104 100

Three weeks later, the time for the first tests of the trebuchet came, 150 meters from the island I had one of the older ships set up, it was supposed to serve as a target ... I used a 150 pound stone for the missile ... it was a spectacular failure, I actually hit the sea, but about thirty meters behind the ship. I was not sure if it was because of my lack of skill in shooting or something I screwed up during the construction, to be sure I had to make more test shots.

The next days passed, the next attempts to sink the target failed ... I gained skill in shooting and aiming, but the trebuchet was not a surgical tool, I was not going to use it to shoot the mosquito's testicles, but to destroy walls and gates, therefore I accepted some deviations. I was sure that I would hit the city.

I was sitting by the fire and enjoying the silence when I saw a boat approaching the shore ... it was one of those days.

Lagertha, Hild and the kids were on the boat ... I was a bit surprised that Hild took Bjorn with her, it wasn't particularly cold probably not more than a few degrees below zero, but Bjorn was only three months old.

I took everyone home, gathered some snow into a pot and set it on the fire, I was going to make some soup, meanwhile I warmed up the milk for my children, and Lagertha and Hild got a cup of mulled wine.

- What happened that made you all come here? Did you miss me? (Ulf)

- Hild wanted you to see Bjorn, and the second thing was a priest from Upssala showed up in Kattegat. (Lagertha)

- Let Erik choose nine slaves, some animals and send them to Upssala. They will be sacrificed, no problem. (Ulf)

- The priest said you must come in person, you are now the King. (Lagertha)

Another headache, I didn't feel like going to Sweden right now ... but in a few years as part of the Scandinavian conquest, well even the King sometimes has to do what he doesn't want.

Some time later the soup was ready ... Bjorn was the only one who had his own provisions with him ... a lucky guy.

After lunch, Revna and Arne went to bed, and Yrsa and Lagertha were challenging me to a snowball fight ... I wasn't going to take prisoners.

When they threw snowballs at me, I endured it patiently and took the blows like a man ... until the time for revenge came. I made a very large snowball and chose my wife as my goal ... Lagertha looked worse than the Brazilian national team after the match with Germany. I remember that match as it is today... The Germans haven't been shooting that well since 1939. Lagertha capitulated, as did the defense of Brazil.

Yrsa was still there, but I wasn't going to be cruel to my daughter, I caught her quickly and threw her into a drift of fresh snow ... There can be only one winner.

Upon returning home, Lagertha changed Yrse into dry clothes and put her to sleep. When the children were asleep, we decided to play as adults too ... I hope that it will not end up with another pregnancy.

In the evening, a boat from Kattegat came for them and took my family to the mainland ... I usually complain about the children, but sometimes even I need such relaxation, and tomorrow I will be able to go back to inventing and creating new tools of death ... maybe the children are for inspiration for me.

(King Ecbert / Ealdorman Eadric POV)

- Lord, it happened. Prince Ecgberht is dead. Officially, during the hunt, he followed the wolf, ran onto the frozen river and the ice broke under it. The prince could not be saved. (Ealdorman Eadric)

- What really happened? (King Ecbert)

- The man we bribed threw the tied Prince into the river, there are no wounds on the Prince's body so the story with the wolf is more credible. (Ealdorman Eadric)

- Good, but this man has to die. Of course, I doubt he would reveal this secret to anyone, but he is just a lousy traitor anyway ... maybe someone will attack him and rob him, or he will get into a fight and accidentally die ... decide for yourself, but do it quickly. (King Ecbert)

- Lord, what are you going to do now? (Ealdorman Eadric)

- I need to inform Princess Judith of the tragedy that happened, then plan the mourning and have a funeral ... and then announce her and my son's engagement. Her mother entrusted her to my care, so as her guardian I will take care of her future. (King Ecbert)

- Lord, I also have news from Merci and the North. Pagans captured several cities and settlements in the Kingdom of Mercia, but there was no fighting between them and King Offa's armies. I also know that pagans occupy the city of Eoforwic and now call it Jorvik. The spies also reported that the Scots from the north had moved south, occupying part of the lands in the Kingdom of Northumbria. (Ealdorman Eadric)

- We need to know more about these heathens, send our men as merchants to this city ... What did they call this city? (King Ecbert)

- Jorvik, Lord. (Ealdorman Eadric)

- Yes, to Jorvik. King Offa probably paid them to leave his lands, which wasn't stupid. Silver can always be earned, but if he loses his army ... King Offa is vigilant, he knows I'm waiting until he makes a mistake. As for the Scots, nothing to worry about right now ... maybe they've taken the land, but that doesn't mean they can keep the land. (King Ecbert)

(End POV)

My stay in isolation was coming to an end, I did less than I wanted, but also more than I expected ... Unfortunately, each day brought me closer to my trip to Sweden ... luckily, they had not invented Surströmming yet and my stomach does not have to worry about a strange Swedish food.