Skorghijl

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Skorghijl is the island on which Cassandra (then known as Evanlyn) and Will stop on their way to Skandia as captives of Erak. This takes place during the first half of The Icebound Land.

Island and Harbor

• Skorghijl Island is only two kilometers long, located in the vast Stormwhite Sea.

• Skorghijl contains one harbor, Shelter Bay. There is a wee crude village of sorts, with rough huts for crew quarters.

• Shelter Bay on Skorghijl is used by sailors seeking refuge en route to Skandia, Gallica, and Teutlandt, on the Stormwhite Sea. This bleak harbor is used in emergency by Skandians and others in need.

• Most of the island is wet and frozen, including the high cliffs. It is a barren island of black rock, with no trees and sparse vegetation.

Location in Stormwhite Sea

• Shelter Bay at Skorghijl Island is a key setting in both series, especially in RA book 3, The Icebound Land.
• This map depicts the Stormwhite region and logical general locations of Skorghijl and Fallkork islands. Many maps place Skorghijl too close to Skandia. Explanation follows below.

• In The Icebound Land Svengal helps Evanlyn discern Skorghijl’s location, relative to Araluen: “This isn’t Skandia,” he told them. “We’re barely halfway to Skandia. This is Skorghijl.”
• Indeed, it took Erak 12 days to sail from Skorghijl to Skandia: “On the twelfth day of the crossing, they made a landfall with the Skandian coast—exactly where Erak had predicted they would fetch up.”

• In comparison, Fallkork Island is a small rock within a day’s sail to Hallasholm, where Jarl Erak dumped about 150 Temujai to foil the traitor’s plans. It is not far from Vulture Narrows.

Stormwhite Sea Islands and Surrounding Lands

Advantages

Skandians, on their way back from raiding season, will often stop at Skorghijl, along with fellow skirls. It is used as a home while the Skandians wait for the winter to end, as the Stormwhite Sea is too rough to travel on in winter. To do so would be near suicide.

Trivia

• Skorghijl is possibly based on Gotland or Bornholm, two islands in the Baltic Sea that where often visited by sailors who had to repair their boats or wanted to stop for the winter. It could also be based on the Shetland Islands north of Scotland, but the Shetlands could also represent Sonderland.
• As trees don't grow on Skorghijl, the Skandians probably made their huts of driftwood.
• Skorghijl’s Shelter Bay is not to be confused with the tiny inlet on the east coast of the Stormwhite, where Hal sought refuge for his Heron brotherband. “Welcome to Shelter Bay,” he said to Stig. “Is that what it’s called?” Hal gave him a tired grin. “It is now.” Initially, they slept aboard the beached ship, with its heavy tarpaulin cover rigged as a tent to protect them from the weather...” .