is the one true cup, the cup from which our
Lord drank, transported in some mystical way to this place of sanctuary. Could
it be, Aidan, that the highest power has placed it here for a specific purpose?
Has it been hidden away to be preserved in this pure state until its purpose is
made known and its time has come? I firmly believe that its time has come and that your fate is entwined with this most
sacred of relics.’ As he said this, the Abbot whisked the covering off in a
sharp movement, catching Aidan off guard.
Aidan had never seen such a beautiful object.
It seemed to be made of some unearthly metal, so unusual was its appearance.
Embedded in the surface were what looked to be three jewels. These ‘jewels’
were placed equidistant from each other: a sapphire-like gem with its clean
blue hue; a pearl-like gem with its cool chasteness; and a ruby-like jewel
which appeared to throb and ooze blood. The significance of the Trinity
formation was not lost on Aidan. He believed that the sapphire represented God,
the Father; the pearl represented the dove, the Holy Ghost; and the ruby
represented Jesus, the Son of God who shed his precious blood to save us. The
chalice’s surface shone with an ethereal light pulsing with life force and
purpose.
Aidan put out a tentative hand and brushed the
cup with his fingertips. The result was extraordinary. A wind roared in the
tiny room. It tore through his body. A cleansing tempest, exposing any
self-doubts and tearing them from his soul. The searing wind cauterised the
gaping wounds of his negativity, filling the space with love. Aidan was sure
this strength came from God, the Father, working through the Holy Ghost. He
felt renewed. A pure, white light radiated from within him—a furnace of faith
that gave him true life.
At last Aidan spoke, ‘I feel ready to perform
the task ordained for me, Abbot Bede. Have no fear, I now have the strength of
spirit to carry this through. I will die protecting these most sacred relics
and will do so willingly.’
Abbot Bede stared, his eyes full of respect.
‘I was right, Aidan. You are more than equal to this task. When you have succeeded
and the barbarians are driven from this land, your name will be revered.
Stories of your bravery and faith will abound. But you must make haste,
brother. Go to the kitchens and gather all you require for your long journey. I
will pack the precious relics so they appear as nothing more than a monk’s
effects. Hurry, my friend, I will see you safely away.’
Within the hour Aidan had left the safety of
the cloister, his heart full of courage and hope. He had decided to travel
south-west from Armagh towards his own monastery in Durrow, a long journey but
a route he knew well. He was sure the holy relics would be safe there. Aidan
was travelling by foot, a common occurrence for the monks of his order. Any
luxuries were avoided by the brothers so they could concentrate their energies
on their craft and their faith. The advantage of travelling singly and on foot
was that he could find cover quickly if the need arose, and a lone monk
attracted less attention than a large group. He covered a great distance, being
almost invisible in the darkness.
After travelling many hours towards the river,
Aidan decided to stop for the night. He came upon a grove of ancient hazel
trees, a perfect cover. They were nine in number and surrounded a pool, their
ancient branches hanging over the water. Aidan ate a hurried supper of bread
and cheese and drank some refreshing water from the cool, deep pool. He
regarded the trees around him. They were most unusual. By the light of the moon
Aidan could see that they had a quality about them, as if they were awake,
responsive to their surroundings. The nuts on the trees were most curious.
Crimson in colour, one tree held a particularly large nut. Its branch hovered
over the deep pool, quivering with the effort of holding the fruit. As Aidan
watched, the branch seemed to drop a little closer to the pool. Suddenly, all
the hazel trees began to sigh and thrash their branches, shaking the leaves
violently. The rhythm of the trees had a spellbinding effect on Aidan. Suddenly
the huge 28
nut dropped towards the deep pool. A massive
salmon jumped out of the pool and gulped the nut down greedily. Aidan,
astonished by the strange scene he had just witnessed, was overcome with a
feeling of drowsiness. As the trees gradually stopped thrashing their branches,
all the remaining nuts in the grove withered and fell to the ground.
Without warning, Aidan fell into a heavy
sleep. He dreamt of ancient warriors and fabled heroes fighting and falling for
their cause. He dreamt of druids and monks, bishops and marauders, fighting and
slaughtering each other. He dreamt of the sacred objects he carried and
protected with his life. At first light, in the misty steam of the morning, a
huge bead of moisture tumbled from one of the ancient trees and trickled into his
ear. He woke up, shaking his head to rid himself of the icy drop. As the fog of
slumber lifted, Aidan smelt the delicious aroma of fish cooking. He quickly
gathered his things and followed his nose.
A short distance away he discovered a
clearing. In the centre was a blazing fire. Over the fire was a spit with a
huge salmon cooking on it. Aidan’s mouth watered. He had his own meagre
supplies to eat, but the wonderful smell of the cooking fish tempted him. He
glanced around the clearing again, searching for signs of life. There was no
one to be seen. Maybe he could just have a little taste of the fish. Before
Aidan’s conscience had a chance to gnaw at him, he reached down to pull a small
piece of meat from the salmon. He burnt his thumb on the hot flesh and
immediately stuck his thumb in his mouth to cool it.
It was then he felt warm breath on his neck
and heard a soft voice in his ear, ‘I see a holy man warming himself by my
fire.’ Aidan turned and saw a man dressed in resplendent white robes and carrying
a staff. His tunic was tied at the waist with a hemp girdle and belted to it
was a bronze dagger and sickle. Aidan had heard tales of the ancient druids.
Like most Christians, he thought (and prayed) that these ancients had long
disappeared with the growth of Christianity in Ireland.
‘Yes, wise one, the warmth is very tempting on
this brisk morning,’ Aidan stammered.
The druid sat next to the fire on a fallen oak
log and motioned for Aidan to sit beside him. ‘Did you taste this salmon, holy
man?’ asked the druid. Aidan looked at the ground guiltily and confessed that
he had. The druid sighed deeply. ‘Then, I suppose this is for you,’ he said as
he served the fish on a rough wooden platter and handed it to Aidan.
‘But … this is food to break your fast, I only had a taste,’ replied Aidan.
The druid rubbed his forehead tiredly and
exclaimed, ‘Christian, this is no ordinary fish! Have you forgotten the ancient
tales? Has our history and folklore been snuffed out completely? Surely a
learned man such as you would have heard the tale of the ‘Salmon of Knowledge’.
Please eat your prize.’ Feeling very remorseful, Aidan took the fish. The druid
looked hard at him. ‘Do not feel guilty, Christian. It is destiny that brings
us to this spot. You were meant to taste the Salmon of Knowledge. Please … eat.
I am not displeased with you. While you eat, I will tell of the legend of
Fionn,’ said the druid.
Aidan greedily ate the succulent fish.
The druid spoke, ‘Legend tells of a young man
named Fionn, the son of Cumhail MacArt. His father was killed before Fionn was
born. His mother, fearing for her son’s life, sent the boy away to be trained
by a druid on the Isle of Skye.
‘We of the druidic order are great
philosophers, striving to understand the elements of nature. In times past, we
gathered in groves and taught lessons, sharing tales in the shade of the oak
trees. The name ‘druid’ means ‘oak wise’. We are seekers of truth.
‘In the time of Fionn, we ruled Éire, but our
numbers are sparse now. As time has passed and beliefs have changed we have
almost been wiped out—almost! But there will always be
some of us left to guide the real seekers of truth.’
The druid paused for a moment, looking closely
at Aidan. He continued, ‘Fionn stayed on the Isle of Skye until he was a young
man. He had learnt many things during this time. He could name all the trees in
the wood. He knew herb-lore and the medicinal properties of herbs. Being a
young man, he was not content with his simple life so he left the island to
seek adventure. He searched for the ancient sacred well which is the source of
inspiration of all Éire.
‘He followed the river. He travelled further
and further upstream into the mountains and the wild lands, the river becoming
smaller and smaller until it was a tiny stream. Finally he came to a well from
which the stream sprang. A circle of old and purpled hazel trees stood around
the well. The ancients tell us that there is a certain time when one of the
trees will drop a hazelnut. If the hazelnut is caught by a salmon before it
reaches the water and if this salmon is caught by a druid, the salmon will
bestow great wisdom and inspiration. The environment has to be perfect for the
hazel trees to bear fruit and for the salmon to reproduce.
‘Fionn circled the ancient trees curiously.
They seemed more alive than normal trees; their
branches thrashed as if in a strong breeze. The air was breathless, almost
overpowering. His nostrils sensed the delicious aroma of fish cooking. The
smell of simmering salmon made his mouth water and his stomach rumble with
hunger. Fionn found himself beside the hearth. The beautiful fish was before
him. He was tempted. Just a taste, he thought. It was such a large fish, surely
a small taste wouldn’t upset the owner of the fish. He reached over to rip off
a portion of flesh. He burnt his finger on the searing flesh of the salmon.
Quickly, he put his thumb into his mouth to ease the pain of the throbbing
thumb.
‘A druid emerged from the grove of hazel trees
and looked at him sternly. The druid questioned him closely. He knew that he
was face to face with Demne, a special youth who was to be given a special
gift. So say the ancients, so it is.
‘The druid knew that this boy was the chosen
one. He became a King and a leader of skilled warriors, known as the Fianna.’
The druid looked steadily at Aidan. ‘I speak
to you of this tale, I am sure you know why. The fish you have just eaten is
the fabled Salmon of Knowledge. You are the chosen one. You are the Fionn of
this generation. Whatever journey or burden you undertake will be lessened by
the boundless knowledge you have absorbed. Just as Fionn gained his wisdom from
the Salmon of Knowledge, so have you, holy man. So say the ancients, so it is.’
Kathryn
is a Sydney author whose interest in history and mythology was the
catalyst for her debut novel Erinland to become a reality.
An
adventure in the modern and ancient world, where the central
characters seek acceptance and self-belief, the ‘players’ in
Erinland find themselves in very different roles from their everyday
life. Choices they make could mean the difference between life and
death, with the consequences of these decisions reaching into their
‘real’ lives.
Written
in the Fantasy genre, Book I bridges the ages, drawing on
contemporary life and 9th Century history to create an authentic
experience for the reader. A visual writer, she explores the
mythologies of ancient Norway and Ireland, giving a tangible view of
everyday life and the impact of the Gods in these two
cultures.
Kathryn
is married with three beautiful daughters. Amidst busy family life,
she studied at University to become a Primary school teacher. When
she is not teaching, she loves to write and dabble in other creative
pursuits such as painting and drawing. She and her husband hope to
realise their dream and move to the country one day – soon.
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