The Son Of Ragnar

Chapter 20 Negotiation Begins

?The day finally came, and the streets of Kattegat were quiet and calm. The clouds were clear, and no signs of rain were to disturb these proceedings.

Vikings were stationed outside. The citizens, however, were nowhere in sight because they did not know the motive of Asmund but tensions were high.

Askild knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime to kill Asmund once and for all while trying to expand his influence in Vestfold but it will be in ill faith, no other kingdom would trust him and trust was a currency more valuable than money.

The man of the hour came, Asmund was mounted majestically on a white horse with a multitude of Vikings with him, this was to be expected because it would be foolish if he came alone.

The Vikings surrounding him were all huge men, the shortest man among them was 6'3.

This did well to intimidate the other Vikings from Kattegat but not all as some wanted a swing at them. The bigger they are, the harder they fall and they were eager to test this.

Signy was on a black horse beside his father, they were the only two on a horse as the rest of his men were on their feet, they had walked here.

"Welcome, King Asmund." Asger welcomed the King of Vestfold, he was the one that was responsible for ensuring he reached the throne room safely and without incident.

The man before him fitted the description given by the boy that was allowed to return to Vestfold to carry the news of Egil's loss, Asmund knew the man before he was Asger.

"Are you not Asger?" King Asmund asked the brawny man and Asger nodded, and they locked eyes for a moment too long.

"I am honored that the King of Vestfold knows my name, but I can only permit you and another to advance past this point," Asger told the mounted King. Asmund looked right at him, there was no hostility from Asger despite the Vikings around him emitting killing intent.

He unmounted his horse and signaled for Signy to do the same to which his son complied. Signy came down from his horse but the moment his legs touched the floor, they became wobbly but regained his composure just as fast.

"I will take my son with me," Asmund said, Asger proceeded to bow his head before gesturing for them to come forward. The Vikings of Asmund were staring down Asger but Asger was the least bit concerned with them for he knew this was all they could do.

The fact that they were here, deep in enemy territory, showed that Kattegat had the upper hand in this ongoing situation.

King Asmund and his son followed Asger into the throne room, where Askild waited.

Asger, however, stood outside as this was the wish of King Askild and Askild being the strongest warrior in Kattegat meant his combat skills were far from lacking.

"Welcome to Katetgat, King Asmund. Who might the young man beside you be?" Askild asked, coming down from his throne to show that he saw Asmund as an equal for he too, was a king.

Signy glared at him but Askild looked right back at him and the moment their eyes met, Signy looked away in fear. The look in Askild's eyes was empty, it felt like he was staring into a void.

The feeling he got was like nothing before.

"Who might this young man be?" Askild asked, there was no way a Viking would be brave enough to give him that look with their King present.

"That is my son, Signy. Forgive his manners, he is still a hot-blooded boy," Asmund said to the descending king.

"Hahaha! We were once hot-blooded as well. I understand his feelings but let us get straight to why you are," Askild responded, now mere inches from both visitors. A table and 2 chairs were set up in advance of this meeting.

"Please, do take a sit. We have a lot to discuss." Askild said in a raspy voice. Asmund took a sit with his son standing behind him.

"Where is Egil?" Asmund asked in a very hostile tone.

-

"Father!" Bjorn called out to Ragnar with Tyr running behind him equally energetic.

Both children ran into the house, they saw their father resting his head on the luscious thighs of his wife.

"What is it Bjorn, can't you see I am resting?" Ragnar complained to his son, he was interrupting his resting time.

"Father! Tyr just said he will beat me in a fight! Tell him he is wrong!" Bjorn shouted from the top of his lungs.

"Tell him, father!" Tyr shouted back with Ragnar fuming internally, these little runts had ruined the mood because he could not get back into it now.

"Damn it you little brats!" Ragnar shouted louder than both of them combined, jerking himself off Lagertha's thighs and looking his children right in the eyes.

"Soon, you will know there is more to life than mere fighting!" Ragnar continued but he saw a figure approaching from the window and rushed to the door but told his children to hang back.

The man inched closer every second, and the closer he got the closer Ragnar got to the door.

Tyr and Bjorn were both curious about who made their father act this way but they could not see through the window as their father had already instructed them to go back.

"Everyone be quiet," Ragnar whispered before opening the door and jumping out at the person when they were close enough.

Ulf, who was not interested in the visit of King Asmund, remained in his house like always.

Ulf rarely went out, instead focusing on building his strength and skill these past years with the exceptions of his leisure time being spent with whores and slaves.

He secretly wished to be acknowledged by King Askild and knew the only way he could accomplish that was to outshine Ragnar in the coming expedition.

Three bangs soon hit his door, someone was knocking on it aggressively and this put Ulf on guard as he slowly approached the door with a small butcher knife in hand.

The door soon swung open and Ulf charged at him.