The Son Of Ragnar

Tyr waited for the messenger to return to them, he noticed that the gates were sabotaged and instinctively knew that Hagen had something to do with it.

Tyr was a proud warrior but his relationship with Hagen wasn't as when he was a kid even though they were still relatively close.

"Brother… What are we waiting for? They could be executing Father as we speak," Bjorn said but Tyr chuckled upon hearing this.

"You underestimate Father…" Tyr said but Bjorn was worried that his plan wouldn't work as it was based entirely on assumption.

"He will want to talk, he might not have realized it but he did give us a very valuable hostage…" Tyr said; Bjorn knew he was referring to the young man that was in their possession.

Speaking of which, where was he?

Bjorn knew now wasn't the time to question his younger brother because Tyr wasn't a reckless warrior, everything he did was calculated.

This must be his plan even though he didn't know the full scale of it, he knew he could trust him.

He soon noticed a commotion at the front gate but it was just as he predicted, the King responded to whatever message he had.

The messenger came out and laid a sword right at Tyr's feet.

It was the same Christian that they had captured, he was very cooperative and Tyr appreciated this.

Not like he had a choice because it was between that and death, it seemed the Christians weren't as eager to meet their God as they were.

Tyr knew what this meant, it meant that Ragnar was still alive and this King was willing to negotiate.

But he wasn't going to walk into the same trap that his father did.

Gesturing for the warrior to tell the King to meet them here alongside his father.

All this was said without words and the Christian understood every bit.

The Vikings watched in amazement, all they had known was violence but never would they have thought that dialogue was possible.

Especially with an enemy as great as this.

It wasn't just his battle prowess that made him the monster he was, but this right here.

Tyr picked up his father's sword with a smile on his face.

"What's so amusing?" Bjorn questioned, trying to get a peek on what was going on in his brother's mind.

"Bjorn, do you trust me?" Asked Tyr.

This was a random question but Bjorn didn't hesitate with an answer.

"I do trust you, brother," Bjorn responded.

Salgard didn't understand what it was about this man but he had an aura that drew people to him.

He was beginning to understand how he survived his exile and made such a drastic change that no one has been able to.

Ending a war that had been waged for years in less than five, wherever he went, these were the kinds of changes that followed.

And this was why Salgard wasn't comfortable with him marrying his niece, he didn't know what Tyr's plans or motives were but he knew it had to be something grand.

He hated that his older brother looked at him with such respect, Grjötgard was impressed that he found a way to survive with this many men.

This not only showed great leadership but also showed Tyr knee when to abandon a battle that was lost even though he technically defeated his enemies.

Tyr handed their father's sword to Bjorn.

"If father does die, he will live on through you, brother…" Tyr said.

This was cryptic because it implied that there was a possibility that Ragnar could die.

Tyr began to walk forward but Bjorn didn't oppose this, standing place.

Baard followed suit, no one knew exactly what the plan was, they assumed it was a typical hostage exchange.

The Christians could confirm that Ecgberht was alive as there was nobody and the initial attack had failed.

This was reported by those that initially retreated.

Tyr continued his journey and the Christians fired a few arrows to warn him not to proceed further but Tyr didn't heed this warning.

"What is he doing?" A random Viking asked.

"I do not know but you all should prepare for anything…" Bjorn advised.

-

Back in Rogaland, King Trygvve had reported the crimes of a Gardsson to King Rugalf.

He expected retribution and that was having the one responsible for this attack handed over to him.

The name he mentioned was the least important Gardsson, the drunk and the laughingstock of the family.

It was Frøygard and Estrid already knew this was bullshit and it was a way of holding her father hostage.

They couldn't trust the words of a prisoner who was imprisoned.

He could have been tortured to give this false confession, she hated that her father was even considering it.

Estrid knew she had to do something because Rugalf had asked for 24 hours to make a decision.

One that Trygvve gladly gave but while Frøygard may be a good-for-nothing drunk, this was something that he wasn't capable of.

Estrid knew she had to speak to her father regarding this and barged into his room.

At this moment, he wasn't the King to her but the father that spoiled her.

"Estrid, my darling, what brings you here?" Rugalf questioned but Estrid wasn't having any of this.

"What do you think you're doing old man!?" Estrid barked at him.

"Hahaha! You must mean with your uncle, Frøygard?" Rugalf asked.

Estrid was confused as to why he was so carefree but she realized why, there was an empty cup of ale right in front of him.

"Y-You have been drinking?" Estrid asked and out of nowhere, someone shouted.

"TA-DA!"

This almost sent Estrid into a full-on panic but she realized it was her uncle, Frøygard.

"Father, what's the meaning of this?" Estrid questioned, surprised that she was the only one taking the situation seriously.

"Nothing is going on princess but we have to put on a good show," Rugalf said.

"What do you mean?" Estrid questioned.

"We need to play along to see what it is that King Trygvve wants. But one thing is certain… I will not let this disrespect pass," Rugalf said, the tone he used to convey the last sentence sent chills down Estrid's spine.

For the first time in a long time, she had seen her father angry.