The soft croaks came from the raven that had nestled its way onto my shoulder for most of the journey to Ubbe's camp. I stared up at the tall palisade walls that housed my brothers inside. I stepped forward to the closed gate, taking a twig out of my mouth. The raven wasn't bothered by my movement finding it more interesting to run its beak through my hair.

Leif walked up to the gate, glaring up at the ramparts where yellow and black shields lined up.

'Open up you chicken shits. Lord Ivar the Boneless is at your gates.'

'Chicken shit, huh. What are you going to do about it, brother? We have to get approval before anyone enters the town,' said Gerlak.

Leif's twin brother stood high, smirking at us biting into an apple. Today was not a day to test my patience. I was consumed with anger that I deceived my body from portraying.

'Gerlak, you open this gate before I punch you in your fat face,' said Leif.

I took Egil's bow and arrow.

'My face is not fat you, shit!'

I had released the arrow grazing his cheek.

'Open this gate before I burn the whole village down!' I shouted.

Gerlak signal to someone below him, and the gate slowly dropped down.

'Brother, your lord is crazy,' said Gerlak holding onto his cheek.

Entering Ubbe's camp, all went quiet. My crutch was one of the few sounds striking into the soil. My housecarls walked behind me, shields up displaying my colors. Fletcher had my banner unrolled, holding it up with pride. A king without a crown, the Warlord of the Great Army, has arrived in all my reputation and glory. People rushed out of my way, parting a path. All eyes were locked on me as I kept my focus ahead. I clenched my teeth and curled my upper lip into a slight frown. The raven kept a hold on my shoulder, croaking and flapping its wings.

Ubbe, Hvitserk, and King Harald stepped out of a stoned house. Within an arm's length away from them, I struck my crutch heavily into the ground leaning in on it. I spat out in front of me and rolled my shoulders back, sizing each of them up like a wolf measuring its prey.

'Ivar,' said Ubbe.

I glanced up at the sky, smirking. I slowly brought my gaze to him.

'In two weeks, I'll be negotiating with King Edmund over the taxes and his loyalty he owes to me.'

'Ivar, you acted too rashly. You should have come here first. We were already working on a truce.'

'Yes Ubbe, this truce, does it involve me?'

'Of course not. I denied that suggestion.'

Reassurance slightly washed over me for that confirmation.

'Ivar Lothbrok, Ubbe Ragnarsson, perhaps we should talk in the hall,' said King Harald.

I transferred my gaze to the king. Dropping to his sword, I scrunched my lips tightly together. Returning to his eyes, he was staring at my steel collar. Bringing my hand up to my shoulder, I allowed the raven to step up on my arm. The raven croaked at me. Keeping my eyes on the bird, deliberately ignoring the three fools in front of me.

'There is nothing to discuss. My men are tired, as am I. Some of us haven't had a decent meal in months, unlike here it'd seem.'

I pushed my arm up, allowing the raven to take off in flight.

'Of course, Ivar Lothbrok, your great warriors will be the first to feast tonight.'

A hand touched my shoulder, and my eyes widened. I inhaled sharply from the shiver that went down my spine. Beowulf's hands were roaming over my body, touching me wherever he pleased.

'Don't touch me!'

I flinched back, swatting at the contact. It was King Harald's hand, not Beowulf's. I was breathing heavily, and my brothers and King Harald were probably thinking I was mad.

'I'm pissed at each of you,' I said, trying to cover up my embarrassing outburst. 'Good men and women died because of your cowardice. White Hair amongst them.'

'And what of Margrethe, Ivar?'

I squinted my eyes and furrowed my brows, turning to Hvitserk.

'What?'

'Don't play stupid. She was murdered at Yorvik after I left.'

Huh. I shrugged my shoulders. What does this have to do with anything? Piss off Hvitserk, don't come at me with a sorrowful heart. I have no sympathy. I was just tortured and spent the last few months traveling through practically Niflheim.

'You murdered her,' said Hvitserk glaring at me.

'Umm, she was mad,' I said, looking over to Ubbe for his assurance. Ubbe was giving me a sharp, harsh look. I hate these people. I rolled my eyes. 'I did not murder her.'

'Ivar,' said Ubbe walking toward me in a low voice. 'Margrethe was a free woman. There are laws.'

'I. Did. Not. Kill her,' I said through clenched teeth. My patience was depleting. 'Why would I kill her?'

Hvitserk stormed up to my face.

'Because Ivar she knew your secret,' said Hvitserk in a whisper leaning into my ear. 'That you can't ever pleasure a woman.'

I swiped my tongue over my front teeth, clenching my fingers into a fist. I struck Hvitserk across the face the force brought both of us to the ground. He quickly shoved me off him hitting me in the face as he got on top of me, throwing another punch. I pushed my body up, off-centering him and deflecting the blow. I screamed out as I grabbed his jerkin, striking a blow to his stomach.

'Ivar Hvitserk enough!' shouted Ubbe.

Heavy impact struck my abdomen, getting possibly kneed. I reached out, ready to punch Hvitserk again, when he screamed, grabbing onto my jerkin and slamming me to the other side of him. I cried out, landing painfully on gravel. He jumped on top of me, ready to strike. A fist was coming to my face when tears had begun escaping. I accidentally dropped my guard crying underneath my brother.

I hate myself! I hate myself for being so weak! I wept underneath my brother, and tears wouldn't stop coming. The punch never came.

I shoved him in the chest, but he just kept staring down at me.

'Fight me. Fight me, you coward!'

Hvitserk shook his head, taking my wrist. I brought up my other hand, trying to shove him, but he wouldn't fight back.

'I said fight me!' I shouted with a cracked voice.

Instead of him fighting back, he embraced me, concealing me under his body as he shooed everyone away. Tears streamed down my cheeks while I screamed into his chest. I was broken. No matter how hard I tried to tell myself everything was alright, it wasn't. I was broken, I knew it, and now Hvitserk knew it.

Warm liquid was trailing down my neck and throat. I must've popped the blisters under my collar. Hvitserk laid beside me with his cheek propped against the top of my head. We laid there breathing heavily, staring at the sky for a few minutes. My housecarls had turned outboard with shields interlocked concealing us from the army.

The crowd had disbursed along with King Harald. Ubbe walked over, giving Hvitserk a hand up.

'Hvitserk, Ivar, we shouldn't fight one another. Think of what our parents would say.'

'They probably wouldn't be too surprised,' I said, wincing as I sat up, wiping the blood from my cheek.

'Little brother, you still throw punches like a girl,' said Hvitserk holding his hand out to me.

I rolled my eyes at his comment taking his hand. Ubbe gave me my crutch.

'With that discoloration around your eye, I'd say my punch was effective.'

We stared at each other for a moment before cracking smiles and hugging one another. Ubbe shook his head at us.

'I'll never understand this relationship you both have with one another,' said Ubbe walking over to Torvi.

I don't understand it either. We're brothers what's there to explain.

'Brother, Floki is alive. He has discovered a new land.'

'Really, where? We should help him conquer it,' I said smiling.

This was great news. Floki's alive.

'According to Ubbe, the land is deserted. It's Floki's Asgard. But he's calling it Iceland, or was it Snowland. It's not too far from here, I guess.'

I chuckled softly. Neither name Iceland nor Snowland sounded promising. What has the old fool got himself into? I'll have to visit him sometime and see this Iceland. It might be the perfect location to bury my horde of wealth.

Walking with Hvitserk to the hall, I was surprised to see Freydís here holding her newborn son. What kind of mother puts her son in danger? She gave me a warm smile, and I returned it with a glare. She should never have risked the travel here. My frown quickly changed into a smile as I saw Cara carrying linen in her arms, walking past Ubbe and Torvi. Freydís turned around probably to see who captured my attention. Cara, the slave, is here.

'Lady Cara,' I shouted.

The poor woman dropped everything she was carrying, not expecting anyone to call her by her name. I left Hvitserk's company walking to her. She rushed over to me, brushing some of her hair from her face.

'Lord, I'll get some bandages.'

'No, wait.' I said, lowering my voice. 'I'm happy to see you here. Who owns you?'

'Lady Freydís does now lord. Ever since that day, I prepared a bath for you.'

I smirked, how convenient. Why would Freydís need a slave back then?

'You'll now work for me, and only me as a tutor. I wish to learn about Ireland. I'm a very curious man.'

Cara smiled such a small gesture, but it made me feel great.

'Freydís,' I said, waving her over. She walked, frowning at Cara, who kept her head down. 'I'm afraid you'll have to find a new slave. Cara is now on my service.'

Freydís's frown deepens at that.

'But Ivar, our son needs extra care.'

'Yeah, well, you and your son should still be in Yorvik. Not here. Find another slave.'

'Why do you want her? For your enjoyment?'

Hah, I wish. I glanced over at Cara, trying to hide my smile. Only if she ever wanted to, that is. Wait, get off my ass Freydís, you have Hvitserk.

'I'm a cripple. She's a skilled healer,' I said, dismissing myself from her presence.

I had a decent size tent built where I mostly stayed for two weeks. My raven came back to me seeking shelter. I taught him how to say my name, so he croaked Ivar to everyone when he flew around the camp. Ubbe didn't find it amusing. As I ordered, Cara was now my slave, although she wasn't treated like one. She had begun teaching me her native tongue. I found it rather irritating that my damn housecarls would make a presence whenever Cara showed up for lessons.

On the day of negotiations, Ubbe, Hvitserk, and King Harald accompanied me. I brought five hundred men with me. To my annoyance, Gerlak and Leif started becoming attached to the hip.

'Lord Ivar is the banner placement to your liking,' asked Gerlak.

'Gerlak, you're not one of my housecarl's.'

'Actually, lord I was thinking.'

'No.'

I wasn't accepting any other oaths. No one could replace White Hair. I walked into the tent where King Edmund sat with three priests. There was a table in the center and four empty chairs. Ubbe walked in after me, followed by Hvitserk and King Harald.

'Greetings, King Edmund,' said Ubbe in our Danish tongue. 'This is my younger brother Hvitserk. You already know King Harald and my youngest brother Ivar.'

One of the priests sitting beside the king translated what was said. I smirked at King Edmund, who faltered in his seat when he looked at me.

'Ye. Yes, I know Ivar.'

'Ivar. Ivar. Ivar,' chirped my raven.

The king and the priests did their stupid cross sign over themselves.

'Oh, king, don't look so flustered. After all, you wanted me in your service,' I said in their English tongue.

'That was more so my former commander Lord Beowulf. Whose death went unjust.'

I clenched my teeth. Killing Beowulf wasn't enough. That fat piece of shit haunted me in my dreams. Thinking about him was making me sick.

'He put a collar on me. No one owns me. No one.'

'You abducted me! This monster split my commander's back open and hung him from our church!'

After the priest translated what was said in our tongue Hvitserk and King Harald lightly chuckled, but Ubbe looked at me in disgust. I stared down at the parchment in front of me, not wanting to continue this conversation.

'Sons of Ragnar, please understand the document the late King Ecbert granted you means nothing. At the time of the signing, he had already transferred his title to King Æthelwulf.'

'I told you we should have blood eagled him,' I said, leaning in my chair's backrest, scratching the back of my raven's neck.

I seethed with anger at that. I swear if I ever see my oldest brother Björn again, I'm chucking my war picks at his stupid face. King Ecbert played my brothers. I saw right through his deceit, but my brothers ate it up.

The priest next to King Edmund began dipping his quill into the vial of ink and writing over the parchment. I yawned lazily, swapping my gaze over to the priests.

'So, tell us, King Edmund, what will you offer us?' asked King Harald.

The translating was getting annoying. I was now learning the Irish tongue, and these fools couldn't even understand the English yet. I stood up as they discussed a truce circling the priests looking over their shoulders at what was being written.

'What are they doing,' I asked, playing ignorant pointing at the priests.

'They're recoding our truce. It is God's will to document this meeting. ' said King Edmund, 'between the lord's children and the nonbeliever pagans.'

I rolled my eyes. Not from his stupid Christian speech but because the writing was saying otherwise. They spelled my name wrong too. It wasn't how Father Judd taught me.

King Edmund placed his wax seal over the document a priest had just finished writing. He put it on the table, flipping it toward us to read.

'East Anglia is ready to split the land in half equally with you pagans. All I demand is that you give us your word not to attack my people, and this could be a new beginning of peace,' said King Edmund.

Ubbe sat up straight, smiling at the agreement. I pretended not to have much interest in bringing my hand up to my raven petting his feathers. What was written on that document was anything but what the king promised. Taking a seat, I stared into King Edmund's eyes challengingly.

'We've been tricked once already. How are we supposed to know what is wrote down here is what you say you agree to?'

'You can put your trust in God, Ivar but fear not, for a holy priest cannot lie.'

I chuckled, shaking my head. Yeah ok.

'That's not true. I used to have a priest that would whore around and drink all my alcohol in my house. When I confronted the damn dwarf, he'd blame it on the servants.'

Judging from their facial expressions, I was sure they didn't believe me. There was a pang in my chest, remembering my Christian friend. Even though he was a real pain in the ass, I missed him. I wished he would have stayed.

'King Edmund,' said Ubbe. 'Could a priest read what is wrote for us?'

King Edmund nods, signaling at one of the priests. The priest stood up and began reading the paper upside down. He said everything King Edmund promised. Too bad it was everything except what was written down. After the priest finished, I look over to Hvitserk nodding my head. Hvitserk stood up, walking to the front of the exit blocking any retreat.

I unsheathed my seax and slammed the blade down into the center of the document. I began reading the insults they wrote about us. I'm overly thrilled to know these Christians take me as an idiot. This document was granting us no land. I stumbled on a few words, but I was proud of learning this skill. After finishing, I glanced over at King Edmund.

'I might be a cripple, but I've learned your language. You will rewrite everything you promised. And if you try to deceive us again, everyone will witness the execution of King Edmund.'

King Edmund looked over at Ubbe, too scared to keep his eyes locked with mine.

'Ubbe, I'm sorry, but you pagans have no right to my lands. You are pagans, and my people are Christians. We can't possibly coexist.'

I gripped onto the end of the table, flipping it over. The priests shot up from their chairs. Ubbe put his hand on my shoulder, but I smacked it off.

'King Edmund, you are defeated. You get no say in what happens to this kingdom. It's only my generosity that is allowing you to stay alive and rule. East Anglia will surrender good land, and I'll be enforcing a yearly tax. You will deliver half the harvest to my people. One thousand cattle, two hundred horses, one hundred pounds of gold, and three hundred pounds of silver.'

King Edmund did his cross sign and nodded his head.

Huh, that was easy. I should have asked for more. It's nice not having Prince Alfred here ruining my negotiations.

King Edmund leaned to his priest's ear, whispering something. The priest bent down and picked up a chest at his feet. Opening the lid, he held a bundle of cloth wrapped around something.

'Ivar, please understand I can't trust words so easily,' said King Edmund. He pulled the cloth off, revealing a skull. Alright, this negotiation just got a little more interesting. 'I will need you to swear on our blessed saint's skull that you will keep the peace and not attack my people.'

What. These damn Christians get stranger by the kingdom. Hvitserk was laughing from the entrance, and my raven was chirping my name.

'Sure, fine, I swear,' I said, pointing at the skull. 'That'll I'll keep the peace.'

'No, no. Ivar, you must hold the skull and kiss it as you make your oath,' said King Edmund.

Now King Harald and Hvitserk were laughing. I was just dumbfounded. He wants me to do what? Why. Why Odin am I always finding myself in these awkward situations. Taking a deep breath in, I held out my hands. Accepting the skull, I looked down at it in disgust. I hate these, Christians.

'I, Ivar Ragnarsson,' I said, emphasizing my last name glaring at King Harald, who chuckled. 'Swear on this skull of a Christian. That I will not harm the Christians so long as King Edmund holds up his part of the truce.'

I groaned as I leaned down, placing my lips on the bone. I quickly handed it back to the damn priest and wiped my mouth. Never again, I should have made Hvitserk do that. Another priest leaned into King Edmund's ear again, whispering something. King Edmund nodded at whatever he was saying and then looked at me.

What now, I'm not kissing anymore damn bones.

'Ivar, I'll also need you to be baptized. You see, I can only trust the words of God coming from Christians. I'll need you to convert to Christianity.'

I laughed, shaking my head. What kind of logic was that? Especially since they're the deceitful ones.

'You can't trust my words? How am I supposed to trust the words of Christians who just lied to my brothers and me moments ago? Maybe it's you, King Edmund, who should start believing in the old gods.'

The priests gasped at my suggestion. King Edmund clung to his golden cross that hung around his neck.

'My God is good. My God is the one and only true God and the righteous one. God is great!'

'You left out a few things. Such as the Christian god is also a greedy god who demands all riches and coins. Yet he is too weak to protect it from us pagans. What has your god done to protect you? What has he done to us pagans who refuse to believe in him, hmm?'

I was smirking at King Edmund as he slapped his hands down onto his knees.

'God has made you a crippled. God had taken his wrath on you for your sins when you were last here,' said King Edmund. I stared menacingly into King Edmund's eyes as his face quickly went red. My smirk had faded into a frown. The bastard knew what had happened to me, what Beowulf did to me. King Edmund held up his hands in an apologetic manner. 'Bu. But Ivar every man created is our God's children that he loves. I could show you the ways, and you could become great. You have already proved to be highly intelligent.'

Grabbing my crutch, I stood up.

'Ivar,' shouted Ubbe.

I ignored Ubbe, putting my seax inside its scabbard and walking to King Edmund. Nodding my head, I smirked at him, a smirk that didn't match my eyes. I reached over and patted King Edmund on the cheek.

'Negotiations are over,' I said and turning to look at Ubbe, giving him a warning glance. 'Ubbe, you should start looking for someone to appoint as the new King of East Anglia. Ah yes, and welcome to our new conquered lands that were promised to us. Daneland.'

King Edmund gasped at his fate. His priests swarmed him as they began praying in his grasp.

'Ubbe, I'll sign over all documents to you, but please, keep the churches and my people safe.'

Ubbe nodded his head.

'Negotiations are over!' I shouted, walking to leave the tent. I stopped at the entrance glancing back smirking, 'and I have the perfect death in mind.'

Walking out of the tent, I waved my hands to my housecarls. Leif, Skul, Egil, and Fletcher came along with Gerlak, who stopped within ear range.

I instructed them to have our army round up all the villagers to this location. I had given Leif and Gerlak a task in making the execution platform. Gerlak was excited I involved him. He wasn't my housecarl I just needed my men to work quickly. Egil was given his particular task. When I told him what I had planned, I could tell he was shocked. He didn't challenge me, though. He took Fletcher with him to quickly get it prepared. I had Skul guard King Edmund, which she was all too happy to do.

Ubbe, King Harald, and Hvitserk later approached me as they saw the villagers being escorted over to our location.

'Ivar, you are too reckless,' said Ubbe.

I grinned, not looking at them but keeping my eyes on the villagers.

'Ivar Lothbrok, tell us what you're planning on doing?'

'King Harald. It's Ivar the Boneless. I'm planning on placing a puppet king like King Egbert of Northumbria in charge,' I said, turning around to face them.

My raven was croaking my name as he nodded his head up and down on my shoulder.

'Ivar, we can't take land by fear. You alone should know it'll lead to consequences,' said Ubbe.

'You're wrong, Ubbe, because that's exactly how I'll be conquering all of Britain. Fear is the most effective way to demand loyalty and submission. Especially for conquest.'

Hvitserk shook his head. Figures, my brothers always sided together against whatever I decide.

'The villagers are innocent. I won't allow this army to attack defenseless people,' said Hvitserk.

'I have no interest in wasting my time slaughtering sheep,' I said, smirking. 'No, I want them to witness their king's death. I want the stories to spread, to create fear, to enforce a constant reminder.'

Leif and Gerlak came over carrying two slabs of wood nailed together, forming a cross. King Harald smirked and nodded his head in agreement while Ubbe shook his.

'I'm still against this, brother. But it's better than the blood eagle I thought you were about to induce.'

My army had brought the villagers towards us. I made them circle so they can all see the performance. I had the wooden cross tied to a tree to keep it upright. King Edmund was hauled towards me in Skul's hold. I nodded at Leif and Gerlak, who took the young king from Skul and tied his arms up on the cross. The villagers were weeping and pleading, possibly praying to their god.

'Skul,' I said, observing King Edmund. 'His hands are supposed to be nailed to the post.'

Skul grinned, walking over to the king. He began praying loudly as she took the nails and hammered them through his hands. I stared motionless in front of him with my raven that remained on my shoulder, croaking. I walked closer to him, listening to the king's shallow breaths.

'King Edmund, do you feel closer to your god now?'

'I am not afraid to meet our Lord and savior! God will protect me, God is good. God will prevail, and if I should fall, another messenger will spread the words of our savior. The words of God shall rise until all pagans are smiting down!'

I glanced to the villagers and back to the king shrugging.

'Are you done, or do you have some more Christian words to say?'

'God is good. My savior will protect me.'

I nodded my head at his proposal. We will see. I turned my attention to the crowd.

'East Anglians, I am Ivar the Boneless, a pagan. And apparently, your Christian god made me a crippled. But was it to inflict constant pain for all the Christians I killed,' I said, laughing and shaking my head. 'No, hmm. Maybe because of how ruthless and ambitious I am, the gods knew they had to do something to slow me down. Otherwise, all of Britain would've been conquered by now. I looked King Ælla of Northumbria in the eyes smiling down at him as his lungs were ripped out of his back into beautiful wings. For the King of East Anglia, I have a more suitable punishment for a Christian king.'

I walked off to the side and raised my hand. The archers of my army that stood behind the villagers made ready. The villagers screamed out in panic as they noticed what was about to happen.

'Archers!' I shouted. I laughed, looking at the villagers. 'East Anglians, you may want to lay down. Loose!'

Over a dozen arrows were shot at King Edmund. His screams filled the air. I laughed again, walking back over toward the king who was struck by arrows. Coughing from the cold air, I look up at him, grinning.

'King Edmund, where was your god at. Wasn't he supposed to protect you? Why is a pagan, a crippled pagan inflicting so much pain on one of your god's beloved children?'

'God is great,' said King Edmund in a mumble through his painful shallow breaths.

I grinned, nodding my head and pointing the finger at the king.

'You know what, Christian, I like you.'

I walked away from the king, looking at the villagers who laid on the cold grass. They were weeping over their king's fate. And just when they think it can't get any worse, I'm going to make it worse.

'Spears!' I shouted. My archers were replaced with men in my army now holding spears up in throwing position. I turned back to King Edmund, grinning. 'Loose.'

Spears were hurled at the king. This time he barely released a grunt that escaped his lips as his head collapsed. The villagers were sobbing. I smirked as I walked over to the king.

'King Edmund?' I said. 'Oh, King Edmund, how good is your god again? Hmm, nothing. Oh, I guess he's not that good after all.'

I unsheathed my seax and rammed it into the dead king's throat. Roughly I started tearing at his flesh, decapitating him. Holding his head, I threw it to the villagers.

'East Anglians, you can return to your homes. Soon you'll be swearing your loyalty to your new king,' I said, wiping the blood off my seax. I looked over at the priests kneeling next to their former king's head. They shriek, huddling together as I approached them. 'I have a very, very special task for you three.'

I waved at them to follow me. Walking into the tent, I picked up the fallen parchment. My bloody fingers left my fingerprints staining the parchment. I wrote down Ivar the Boneless has conquered East Anglia. Wessex has one year to swear their loyalty to me in Yorvik. I probably misspelled a few words, and my handwriting looked terrible, but this letter wasn't going in a damn scripture. It was a threat. I handed the parchment to one of the priests.

'Deliver this to no one except to the King of Wessex.