The Son Of Ragnar

The chapter below occurred earlier that day)

King Rugalf governed his Kingdom with discipline and with his brothers not present, he couldn't show weakness.

This was one thing he could never do because then, the other Kingdoms would invade without hesitation.

King Rugalf was expecting a guest and he had beefed up his security after the last incident that occurred during his daughter's wedding.

Two distinctive knocks banged against his door to the throne room to alert him of the arrival of his guest. Estrid was seated beside her father, Rugalf was training her to rule as he saw her as more than just a normal girl.

Even though the person to inherit the throne would likely be his immediate younger brother.

King Rugalf wasn't expecting anyone but he also couldn't turn whoever it was away.

This was part of being King, he had that responsibility and he wanted to train Estrid how to deal with people.

"Come in," Rugalf gave his permission without even asking who it was that was there.

It didn't matter who it was because Rugalf intended to grant everyone an audience.

But he could never have expected the person that walked through his door.

It was King Trygvve but Rugalf's body language didn't change.

"King Rugalf, it's good to see you're well…" Trygvve greeted sternly before focusing his gaze on Estrid.

"Lady Estrid, you're even more beautiful than I remember," King Trygvve greeted her.

"Ewww, don't remember me at all you old creep," Estrid thought to herself, she dared not say these words out loud.

"Welcome King Trygvve, I wasn't expecting your visit," King Rugalf was quick to make this known as this was unorthodox and something he wouldn't encourage.

"I understand but I couldn't make my arrival known and my visit here will let you know why," Trygvve said.

"What do you mean?" Rugalf questioned, leaning forward.

"Can we have this discussion in private, King Rugalf?" Trygvve requested, implying that his daughter wasn't fit to hear whatever it was that they were about to discuss.

"I'm going, I'm going…" Estrid muttered like a brat before getting to her feet.

"No, Estrid. You stay, whatever you have to say can be said before my daughter, King Trygvve," Rugalf said sternly.

Trygvve was surprised by this because this was no business of a woman but he couldn't say this without incurring the wrath of Rugalf.

This was the last thing that he needed.

"Very well then, I'm afraid that your Kingdom has a traitor, King Rugalf," Trygvve said and Rugalf's face went from shock to amusement.

He couldn't contain his laughter and just began laughing at this absurd statement.

"That's a serious accusation, King Trygvve," Estrid chipped in, returning to her seat beside her father.

"I'm sure you have evidence to support this claim or do you wish to plant the seed of distrust?" Estrid pressed on.

Her father stopped laughing and was surprised by his daughter's line of questioning

"Oh? That's my princess!" Rugalf boasted, which embarrassed Estrid somewhat as her cheeks turned slightly red.

"Not now, you old man!" Estrid whispered to her father.

She was the only one that could speak to him this way but that was the case with most fathers.

They had a special soft spot for their daughters.

"Forgive my bluntness but I came to speak to your father, Lady Estrid," Trygvve tried to politely tell her to shut up.

"Answer her," Rugalf's voice was stern and aggressive, his body language changing.

Trygvve just walked into his Kingdom to tell him that they had a traitor with no evidence whatsoever.

Whatever respect he got, he firmly believes his daughter should be respected just as much.

"My apologies, King Rugalf," Trygvve was polite and cooperative because he was in a foreign Kingdom.

King Trygvve clapped twice and a man came in, he was battered and wounded.

He was brought in by King Trygvve's men, who dumped him on the ground in front of Trygvve.

The men stood tall, not bending their knees despite standing in front of a King.

"You…" Rugalf muttered, he looked quite angry that one of his men was in this state.

This was one of his Vikings, no doubt as Rugalf made it a habit to remember the faces of those he went into battle with.

"Relax King Rugalf, I mean no disrespect and that is why I have returned this man," Trygvve said.

Rugalf didn't know what was going on but he also knew he couldn't lose his cool now.

"Brought him back? Explain yourself…" Rugalf said, relaxing on his chair.

Estrid could feel her father's rage, it was rare for him to get this angry but she understood her father's anger.

"That is right. You see, an attempt was made on my life, King Rugalf…" Trygvve said before making a gesture to one of his men.

Without warning, the man's right hand was severed and his scream of agony echoed.

"What do y-!" King Rugalf was cut short.

"King Rugalf, I came to you out of respect but don't you think for one that you hold more authority over me. We're equals and I expect to be treated with as much respect as I have given you," Trygvve said.

He was right, he had every right to execute this man before him.

"Speak," Trygvve instructed the man and the man looked up at King Rugalf with tears in his eyes.

It was clear that they had broken this man because this wasn't a warrior that Rugalf was looking at.

No, it was a man that had given up.

"Tell him what you told me," Trygvve reiterated.

"T-The person who sent me to kill King Trygvve was your brother, my King…." The warrior said.

Estrid's heart dropped, there was no way that one of her uncles would do something so reckless.

Estrid knew there was no way that her father could take this seriously and as such, expected him to shut it down before it escalated.

"And which of my brothers did this?" Rugalf asked sternly, Estrid realized at that moment, the seriousness of that situation.

And out came the name, a name that Rugalf would have never guessed, not even in a million years.

"What did you just say?"