Many of us saw the Frankish envoys come with loads of treasure from the royal treasury. Most of us, including myself, were very grateful as this means it would save the rest of Paris from destruction. The church itself lay in ruins and many houses had been burned to the ground. Homes were looted to pay off trader Johann and to hand off to the raiders. But I soon found out that this ransom wasn't the only plunder that the Danes, Berserkers, and Hooligans would make off with.

"We wish to discuss the terms of the Viking withdrawal from Paris!" a Frankish envoy implored.

Ragnar approached and spoke, "How much is this payment that is given to us by Charles the Bald?"

"We are willing to part with up to 7,000 livres of both silver and gold should you leave Paris, but only if you will leave Paris," the envoy decreed.

"What, do you take me for an oath breaking Frank?" Ragnar replied. "We've already made out with spoils fit for a king. Of course we will leave Paris."

The Danes, Hooligans, and the Berserkers all started bringing their ransom aboard their ships bit by bit. But many of us who gave ourselves up as prisoners so that others may be spared weren't so fortunate as to be left behind like most of the population of Paris. Stoick himself had his men taking not only gold but food supplies to the ships. His men and women were happier to see the food supplies than they were to see the treasure they had plundered from my beautiful home city.

"Well the God of this land has been good to us and as part of this spoil, I will take this fine red haired Celt back with me," Stoick declared. "I will need a slave such as him to help train new recruits in our fight against the dragons and especially to train me in fighting skills. What shall you take Helga?"

"I want this strong Frankish boy," the shield maiden requested. "He stands up for his people at the cost of his own life and he's the only one who ever bested me in combat. Someone like him will make quite a useful slave."

My insides seemed to turn to water because I had no idea what troubles awaited me when I heard the word 'slave.' Spitelout took another brother who had recently taken his oath as a priest and he was a fellow priest in the abbey and I was generally concerned on what would become of him as Spitelout seemed to be one of the more ruthless of the bunch.

"This one seems to be a strong man and surprisingly faces adversity even in the midst of difficulty," another blonde Viking declared. "I want this church leader as my slave. He could help me in teaching my children about kindness as well as strength. That is the Ingermann way. Plus given their knowledge in farming, they could be quite useful in the field."

This blond Ingermann was an odd fellow. He seemed ferocious enough in battle and all too often was called a child lover among the other Vikings. I heard rumors that he himself helped many of the other Parisians escape the onslaught of the Vikings and even hid some of the other little children from the slaughter.

We weren't tied up but we walked aboard willingly for I knew that if I stopped now, then the rest of the church brethren, including the recovering sick would be left to slaughter. I would not break my word, especially if there was a chance in winning any of these Vikings fully for Christ. The Danes and one Berserker long ship stopped by and plundered another monastery but Stoick's ships headed right back for Denmark first thing. They had all met up at Denmark where Ragnar had been grateful.

Sadly, I have seen so many falling back into their pagan ways as they were praising Odin and Thor for their victory rather than thanking Christ for the deliverance from the plague. My heart sunk low as it was just as the Hebrews danced and celebrated around the golden calf even after Go d had delivered them from Egypt. I prayed in French, Latin, and even in tongues that the spirits of evil that haunted these places would not corrupt my heart. I had to put my trust in the Holy Spirit to make sure that I stayed pure.

Sadly, even many of the Hofferson and Ingermann Vikings as well as the Danes had only incorporated Jesus Christ as but another deity in their pantheon, including my new mistress. It was like many of the heresies that infiltrated the early church in how they attempted to understand God through a pagan worldview.

"It is as was foretold, the slaves you have chosen have come back with you," the seer declared.

It was horrifying to me that prophecies from among both pagans and Christians came true. I then began to feel that I knew how Moses felt when he saw that the Egyptian priests had also turned their staffs into serpents just as he was able to by the power granted to him by God.

"And as promised, there is food from which I promised all of you," Ragnar declared. "We have meats of all sorts, grain, lingon berries, furs, honey, and a token of gratitude, willow bark for your healer. Whenever you need to, you may access our trade market here in Denmark."

"In the process, I have seen how obedient and yet strong willed these father friars really are," said Oswald. "I've gotten one of my own and the only treasure he decided to save was his holy book. So, priest, do you really think that you're too good to bow down before Odin?"

I recognized this abbot as he was from the Abbey of St. Bertin.

"I bow only before the one true God, but this does not mean that I will rebel against you master," the abbot replied.

Oswald then swung his ax forward and stopped it just one centimeter away from the abbot's face. The abbot didn't even flinch as he knew he would face persecution in some form or another.

"This slave is willing to die for what he believes and yet is loyal beyond question," said Oswald. "This is why I am willing to spare his life and allow him to serve whatever gods or god he pleases. There is something different about them. I like him."

"You now, the term antagonistic doesn't really suit you, especially from a tribe name called the Berserkers," I declared. "You're more agreeable than any of these he…err…Vikings I've ever met."

"He's got a point," said Stoick. "It's time we call him Oswald the agreeable."

He had been known as Oswald the agreeable from that day forth. I was just hoping that my mistress didn't notice that I had snuck a Bible with me as well. I couldn't part from the word of God. Suddenly, I noticed my mistress, Helga Hofferson noticed, but she ironically smiled. I wasn't sure what her intentions were for me. Later on, Fergus looked down in disappointment as he feared that he wouldn't see the highlands of Scotland again.

Oddly enough, Stoick then approached Fergus with a smile.

"Now look, I hope you don't see me as a threat to you, especially as you're more valuable to me in good health than if you were sickly," Stoick declared. "You've bested me in combat and given your honor, I trust you not to run off so there will be no need for bonds or chains. Plus chiefing isn't exactly easy on Berk and so I am wondering if you as a noble would be able to help me chief."

"Wait, you mean me, a slave, govern your village?" Fergus asked.

"Aye," Stoick replied. "After all, they are going to have to accept that it is me chiefing Berk through you because a dragon attack could come at any moment and we need to have the village prepared in case of any dragon attacks were to happen."

"And what about those three among your tribe, Alvin, Savage, and Spitelout?" asked Fergus.

"Alvin was once a good friend of mine, but perhaps learning to taking chiefing from a slave will get him to learn his place and it is only the most unruly of the village that I'll need your help governing," Stoick replied.

"But why treat me with such dignity when I'm but your slave?" asked Fergus.

"Because survival is tough in Berk," Stoick replied. "We can't afford to have anyone suffering ill treatment when that would minimize productivity."