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“How bad is it?” Sigurd questioned his scouts who handing him their report stated, “Bad. At this rate they will be on our doorstep in a few weeks at most. That’s if every clan in their way fights” “This self-proclaimed King of Denmark is utter crap, a madman and yet he gets support?!” Ragnor yelled studying the rough map they had created and seeing how the forces were encroaching onto their allies and neighbour clans shook his head in disbelief that people were falling for this cock and bull story, “How about bringing all our allies forces and people here, then set up our forces at this point here... United we might have enough to defeat him?” Sigurd questioned but Ivar hating the idea snapped, “Wrong. They won’t let their lands be taken freely and they won’t follow just one leader, they will equate us to the madman. We let them weaken the forces and get ready to defend, build our forces up and push them back” Erik contemplated it before stating, “Yes, bring the men. Here and we can hold the field there...” “Fuck off!” Björn yelled, “Half my **** will stay where they are. Unlike your shithole my land is accessible by water. If they find this out and they will, there would be nothing to stop them from circling us” Astrid nodding contemplated the scenario before offering, “We are overthinking this... we are all superstitious, we believe in the gods right... so let’s use them against this madman. This man claims to be a God or the rightful King of Denmark, the chosen leader by the gods and people are blindly following him. They want a God; let’s give them one. We get Ernak who is one, he exposes the pretender and even kills him if necessary and the others wouldn’t dare fight the true God’s. Even if some do fight the others won’t betray their faith” Estrid shook her head before commenting, “He isn’t anywhere near us, we can’t contact him and he won’t do any of you favours” “But he would defend your clan and those pissing horses” Erik snapped. Alfhild seeing her chance to talk about an payment was immediately cut off by her sister who stated, “Lagertha. That will be his price; divorce her and Ragnor and let her go free, then he will help. We on our part will take half of whatever land is recovered and wealth” “We can agree to your demands but Lagertha is Erik’s and Ragnor’s choice” “And what about me? It is about me, so give me the choice” Lagertha yelled, “Irrelevant, I’m your husband so the choice is mine and Erik is your father” Lagertha hated it and getting what she expected, the answer of “No” was angered by the fact it was Ragnor who now said it as much as her father. “Ragnor, you to?!” Sigurd snapped, “You and Erik taught me diplomacy; I know what happens... I say yes and suddenly, Ernak becomes Jarl and I lose my birthright. Erik is right, as unfortunate as the situation is, Lagertha is my wife and future Fru. I will only accept him in front of witnesses declaring he relinquishes any claim to Jarlship for Lagertha” Ivar spat at Ragnor and looking to Sigurd spat, “You did teach him right, taught him to stab all his friends in the back... no wonder you and Erik get on soo well. We’re out, Estrid let’s go home, I feel nauseous just standing here!” she agreed and turning their backs on the family Ivar turned back around and stated, “Let me tell you something Sigurd; that boy of yours won’t last much longer. We will defeat this claimer but after that, you are on your own. If Ernak sees an opportunity and leads that army instead, we’ll follow. If he wants to lead an campaign against your clan; then we’ll advise on how to do it. You’ve screwed him over way too many times to count and forgiveness... well none of you deserve it” “Estrid please, let’s talk it out” Alfhild pleaded but looking back to her sister Estrid simply stated, “Talking is done. All you do is talk, never act; father would be disgusted to see what you have become.”

“So what’s your home like?” Artemis queried and setting the scene Ernak began with the setting, “Eclipsed in snowy mountains and bordered by rivers, the town is thriving even if resources are starting to strain because of the weather. It’s more like an large town with villagers getting on with their daily lives, most are grateful and others are just there for money. Half is led by Ivar and his wife Estrid, the other is led by their son Björn, all three and their daughter are good people” “Where does Lagertha live?” Artemis questioned and sighing Ernak confessed, “Sigurd’s clan, my original home; he and his wife, Alfhild raised me but after certain events I moved...” “Son... what happened?” Ernak looked down and trying to reduce the amount of self infect pain it would cause him it was Torvi who summarised coldly for him, “He loves my sister Lagertha, they were preparing for their engagement and Ernak was raising the sum for our clans dowry. My father flogged Lagertha to his step-brother because Ragnor was in line to become new Jarl. Alfhild promised to fix this whilst he raided and Alfhild usually being trustworthy and honest went ahead with the wedding. Ernak returned and found out the cold truth: they are all lying fucking bastards who only care about themselves. Ernak left and it was Ivar who took him in, at least until he had an plan of action in place, I joined not long later when father tried to sell me off to an husband. All of this was to strengthen relations and power but it all failed. Lagertha is still in love with him like he is with her but Ernak won’t unleash **** on the clan” “Can’t you challenge Ragnor for her?” Artemis asked and nodding Ernak stated, “Holmgang, a fight to the **** or equivalent. I won’t because I would slay him with little fuss; we both know it but with Erik getting in his head, he probably believes he could do anything. I don’t want to cause the family pain like that, carrying their son’s body to an grave. It’s also irrelevant if I am destined to love Freyja” Artemis nodded before turning back to look out at gusty oceans stated, “It will be different this time, with us at your back; you’ll get what you want! But for now we wait, do you still look after the horses...”

Few weeks later

“Where are they now?” Sigurd questioned studying the map and Björn highlighting it stated, “A day away at most. He knows the strength of opposition so is being cautious. A few of our neighbours have joined his army which has taken a bit of an beating but he has pushed past the designated battlefield that we had planned out” Sigurd sighed before studying the map asked, “Ideas? Anyone? Give me something?!” “How about... sending raiding boats along the streams to flank them on their left. Even use their bows for ranged attacks?” Alfhild suggested but dismissing it Sigurd responded with, “Water is too shallow and narrow, if we did somehow manage to get the ships up there they would be stuck and it would require sacrificing a lot of our men” “How about letting them come to us and use the artillery that we have invested in. Use that to keep them back?” “And have it kill our own men in the process? Can we withstand a siege?” Sigurd stated and nodding Ivar replied, “Yes but not for long and doing that allows his army to recover and swell in numbers” “Can we meet him in open combat and win?” “It’s hard to say, his men are more skilled than ours but if we could set some traps and then use our machines to set them off and plan accordingly then who knows” Erik replied but huffing it was Lagertha who spat back sourly, “The only decent trap expert is not here... it’s Ernak’s you twat and you know that!” “Cover the horses in oil and setting on fire into the army?” Erik suggested but Alfhild glaring at him snapped, “Shut it! We need another plan...” Sigurd slumped against the table and sighing replied, “Let me think!”

The plan was simple for Sigurd’s army in the upcoming battles, that was to kill as many as possible and to hold the line, they were assisted by mercenaries who would do anything for the stupid pay that Ivar was offering them however; Ivar knew this and sent them in the most dangerous places resulting in paying less men after each battle and it was now after their forth battle in as many days and the Self-proclaimed United king still hadn’t sent his entire **** into battle, they were fresh and ready whilst Sigurd’s started to look ragged and worn out, “How many more mercenaries are coming?” Sigurd queried seeing Björn rotate his men, sending those original defending his lands in and bringing the most exhausted back. “50 more and they are tough son’s of bitches but the gap between the numbers is massive. We may be killing more than them but they still have a quarter of their **** waiting to see some action, we have no reserves” Sigurd sighed massaging his shoulder before seeing an messenger under a flag of truce walk up to them Sigurd raised his hands causing his men to back off to let the woman speak, “My son; the rightful ruler of Denmark is willing to negotiate peace, the Norwegian’s are raising an army to push back at his gains and he wants this to cease” “Well take your men and fuck off then. We won’t give in because you ask nicely!” she nodded before calmly responding with, “He acknowledges this and your forces are an formidable **** in deed and therefore he wants to negotiate peace with your side, please meet him on the neutral ground between both camps and we’ll discuss it. It’s worth an chance otherwise you will be dealing with the Norwegians as well” Sigurd sighed before nodding replied, “Fine, tonight.”

“I thank you for meeting with us” the crowned king spoke pragmatically to Sigurd who knowing this snapped, “Get on with it, what are your terms?” “Yes let’s, the visions have called to me, the Nornir have entangled my fates with another’s and I know what I must do. To unite our lands against the real threat, those from other lands who would seek to harm us” “Bollocks. I have had enough of all these visions and stories. You’re mad just like the rest of the people” Ragnor spat the king sighed before Sigurd ushering Ragnor back stated, “Whatever you may think, let’s remember the costs of lives we have both already suffered” the king nodded before speaking frankly, “My terms are simply, you acknowledge me as King and provide aid in my new war efforts and your clans will receive the necessary resources to rebuild and prosper, Sigurd will remain as Jarl and your lands independent providing you don’t go to war with or raid my lands” Sigurd sighed contemplating it but it was Erik who urged the situation forward, “Agree, so what if we have to answer to him; you will still be independent!” Ivar growled snapping, “Until he controls you and stops everything that YOU want to do. Then how much will he tax us to BE independent?” “Ignore him this works for us all. I will act as diplomat for both sides!” but refusing the man stated, “No, it will be agreed via marriage, I’ll take one your ladies as my wife and you will receive my sister, who will delivered shortly after the agreement” “Torvi... she is the only lady of standing” Sigurd sighed, “Porunn could!” Erik spat but Ivar head butting him spat, “Leave my daughter out of this” Sigurd agreed before offering, “Astrid?” the king laughed before shaking his head in refusal stated, “What the one who has been sleeping with some of my men? No way” “It has to be Torvi then, she is the only unwed lady of standing. Odin knows when she will return from raiding” Sigurd sighed until Erik stated, “Lagertha...” “She is my wife!” Ragnor snapped, “And Ernak’s lover. He will butcher everyone to get to her if you agree to this!” “It will bring stability. Ragnor will marry the king’s sister unifying both kingdoms” “It could work...” Sigurd contemplated, “Ernak would **** you all when he returns” Ivar spat and agreeing Alfhild replied, “You promised him Lagertha” Erik didn’t care instead urging for the village’s safety stated, “The village comes first” “If you do this then when Ernak commands it, it will be war against your fragile clan” Ivar spat clenching his axe tighter than before, “We have to Ivar. I’m aware of what will happen and accept the consequences to my actions. That’s why I will ensure four things for when he returns. One, Ragnor will be ready to take over as Jarl, two no repercussions for what Ernak does to me, three my final thoughts and how I want my burial to take place and four my apologies to him even if it means nothing to him” “Or we can fight” Ivar barked, “Fight for him, fight for Lagertha and when his family return; the true gods, we can drive their army back into the sea.” The king nodded ordering his men to stand down as he offered an further truce, “I’ll give you time to consider this. If you do not corporate then we’ll destroy you.”