Chapter 406 Hostage



The terms were set and Ragnar was off, he was taken to the King of Northumbria.

An army was stationed around the shores that the other Vikings were.

King Ælla was not taking any chances and he knew what he needed to do to keep them away.

Ecgberht was taken in by the Vikings and considering his age, one would think he could become the King of Northumbria using the same methods that his uncle utilized.

Ecgberht sat in silence, he didn't know what to do as no one spoke his tongue.

Alf was forbidden to go with Ragnar as they assured him that communication wouldn't be a problem considering his loyalty had been compromised.

They did not want Alf but rather, they would use one of the prisoners they had taken to get Alf's loyalty.

This meant that Alf could help in communicating with the prisoners and this was what they intended to do.

Everyone was ignoring the prisoner, they knew he was a hostage and they now had Calvin and Ecgberht. This gave them the upper hand in terms of hostage body count but they didn't understand what Ecgberht influence was in Northumbria.

If they knew, they might have had second thoughts regarding the whole thing.

Tyr was not one to ignore an opportunity to peer into the enemy's mind.

Tyr just stared at him and Ecgberhy could not hold his gaze considering that the look Tyr was giving him was like that of a wild animal looking for any excuse to pounce on its prey if it made any sudden moves.

Ecgberht was frightened, these men oozed something that could only be described as pure evil.

"He is a coward, he does not even have the spirit of a warrior. No wonder their King has no use for him," Tyr mocked him out loud and everyone else laughed.

Ecgberht instinctively knew that they were laughing at him but it was better than them touching him.

Ecgberht was used to being the punchline of everyone's joke so this felt like home but he knew that this was not the only thing the man before him intended.

Thorgard soon joined Tyr, he wanted to spend more time with Tyr.

"Tyr Gardsson! You are amazing!" Thorgard heaped praise on him.

"I wish to live in your mind for a day..." Thorgard said but Tyr was spaced out.

He felt like he was talking to himself, Tyr was distant.

Then Ecgberht said something that made Alf's eyes open in surprise.

"What did you just say?" Alf asked him in the language that the Englishman knew.

"I am not your enemy and your King will die by the next sunrise. King Ælla has no intention of letting any of you live," Ecgberht had said earlier.

"What is it, Alf?" Tyr asked the moment he saw him speak a foreign language.

Ecgberht remained silent after he said that and that didn't stop Tyr from seeking further information regarding this.

Tyr knew the smell of dogs and this man didn't have that smell so Tyr suspected that this man wasn't a rat but a man with ambition.

"My King? You mean that you intend to kill King Ragnar?" Tyr questioned and Alf translated every word the young man said.

"I am afraid it does not matter how strong a warrior is even the best of warriors have their limitations and your King is no different," Ecgberht said bluntly and Tyr smiled the moment that Alf translated this to him.

"You mistake my father for a man, Ragnar is no man and you will all understand why he is feared in Norway," Tyr said with a content smile.

-

Ragnar was taken to Northumbria where King Ælla was, King Ælla was amazed because Ragnar was a lot different from what he had in mind.

This was a King but it was hard to tell by his facial features, he had a beard that was almost sweeping the floor.

King Ælla was the opposite of what Ragnar was, he was well-groomed and had the necessary etiquette for a King but what could one expect from a Pagan?

"Welcome King of pagans..." King Ælla welcomed Ragnar and of course, he had a translator for this conversation.

Ragnar did not respond to his greetings, Ragnar was a veteran warrior.

There was no way that he did not think of ways that this could go wrong.

He had examined all the possible outcomes and still found that he would emerge from this alive.

Ragnar was simply that confident, he knew that he had to be or the people around him would perceive his weakness.

Vikings believed in strength and if they found that strength was no longer enough then there was nothing else for Ragnar to do in terms of leadership.

"Why do you bring me here?" Ragnar asked and Ælla smiled as he pointed at the food in front of Ragnar.

"What kind of host would I be if I did not offer my guest some refreshments? Please, help yourself..." King Ælla suggested.

They just came from the sea so they would be hungry if anything, this was a smart move on Ælla's part but it was not something that Ragnar was falling for.

Ragnar knew it was rude to reject things given to him but there had to be an exception to such things.

Ragnar looked to his right and noticed that there were multiple soldiers standing guard, they were ready to smite him should he do anything out of the ordinary.

Killing King Ælla was out of the question but he could discern his motives from a conversation.

This was what Ragnar hoped as he knew how powerful a foe he was facing in such an unknown land.

Ragnar took the food and put it in his mouth, he wanted to show King Ælla that he was as simple-minded as he thought him to be.

Ragnar shoved the food in his mouth like a hungry vulture and the soldiers around could be heard snickering.

They found it amusing that a man who called himself King would stoop so low but a hidden grin snuck up on Ragnar's face.

He had discerned from this gesture that these men underestimated them and that gave them the advantage.