Chapter 436 Holmgang!
Back in Rogaland, Tyrgvve was offered the best service that he would find in the Kingdom despite his accusation of the attempt on his life.
Tryggve was satisfied with this move because he now had the perfect chance to have one of the Gardsson under him.
He had no plans of executing the younger brother but rather used him as leverage in the future.
A bargaining chip to say the least but the men he was in cahoot with were unaware of this move of his.
"King Trygvve, King Rugalf has requested to see you," A Viking of Rogaland said, they were keeping an eye out for him.
Tryggve's guards tried to escort their King but the Vikings hailing from Rogaland stood in their way.
"He wishes to see you alone," The man reiterated and this had Tryggve questioning just what the King could have wanted.
"I see…" Trygvve responded.
"Enjoy yourselves, men, I will be right back," Tyrgvve responded as his men slowly lowered themselves back to their chairs.
King Rugalf wasn't even in the throne room but rather, he was outside with multiple people gathered.
Tyrgvve was confused about what the man had in store for him and questioned why there were so many people in question.
"King Rugalf, it seems you have prepared a show for me?" Tyrgvve joked; he saw an empty chair beside Rugalf and assumed it was for him.
He ascended the steps to take it but the Vikings protecting their King interrupted by gripping their swords.
Estrid soon appeared and sat in the unoccupied chair, this brought about a change in Trygvve's body language as the man that he had accused of attempting to take his life appeared behind him.
Trygvve turned around and saw that it was him, Fr?ygard and he had a sword unsheathed in hand but the next person that came out was the man that had accused him of the attempt on his life.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"What is the meaning of this, King Rugalf?" Tyrgvve asked and Rugalf just smiled.
"King Trygvve, you have accused my brother of an attempt on your life with this man as your witness, correct?" Rugalf asked sternly.
"That is correct King Rugalf, we had this conversation yesterday or do you think I'm a liar?" Trygvve asked and Rugalf shook his head.
"Not at all, King Tyrgvve, I'm surprised my brother would attempt something so ridiculous considering he had been incapacitated at the time you claim the attempt was carried out…" Rugalf wasn't bothered by the accusation but the fact that he didn't try to deny it either was surprising.
Trygvve expected him to confront him with solid evidence but there was nothing that could disprove his claim so he was in the clear.
"And on that note, my brother has exercised his right and has challenged you to a trial by combat, Holmgang," Rugalf said.
A Holmgang allowed anyone offended, to challenge the other party to Holmgang regardless of their differences in social status. This could be a matter of honour, ownership or property, demand of restitution or debt, legal disagreement or intention to help a wife or relative or avenge a friend.
"King Rugalf, do you wish to insult me?" Trygvve asked because he knew there was no way this young warrior would be a match for him so why did he think challenging him would make a difference?
Or did Rugalf truly believe that this man possessed the skills to best him in a one-on-one duel?
"Very we-!" Trygvve was cut short as Fr?ygard got on one knee, lowered his head and raised his sword.
"And in this challenge…" Rugalf said as he got up to his feet and descended the stairs, it had been a long time since anyone had seen him fight or even pick up a sword.
He had his brothers do that in his stead but they weren't here right now.
"My younger brother has chosen me as his warrior," Rugalf said and Estrid smiled the moment her father said this.
The smug look on Tyrgvve's face changed with that announcement because this was an accusation that had no concrete evidence except the words of a warrior that could have easily been bought.
This was a way to settle that dispute that was approved by the gods themselves so he had no reason to refuse.
Trygvve looked visibly shaken because this wasn't something he had predicted, no one predicted that they would see King Rugalf pick up a sword yet it was happening.
This only increased the crowd's excitement despite being shocked by the allegations laid on Fr?ygard, they knew he wasn't capable of such due to his reputation as a good-for-nothing.
Rugalf walked past him and picked up the sword offered to him by his brother, the gigantic man then looked at Trygvve.
"Do you accept the Holmgang?" Rugalf asked, he knew what rejecting it would do especially to a man of his status.
He would lose any shred of respect from even his warriors as this was the biggest shame any man could tolerate, there were only two options.
Accept and fight Rugalf or reject and lose his honour, he wasn't going to lose that honour because that was equivalent to the death of a warrior.
Trygvve gritted his teeth but he knew he had no other choice as he unsheathed his sword.
"I accept the Holmgang," Tyrgvve responded and just like that, the stage was set for two Kings to cross blades.
-
Back in Kattegat, it was unknown who the person in Ulf's ear was but Ulf was gaining some perspective on where he stood.
The respect he had as a warrior was being taken for granted, he was slowly becoming a laughingstock.
He knew he needed to let out his stress in some way but he knew that he had to be careful as to how he does it.
Ulf couldn't believe how far he had fallen, he had done everything right yet he remained a shadow in Ragnar's path.
There was no respect in his name, the only significance he got was being the brother of the Great Ragnar Lothbrok and it was beginning to weigh on him.
The mission to Iceland that Askild wanted to send him on remained shrouded in mystery.
This was the only reason he didn't join the attack on England yet Askild was vague about it.
"Are you okay, my lord?" A woman called out behind him, wrapping her hands around him.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Not now whore," Ulf said, the sexual gratification he got wasn't enough
He needed something far more intense, something that gave him that edge.
He needed control, the woman's hands slowly left his body but Ulf turned around.
This wasn't the typical whore, she was quite expensive and this meant that not every man had access to her.
A relief to say the least but this only made Ulf angry, if everyone didn't have access to her, did she think she was better than them? Better than him?
"Do you know who I am?" Ulf asked out of the blue and the lady was surprised.
She had the body of what one would call a thick woman in modern times, her breasts were huge accompanied by an ass that jiggles with every step she took despite her stomach being on the slightly chubby side.
"Of course, you're the great Ulf, the brother of Ki-!" She was interrupted by the hand on her neck.
"Say his name and I will fucking kill you!" Ulf barked, he hated this and before he knew it, he found his hand slowly constricting around her neck.
This would have been hot on a normal day but with the look in his eyes, the woman realized her life was in danger.
"I'm Ulf! I'm a great warrior! The greatest warrior that this world will see!" Ulf gave himself some affirmation but his dick hardened with this.
The airflow from the woman was slowly getting blocked, she tapped his hand to alert him of this but Ulf wasn't listening.
He took out his dick and slid it in her, only tightening his grip around her neck.
The woman began to dig her nails in an attempt to break free but this didn't work.
Ulf began to fuck her in that state, this was what he was looking for, that feeling of power.
"That is right! I'm a great man!" Ulf said as he began to thrust even harder and the woman's hand slowly became weaker and weaker, her eyes losing the life it had and this was the very thing that made Ulf bust right in her.
Ulf's grip loosened momentarily as he came and this allowed her to breathe, she began to cough aggressively and knew she had to leave.
She managed to kick Ulf off her and tried to flee but he grabbed her by the wrist.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going? I paid for you, whore!" Ulf said, throwing her back on the bed but there was something about her resisting him that he couldn't understand.
Why did he like it so much? It was simple, Ulf had lost control of his own life and having that control over another person gave him a level of satisfaction that he didn't even think possible.