Chapter 54 A New Brilliant Idea

And the day arrived, bells rang and the birds sang. Kattegat was armed to the teeth as the air was filled with anticipation, excitement, and dread.

They marched forward, and their morale and energy were unparalleled for they knew that most of them would die but that did not frighten them because they knew they had to protect their home.

Askild was not about to leave Kattegat defenseless either as they knew other kingdoms would use this opportunity to try and snatch the city of Kattegat in the absence of King Askild and his strongest warriors.

"King Askild!" An out-of-breath Hagen approached the departing King, Ulf's eyes pointed in the direction of Hagen because the reason he was here could only mean one thing. It was complete.

"What is it, Hagen?" Askild questioned the man that had delayed him, he was not in a hurry because the kind of man Hagen was meant that this was urgent.

"I am sorry for stopping you, King Askild! But I have something!" Hagen responded, he was too tired to take note of the others surrounding him and King Askild unmounted his horse.

He went to a quiet place alongside Hagen, this was important because he wanted to be the first to hear this.

"What is it, Hagen the boat builder?" Askild, who was clothed in full armor, asked the man that requested an audience.

"I have built it! I have built the boat that can tear through the defenses of Vestfold!" Hagen boasted, the expression on his face was one of innocent bliss.

"Ulf, you know what is going on, don't you?" Birger noticed his reaction to Hagen's interruption.

Ulf however, had no interest in telling Birger what they had discussed because while it was good to travel by land to fight the forces of King Asmund, it would be far more effective to sneak troops by the water behind the forces on land. There would not expect this move because Kattegat barely had any boats fit for battle until now.

"Ah, it is nothing. I never really liked him." Ulf responded but he felt the gaze of Birger pierce through the side of his face through his peripherals.

"I see," Birger responded but the tone he used was not friendly, to say the least.

Ulf knew he caught on but he did not care because despite his ambition.

This was a chance to make a name for himself and if this fails, it was not him that presented it to the King. All he offered was the idea and should this play out the way he thinks it would then there was no way Hagen would not tell King Askild that this was Ulf's idea.

Birger was on a horse, with Ulf following behind him. Unlike the others, Birger did not lead a unit.

Even Ulf was not under his command but was there to keep a watchful eye on him but things were going just as planned for Ulf. Askild returned and everyone noticed the change in demeanor.

It was less tense than it was a moment ago meaning whatever he was told was good news but Ragnar was curious as to why Hagen did not tell him considering how close they were.

"We have a little change in plan," King Askild said, it was not advisable to change strategy on the day of battle but Askild was flexible when it came to such things as long as it increased the chances of success on his end.

Everyone's attention was on their King, the air was still, and the anticipation of what he had to say increased.

Hagen came and stood beside King Askild, but King Askiild's gaze focused on Ulf.

"Come forward, Ulf Lothbrok," Askild called and this drew surprised looks from everyone.

Ulf was a man that King Askild never showed interest in anyone so publicly before.

"Y-Yes King Askild," Ulf stuttered as he walked towards the King. Ragnar wondered just what his brother had done to get this much attention.

"Hagen and Ulf have devised a way for us to travel on water which our main forces will travel by but the forces on land will be decoys. The chances of all ground forces dying are high but this will not be the end of your lives as the Valkyries will take you home." King Askild delivered this message like it was a normal thing to say.

There was no hint of panic or distress in his voice despite him pretty much just dividing his forces into those that will die or live.

"If it is as Hagen has told me then this war will not last long. I will lead the forces on water and I will leave Erik to lead the forces on land… Erik and Sven." King Askild instructed. It was only normal for him to take the safest route.

Like chess, the king was the most important piece that had to be protected but the implication of this selection was that…

Ragnar and Lagertha flashed each other a glance because they knew what this meant, their son was to take part in this war as just a sacrificial pawn.

Ragnar knew there was nothing he could do as other young warriors would also be part of the ground forces and there was no way the life of one child was more valuable than all of them.

"We will move out in the cover of night but the ground troops should advance to Vestfold right now, I will leave the tactics to both Erik and Sven," Askild said. He was not worried because Erik had a habit of coming out of such impossible odds alive as missions most would deem suicidal, Erik came out of them stronger.

Sven, on the other hand, had no problems utilizing lowly tactics for victory but they had never worked together in the past and Askild could not pick any duo as dangerous as them.

"The wind will blow in your favor…" Askild whispered to himself as he began to understand just what the prophecy he received was.