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The defenders did not waste any time and before the gate was opened, they erected several barricades behind it. They were not particularly difficult to overcome, but walking through them could cost many of my lives.

- Point the ballista at the walls and fire the harpoons, if we can't get through this gate, we'll make a new one. (Ulf)

Making an entrance in the wall will not be easy, but as long as I have time, it is worth trying.

- Crossbowmen and archers get ready. You gotta kill every son of a bitch who put his head out of the gate. (Ulf)

Now it was only necessary to wait, I also sent a few people to scout just in case. Their task was to check whether the enemy was not preparing any surprises on the other side of the settlement. It was rather unlikely, but it didn't hurt to be careful.

Half an hour later there was a small breach in the wall, only one person could pass through it ... I ordered my people to continue working on increasing the breach ... it took another half hour to achieve the intended goal.

- What are we doing now? (Leif)

- We are attacking, half of the people on the breach, half on the gate ... to prepare the defense of the breach, they had to weaken the defense of the gate. Also tell people to use shields and heads. If the situation in any place is more difficult than we assume, withdraw, but keep order. (Ulf)

It turned out that King Halfdan sent more men to the breach, leaving the gate less guarded ... a good barge doesn't need many defenders, but this one was set up in a hurry and had many weaknesses.

The fights lasted several minutes, eventually the opponent decided to withdraw, they did not intend to sacrifice their lives to defend the already lost position. They headed towards the breach, intending to join the rest of the defenders.

- Split into two groups, you will hit opponent from behind and from the side at the same time. Let a few crossbowmen try to climb the rooftops and control the battlefield ... you must make it easier for the people fighting at the breach to enter the settlement.

I gave more orders and grabbed the sword myself and set off with the group that was supposed to attack the defenders from the rear.

With my men in position and attacking, the defense began to collapse after a few minutes, the final advantage we had when the rest of my men managed to break into the settlement. Crossbowmen who managed to climb the roofs took a deadly toll among the defenders ... one shot, one bolt, one victim.

In all this confusion, I struck my sword blindly, using all my strength I broke the shields of my opponents, cut off their hands and split their skulls... The enemy was before me, my allies were next to me and I didn't need to know any more ... I felt like I used to fight in the Ottoman Empire, the fight was wonderful and they almost killed me ... almost.

At one point a man stood in front of me, he was not more than twenty years old ... probably even less. He tried to hit me with an ax, but before he did, I closed the distance and stuck my sword in his stomach ... the sword went right through ... and then my hand followed.

The fighting stopped after an hour, but only because we did not take prisoners, even when people threw their weapons and gave up.

- We have captured the king, queen and his son. They're at the king's house now. (Leif)

- How's our losses? (Ulf)

- Not big, wounded and killed no more than forty. (Leif)

- That's good. Usually there are more victims when conquering cities or settlements... I take local slaves as my loot, all valuables for people to share. When the soldiers finish playing with the women, kill all the inhabitants, burn the settlement. (Ulf)

I went to the king's house. Halfdan was sitting wound on the floor, his wife Liv and son Gudrød were kneeling next to him. My people watched over them.

- Who you are? (Hafdan)

- Currently? King of most of Norway, my name is Ulf Erikson. (Ulf)

- Who made you king? (Halfdan)

I patted the hilt of my sword.

- He made and my strength me a king. Unfortunately, Norway is too small for so many rulers. (Ulf)

- You'll spare my son, he's only seven ... (Halfdan)

- Now he is seven years old, but he will grow up someday and will seek revenge ... I can't spare him, but I can kill him quickly, with almost no pain. Your wife doesn't need to worry either, I'm not a rap_ist. (Ulf)

I gave the king a moment to say goodbye to his wife and son and to reconcile with the gods.

"Lo there do I see my father.

Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers.

Lo there do I see the line of my people, back to the beginning.

Lo, they do call to me, they bid me take my place among them, in the halls of Gods, where the brave may live forever."

I could have my people do it, but I felt it wouldn't be fair ...

I grabbed the knife and slit Queen Liv's throat first, then stabbed the knife into her son's heart ... the light quickly faded in his eyes. The king stared at me with hatred and sadness in his eyes, but said nothing. I ordered my men to hold King Halfdan and I stripped him of his head with a blow of my sword.

- Take everything valuable, then burn this house. (Ulf)

Hours later, I sent messengers to the Jarls around, giving them an ultimatum, either they would surrender and swear to me, or they would face the same fate as King Halfdan.

My last target was the Kingdom of Alvheim ... as it was said in one movie ... "There can be only one".

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