Chapter 312 Normalcy



"Commander!" A voice called out from his window.

Bjorn was still living with his mother despite having enough money to start a life of his own.

He still clung to Lagertha because he knew he needed to protect her now that neither Tyr nor his father was here. 

Lagertha was a skilled warrior and she could beat most men in Kattegat but her reputation as a King's wife made her a target, for she was Ragnar's weakness. 

Bjorn awoke to this voice, he recognized it. 

It was Ivan's voice, Ivan had been making more attempts to communicate with Bjorn and Bjorn did not appreciate him invading his privacy like he had just done. It was inappropriate, to say the least.

"Ivan? What are you doing here?" Bjorn questioned through his window, not even getting up to see him.

The moment he did, he got no response from the man. 

"Is it about my brother again?" Bjorn asked but he got no response once again. 

Bjorn reluctantly got up from his bed and peeked out of his window, it was about Tyr. 

Ivan became obsessed with the younger Viking upon meeting him, the stories he heard did not do Tye justice. 

Ivan was convinced he was some sort of god that came to usher in a new age of Vikings.

This was ironic seeing as the soothsayer had said something similar to Ragnar years ago. 

"I had a dream about him…" Ivan said and Bjorn was surprised that this was what brought him all the way here, a dream?

To be honest, Bjorn was rather interested in what he had dreamt about.

"What happened in this dream?" Bjorn asked, he wanted to head to bed but he knew Ivan would not leave him alone until he was satisfied. 

"Tyr Ragnarsson, I dreamt he transformed into a three-headed dragon and turned the sea to dry land with his flames…" Ivan said with a serious face.

"Ivan…"Bjorn muttered.

"Yes, Commander! Ivan shouted.

Bjorn gestured for him to lean closer and the moment he did, Bjorn pulled him in by his collar before asking. 

"Do you want to die?" 

Ivan soon his head fervently, Bjorn was amazed that he even dared to do such a thing at such a time.

Bjorn saw something move in the distance, he squinted his eyes but pretended like he did not see anything. 

Ever since Fredrik's death, a power tussle ensued for the void he left among the more influential men of Kattegat. Bjorn knew that Askild was the only one keeping them in check because Askild may be as cruel as he is but he was no puppet. 

Bjorn was conflicted because he knew Kattegat would fall apart should Askild fall. 

They were barely hanging on after the mess Birger created and Fredrik's importance was showing.

This was why Askild, despite his attitude, never opposed anything Fredrik said. 

But it is also safe to say that Fredrik was the one keeping Askild in check as certain decisions, Askild could not make but now he was free to do as he pleased and thus included going to England. 

Bjorn knew they were being watched, this was a frequent occurrence and one of the reasons he could not leave his mother alone. He was fine with them watching but for how long?

"Ivan, I assure you. My brother is no dragon. Now, can I go to bed? Bjorn dismissed his warrior's worry. 

".... Are you sure, Commander?" Ivan was not satisfied with Bjorn's answer. 

"Ah, forgive me, Ivan. I must have missed the horns on his other two heads…" Bjorn was so annoyed.

"Hahaha! I knew it!" Ivan laughed victoriously, missing the obvious sarcasm in Bjorn's voice. 

"I WAS OBVIOUSLY JOKING!" Bjorn shouted and this inadvertently woke his mother up. 

Bjorn turned around briefly to see if his mother was within sight, he knew he was about to get the scolding of his life and upon looking front, Ivan was nowhere to be found.

"That bastard!" Bjorn cussed, Ivan had run away because he was not about to get a scolding from Bjorn's mother. 

"Bjorn Ironside!" Lagertha screamed as she charged into his room but she met no one. 

Bjorn had jumped out of his window and followed in Ivan's footsteps. 

-

Tyr was back at the party, he watched everyone drink and have fun to their hearts' content but he also noticed no one dared look at Estrid.

He was certain that she believed herself some sort of goddess that was not worthy of anyone's eyes. 

She was the textbook definition of a narcissist but Tyr was yet to figure out what her deal was. 

It must be tasking being the only girl in such a big extended family and that is why they treated her like a princess. 

Thorgard was the exception but Tyr liked Thorgard and that was who he tried to find the moment he returned with Estrid. He found the young Viking eating and drinking with his peers. 

Tyr has not been around someone his age for a very long time and seeing Thorgard was a pleasant sight. 

He knew he could learn more about Salgard from him as Thorgard already had a few drinks in him. 

Tyr rushed to the young Viking's side but he could feel Salgard's eyes trailing him. 

Salgard did not come here to celebrate Tyr, he came here to see what kind of person he was and right now, Salgard was wary of the son of Ragnar. 

"Thorgard!" Tyr excitedly called out, he did so in a manner that let everyone know the two were getting along. This would, in turn, create a sense of unity seeing as Tyr befriended the King's brother. 

This would, in turn, make everyone more trusting because if the King's brother could trust him enough to befriend him, surely he must be friendly.

This was what Tyr was banking on and luckily, Thorgard reciprocated his energy. 

"Friend! Come! Come!" Thorgard gestured for him to come to sit with him, pushing the lady beside him away.

Tyr took him up on his offer but Thorgard offered him a cup of ale Tyr knew he had to drink. 

It would be rude to turn it down, especially after that big showing.

Tyr had tried ale before, he hated the taste, but he could suck it up this once. 

Tyr gulped the cup of ale down in a go but Thorgard and everyone around looked at Tyr with awe.

"What?" Tyr asked.

"That was not just any ale, it was ale gotten from a neighbouring Kingdom! It packs X10 the power of normal ale and you just drank a full cup! As expected of the son of Ragnar!" Thorgard said.

"What is he saying, I am perfectly fine…" Tyr thought or so he thought as he had said this out loud with the biggest grin on his face. 

"That fool…" Estrid thought, looking at Tyr's stupid grin, there was no way she was going to marry such a clueless person.