As a History teacher, I am always searching for historical base novels to get ideas for an interesting twist to history. I just listened to the audio version of Sword Song and enjoyed it. I am also a clergyman (a Rabbi) and I found it fascinating the inclusion of the ceremony to a suspecting wife. Your portrayal in the book was perfect for the circumstances. Just for your own edification, according to the Talmud and Jewish tradition, there are of course more details to this process. The idea behind this ceremony is to bring a wife and husband back together when there are marital difficulties. The ceremony was only done when there were witnesses to the husband declaring his suspicion and then a subsequent witnessing of the wife going into seclusion with the suspected “lover”. Also the only thing that was revealed was the women’s hair not any other part of her body. Anyway, thanks again for your great books. I am now reading the Empty Throne.
Avrohom Kanarek