071

We were sitting by one of the many fires that had been lit, a sheep was roasting on the spit that was to be our supper. Apart from me, One-Eyed Arne, Floki, Rollo ... Sven was sitting with us, a young boy no more than 17 years old ... who everyone called Pussy. It was his first raid and he did his best, but it's hard to get the approval of the older warriors. I overheard their conversation with amusement, and after a while I was drawn into their exchange.

- Jarl Ulf, why is everyone calling me pussy?

- Because you don't have a beard Sven, and if you don't have a beard, you probably don't have a dick either.

- I HAVE A DICK...

-Sven, this is what the beard is for, so you don't have to say it.

The people I sent to clear the area returned a few hours later. They brought some loot and slaves.

I ordered the men to be killed and the women to be kept. Several women went to each of the boats. For the next few hours, before we reach the abbey, my men will be entertained on board.

Entire Whitby Abbey was already on fire when we left the shore ... we headed north, to our next target. Hartlepool Abbey, was some 70 kilometers away, it shouldn't take more than 4 hours to get there.

It did not take much effort to conquer the abbey ... the treasures were transferred to the ship and the monks were ordered to be killed ... although I did not look at our loot, both places were rich, and it was only the tip of the iceberg. My next destination was Durham, 30 kilometers northeast.

We left the ruins and the fire behind us, every settlement, every house ... even a single cottage fell into our prey. We took most of the civilians with us, unless they were too old or too young… in one day we captured two abbeys and one settlement. Hundreds of people died from our blades, and as many were in our captivity.

According to chroniclers, one attack on Lindisfarne caused shock and horror among the people of England ... I was going to make an even greater impression.

After a few hours of rest, we headed towards Hexham Abbey ...

- Ulf, what are we doing next?

- On my map there are two more places worth visiting ... the monastery on the island and the castle of the king of these lands.

- Ulf, you want to attack the castle?

- Ragnar, we will not attack the castle ... we will ask their king to pay us, and in return we will sail away.

- Is he so weak? He won't try to kill us?

- Of course he will try ... ehh I have to change, all my clothes are covered in blood ... everything is sticky ... and how is Thora?

- Better, but still not fully recovered from the birth... but I have two healthy strong sons.

- We can leave this place now, the roof of the abbey will collapse in a moment ... and we still have to get to the ships as soon as possible.

I looked back, the flames added romanticism to the scenery, gentle gusts of wind swayed the bodies of nineteen monks hung from the trees... On the way back we came across a few more buildings, but they looked abandoned in a hurry, it is possible that the inhabitants had noticed us earlier or had seen the flames.

The next day we got to the beach, where our ships were located. Unfortunately, we had to take a one-day rest, since our arrival to England, most of the time we marched from place to place or attacked when we were already in this place ...

After a few hours of sailing, we saw the island and the monastery ... but we too were noticed, we heard the ringing of the bell. We came to the beach, some of my people stayed to guard the slaves, the rest went to the monastery.

The wooden gate was closed, but a stronger kick was enough and it opened in front of us. The place looked deserted, geese and chickens walking freely, but there was no sign of people.

I headed towards the chapel, the door was closed, but through it you could hear many voices praying in Latin ...

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.

Pater noster, qui es in caelis, sanctificetur nomen tuum, adveniat regnum tuum, fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo et in terra.

Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie;

et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris, et ne nos inducas in tentationem, sed libera nos a malo. Amen.

Breaking down the door was no problem ... the moment the door fell to the ground, we heard the screams of frightened monks. I walked in with a few people, and we saw twenty or thirty men kneeling on the ground ... at first glance, I didn't see a familiar face here.

- You know what to do with them ... make them feel they are dying.

I took Ragnar and One-Eyed Arne with me. We checked every building that we passed. The monks hid under the beds, one hid in a trunk ... I also saw Rollo taking one monk out of the toilet.

We went with Ragnar and One-Eyed Arne to another chapel, there were several treasures ... we also saw a young monk, maybe twenty years old.

- Please don't kill me ... don't kill me.

Ragnar and Arne were surprised, the monk spoke our language ... I knew about Athelstan's existence.

Ragnar asked where the monk knows our language from, the answer was the same as in the series. Athelstan once traveled with his teacher in northern countries and tried to convert Danes to Christianity.

- Ragnar, we'll take him with us. He'll help us keep the slaves disciplined.

I wasn't sure whether to kill him or spare him, but I still have a lot of time for this decision.

As we left the chapel ... this sight terrified our new prison. Separated bodies of monks ... hands and feet lay on the ground. One of them without a leg was crawling towards us.

I grabbed my hatchet and finished off the crawling monk ... blood spurted onto my clothes ... fuck ... I don't have another change ... and I can't meet the King ... looking like a homeless guy. When we will return to the ships, I will give my clothes to wash, to one of the slaves.

Lindisfarne has been conquered.