When the Longships Came

When the Longships Came ePub

It is 865AD when three Viking longships arrive at the female Bramingham Monastery on the isolated coast of the Kingdom of Northumbria. The building is looted with everything of value taken by the pagans. Abbess Jane and senior nuns are slaughtered and the younger nuns abducted into slavery. Maiden Kendra, minding the monastery sheep on the top plateau during the attack survives.

This is her story.

One other survivor, postulant Jolene finds her and together they return to the monastery. Secrets are discovered that both help and hinder including secret tunnels, a mine and evidence of clandestine trading with Vikings. However, the security of being in the monastery is better than the hostile world outside.

A flag message from a village up the coast warns them that a King's knight is coming but he is not to be trusted. A large force of knights and King's army arrive but all the steps and entrances to the monastery are collapsed using ancient mechanisms they find. The King's army is held out but set up a permanent camp on the beach. The monastery is under siege and with winter coming there is every chance that they will be starved into submission.