Chapter 227 King Ragnar Arrives!

The rumors about King Ragnar's arrival turned out to not just be rumors for the King of Vestfold arrived that day on a white horse and behind him, there were only five men on black horses.

They were dressed differently from your average warriors, showing that these were warriors of some prominence.

Everyone gathered, staring at Ragnar like he was an entity that descended from Asgard because the stories that they had heard about him were something.

Ragnar did not mind it but the five warriors around him were tensed up because they did not know Ragnar was so popular here despite their hostile status for quite some time.

They mistook this as some sort of impending threat.

Ulrik was at the throne room entrance as he approached Ragnar with a stern face but he did this to be professional. However, this mask soon cracked and he had a wild smile on his face.

"Welcome King Ragnar…" Ulrik said, his face twitching as he struggled to keep his face straight.

King Ragnar did not even pretend not to be happy to see Ulrik, embracing the younger warrior.

An act that surprised everyone considering he was a King and certain acts would now be questioned.

"It is good to see you, young friend…" Ragnar said, breaking apart from his embrace as he looked him right in the eyes.

"You have…. aged quite terribly," Ragnar said, Ulrik looked like a grumpy older man.

"COMMANDER ULRIK!" Reidar shouted and Ulrik's happy face immediately changed into that of frustration. Reidar ran toward his commander but this was his excuse to see King Ragnar up close.

Ragnar's blue eyes were intimidating and he found himself not being able to hold his gaze.

He bent his head, and exaggeratedly greeted Ragnar, dropping titles upon titles.

Even Ragnar was getting flustered because he had never been good with compliments.

"Reidar, that is enough!" Ulrik warned and Reidar started to apologize like he was just put on death role and at that moment, Ragnar understood why he aged terribly but the joyful atmosphere soon took a serious tone as they knew Ragnar was not just a warrior anymore but a King and even familiarity had its limit when it came to welcoming one.

Ragnar looked around, and Ukrik knew who he was looking for without him asking.

"King Ragnar, only you may advance past this point," Ulrik said. Ragnar knew the procedure already and had unmounted his horse but when he was walking past Ulrik. He whispered in his ear.

"Your son and wife are safe, I will inform them that you are here…." Ulrik knew he could not give him this information otherwise hence why he waited until Ragnar was walking past him.

Ragnar showed no outward reaction to this but his body language told Ulrik that he was grateful for this gesture.

But now it was time to meet the despicable man known as King Askild.

-

Hagen was working, he had been hard at work these past few years with a few inventions of his own.

He had modified the ship that took them to Vestfold because he sensed that the waters that awaited them were far harsher than that of Vestfold.

He wanted to send his friend and the rumors quite frankly excited him hence why he hurried to work for he wanted to craft something for his friend.

Sit had not seen her husband this excited in years but this showed just how pure their friendship was.

Hagen had become somewhat popular as he had been visited by some renowned inventors around Norway where they exchanged knowledge.

They wanted to know how he conquered the waters in Vestfold but this was the one secret he never shared for it had the potential to put his friend in danger.

This included the crossbows that nearly killed his King for such a weapon was too dangerous to be general knowledge.

He knew Ragnar had arrived because he could hear the chatters around and this included cheers.

"I need to hurry up!" Hagen thought to himself as he rounded up his creation but he knew this creation had the potential to change everything.

This included how the Vikings fought, Hagen had noticed that they lacked any form of warfare on water because swords would be useless.

There had to be a way to fight from their ships without coming down, and the main component that made this idea plausible was the crossbows.

Was there a way he could mount those crossbows on the boats he was creating so they would rain down arrows?

He knew he could increase the force of the arrows but making the mechanics of the crossbow bigger and the string thicker but it would also be a lot harder to pull back. Hagen had the blueprint created and that was what he was looking to create, he was finalizing it.

-

Lagertha had heard about her husband's arrival and she could not contain her happiness.

She was giddy even though Askild had told her to watch a different area of Kattegat.

She knew that she could go see Ragnar after he was done with his business, but even with that, she could not wait.

"Lady Lagertha, King Raganr has arrived." Ulrik had found her quickly because she was nearby and he knew exactly where Lagertha already knew but hearing Ulrik said it made her face crease into a broad smile.

"I know!" Lagertha exclaimed despite trying her best to remain calm.

"I could watch over your post for you, we could switch until the day is over…" Ulrik offered with Reidar behind him, admiring Lagertha.

Lagertha was a breathtaking beauty, but this was not what was important right now.

"Y-You would do that!?" Lagertha's face lit up, something was calming about seeing a woman so in love with her husband.

But it reminded him of Garda, Ulrik never knew what happened to her, she just vanished into thin air.

Ulrik gave up and mourned her so he could move on from it but he knew he did love her and it was because of that love, he wanted to protect both Ragnar and Lagertha's relationship.

He switched places with Lagertha and she ran in the direction of her husband and Ukrik just smiled, watching her go.

"Are you interested in her perhaps, sire?" Reidar whispered in his ear and Ulrik had had enough.

Smacking him on his head.

"Shut it!"