The three of them stood in silence for a mont...
Suddenly a breathless ssenger in the black and gold of the Lion Banner strode in and dropped to one knee before the Iron Father.
"My lord!" the man panted, "a most interesting guest has arrived at the southern docks. Three assassins rowed him across the Channel. He claims to be the rightful heir to the Frankish throne... Prince Louis the Stamrer, son of the dead emperor! He begs audience with the Iron Father at once."
Ragnar’s smile widened into sothing predatory as he exchanged a single glance with Gyda and Leofric.
"And there it was," Ragnar murmured, "the desperate one arrives first. Bring him to . Let us hear what the true heir of Francia is willing to offer in exchange for the Lion’s protection."
The ssenger bowed and vanished as quickly as he had co.
Leofric let out a deep laugh that shook the rafters. "I cannot wait to see his face when he realizes he just walked into the lion’s den with nothing but a dagger and a prayer."
The palace gates of City Titan stood wide under the Lion Banner, but the guards on duty still snapped to attention the mont the lone figure approached on foot. Louis the Stamrer walked alone now,the three assassins having refused to step past the outer walls.
"We wait here," the leader had said quietly, "You go in alone. The Iron Father will want to see you that way. No hidden blades at your back."
Louis had nodded once and stepped through the gates. The guards eyed him warily, hands resting on sword hilts, but they let him pass after a quick search.
One of them muttered sothing low to the other before waving him forward.
"Straight to the main hall," the guard said. "The Iron Father is expecting important guests tonight."
Louis said nothing. By the ti he reached the tall double doors of the great hall, his hands were shaking inside his sleeves.
Inside, the hall was warr than he expected.
Ragnar sighed the mont Louis stepped fully into the light.
Louis stopped ten paces away and forced his shoulders straight. His voice ca out steadier than he felt.
"I am Louis, son of Charles the Bald, rightful Emperor of the Franks. I co alone. My mother sent across the sea in secret... I need your help."
Ragnar leaned back in his chair, studying him for a long mont before speaking.
"Sit down, boy. You look like you ran the whole way from Francia. Gyda, pour him sothing strong. He’s shaking."
Gyda moved without a word, filling a cup and sliding it across the table. Louis took it with both hands, the warmth helping steady him.
Leofric snorted from his pillar. "Your uncle’s got two thousand knights and half the dukes already kissing his boots. What makes you think you can offer us anything he can’t?"
Louis took a long drink, then set the cup down harder than he ant to. "Because I’m the blood. My uncle took the throne with steel, not right. The dukes are scared of him right now, but they’ll turn on him the mont they see weakness. I can give you the south. The ports. Trade rights. Everything your ships need to reach the diterranean without paying his tolls."
Ragnar’s fingers tapped once on the arm of his chair. "And in return?"
Louis t his eyes. "In return you help take back what’s mine. You land your army. You break my uncle’s knights the sa way you broke that mountain in Norway. When I sit on the throne, Francia opens every southern port to you. You get a foothold on the mainland. I get my crown."
Gyda leaned forward, "You’re offering half the kingdom to a foreign conqueror. That’s a big promise for a man who just ran for his life."
"I’m offering survival," Louis shot back, "My uncle will kill the second he feels safe. He already tried once. If I stay in Francia alone, I’m dead within the month. With you... with the Iron Empire... I have a chance. And you get Francia split down the middle. Your cannons on one side, my banner on the other. The dukes will have to choose. Most will choose the side with the bigger guns."
Leofric pushed off the pillar and walked closer, "Words are cheap. How do we know you can deliver? Your uncle’s already got the crown on his head and knights at his back. You’ve got three assassins waiting outside and a whole lot of nothing."
Louis turned to face him directly. "Because the dukes are scared. I saw it in their eyes before they dragged away. They knelt to my uncle because they were terrified of those knights. But they’re even more terrified of you. They’ve heard the stories from Norway. They know what your cannons can do. If I co back with the Lion Banner behind , half of them will switch sides before the first shot is fired."
Ragnar watched the exchange in silence, then finally spoke again, "More than a crown, you’re offering a civil war I can finish in a single season. That’s tempting. But kings who lose everything often promise the world. What happens when you sit on that throne and decide you no longer need the Lion’s help?"
Louis leaned forward, "Then you remind what happens to n who break their word to the Iron Father. I’m not stupid. I know I can’t beat my uncle alone. But with you... we split Francia. You keep the south and the ports. I keep the north and the title. We both win. My uncle loses everything."
Gyda tapped her ledger once, "And your mother? She sent you here knowing what this alliance would cost?"
"She sent here because it’s the only way I stay alive," Louis answered, "She told to give you whatever you want. Ports. Trade. Land. Whatever it takes... Just help take back what’s mine."
Ragnar stood slowly, cane striking the floor once as he walked around the table until he was standing directly in front of the young prince. He looked down at him for a long mont...
"I have never stolen a throne from a man who still had a rightful claim. If I help you, Louis the Stamrer, it will not be out of pity. It will be because you are useful. Because your na still ans sothing to the people of Francia. Because with you on the throne, the south opens to my ships without a single battle."
"Stay the night. Rest. Tomorrow we talk terms. Real terms. If you can convince that you are more than just a boy running from his uncle’s knights, then perhaps we have a deal."
Ragnar nodded once, then turned back toward the table.
"Take him to the guest quarters. Feed him. Let him sleep. We have much to discuss in the morning."
As Louis was led away by two silent guards, Ragnar sat back down and looked at Gyda and Leofric, the ghost of a smile touching his lips.
"And there it was... the key we needed to open the southern ports without firing a single shot."
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