A new era was about to set in; a week had passed since the conquest of Vestfold.
Peace and normalcy slowly returned under Ragnar's rule, but Askild remained to see if they could cart any valuables away to help strengthen and rebuild Kattegat's army, as they had lost far too many men.
But while searching for these treasures, Askild found a map of a new land.
A land he had never heard about, he had only heard rumors about such a place, but this map confirmed it existed. This place was known as Engla-Land.
Askild could not believe that the world was this vast, he had heard of Hagen's exploration, but it was to poverty-stricken or barren lands that could not benefit them.
But Askild had to confirm the authenticity of this map, and he carried it back to him to Kattegat.
Ragnar stayed back, but his sons would follow the majority back to Kattegat; Skarde had regained consciousness, but he had lost the usage of his eyes.
This effectively meant he could not continue to be a warrior, but Ragnar had found a use for him.
Skarde stayed behind with him as his right-hand man, he planned to support Ragnar as King.
-
"King Askild, are you sure you are fine with this?" Erik asked Askild, but Askild remained quiet, staring at the map in his hand with a sickening smile.
The moon was hidden under the covers of the dense clouds; darkness was what they knew.
The waters were gentle because they were exiting Vestfold and did not risk going against the tides. Hagen had abandoned his inventions. He felt he wasted both his time and energy before, as they did not even use the designs Hagenhad created, and he found out that the only reason Askild allowed him was to give Vestfold a false sense of security and time.
"I have something greater. I always thought about conquering Norway, but to think bigger kingdoms exist. Erik, things are about to get a lot more interesting." Askild said.
Ulf sulked in a corner; he did not know the use of him watching Birger because even Birger could not give him what he promised.
"Ulf Lothbrok, you look terrible…." BIrger said, sitting beside him, and Ulf quickly rearranged his face and posture.
"What are you talking about?" Ulf said, and Birger, still behind his worn-out helmet.
"I have not forgotten my promise to you, but I must do one more thing…." Birger muttered.
Ulf felt a sense of relief, he thought that Birger was deceiving him, and he very well may be, but these words were like a lifeline for him now.
He bit his teeth into it and held onto it; he was not letting go, but what was this thing he wanted?
"What are you talking about?" Ulf asked Birger, trying his best not to get carried away with his thoughts.
"Ulf, I am going to kill Askild on this ship, and I need your help," Birger said, looking forward.
Ulf was surprised because there was no way he had the strength to kill Askild, and it was also impossible to sneak up on Askild as everyone was already wary of him.
"What are you talking about? You cannot kill him! Not here, not now!" Ulf said, his face visibly distressed.
"I am not the one that is going to kill him, Ulf. You are." Birger said sternly and with certainty.
Ulf looked shocked, but who could blame him, considering what he had just heard?
-
Kattegat had not made any announcement regarding Ulrik, but he was still under arrest.
He had not been tried; it had been over a week.
Liv was also out of sight; no one had seen her, and Garda was still missing as a search party was not deployed to look for her yet.
They could not afford to weaken the defenses of Kattegat by looking for one outsider, a person with no power in terms of influence.
From a political standpoint, this was the right choice as Garda's life was as insignificant as they came, but Lagertha knew this was Liv's choice; it could not have been.
Someone was controlling her, and they needed Askild back more than ever; they had heard rumors about Vestfold falling, but the information was all over the place.
This could be why Fredrik had not done anything drastic with Ulrik because Askild knew his wife well as she was a very compassionate woman, so there was no way she would order the execution of Ulrik without being influenced.
Lagertha was waiting for her boys and her man, she wanted to tell Ragnar about what Erik had done, and she was confident it would result in Ragnar fighting Erik. There was no way that Ragnar would let this go; which sane man would?
Karl desperately tried to get in touch with Liv, but everything proved futile. He was sitting on an empty grassy field, secluded from the crowded city of Kattegat.
He needed to be alone; he needed his peace of mind, and he needed to think.
Karl needed so many things but could not get them out of his head.
"Fuck, what do I do?" Karl cussed out and always put up a calm exterior, but in reality, he was scared of what might happen to Ulrik.
"Hello, old man." Someone greeted him, and he jerked his head in the voice's direction because no one was supposed to know of this location.
It was Tiril, the right-hand woman of Herfjötur.
"O-Oh! You startled me! I apologize for my tardiness!" Karl quickly got up like a gentleman.
"Why do you do that?" Tiril asked, and Karl looked confused by this question.
"Do what?" Karl questioned, trying to understand the nature of her question and avoiding her eyes.
"Why do you pretend like you have it all…." Tiril stopped mid-conversation, and Karl felt a warm liquid spill on his face.
"...all togetzzza," Tiril slobbered her words, and Karl had to look up to see what was happening, but what he saw shocked him; an arrow was sticking out from her head.
Her face changed from calm to terrified right before dropping to the ground dead.
"TIRIL!!" Karl screamed.
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