A Viking saga section is narrated by “the coastline itself,” describing ships arriving at Vinland. Then the narrator admits: “This voice is not a source; it is a claim.” The historical note below mentions archaeological evidence at L’Anse aux Meadows. The novel asks the reader to hold poetry and evidence together without confusing them. Historical account: Norse exploration likely reached North America around 1000 CE, with evidence at L’Anse aux Meadows. The coastline narrator is a fictional device, not a historical source.