146

A few days later we saw the coast of the island of Rugiia. I guess it should be warned my people about keeping a certain etiquette.

- We don't murder, we don't ra.pe, we don't rob ... We came here in peace. (Ulf)

I was convinced that our arrival would not be positively received by the local tribes, given the history, more than ten years ago Rügen was the main place visited by Scandinavians, just like Thailand in the twentieth century.

- Will we be safe there? (Lagertha)

- When we were sailing to the Kingdom of the Franks, you didn't ask about it. (Ulf)

- Now we're sailing with the children ... (Lagertha)

- Don't worry, they won't hurt the kids ... though they might try to kill us. (Ulf)

I was kidding, of course, customs varied from tribe to tribe. The Polabian Slavs ... were naive, not to say stupid. Breaking a given word seemed unthinkable to them, as well as breaking the law of hospitality ... and that led them to their fall... Less than two hours later we landed on the shore of the island.

- One more thing ... I'll talk to them. (Ulf)

Then we began to carefully move further into the island.

- Dad, my legs hurt. Are We There Yet? (Yrsa)

- My legs hurt too ... (Revna)

- And me ... (Arne)

- How it is, in Kattegat you run around the house and the neighborhood for half a day and no problem ... now you've been walking for 20 minutes and your legs hurt? (Ulf)

Just like their mother, when I was sitting in the room shouting with all my might for her to serve me a beer, Lagertha is was nowhere to be found, but when I quietly and discreetly made an appointment with Floki or One-Eye for a trip to the inn ... she would appear immediately.

It didn't stop with their complaints, and after a few minutes all three wanted me to carry them.

Unfortunately, they outnumbered me and had Lagertha's support ...

- Faster, Faster Dad ... (Yrsa)

- Lord, some settlement ahead looks big. (Scout)

Then he told me exactly what he saw. Although I was not 100% sure that what he described was the main temple and village, no records of this area from the 8th century have survived ... the size of this settlement could indicate Arkona.

I decided that I would go to check myself ... after walking less than a kilometer I got to a place from which I could observe this settlement... Contrary to what the scout said, it wasn't big, or it wasn't big by my standards. Several thousand people lived in and around Kattegat, including slaves. It did not look like more than 1000 or 1200 people lived here.

I left my hiding place and went towards the entrance to the settlement, it had no walls or palisade, it was only surrounded by a few meters of earth embankment. There were two spear-armed guards standing at its entrance, and they immediately stopped me.

- Who you are? (Guard)

Though I understood what he asked me, I had some trouble answering him. I have not had many opportunities to use the language of these tribes. At first my mother spoke to me in this language, but as a child I did not have the opportunity to talk, the next person was Żywia, and then the occasional Slavic slaves in Kattegat.

I spoke very slowly and clearly, which might look like I was an idiot.

- Take ... me ... to ... your ... Prince ... or ... Żerca. (Ulf)

The guards looked at me as if I was a moron, which was not surprising. However, they remained calm. Their reaction could be quite different, but I didn't look like a beggar, I gave the impression of being rich or important. An armor, a sword ... this alone proved that they were dealing with whom it was better not to have a dispute until they found out who he was.

- Who you are? What do you want? The Prince and Żerca will not meet you. (Guard)

I took a deep breath, trying not to show my irritation. What was not easy, I was irritated at first by the children, and now by the two goat sons guarding the entrance.

- My name ... is Ulf ... Erickson ... I'm ... King of Norway and either ... fuck it. (Ulf)

I punched the guard who was standing closer, when the other one came to help him, I greeted him with a kick to the testicle, and when he fell to the ground ... quick right straight and knockout. I felt better immediately ... there was a risk that the people of this village would blame me for beating their people, but my sanity is more important... I don't have that much patience, I turned and headed towards where my people were left. After a few minutes I got there. I gathered my soldiers.

- Changing plans, killing, robbing and rap.ing remains an open option. (Ulf)

- What happened? (Lagertha)

- Nothing, I wanted to come in, they wouldn't let me in... (Ulf)

- And what happened next? (Lagertha)

- I said goodbye culturally, I returned here. (Ulf)

- Then why do you have blood on your hand? (Lagertha)

I pretended not to hear the question, signaled my people to get ready to march.

- Wait here, when everything is cleared up, I'll send someone to pick you up. (Ulf)

It didn't take long for my army to reach the settlement. We left the forest and stood about 150 meters from the earth embankment. The alarm was immediately raised in the settlement, the Slavic warriors slowly began to gather ... they had a slight advantage in numbers. There were three men at the front of their "army". The first of them, judging by the clothing and possession of a sword, was probably a prince or a son of a prince. On his left was Żerca in white robes, and on the right ... I know this forbidden face.

- BOJAN ?! (Ulf)

If it's him, then there is still a chance to avoid bloodshed ... I looked at my hand, wiped it on my clothes ... to avoid more bloodshed.