Vicereine Brunico
Order of St. Martin (Twelfth Night)
Saxon, early period
Harken to me, those who would know the stories of others. The tale I tell is of my own life and as true as the recollections of any memory can be.
For generations beyond counting my family has been in Aelfrethscoombe, a coastal town in what was once Dumnonia, but is now part of the Kingdom known as Wessex. We have retained some of the order brought by the Romans when our land was known as Britanniae, and the Christian faith that came through this Empire has remained strong. My ancestors are two families of different trades, my Faeder (Father) Fraedric’s family of fiscere (fishermen) have brought in the fish for many a year, and my Modor (Mother) Claennis is the daughter, and only child, of a merchant. Their marriage was arranged not just to join two families, but to guarantee the future of a business built over generations.
The marriage of my parents is a productive one. I have five brothers, big strong men who followed my Father’s family trade. They all fell in love with the sea and with fishing. After so many sons my Mother was overjoyed when my birth brought her the daughter she had dreamed of so long. She was so thankful to God for her gift she chose to name me after a Sainted woman who held her faith before anything. Her name was Juliana, and so became my name.
With my brothers gone all the time, and Father kept busy as the Landweard, the Coast Warden who protects our shore, that left me to help with the trade. This is common for us Saxons. The men go off to hunt, to fish, and, if need be, to war. The women keep the home, the family, and the trade business going. When her Father died, my Mother took everything over, and with my Father’s help built trade up. Now, not only do we sell the fish my brothers bring in, but the fabrics that clothe our Town Ealdor and his beautiful wife, as well as providing most of our town with many other useful items. As I grew I learned many skills from my family. In addition to the skills that a Saxon woman must know to run a home, my Mother taught me to read and write; skills I would need for running the family business. My Father taught me of Honour, Honesty and Loyalty, and that though the most crippling thing in any life is fear, it should be respected, for it is fear that warns us of danger and protects us. My brothers taught me to defend myself. Not that they intended to, but having five older brothers, it was a matter of survival. Not that Saxon women are ever known for being helpless!
This lifestyle filled our lives, but did not fill my desire for adventure and excitement. As years passed and my brothers married, there were gradually more women in the family to help. I eventually decided it was time to see what else the world holds, so I left my childhood home.
I have traveled for many years, seen many wondrous things, met interesting people in numbers beyond recollection, and experienced adventures enough to fill many manuscripts. These tales are not for telling today, but provide me with the experience, knowledge, and wisdom that led me.
The places I have seen have left their mark on me. One of the homes I chose for a while taught me the value friends who will stand by you when all seems against you, and trouble is all around. I left this place hastily once the true colors of the leaders showed themselves! For a while I associated myself with a band of fellow explorers who settled together for a while. Our explorations were no longer those of distance, but of knowledge and skill. Our quests were to learn all we can, and to teach all we know. My personal experiences served me well, and allowed me to serve others. I was asked to lead this group of artisans, scholars, and warriors as their Cwen (Queen). It was my honour to do so, and I served in this and other ways until the community one again went it's separate ways.
As for myself I have now settled in fine lands in the Duchy of Alhambra, where the people are knowledgable, strong, fair, and great in numbers. I feel at ease here, and anticipate being here a long time, it feels like time to rest my feet and end my travels.
What the future will bring for me, I have no way of telling. The gifts of the Seer are not mine. I simply trust in God that my path will continue to bring me joy, and allow me to serve our common dream of good.