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<DIV><FONT size=4>So far I'm somewhere in 10th-12th century. Shetland
Islands (because it was Norse influenced) and known for horses, cattle and
dogs. Have buried 6 husbands that I managed to send off to various wars
when they got too frisky. Some of them survived the wars and battles but
when they returned home they just got sicker until they joined the others in the
ground. Each time I held on to the properties I had by my own right and
marriage (pesky kin make good fish chum). I'm loved by my villagers,
feared by my kin. My kin are just thankful I wear clothes so they don't
fuss at me for not wearing a head covering.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I learned to read and write by beating my brothers up until
they taught me what little they knew from their tutors. I would also take
their swords, spears and daggers from them to practice on trees. I had to
learn how to sew, embroider, cook, and other womanly arts to keep my mother from
locking me in my room. As the only daughter in a fairly secluded area I
was allowed a great deal of freedom that normally only males experienced.
More than once in my youth I was punished for dressing in my brothers'
clothing.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Being on a sea trade route allowed me to buy, trade or just
flat take (if they didn't want to cooperate) all kinds of fabric, gems, spices,
weapons, even manuscripts.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Lady Runa of The Thundering Herd<BR><A
href="http://www.bedlambazaar.com">http://www.bedlambazaar.com</A><BR><A
href="http://bedlambazaar.blogspot.com">http://bedlambazaar.blogspot.com</A><BR><A
href="http://runa-herd.livejournal.com">http://runa-herd.livejournal.com</A>
<BR><A
href="http://thethunderingherd.net">http://thethunderingherd.net</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>