75 At Sea

"Lord, what are you going to do now?" (Arend Dickmann)

Captain Dickmann was surprised by my order to search for a Danish ship, expressed his concern, but obeyed anyway.

"The Danes are bored so I'll keep them busy." (MC)

We didn't have to wait long and we saw a ship on the horizon, only after checking through the telescope we were able to confirm that it was a Danish ship of the line... It was beautiful and dangerous, it also gave the impression of being new or well kept, sides were packed with cannons like shops on a Black Friday.

We swam closer, signaling peace intentions, despite the permission from the Danes, they remained vigilant ... so did I when I looked at the barrel of a 48-pound cannon aimed at us.

"My name is Magnus Carlsson, I am a merchant from Stockholm!" (MC)

"You don't know how to behave at sea?!" (Danish Admiral)

I didn't know the marine etiquette very well, but it made me more credible in my role.

"I am a merchant, not a sailor ..." (MC)

A bit awkward, but I explained to the admiral who commanded the ship that we were in the south and saw hundreds of boats going towards Zealand. At first he did not believe it, but by adding a few, seemingly inconspicuous details, I finally managed to convince him. As the Danes sailed south I couldn't remember the admiral's name, but the name of the ship was Stora Sofia (Grand Sofia), and I wanted that ship to myself... Although my chances of getting it are not great.

"We'll wait a bit and head to Zealand." (MC)

"Lord, if the Danes don't find these boats in the south, they'll come back and look for us." (Arend Dickmann)

"They will find them and it will take them some time to sink 120 boats ... The sea is on our side." (MC)

Arend Dickmann just nodded, and then returned to the sailors... Generalissimo Albrecht von Wallenstein and his infantry will have a hard night, but at least our loading will be safer.

(Danish Admiral / POV)

"This merchant did not lie, I do not know how many there are, but for sure dozens, maybe even more than a hundred ... I did not think I would say it one day, but once the Swede was useful to something." (Danish Admiral)

"As soon as we deal with the Empire, the King will probably claim the Swedish throne. What orders, Admiral?" (Danish Captain)

"The king also plans to deal with the Poles, I suggested to him an unexpected attack on Gdańsk and the sinking of their small fleet... Orders? First we notify the rest of our fleet in the area, and then we bathe the imperials." (Danish Admiral)

(End POV)

It was just beginning to dawn when Captain Dickmann informed me that we were approaching land.

"Do you know these waters?" (MC)

"A few years ago I was transporting the sea from Gdańsk to Lübeck, and from Lübeck we took other goods and sailed north." (Arend Dickmann)

"Where will it be best to land?" (MC)

"I do not know what your intentions Lord, but the best place to land it is a few kilometers south from Vejby, to Copenhagen it will not be more than 60 kilometers and lake Arresø is also nearby" (Arend Dickmann)

I have seen maps of Denmark in this and previous life and I can guess where is this place that Captain is talking about, I personally would have preferred more to the south, but the Danish fleet was still a threat... I patted the captain on the back.

"Our life in your hands." (MC)

I immediately informed my men that we were going to land soon and they had to prepare ... I looked over the side of the ship into the surface of the water and pondered my further plans. Getting to the islands was difficult but doable. However, it wasn't the only problem on my way... there was still Copenhagen.

I didn't have cannons with me, so capturing the city was out of the question, I could besiege it, but it also didn't make sense. Food could be delivered to the city by sea, sooner my people would die of hunger or boredom. Christian IV was able to take refuge behind the thick walls of the city and laugh at my futile efforts.

"Lord, what's on your head?" (Ilya)

Only now I noticed that Ilya was standing next to me ... I also heard the sound of vomiting. I looked in that direction, it turned out to be Saddat.

"Tatars are not used to the sea." (Ilya)

"I know, but I was below deck and Saddat looked normal." (MC)

"... but now he sees the waves." (Ilya)

It was funny that a nation that had been taught to ride horses since childhood and spent half its life on the horse's back, enduring the little waves of the Baltic so badly.

"You asked what I was thinking ... I wonder how to get a snail to come out of its shell on its own." (MC)

"Snail?" (Ilya)

"Christian IV, the Danish King ... Copenhagen is a city we won't be able to conquer." (MC)

The more I thought about it, the more I was convinced that I had no other choice ... it is not the Crown or the throne that makes the King, but the kingdom over which he rules. If we deprive him of his kingdom, he will have to fight us ... or he will only have ruins and ghosts.

I walked over to Saddat and patted him on the back.

"You look pale. You should eat something ... the smell of the sea air, the gentle swinging of the waves ... up, down ..." (MC)

Saddat turned a new shade of green on his face and vomited again ... a sour smell spread around him.

"Lord, we'll be ashore in no more than half an hour." (Arend Dickmann)

"Very well, as soon as we unload everything, go back to Gdańsk immediately." (MC)

"But how are you going to come back?" (Arend Dickmann)

"Alive, I hope." (MC)