Blood Brothers, Orkney c. 1116
by @tony-luxton
Two brothers at arms length, both
earls of Orkney. Internecine
feud, inherited condition
or consequence of tradition.
Magnus sacrificed himself
to Haakon's axe man, saviour
of Orkney from civil war.
The memorial Cathedral of
St. Magnus, built by Earl Ragnvald,
tribute to his uncle's martyrdom
inspires the Bay of Kirkwall.
Within a pillar south of the organ screen,
above head height and easily missed
was laid a block of lighter stone,
inscribed with a cross that guards the bones
of St. Magnus, focus of the pilgrim's dream.