Chapter 86 Asmund's Genius

King Askild had survived the night and the kingdom of Vestfold was within sight. No one could believe it was this easy but Askild had no intentions of launching an attack, not now.

"The great kingdom of Vestfold is before us!" Skarde shouted and this was met by the cheers of the warriors behind him but they heard the ground shake the moment they arrived at Vestfold and it was not coming from the kingdom. It was coming from the capital but behind them.

"What is this sound, it sounds like horseriders?" Ragnar muttered to himself as he noticed the sounds originating from behind them.

"Heh! So that was his strategy," Birger said and the warriors looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean, Birger?" Skarde asked in a neutral tone, Asger was quiet throughout the journey as he rarely spoke but this was partly because he was holding himself back from taking Birger's head, it took everything in him not to.

"King Asmund is here, the real battle begins. He has us sandwiched, we cannot retreat or advance." Birger said almost like he was admiring his brother and everyone was panicking.

It could not be helped because this meant that Asmund's forces were coming right for them and the war could be decided today but if this was true, it confirmed that Asmund was never on the front lines, to begin with.

"This is bad!" Ulf muttered as he looked around and was partly relieved that he was not the only one that was fearful, and out they came.

King Asmund was at the head of the charge with well over a thousand men at his command, and they halted a good distance away from Askild and his army.

"King Askild, I see you have graced us with your presence but I am afraid that this war is the war that I cannot show mercy…" Asmund said, but there was no sympathy in his voice as they noticed the walls guarding Vestfold had soldiers mounted on them.

"This is bad!" Skarde said but Birger started laughing until that laugh turned into a peal of manic laughter as he could not believe what he was seeing, he was shocked that he saw his brother so soon as he did not expect to see him until Vestfold fell. The elaborate means they took of staying under the radar was pointless because Asmund had anticipated every possible outcome, and this was frightening as it gave the illusion of foresight, it felt like he was a man that could not be fooled.

"I see you have my traitor of a brother in your ranks or you would not have come this far," Asmund said, he was on his trademark white horse but this begged the question, who did Erik kill?

"Brother! My one and only brother! Have you forgotten why I turned my sword against you!?" Birger screamed at the top of his lungs, Birger had lost his composure and this was a sight no one was used to seeing.

"You lost sight of the visions we had, Briger. And you are only alive today because you ran like a coward." Asmund said and this angered Birger.

"Calm down Birger, he is trying to get under your skin," Ulf said and he was right, Asmund knew exactly where to touch and if he pushed enough, he could make the man meant to be the ally of Kattegat their greatest enemy.

"Hahaha! You are right Ulf, I guess I lost myself for a moment there." Birger said and he calmed himself down as Asmund looked at Askild, Askild had a neutral face on.

"Askild, you are a smart and strong warrior, that is how you became king but I will end this war on one condition…" Asmund said, pausing momentarily.

"Kill Birger right here and now, I will sweep this whole thing under the carpet if you do," Asmund said and Askild knew he was a man of his word but he also knew they had come too far to retreat.

Signy looked from the wall and saw his father, he was shocked because his father did not share this piece of information with him and this left him surprised.

"Hahaha! They are screwed! King Asmund is here!" A random warrior said and this boosted the morale of Vestfold warriors.

"This is good news, young lord," Kjell said with a satisfied smile, it felt like they had won the war already with this revelation but Askild's calm was worrying. Asmund knew he must have something hidden under his sleeves, there was no way he would come here without taking into account something like this even happening.

"Asmund…" Askild said, unmounting his horse casually despite him having the advantage of horseback in battle, but there it was again. That unwavering calm.

"Bring down the wall," This was the only word that escaped the lips of Askild. Everyone was momentarily confused as Askild faced the direction of Asmund.

"King Asmund, I challenge you to a duel," Askild said, these two things would not only halt the advance of the main forces as they could end the war if one of the kings fall but they also gave the forces directly under Ragnar, Skarde, and Asger an opportunity to advance further.

The men around Asmund could give chase and leave their king alone for this duel or stay to protect their king because there was no guarantee that Askild intended a fair duel.

This simple action caused a divide but Asmund did not mind as he wanted to see how his son intended to defend himself against the assault.

Ragnar and the rest of the commanders rushed to the walls, but they were met by a hail of flaming arrows, the flames made minor injuries fatal as they burned the enemy's body once they dug their way into their skin.

They protected themselves with their shields until they made contact with the wall, they did not have any ramming bats but another unit appeared from the distance like they were lying in wait, holding a tree trunk as they rammed the gate once before the rail of arrows forced a majority of the men holding the tree to fall.

Askild noticed that it would take some time to conquer the wall and faced Asmund.

"Askild, I accept your proposal," Asmund said, a response that shocked Askild as he did not think Asmund would accept it.

"What?" For the first time, Askild's expression changed.