In York

Poul Anderson's Mother Of Kings (New York, 2003) is encyclopedic and like a window onto a moving picture of nature, history and mythology. Maybe the changing weather and cyclical seasons are more important events than the fanciful and transient affairs of royal claimants?

In the opening paragraph of Book Three, Chapter VIII:

wind hisses;
geese honk;
York rackets;
stenches scatter;
light spills down.

Three senses are addressed.

"Thatch, turf and shakes blocked sight of the morning sun..." (p. 219)

I cannot find this meaning of "shakes."

The second paragraph has:

gleaming helmets;
rainbow cloaks;
shining byrnies;
a gold-embroidered, marten-trimmed tunic;
blue breeks over kidskin boots;
a silken-banded, wide-brimmed hat;
gold coiled at throat and on arms;
white wool skirts;
woven panels hanging from brooches;
an amber necklace;
red silk cloth over dark hair;
a garnet-set silver headband;
armed guards before and after.

The paragraph describes King Eirik accompanying Queen Gunnhild and their children to the cathedral (York Minster?) where they will be baptized. Even when bound on such an errand:

"...never would their lord fare meekly." (ibid.)