For May, I’m going to focus on Vikings. Because, well, who doesn’t love Vikings?
This week’s excerpt is from “The Beach,” about a young Viking woman.
Sleet soaks Pría’s dress, but she makes no move to seek shelter. “Ég mun alltaf elska þig,” she whispers to Eyjólfur as his flaming barge drifts into the sea: I will always love you.
* * * * *
Geirmar, a young warrior in her village, falls into step with her one morning as she walks along the beach, and says, “I’m so sorry for what happened.”
Pría shrugs because warriors are meant to die; it’s not his fault.
“Perhaps, one day, you’ll find room in your heart for another.”
She stares out at the waves, at the spot on the horizon where she last saw her own warrior, on his funeral barge with her heart tucked alongside.
“Perhaps, one day, it will be me.”
“Perhaps.”
Post a link to your eight sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Weekend Writing Warriors website.
And make sure you get a copy of my short story, “Not My Thing.” It’s currently free at Smashwords and Barnes and Noble (Amazon is still dragging their feet with the permafree thing, but you can get a Kindle version at Smashwords).
Yup, it’s the circle of life…we all die. Do the women get set afire and sent to sea as well?
A woman of many talents, ED. A new story with Swedish words? You grabbed this reader from the first sentence and pulled me into a different time and place.
I liked the elegant tone of this snippet and the acceptance she had for how life and death happen. Excellent excerpt, can’t wait to read more!
I don’t think this is the time…
This snippet tells the reader so much about the culture, the character and her inner conflict. Very nicely done!