Chapter 443 - Arthenry Castle

In the morning, after burning the corpses of the enemies, Einar questioned the survivors. At first, no one wanted to report anything, so Einar decided to persuade them with a demonstration.

For this, he placed the enemy leader on a chair in front of the prisoners and with a hammer broke finger by finger of the leader's right hand.

"Now someone wants to tell me why you were waiting in this place and how you knew we were close to you."

Everyone was silent until Einar looked at them with a smile. "You can answer without fear of reprisal by any of your leaders. I can assure you that all of them will be working in wells of black liquid called oil.

The life of your leaders is going to be so miserable that they will wish they were dead but good to have guards watching them throughout the day to prevent them from committing suicide.

Now, if you don't want to talk, you will also end up working the oil wells and I can assure you that it will be the most painful thing you are going to do in your life.

You can now say who you are, and why you were in this place. I may have to send you immediately to the oil wells.

Unlike you, I don't have all day to talk. "

Everyone was silent except for an old warrior who rose from the prisoners.

"My family died a long time ago because of the famine which happened in the kingdom a long time ago, unlike all these bastards who are being threatened.

I am not afraid of death and they do not have anything to keep me prisoner with.

We were supposed to be the army that had to attack the kingdom of Thomond, however the son of King Mael, Prince Muiredach who was in charge of the army.

He spent the winter at Athenry Castle, while we left us positioned on the border simply because he did not want to spend on food for us.

This really was a problem for us, so we had to send hunters to get what little food we could.

One hunter realized that there was an army nearby destroying the watchtowers, so we prepared ourselves, but the blizzard changed everything completely.

We only realized there were people in front of us when we heard what noises they were making.

That is the history of the army, but I can tell you with confidence King Einar, that the kingdom of Ui Maine doesn't have any kind of army.

At best, it should have some troops stationed in the baronies and cities, also because of the famine caused by the stupid nobles, the church and merchants.

The population should be too small, and that's all I know. "

Einar stroked his mustache and looked at the old warrior with curiosity. "You can speak Latin very well and understand how to interpret information.

I think you are not a normal person, although the real question is what kind of warrior are you? "

The old warrior spread his hands. "I am the bastard son of King Fagartach, the grandfather of the current king.

Because of my position as a bastard son, I was never able to claim the throne or be able to fight in order to have the right to have it.

So it can be said that I was living the misery while I saw how everything I loved disappeared because of the poor decisions of my brother and his son.

As I said before, I have nothing to lose and I really would like to see the end of my stupid nephew.

Due to his poor decisions, the kingdom fell into a true time of darkness, but there is nothing I can do to change the past, however if you can change the future I would appreciate it. "

Einar was quite surprised by the old man's words that he looked at him with a smile.

"I will fulfill your wish, although we will leave tomorrow because the soldiers are quite tired.

Do you have anyone who wants to save from this group of slaves before I send them to the oil wells? "

The man shook his head. "Most of them always treated me like a stupid old man and never respected my place, despite my age and experience.

I would be very happy if you sent them to work in deplorable conditions. I think it would be a good way to teach them what happens when your king is stupid and his son is inept. "

After those words, Einar ordered that the slaves be taken to the rearguard troops so that they could be sent immediately to the Faroe Islands.

Where they would spend the rest of their lives working hard to get all the oil they could, while the old man was given a tent and a guard to look after him.

The next day, the army left for the castle of Athenry. It did not take long to pass two villages, which were completely filled with the withered corpses of women and children.

This only angered Einar, as the valuable population he wanted was being killed by the nobles, the church, and merchants.

When they were finally able to reach Athenry Castle, they realized that it had a slightly distinct style from the other circular castles of the previous kingdoms.

This time, the castle had a square shape that resembled the ancient forts of the Roman Empire.

'It's quite interesting to be able to see something of this quality, yet it makes me wonder if these people were influenced by Romans or some other place.

Anyway, it is a different castle from the castles and cities of the region. '

The old man, who was close to Einar could see his curious face as he scanned the castle.

"My father used to tell me stories about how our family had originally belonged to the Roman army.

According to what little he could remember of his father's words was that when the Roman army left the province of Britannia.

There was a legion that was not officially recognized by the empire, which had been formed years before in order to launch a conquest of Hibernia.

Fortunately, when the empire abandoned the island with its fate, the unofficial legion launched a conquest of its own in the Hibernia region.

From what little I can remember, they made their way to the outermost part where they founded the city of Ui Maine.

Although I do not remember the Latin name, I can tell you that on the island we are unique because our buildings are inherited from generation to generation.

It is something quite interesting but unfortunately I do not remember the whole story that my father told. I can tell you that under the capital there should be a small mausoleum where our ancestor rests.

Also in that place, there should be a stone tablet where the history of the legion is told, however personally I could never see it. "

Einar showed a genuine interest in the man's words, because he could corroborate the presence of Romans in Ireland.

It would be a very nice addition to the history that he will write of the islands in the future.

"Thank you very much for the information Cormac, when we took the capital of the kingdom personally I will check if the story is true.

At that time, I will grant you a gift or a wish always to the extent possible.

But for the moment, he enjoys the siege of the castle. "

Inside Athenry Castle, Prince Muiredach was passionately kissing a servant girl as she moved her hips as the door to her room opened.

At that moment, a man with black hair and priest's clothes entered.

"Prince Muiredach, the castle has been surrounded by an unidentified enemy army, but by the red flags the soldiers are spreading the rumor that it is the Nordic army."

Muiredach stopped and sighed before moving his hips again. "Prepare the troops so they can defend the castle.

It is very likely that the enemy has dodged our army because I am sure they did not defeat it because I do not think they could face a great army.

We just have to hold out long enough to be able to guarantee that the army comes to our rescue, I'm sure there is nothing to worry about.

Now get out of my room and don't bother me while I spend time with this beautiful maid. "

The priest frowned and closed the door to the prince's room.

'That stupid bastard thinks that because I'm the king's son I can do anything he wants, nothing more than a fucking idiot who will have to die.

Fortunately, his stupid father had no other children, so the kingdom will officially belong to the church, at that time we can establish the archbishopric of Maine.

It will be the first gigantic territory of the Island to be in the hands of the Holy See. I am sure that if I can achieve that I will be able to participate in the ceremony to elect a new High Pontiff.

Just imagining being able to choose the most important person makes me very happy and gives me hope because I too could be chosen.

That would be a great thing. '

The priest smiled and walked towards the walls to prepare the defenses, because he did not want to risk it.

Although the only thing that worried him was that the enemy army seemed to have come from the same place where the army was camping.