Chapter 93 Deception & Betrayal

Askild had sounded the retreat and the forces fell back with Asmund watching them with a sense of accomplishment, he understood that he had done irreparable damage to them.

"King Asmund, should we chase after them?" A Viking asked but Asmund shook his head to disapprove of this suggestion.

"Return to the walls…" King Asmund said, and the gates were opened to welcome Asmund back in, the cheers and roars were ravenous.

Signy could not believe his father was this strong and knew at that moment he would never be able to fill his shoes.

Asmund was loved and he had the strength to gain the respect of his Vikings, these were two important components that made him virtually invisible.

"Father!" Signy shouted the moment he saw King Asmund, Amsund welcomed his son with a warm embrace as he had now assumed command of the walls seeing as Signy's part was done.

"You did well in my absence, Signy. The hot oil was a brilliant idea," Asmund said, stroking the hair of his teenage son right before breaking his embrace.

"Kattegat has retreated but they will be back!" Asmund shouted, bringing the cheer to a halt.

"This war is not over and tomorrow, it could be our enemies cheering within these walls. Do not get complacent, not even for a moment." Asmund shouted and the Vikings hit their shields with their weapon as Asmund journeyed back to his throne room on horseback.

Kjell looked on in admiration, he was glad he answered the call of Asmund because he knew this was a fight of a lifetime, turning his attention to Signy as he noticed how he was so different from his father.

"Huh?" Kjell thought, noticing something on Signy as he inched towards him.

"Young lord, you are bleeding," Kjell informed Signy as he saw blood on his cheeks but Signy was confused as there was no possible way he could have been bleeding.

"It must have been when you embraced King Asmund, his armor must have bruised you," Kjell said, dismissing the relevance of the injury.

"T-This is not my blood!" Signy thought before jerking his head in the direction of his father.

"F-Father is injured?" Signy thought to himself, he was surprised because he was sure that Askild's blade did not touch him but he was too far to draw an accurate deduction.

"Ah, I should be more careful…" Signy said, verifying the assumption of Kjell.

Asmund journeyed back, and the moment he was out of the sight of his warriors, he clutched his abdomen in pain, as he chuckled faintly.

"That Askild…" Asmund muttered. Asmund could deliver so many blows to Askild because he did not care if he hit a vital or not but Askild was only aiming for vitals.

This was why the battle looked one-sided but Asmund knew more than anyone there that this was far from the case, Askild had managed to land a graze on him that almost tore open his stomach but Asmund managed to evade it to prevent that degree of damage.

He allowed Askild to retreat not because he wanted to, but rather because he could not continue the battle at the same tempo he had started or it would be discovered that he was injured.

This might throw the momentum back in the court of Kattegat and he could not afford that.

He understood the importance of motivation more than anyone and giving it to someone as determined as Askild was a terrible idea.

He was glad that he could force Askild to retreat but he knew that this war was just beginning.

-

"W-We actually lost?" A Viking warrior of Kattegat trembled at this thought and he was not the only one that was plagued by this prospect, as others trembled.

Asmund made Askild look like a man, but Askild did not look bothered by this momentary setback as he now understood why Vestfold had stood tall for so long.

No one was brave enough to approach him, no one but Ragnar Lothbrok.

"King Askild, you should get your wounds treated," Ragnar suggested, not referring to the battle he had just lost but he got no response from Askild.

"We should starve them out," Hagen tried to contribute but everyone knew how futile that would be seeing as they would have stocked enough to last them a couple of winters and at this rate, it would be them that would be starved off.

"Hagen, we need something to get us above those walls or break through their gates." Skard blurted out bluntly, shooting the idea of Hagen down with this revelation.

"I know! I know! I have just the thing in mind!" Hagen said excitedly as this war was bringing about a spark to his creative juices.

All they needed was for the gate to fall but there was no way of doing that from the outside, they had to find a way inside those walls.

Ulf took Birger to a corner to speak to him, and Birger was not opposed to hearing him out considering he had big plans for the brother of Ragnar.

"What is it, Ulf?" Birger questioned and Ulf looked left and right to confirm they were not being followed or listened to.

"Birger, I have thought about your offer…" Ulf muttered, the scene he had just seen with Birger and King Asmund played a part in this decision, something that Birger did not look to be surprised about but it was hard telling beneath his helmet.

"And what is your answer?" Birger asked sternly.

Ulf gulped, feeling the hairs on his skin stand as he tried to utter the words from his mouth but it felt like something was stopping him from saying them. He knew once it came out, he could never take it back. But he had to say it, he understood why Birger connected with him.

​ It was because he too lived under the shadow of his brother and there was only one way to break out of that shadow.

"I will kill Ragnar Lothbrok… I will kill my brother…"