The Son Of Ragnar

Chapter 169 News Reaches Vestfold

King Ragnar was exhausted with his engagements during the day and night and offered no reprieve as King Rugalf Gardsson was being hosted with a feast. He stayed the night and celebrated with fellow warriors and ale with Ragnar present in the throne room.

This marked a new alliance but Ragnar was cautious due to this man's past relationship with Vestfold. He was once an enemy and Ragnar knew better than to blindly trust him because of a change of leadership, he suspected he had a different motive but had nothing to go for his suspicion.

Ragnar missed Lagertha and wondered what she was doing at this very moment but he was soon dragged into the celebration by Rugalf.

"King Ragnar Lothbrok! The foreign King was accepted by the masses! The true King that will restore Vestfold to its glory days!" Regalf was drunk and boasted as he had his arm around the nape of Ragnar's neck.

The warriors in the room cheered, not everyone partook in the war or was fortunate enough to escape, they had submitted and accepted Ragnar as their new King as this is tradition.

Naturally, there would exist those that harbored ill intentions toward him but as long as they did not act it out, Ragnar had no qualms with them.

"KING RAGNAR! KING RAGNAR!" The men cheered, and Ragnar smiled awkwardly, he could swear he was the only one that was sober in this room.

The room's stench was sickening but this was common in their world.

"H-Hahaha! Stop, this is embarrassing…" Ragnar flushed red, he liked blending into the background but this was no longer possible being a King.

"Rubbish! Your reputation precedes you! Your swordsmanship is renowned in my kingdom. It is believed that Thor takes control of your body once you take to battle!" Rugalf praised Ragnar but Ragnar was surprised that such a myth existed about him and was curious as to why it even took hold.

But their ceremonial mood was soon interrupted by a messenger. He was breathing hard, it took a full minute for him to catch his breath despite him traveling on horseback at full speed hence why he could arrive in the space of a few hours as opposed to days.

"K-KING RAGNAR!" The man shouted, but no one heard him amid the cheers and noises made by the drunken men. He knew he needed Ragnar's attention, fighting his way through the crowd of bodies in his struggle to reach Ragnar.

He tried calling out but each time he did, his voice dissipated into thin air but he soon had Ragnar Lothbrok in sight.

Ragnar was with Rugalf, and the man did not know how he would perceive this information if he told Ragnar the news beside a foreign King but there was no time for second-guessing.

He ran to Ragnar's side and the moment he did, everywhere fell silent because they knew what a messenger being present meant.

Ragnar did not know if he should receive this in private or in front of everyone but Skarde whispered something in his ear, or what he thought was a whisper was in actuality, a scream as Skarde was just as drunk as the rest.

"You should follow your heart, King Ragnar," What Skarde was referring to was a mystery because it was sure as hell not related to the ongoing situation.

Ragnar knew he needed transparency among his men if he was to get them to trust him that is.

Ragnar knew this was an important step concerning that and permitted the messenger to speak.

"King Ragnar! Kattegat has fallen! Your wife, Lagertha! She has been taken hostage by an unknown! He has requested you arrive in Kattegat by tomorrow or she will be dead!" The messenger said but Ragnar'a face was indifferent when he heard this.

? He walked casually over to a cup of ale, everyone looking over to see how Ragnar would take this news as he gulped down the whole cup before smashing the cup on the table, breaking it into pieces.

"K-King Ragnar," Rugalf called out cautiously, trying to make sure it was the same man he was talking to that was there, but veins could be seen on Ragnar's forehead and this sent a cold shudder down Rugalf's spine.

"I will kill anyone that dares threaten my family!" Ragnar was furious, this was the angriest anyone had ever seen him be and they all seemed to sober up upon sensing his killing intent.

For the first time, Ragnar's bloodlust was awakened and he was going to bring it all down on the person responsible for this, he was going to bring it down on Birger.

-

Ulrik waited for news on Lagertha, Tyr, and Herfjötur because he was eager to know if their mission was successful or not because failure most likely meant death.

He was restless, constantly tapping his feet and his knee with his fingers, like he was communicating in Morse Code. Karl had yet to regain consciousness as well meaning he had taken more damage than they originally thought.

A thought Ulrik did not want to come to pass but he entertained the possibility, and he could not help to worry about what happened to Garda because Birger had what he wanted.

There was no reason to keep her captive, no one knew what happened to Liv's father either.

Soon, Ulrik heard hastened footsteps running in their direction and instantly took up his guard because it was the steps of a single person and Ulrik was certain it should be two as far as Ulrik and Herfjötur were concerned.

But Ulrik soon lowered his weapon when he saw who the person running towards him was, it was Tyr and he was covered in mud from head to toe (he reapplied it) but that was not the only thing that was different with Tyr. He was wounded in multiple places, meaning a battle of some sort ensured before he escaped but this begged the question, where was Herfjötur?