Chapter 419 "I Trust You My Sons!"
Chapter 419 "I Trust You My Sons!"
If he struggled to break free, it would only do more damage, it was impressive, to say the least.
Ragnar could have easily killed their King and ended things but why didn't he?
It was clear that Ragnar still had some sort of plan, he knew that they had plans of scaling the walls at night.
Ragnar knew there was no way that his men would be wiped out, he had faith in their strength and knew that they were more than capable of doing this.
Ragnar chuckled loudly before that chuckle evolved into a full-on laughter.
"Now my children, what are you willing to do to free your father?" Ragnar muttered under his breath as he heard the door creak open.
This wasn't his time to shine, Ragnar could have easily killed everyone who challenged him with little to no difficulty, they had skill however they lacked the experience Ragnar had but he surrendered for one reason only.
A test for his children, he wanted to see what kind of decision they would make with their backs against the wall and a demoralized army behind them.
Ragnar knew the effects his capture would have and this was why he chose this approach.
If he had taken a single life, the option of imprisonment would have vanished alongside it.
"I cannot believe you have found me so fast, Bjorn.." Ragnar said in the darkness.
Bjorn was surprised that his father knew it was him the moment the door opened.
Ragnar could sense the panic in the air, it was evident that someone had made it through the wall.
The fact that they chose to carry on with the attack even with Ragnar in enemy territory made Ragnar proud as this told him that his capture alone wasn't enough to make them abandon the plan.
"Father!" Bjorn exclaimed but Ragnar kept quiet after that.
"Leave Bjorn, go and find Tyr… You must strike at the dawn of my execution." Ragnar gave his son a stern warning.
Bjorn didn't know what to make of this, he had come all the way just to be told to go back.
"What do you mean father!? I'm here to save you!" Bjorn was losing his composure because he knew that they didn't have much time.
"Do you think I couldn't break out of these pesky binds if I wished to? Northumbria will not fall by force, I'm sure you know this," Ragnar said and this told Bjorn that his father was already two steps ahead of them.
Ragnar had a plan, people had yet to witness his brilliance and what made him so renowned and respected in the Viking world.
"Go Bjorn! You must find your brother," Ragnar reiterated and Bjorn knew he had no choice but to listen to his father.
Ragnar knew best and Bjorn had to trust in his father, his father clearly saw things that he couldn't perceive yet.
"Okay, father!" Bjorn said but before going, Ragnar gave him one more message to deliver to Hagen for him.
-
Tyr survived but his body gave out, Rolf was being treated and luckily for the man, the wound wasn't as deep as they initially thought.
Tyr thought it would have spilled out his entrails but everything was still intact.
He hadn't only saved his life but he managed to get out of the way just in time, which was impressive even for a seasoned warrior.
Whoever this man was, he was showing great potential and Tyr knew he could rely on him somewhat as he just showed he was willing to put his life on the line for their cause.
"Are you okay, Tyr?" A woman whispered into his ears, Tyr hadn't seen her before so she must hail from either Kattegat or Vestfold.
"I'm good," Tyr said, trying to get back to his feet; his legs were wobbly but the woman stood behind him so he didn't fall.
To observers, it looked like he was standing on his own, the illusion he wanted to give.
"You cannot fall, everyone looks up to you as their pillar of strength. They only remain standing because you do," The woman said.
"We need to retreat," Tyr muttered and the lady was surprised by this declaration.
"Retreat? We're winning!" She exclaimed, Tyr broke away from her as he walked a couple of paces forward. He looked at his exhausted army, they were standing by willpower alone and they needed to tend to their wounded as well.
There was only so much they could do in such a state and Tyr wasn't going to push them until they broke. This was a war, it wasn't going to be won on the first day.
He looked around to see who it was he was talking to, and he saw the woman, it was the lady he had just named.
"Sigrid… You must understand that I have played out all the scenarios in my head and I do not see us winning this war. We won a battle, I have fought wars, winning a battle means nothing," Tyr said, he wasn't letting his emotions get the better of him.
He would have charged right at the capital and demanded that they release his father otherwise but that would only seal their fate.
Sigird conceded and kept quiet, Baard observed their interaction and realized that Tyr had tamed her. Something that few have ever managed to do.
"We need to regroup, we have instilled fear in the hearts of the enemy but we need to keep that fear in their hearts," Tyr said.
Sigrid watched him in silence, waiting on the next command he wished to give.
"And I know just the message to send to them…" Tyr said but a devious grin creased his exhausted face.