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(Rollo / Trygve / One-eyed / Torstein POV)

- We attack at night when they will not expect it and try to catch Ecbert and Offa alive.(Rollo)

- There are only two thousand of us, Ecbert and Offa have four or five thousand warriors, we have the advantage of surprise, but it will not be easy fight. (One-eyed)

- Ulf and Leif, when they see us attacking, will open the gates of Jorvik and attack the English from the other side ... so there will be at least three thousand of us. (Rollo)

- You think too much ... if there are a thousand or two, it doesn't change anything, and since Ulf became King, we haven't lost any major battle and our bellies have grown gold and fat. (Torstein)

- Ulf is very lucky, but you can't just rely on luck. (Rollo)

- Maybe ... or maybe the Gods just like him. Remember also all the places he showed us, so it's not just luck. You used to drink all the silver you had, now you won't even pick up a coin when it's on the ground... and it's only thanks to Ulf. (Torstein)

- Enough. We waste time talking about irrelevant things, but what is our plan? I suggest using archers, even though it will be night, but we can shoot at the enemy camp anyway, we always hit someone. (Trygve)

- We will divide our men into two armies, one will attack from the south, the other will attack from the east, and we will do as Trygve suggested. We attack in two days, get your men ready, Ulf has entrusted me with this task and I don't want mistakes. (Rollo)

(End POV)

It's been a few days since Rollo left Jorvik... I have ordered more control over the slaves, and most of them have remained in permanent confinement. I also introduced prohibition on drinking alcohol, although only partially. You could drink it, but only in small amounts, when someone was caught completely drunk, the penalty for him was flogging. Since the attack on the Englishmen was to be launched at night, Jorvik looked like a deserted city during the day, most of the people were asleep, and only the defenders on the walls were on the alert at all times.

It was after midnight when one of the soldiers came running to my room.

- Lord, I think it's started, something is happening in the enemy camp. (Soldier)

- Finally, let Leif know, I'm going to the walls. (Ulf)

After a few minutes I was on the walls and I was trying to see what was happening in the enemy camp ... unfortunately there were few fires there, the only thing I noticed in their light were people running around and that someone had fallen.

- Silence !!! I'm trying to hear something. (Ulf)

I silenced the people on the walls ... tried to listen to the sounds coming from that direction, even holding my breath as if it would help ... I wasn't sure. The confusion in the enemy camp could have been caused by many things, but it could have been an attack as well.

If this is an attack and I don't come to the rescue, the English will probably win. If it's not an attack and I take the troops out of Jorvik, the English will win too.

I wondered what to do next, I was not afraid to lose or even die. I have experienced these things in several lifetimes before. Even if I lose to the English now, in the future I will have the opportunity to defeat them ... but one thing was certain, if I died today, in a few weeks Lagertha, Hild and my children will die ... the old king is dead, long live the new king, I'm sure someone will take my throne.

Leif joined me on the wall ... and I knew what to do. - What we do? (Leif)

- You will take all the people, in Jorvik you will leave only minimal defense, we will open the gate and you will lead our people to attack. (Ulf)

- Are you staying in town? (Leif)

- No, but I'm not going with the army either. I'll go alone and try to find Ecbert and Offa ... If you've got a King in your hand, his army doesn't matter. (Ulf)

It was a big risk, but it gave me the most options. If it's not an attack by Rollo and the others, Leif will have a whole army of English on him, and I will have the opportunity to catch Ecbert and Offa, and if everything goes wrong I will always have the option of escaping.

- I understand, may the Gods favor us. (Leif)

- Don't get killed, my friend ... and kill as many of those bastards as possible. (Ulf)

- How do you rate our chances? (Leif)

- There are more Englishmen than us, they hate us and they will fight fiercely ... our chances are quite good. (Ulf)

- To die or to win? (Leif)

- And is there any difference between them? (Ulf)

I consider Leif one of the few friends I have, and he is one of the few people I trust ... maybe he will die in this battle, but everyone will die one day, if his death helps us win, I am able to accept it.

The city felt like a hive, people were running, grabbing weapons, putting on armor ...

- Prepare to fight, open the gates !!! (Ulf)

Moments later, the gates of Jorvik opened for the first time in two months and our army moved on. I mingled with the crowd of warriors, then slowed my pace and stayed a little back, then completely detached from them.

Finding Ecbert and Offa on the battlefield will not be easy, but whoever plays high must win.