Where Did the Bone Man Come From?

It seems a very odd idea--a man in a bone fortress who the warriors use for target practice after dinner by pitching their leftovers in his direction. Did I make this up? No, reader reader, to be honest I made up very little when writing Courting Trouble. Helmstan's story is part of the history / mythology that was circulating in 802 Wessex. As I researched the period I came up with many gems like this one, and I wove them into a tale grounded in the history of this place and time. Helmstan's plight was a way for me to get the idea of the depravity and barbarism of Beorhtric's court across to readers. Egbert's "rescue" of Helmstan also gave an interloper to Court a vehicle to show off how macho he is--or was he acting out of altruism? You'll have to decide that for yourself--

The Warriors Enter Winchester

In Anglo-Saxon times the king fought in the summer and over-wintered in one of his castles, which were located in the important towns of his kingdom. This excerpt from Courting Trouble describes the royal procession as it enters the town of Winchester in 801. Here's how the narrator, who is standing among the gawking townspeople, describes the part of the procession made up of warriors.

Our attention was diverted by the arrival of about forty armed warriors. They were a fearsome looking bunch. Most carried spears that were taller than a man, and all had swords a yard long encased in scabbards at their sides. Some wore the scramasax, the dagger that gave us our name, around their necks. They used to smear these with poison in the old days but they’re not used so much anymore. The warriors were clad in steel like the man I had seen in the forest. A few wore helmets—these ingenious devices extended down over their foreheads in front and ended with built-in eyebrows and nose guards. I spotted one man with a complete face mask: only his eyes were uncovered. 

The men carried broad round wooden shields with decorated iron bosses in the middle. I noticed one huge warrior whose front teeth were missing. His shield was covered with deerskin and had an iron bar across it. The dome of his boss came to a cruel looking point and had probably poked out more than one man’s eye.

Elfwinne, a Lady of the Court

Elfwine is a lady at King Beorhtric's court in the novel Courting Trouble. She is a friend of the queen, Odburh. In the following passage, the novel's heroine, Cynetrith, is introduced to Elfwinne, who entertains her friends with a riddle.

“This is my friend Elfwinne,” [Prince Athelstan] said.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, smiling warmly.

“You have the greatest smile,” said Athelstan. The young man accompanying Elfwinne grimaced.

“And this,” said Athelstan, indicating the youth, “is my best friend Yurmin.”

“Hello, Yurmin,” I said. He seemed to be far away.

“I just heard this one today,” said Elfwinne. “ ‘Outside I’m ornamented. Inside I’m dark. A lady takes care of me and, when her lord is feeling valiant, takes me to him. He upends me and puts a hairy thing in me. It’s a tight fit. Soon he’ll be thrusting. What am I?’”

We all looked at each other and giggled.

Meet the Troubled Court: King Beorhtric

Meet the characters who populate Courting Trouble. Today we'll feature His Majesty King Beorhtric (pronounced (BEE OR Trick), with an excerpt from the book that describes the heroine's first glimpse of the drunkard king.

I entered the chamber. The light was dim and the first thing I noticed was the smell. The sour breath of the sleeping monarch hung in the air like the still fog of a summer morning. I set down the pitcher and turned to look at Beorhtric. He was lying on his back on the bed, his legs apart. His tunic had worked its way up above his waist, and his penis was practically lost in a great mass of gray and black pubic hair made even more eye-catching by the pale white of his skin. A linen sheet, intricately embroidered along one end with colorful interlocking beasts, covered only his chest and then trailed onto the floor. There was a pillow under his neck, and his head fell back, diminishing the effect of the great wattles of flesh beneath his chin. His mouth was open. He snored loudly and with great inventiveness.

Meet the Troubled Court: Queen Odburh

Meet the characters who populate Courting Trouble. Today we'll feature Her Royal Highness Odburh (pronounced ODD burr), with an excerpt from the book that describes the heroine's first glimpse of this wicked queen.

I jumped. I turned around and saw a woman who could have come from the stars. I didn’t think it was possible to be so beautiful. On her head the woman was wearing the sheerest of veils. Rather than concealing it seemed to create an aura around the dark brown hair pulled back from her face and braided into labyrinthine patterns. She was about average height for a woman, but stood in so erect and commanding a posture that she seemed as tall as a man. Her head was small, and her features finely chiseled. Her gown was embroidered all over with gold thread that gleamed even in the dim light of the chamber.