Westú hál! We are the Gægningas, one of the Houses of the Lindisfaran, the English folk who dwell within the bounds of the old Kingdom of Lindis. Men also call this Lindisíg, that is Lindis-island, as it is for the greater part surrounded by either sea, river or marsh. But to the west, where it borders dry land, we have our home, in and around Gægnesburh. For it is from Gægn himself that we are descended. In time, Lindis became part of the Kingdom of Myrce, that is the folk of the Mark beyond which the land of the Wéalas lies. That was before the Danes came… In terrible numbers they came, raiding and pillaging as they pleased. These arbitrary creatures of the North could not be beaten, destroying everything we held dear – not even the most faithful could drive these heathens back to the squalid hole they crawled from. Our liege and lord Burgred called for the men of Wessex to war against the pagans, besieging the town of Nottingham south of us to no effect, eventually paying the infidels off. But it wouldn't be long until they returned... |