Chapter 42 Invitation

Everyone had different reactions to the tribute that Ivar was paying. The nobles whistled, and some took the opportunity to pinch the slave's handsome face, praising him:

"Ivar, you are truly resourceful. I will also send some beauties to warm your bed next year."

"Silence!" Sora looked at everyone darkly and finally looked at his stepson, who was famous for his bravery and cruelty: "Lord Devonte, what are you doing? This is not a slave market or a brothel." "

Your Majesty, I am paying tribute." Ivar looked calmly at the queen: "If you do not like it, you can do with them whatever you want."

At this point, the atmosphere became extremely stagnant. Involving family conflicts, Ragnar hastily changed the subject.

"What happened to you in Ireland? Do you need me to send the palace guard to help you?"

"I was careless for a moment and was tricked by the locals. You don't have to do this yourself. I'll call Vig and bring some more raiders next spring to wipe them all out." 

What? What does this have to do with me? 

Vig, who had been standing at the end of the line and hadn't spoken, looked at Ivar in surprise for the first time, but he said nothing and planned to find an opportunity to talk to him alone. 

...

The banquet. 

Vig chose a seat next to Ivar and asked him about his experiences over the past six months. 

Ivar tore off half of a roast quail and put it in his mouth to chew. "In April we went to the fief and spent half a month capturing the previous lord's keep. The fellow actually built a stone keep, which is much harder to deal with than a regular wooden keep. In June I asked the shield-bearers to recruit 400 raiders in York, and with 800 men we began building ships." 

"Eight hundred Vikings? You haven't recruited any militia in the country?" 

"Yes, the English are cowardly and can't do much good. Just leave them at home and farm." Ivar drank half a glass of wine and recounted his experiences after setting out to sea. 

Starting from the mouth of the River Derwent, the fleet headed west towards the Isle of Man. It didn't take much effort to deal with two local nobles. After replenishing his food and fresh water supplies, Ivar continued sailing towards the destination of this journey, the mouth of the River Liffey in eastern Ireland. 

According to the idea before setting sail, Ivar planned to establish a base at the mouth of the River Liffey and then move inland along the river, gradually clearing out the scattered forces in different places, and finally becoming a real king. 

However, the first stage of the plan went wrong. 

"Damn, we're too late. The mouth of the Liffey is taken!" 

Ivar was furious when he mentioned the situation at the time. "There was a wooden fortress called Difflin, ruled by a Viking chieftain named Svein, who called himself a king. I fought him three times in a row. This guy's warships were very large, and we suffered a lot. When we fled back to the Isle of Man in September, there were fewer than 500 men left. 

(Dyfflin is a transliteration of the Norse word "Dyfflin," meaning black pond. It is likely to be near Dublin in later generations.)

After interrogating the captives, Ivar learned that Svein was a nobleman in northern Norway. Years earlier, he had led a fleet to the mouth of the Liffey, and then founded a settlement on the southern shore of the Liffey as a long-term foundation. 

After these years of development, Dyfflin has a population of 3,000, and can spare thousands of Vikings for battle. 

"A thousand warriors, plus the large warships we have at hand." Vig calculated Sven's strength, his tone especially solemn: "According to what you said, we will first fight a sea battle with Sven, and then after the victory there will be a siege, which will probably be very troublesome. I propose to ask for help from the king and request the dispatch of the palace guard." 

"You think I haven't thought of this?" Ivar glanced at Sora, who was sitting next to Ragnar: "This woman does not love me. If the palace guards intervene, they will surely take a lot of loot. Will this battle not be in vain? And Sven is not a tough guy. It is enough for you and me to join forces."

After the banquet, Vig sought out Gunnar to buy a shipment of armor. To help with the war next year, he had selected thirty suits of well-made iron scale armor, including matching iron helmets, for a total of sixty pounds of silver. He

didn't have enough money, so he asked if he could buy on credit and send the wheat to pay back the debt later. 

Surprisingly, Gunnar was not at all embarrassed. "No problem. His Majesty told me. Next year, you and Ivar will attack Sven, and you will definitely need a shipment of high-quality equipment." 

The strongman pointed to two rows of weapon racks in the corner. "There are thirty iron swords there, free for you. Do you need anything else?" 

"Give me another shipment of iron tools and nails for building ships."

Having received the supplies, Vig returned to the courtyard where he was temporarily staying and found Halfdan there, dressed in white. 

"You and Ivar will attack Dufilin. Do you want to take me with you?" 

Vig looked at the childish boy and refused very bluntly. "You are too young to take part in the battle. And Ivar is your older brother. It is logical that you should go to him. Why are you going to me? He has already rejected you once?" 

After that, he signaled to the thirty new shield-bearers to receive armor. If the size did not fit, they would have to ask Gunnar to exchange it. 

However, Halfdan was not going to give in so easily. He lingered behind him and did not want to leave. 

"Hey, don't be like that. Bjorn has not returned since he went to sea in March. Next year you and Ivar will go to war. Gunnar, Nils and Orm will lead their troops into the mountains to suppress the bandits. Do you want me to stay in York alone and watch the old witch's face? 

Almost immediately Vig realized that the so-called "old witch" referred to Queen Thora, and his body froze in place. "Then you will find Ivar again and follow him as an ordinary Viking warrior." 

"An ordinary warrior?" Halfdan's eyes gradually cleared, and he ran out of the yard excitedly. 

With this unpleasantness out of the way, Vig felt extremely relaxed. He spent two days at the market, selling honey and the woollen cloth he had brought with him, and then found Ragnar to say goodbye. 

"Don't you want to stay a few more days? Are you in a hurry to get home and find your new wife?" 

In response, Vig explained that he had invented a new type of warship and was looking forward to returning to Tyneburg to test it. 

"New warships? Ha ha, you always think of something new." Ragnar high-fived, laughed, and gave him a jug of good wine: "Odin bless you." 

...

Vig was in a hurry to leave York, the main reason being that he did not want to get involved in the internal feuds of the royal family.

Since Lagertha died from poisoned wine, Ragnar married King Eric's sister, Thora, for political reasons. Lagertha's three sons complained about the marriage. If this continues, the conflict will only escalate when Thora's son Ubber grows up. 

After observing for a few days, Vig concluded that Thora was a real tough guy, and for safety's sake, it was best to stay away from this dangerous maelstrom.