The Son Of Ragnar

The night was coming to an end and the Viking had taken heavy casualties and with Ragnar in their possession, the enemies held the upper hand.

Tyr was smart to retreat as reinforcement soon returned but what they saw horrified them.

Tyr had decapitated each of their soldiers and kept their heads mounted on a spike with their tongues placed on the top of their heads.

This was a gruesome message and the enemies searched the area but Tyr and his men were nowhere to be seen.

Tyr had absconded but they left their boats vulnerable and the Christians had every intention of making sure that the Vikings never got back home.

They placed warriors at the border with the boats of the Vikings all destroyed, this was a good move on their part.

They knew invading a new land would be difficult but they could never have anticipated this level of difficulty.

Tyr couldn't believe it, this was one of the hardest battles he had fought, they were barely hanging by a thread and his father was nowhere to be found.

They had lost a valuable warrior to the enemy even though Tyr knew Ragnar must have anticipated this.

There was no way that anyone could fill King Ragnar's shoes and his loss would signify their defeat.

The King of Northumbria allowed the news of Ragnar's execution to leave the walls of his Kingdom and into the Vikings' midst.

He knew that there was no way they would allow their King to be killed and with news reaching him that the Vikings' location was unknown.

He knew he had to draw them out, they couldn't wander in this land because he understood what would happen if things escalated into other Kingdoms.

The whereabouts of Ecgberht were unknown as well, this was the news that concerned him the most. It looks like the Vikings had picked up on something that King Ælla never knew that they could have anticipated.

The war was just beginning and the Vikings had demonstrated their strength, they had shown that they were more than capable of disposing of whatever force stood in their path.

King Ælla couldn't deny it but he had severely underestimated them.

The war, however, was just beginning and King Ælla thought about asking for the assistance of his brother even though he had offered up his son for this hostage exchange.

He controlled information and he could easily spin it to his advantage, the Vikings made it through their walls and he thought of spreading the news that Egberht was taken by them.

This would be his last resort, he needed to make sure Ecgberht was dead first for a corpse that couldn't defend itself.

The night was long and Vikings had escaped the wall.

Bjorn was now looking for his brother to deliver the news of their father but with Tyr no longer at the place where the original battle was fought, there was no telling where he could be.

Grjötgard kept an eye on his younger brother, he knew that Salgard was strong but he was well aware of the danger that he posed.

Salgard was no ordinary Viking and there was something about him that made him overpower even the Sturlungar clan couldn't stand up to him once he was in that 'state'

Grjötgard knew he had to keep him from entering for even he would have difficulty restraining him without taking his life.

Tyr, on the other hand, had found a place where they could rest, he was glad that things worked out in their favour.

They were able to escape and find a place up some mountain to rest, Tyr could navigate the mountains with relative ease due to his time in exile.

This allowed him to find a spot that not only gave them high ground but also a clear view of their surroundings.

An aerial view so to speak so there was no way another person could climb these mountains without him knowing.

He wondered how his brother was doing but there was no way to tell if Bjorn had rescued their father or not.

Tyr knew that things would be difficult moving forward but he wasn't about to give in.

Tyr was ready to fight this war and he knew he was going to win despite not knowing how.

Rolf was recuperating well, Tyr didn't like him but what he did was no doubt a selfless act.

Rolf had his wounds bandaged, the Vikings had treated his injuries and he was conscious.

This was a good thing even though he wasn't in a state to battle but his presence would prove to boost the morale of the warriors in Kattegat.

Baard was glad that Tyr led them, there was no telling what could have happened if they were under another warrior.

Tyr was truly the son of Ragnar even though they didn't share the same blood but little did they know that Tyr was an abomination even among his people.

"You should try and get some rest Master Tyr, we will keep watch," Baard said, adding a title to the young Viking's name.

Tyr wanted to sleep but he couldn't, he feared the nightmare that awaited him should he close his eyes.

"Brother… Father, I hope you're both well," Tyr muttered to himself, he took Baard up on his offer.

He knew he needed all the strength he could muster and he couldn't do this without them.

Tyr knew his brother would return and in anticipation, he trusted that Bjorn knew him well enough to know where he would go.

This was what Tyr gambled everything on and if his brother didn't find him before dawn.

He would move with the assumption that this brother had died, this was a war and Tyr knew he had to move accordingly.

He was glad that they came to Northumbria, it had given him a challenge that he couldn't have gotten in Norway.

Tyr was glad that he came here, these Christians… They were worthy opponents and he wondered just who it was that would take his life.