This recreation of the Viking era in Ireland shows life from the point of view of the invader and the raided. Caragh and her family are enduring a drought which has seen the end of their stores of food, and a Viking ship is spotted approaching the headland on which the ring fort sits. The elderly are told to run and hide and the rest take up any weapons they can find. Norseman Styr and his wife Elena however don't intend raiding, but settling. He's left the northlands with some trusted friends to avoid a leadership conflict and green Eire, where many of his people already live, beckons.
TO SIN WITH A VIKING shows the inevitable conflict as the weaponed, mailed Northmen land and the terrified villagers defend their homes. Styr is felled by a blow from Caragh and taken captive, while the girl's brother Brendan grabs Elena and drags her off to lure the other Norse after him. Next day Styr finds himself tightly shackled to a post but Caragh tends his wounds and shares what potage she has, reluctant to do further harm. Her father was a blacksmith and those shackles are strong. Styr needs to find his wife, and Caragh needs to prevent him killing her brother. But first, both of them need food.
The strange allegiance that arises sees Styr helping Caragh catch large fish - he is at home on the sea, while she is afraid of boats and deep water. Styr and Caragh come to trust each other, and Styr's arranged marriage to a good woman has been childless, a source of sadness to both partners. They sail to the large port of Dubh Linn, with dozens of Norse ships and mingled peoples at the market. This seems a likely place to hunt for fugitives, but Caragh starts to hope that Styr won't find his wife....
I liked the contrast between the countryside and the bustling city, with longhouses and thralls in the Viking quarter and spices, silks and ivory for sale. At that time slavery was a part of many economies and the Norse depended on it. Other details include the bronze weather vane on the Norse ship - a beautiful specimen was unearthed in recent years. The adult romance is the better for not knowing how the issue of the Norseman's wife will be resolved, and it packs a powerful punch at the end. Michelle Willingham has written other Norse-Irish tales such as Warriors in Winter and TO SIN WITH A VIKING is a fine read with a good deal of action.
Ireland, 875 A.D.
The tribe was slowly starving to death.
Caragh Γ Brannon stared at the grain sack, which was nearly
empty. One handful of oats remained, hardly enough for
anyone. She closed her eyes, wondering what to do. Her older
brothers, Terence and Ronan had left a fortnight ago, to
trade for more food. Sheβd given them a golden brooch that
had belonged to their mother, hoping someone would trade
sheep or cows for it. But this famine was widespread, making
anyone reluctant to give up their animals.
βIs there anything to eat, Caragh?β her younger brother
Brendan asked. At seventeen, his appetite was three times
her own, and sheβd done her best to keep him from growing
hungry. But it was now evident that they would run out of
food sooner than sheβd thought.
Instead of answering, she showed him what was left. He
sobered, his thin face hollow from lack of food. βWe havenβt
caught any fish, either. Iβll try again this morning.β
βI can make a pottage that we can eat later,β she offered.
βIβll go and look for wild onions or carrots.β Though she
tried to interject a note of hope, both of them knew that
the forests and fields had been stripped long ago. There was
nothing left, except the dry summer grasses.
Brendan reached out and touched her shoulder. βOur brothers
will come back. And when they do, weβll have plenty to eat.β
In his face, she saw the need to believe it, and she braved
a smile she didnβt feel. βI hope so.β
After he went outside with his fishing net, Caragh stared
back at the empty hut. Both of their parents had died last
winter. Her father had gone out to try and catch fish, and
heβd drowned. Her mother had grieved deeply for him, never
recovering from the loss. Sheβd given her own portion of
food to Brendan, lying that sheβd already eaten. When theyβd
discovered the truth, it was too late to prevent her death.
So many had succumbed to starvation, and it bled Caraghβs
conscience to know that both of her parents had died, trying
to feed their children.
Hot tears rose up as she stared at her fatherβs forge. Heβd
been a blacksmith, and she was accustomed to hearing the
ring of his hammer, watching the bright glow of hot metal as
he shaped it into tools. Her heart was as heavy as the
anvil, knowing she would never hear his broad laugh again.
Though his boat remained, she didnβt have the courage to
face the larger waves. Her brothers knew how to sail, but
none of them had ventured out again. It was as if evil
spirits lingered, cursing the broken vessel that had
returned without their father.
She wished they could leave Gall TΓr. This desolate land had
nothing left. But they lacked the supplies to travel very
far on foot. They should have gone last summer, after the
crops had failed to flourish. At least then, they would have
had enough to survive the journey. Even if they traveled by
sea, they had not enough food to sustain them beyond a day.
The hand of Death was stretched out over everyone, and
Caragh had felt her own weakness changing her. She could
hardly walk for long distances without growing faint, and
the smallest tasks were overwhelming. Her body had grown so
thin, her lΓ©ine hung upon her, and she could see the thin
bones of her knees and wrists.
But she wasnβt ready to give up. Like all of them, she was
fighting to live.
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