The Son Of Ragnar

"Welcome King Ragnar! I have been looking forward to this day for the longest time!" King Asked did not hide his excitement.

The throne room had changed, it looked a lot more like the one in Vestfold, but even better.

He had multiple tables and chairs there, it looked like a dining hall and Askild was seated on one of the tables.

Ragnar looked at him right in the eyes, before smiling.

"King Askild. I would be lying if I said I did not miss you…" Ragnar said and Askild was surprised by this warm reception but he was not that gullible.

He knew this was an act, they were going to be allies so Ragnar had to play nice but he did not mind this.

"Come, old friend! We have quite a lot to catch up on!" Askild said, gesturing for Ragnar to come meet him at the table he was seated in.

The table had cups and drinks on it, Ragnar liked the reception he was getting so far but that was because he held all the cards in this negotiation.

He also knew what Askild was capable of, his little fight with the late Asmund was proof of it.

Ragnar sat but he avoided the alcohol because he was a lightweight despite Askild insisting he took just a sip.

"I have seen that Kattegat has changed since the last time I was here, there are a lot more security outposts," Ragnar said, staring at the cup in front of him, he had seen Askild take a sip from the same bottle he had poured from yet he was skeptical.

The death of Xenophanes followed a similar mechanic, Ragnar was never letting down his guard around him.

"Hahaha! Kingdoms thought us to be weak when you cut ties with us so I had no choice but to go on the defensive…" Askild was upfront with his answer, he had no reason to lie.

"Leave it to King Askild to show them who's boss!" Ragnar exclaimed excitedly.

"Hahahah!" Askild laughed his ass out, but that laugh soon dissipated as his face turned stern.

"You can drop the act, Ragnar, I do not remember your bloodlust ever being this potent," Askild said, taking a sip from the ale in front of him.

"I am glad you picked up on it, I was getting tired of it… I am here to see my wife and child, coming here was to  show respect for the rules that govern this land…"Ragnar said; this meeting was a pretend meeting.

Ragnar knew Askild needed a good public image and Ragnar came to Kattegat to meet him, he needed to be all smiles with him so people would truly know that an alliance was in place.

The word spread, and this was exactly what Askild needed at this point.

They sat together, drinking ale from the cup, Ragnar gave in and took a sip because why not.

He was nervous, he was excited to see Lagertha, and boy was he going to show her.

He stayed in the room with Askild for a few minutes, rounding up their discussion about how they planned to explore the West.

The information they had regarding this was strictly the information of the scout but from the description, it didn't sound like a warrior's land.

People with crosses inhabited the land, but that was about it. King Askild wanted to explore the land with a small army of a hundred men, consisting of these other kingdoms, for he wanted to use this expedition to gauge the strength of his army.

They were not oblivious to this fact, but they too saw this as an opportunity to gauge the motives of Askild.

If it was as he said, then war in Norway might cease for everyone would want a piece of this adventure.

This might be the one thing that would bring the whole of Norway together, and under one banner nonetheless.

Ragnar was a big part because who did not want to fight alongside Ragnar, Ragnar's reputation preceded him and Askild was going to use it to his advantage.

And this would bring Askild closer to his ultimate goal.

The goal is to be the one to rule not only Norway but conquer England as well.

-

Ulf had heard about his brother's arrival and looked extremely panicked by this prospect.

Ulf was petrified because he knew there was no way that Lagertha would keep what he did to herself or that would be betraying Ragnar as he had done.

"Damn it! What the fuck! It was not my fault! She was leading me on!" Ulf tried to justify his action, throwing a tantrum in his house as he rampaged through his house but then he remembered his status as a commander.

Ragnar could not touch him because he had worked so hard to build this reputation he had, and he was not going to lose it just because of a kiss.

Lagertha must have wanted it, why else did she allow him to sleep in her house?

She was aware that Ragnar would never allow her to do this so why did she allow him?

Ulf started to piece together that he was not the only one in the wrong and began to doubt that Lagertha would tell Ragnar or she would have to tell him about her non-existent boundaries with him.

But he knew he needed to see his brother, if it was going to come out of anyone's mouth it should be his.

This would sway the argument in his favor, Ragnar was most likely to believe the version of whoever told him the story first.

Ulf wanted to gamble on the fact that Lagertha would not tell him, she did not tell him about Erik either until much later so what was going to happen now?

Would she choose that same route?

Ulf crossed his fingers and prayed to the gods but he would not have to wait long because Lagertha was on course to meet her husband.