Mutter Maia

My name is Mutter Maia. This is my story. I was born to Bryn, a farmer and trader in horses, and Maris, brought to the burgh after a raiding party on another island. They were married, and I was the eldest girl, then a brother, Dork, our little "robin". Then Sisters Thorvi and Skuld. There were others, but the Gods can be so cruel.

Mother grew sick with fever and died when I was very young, so it was up to me to see to the bairns. As our brother grew into manhood, he became apprenticed to a trader, and moved away to travel the trade routes to the eastern half of the world. He returned to our village, the proud owner of his first longship, and we all invested in his new venture to Kiev, to trade with the Swedish Vikings who had settled there. Whilst he was away, father died and I inherited the homestead. I made good marriages for my two sisters. Thorvi moved away to be with her husband's family, and had a single daughter, Hannah. Skuld remained in the village, and married Alric, a carter, and had a single son, Axel.

I married a trader who stayed in the village and gave birth to my children within the confines of the homestead, with my sister at my side. First there was Bjorke, tall and strong, and then Solvice, pale and home loving. My husband was killed in the last attack of raiders, where many of our group were taken as slaves.

Bjorke left the family enclave to see more of the world. He settled near Largs with the Norwegian Vikings, to trade in fine imported glass-wear and slaves, with the Vikings from Dublin. He started his own family with a local girl, and they had a daughter, Ami. Unfortunately, the local tribes were against the alliance, so he returned to live not far from Wulfholm.

When my brother Dork returned from his last voyage to Byzantium, he brought a stranger back with him. Rurik became my husband, and loved both my children as his own. He also brought Rurik's bondsman, Bjorn, a gentle giant of a man, and Bjorn's sister, Katia. Bjorn fell in love with my Solvice, so his bond was relinquished, for it would not be seemly that a lowly man, such as he, should marry the Chieftain's daughter! And now I have more grandchildren, Feilan and Bjarki.

I have lived a rich life, surrounded by my family and friends. I listen to traders for news of those who have moved away, battles fought, and stories told. My memory sometimes tricks me, and I spend hours sewing weaving, thinking about the "good old days", when life seemed rosier, and less painful. There have been many changes in our village since it was first built. People come and go, like the ebbing tide. Everyone's story enriches the fabric of our being. They make us strong! The strength of the pack is in the wolf, and wolf-clans stick together.

An article featured in the County Press can be found here.