December 12, 869 AD
Bjorn, wearing his heavy chainmail armor and a fur cloak to block the freezing wind, stepped off the main transport ship and placed his leather boots firmly on the pathway of the harbor.
Behind him, hundreds of ard foot soldiers marched slowly off the ships. Bjorn had arrived at the port of Wessex with his army.
Of the n who had sailed with him originally, about 90 n had been killed. They died from enemy arrows, dehydration, and the sharp blades of rival cavalry units. Despite these losses, his military force had actually increased in total numbers.
He now had 600 n with him, although he had set out with only 500.
The remaining 190 n were either Arab knights who had sworn loyalty to Bjorn’s leadership, wealthy rchants who sought the protection of the Iron King’s trade routes, or even highly intelligent people such as mapmakers and scholars.
Bjorn mounted a brown horse provided by the port guards. He rode quickly through the paved streets of the city, heading directly toward the large stone building where Ragnar held his court.
He needed to report the complete victory of his expedition and present the newly acquired scholars to the king.
When Bjorn finally reached the main hall, he found Ragnar sitting at a wide table covered in complex maps and ledgers.
Ragnar stood up from his chair, "Bjorn, my brother! You have returned before the heaviest snowfalls!"
Ragnar said loudly, walking around the table.
And so, Ragnar spoke eagerly with Bjorn, asking rapid questions about the behavior of the Arab knights, the strength of the southern fortresses, and the specific knowledge possessed by the foreign scholars. Bjorn provided straightforward answers, explaining how the explosive weapons had completely terrified the desert warlords.
While they were talking about the placent of the new Arab knights within the city’s defensive structure, the door of the hall opened.
Gyda walked into the room. She did not wear her usual formal dresses; instead, she wore a simple woolen tunic and looked slightly tired, yet she possessed an undeniable brightness in her eyes.
"Ragnar," Gyda said, stopping right in front of him and placing her hands softly on her own stomach.
"...I think I’m pregnant!" Gyda announced.
Ragnar stood near the center of the room, looking at his wife.
"Pregnant? Oh my!" Ragnar shouted, a massive smile breaking across his face.
He walked over to Gyda and gently placed his large, calloused hands on her sides. He was overjoyed to see that his wife’s belly was larger than usual, confirming the wonderful news.
Gyda smiled back at him, though her face looked slightly pale. It seed she had vomited quite a bit that day, a common and exhausting reality of carrying a child, especially in the harsh conditions.
"You must not exhaust yourself, Gyda. The kingdom can wait; our child cannot!" Ragnar said, his voice filled with deep concern for her health.
Ragnar turned his head toward the door and shouted.
"Leofric! Enter the room imdiately!" Ragnar ordered.
Leofric, who was standing guard outside the room, opened the door and stepped inside. He wore his heavy iron armor and carried his long spear, expecting to receive orders about troop movents or grain supplies.
"My wife is carrying my child. I want you to bring many servants to attend to her for the next nine months. They must bring her fresh water, warm blankets, and the best food we have in the storage buildings. If she requires anything, they must provide it instantly!"
Leofric nodded his head rapidly, a smile appearing on his face as he realized the the news. He quickly bowed his head and left the room to gather the most reliable servants in the city.
After all, with Leofric handling the servants, the private room was once again occupied only by the king, his pregnant wife, and the heavy weight of their shared future. However, they were soon joined by Bjorn. The three of them conversed at length, sitting around a small table near the burning hearth.
Ragnar spoke rapidly about his plans for the child. He talked about how he would teach his son or daughter to ride a horse before they could walk, how they would learn to recognize the sound of quality iron being struck, and how they would understand the strategic importance of paved roads and high stone walls.
Gyda laughed softly at his excessive planning. Bjorn added his own thoughts, promising to teach the child how to hold a shield and survive in the harsh winter snow.
While they were laughing and sharing these warm monts, the door opened again. Louis the Stamrer walked into the room.
He carried a large piece of animal parchnt in his hands, and his face displayed an expression of curiosity.
"Ragnar, I have been studying the maps you drew" Louis said, stamring slightly as his excitent grew.
He pointed his finger at a large, blank area on the edge of the drawn map.
"This is the Arica you spoke of..." Louis stated, looking up at Ragnar with wide eyes.
"Can one of our ships reach it?" Louis asked, staring directly into Ragnar’s eyes.
"Of course, our ships cannot reach that continent I told you about before..." Ragnar stated firmly, shaking his head.
Ragnar looked at the blank spaces on the map where Louis had asked about the distant land called Arica.
The ships they currently possessed were excellent for navigating coastal waters and calm seas, but they would be destroyed by the massive storms in the open ocean.
"And I truly think I was a bit hasty in telling you this..." Ragnar added.
***
Erik, the King of Norway, remained in England on Ragnar’s explicit instructions. Erik had not returned to his northern fjords to count his silver or test his new hand cannons. Instead, Ragnar had told him to send fast ssenger ships back to Norway to deliver specific orders to his most prominent and powerful generals.
Ragnar needed these hardened warriors for a well-devised plan.
Today, the result of those ssages finally arrived at the docks...
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