Spirits of the Ice Forest Quotes

“The Pale Ones are demons,’ Wobee said. ‘Does your fire crackle with the tears of Mammasumit’s family? Does it sing to you the screams of his women as they were set upon and taken as slaves? Come more Pale Ones. Come enough that they cover the ocean. If the Great River runs red, it will be with their blood and mine.”
― Max Davine, Spirits of the Ice Forest

“Then my sentence remains death and I will take it.’ Freydis said. ‘As a skjoldmoy, with a battle-axe in my hand. But I will make Valhalla a place on earth before it happens. I will make Vinland the gates to all of the Nordic Empire and they will be open for all eternity to those persecuted by these one-God heathens, wherever they may be.”
― Max Davine, Spirits of the Ice Forest

“The haunting bellow of the sentry horns sounded across the Greenland Fjords as the night mists settled between the jagged, rocky, half-frozen shores. Ifar the Shepherd hurried from his flock. Beyond the coast skirted by his grazing land he could see the shadowy shape of the incoming knarr as it pushed through the deepening fog. Slowly the masts emerged above it. Ifar turned toward the hilltop. There stood the magnificent earthen Mead Hall of King Lief, son of Eirik the Red. Though the karls who worked the lands already came running from the fishing houses and the farms and the lumber sites, Ifar could not pass up the opportunity. He gathered his horn from hip and blew with all his might.”
― Max Davine, Spirits of the Ice Forest

“The women moved in to carve up the caribou and soon large chunks of its meat were roasting over the fire. The gathered families threw their wood carvings into the fire pit. The little dogwood caribous burned up and the smoke curled up with the sacrificed caribou’s spirit into the night sky where it dimmed the starlight behind a hazy sheen. The men danced and prayed to the departing spirit. In song and dance they said their thanks that it gave its life for their meal. Then they portioned out the meat.”
― Max Davine, Spirits of the Ice Forest

“The growing warmth of outside bled into Oonban’s mamateek and enticed him out from under his furs. But the age of his body and the shape of his wife beside him kept him down. Chipchowinech lay on her back. Lips slightly parted as a thick lock of graying hair lay across her mouth. Carefully, conscious of his hard and calloused old hands, Oonban reached across and moved the hair out of the way. She stirred and her eyes opened slightly. The sun rose for the second time that day; now in his heart.”
― Max Davine, Spirits of the Ice Forest