With a tightened grip on my crutch, I walked to the platform where my men worked. A wooden platform was staged to hang five men at a time. I couldn't sleep last night. Maybe it was the nightmares of the marsh and Beowulf. Or possibly the revenge I craved from the attack on Yorvik. Regardless today, I'd be making an example.

Hvitserk, along with my housecarls, had taken off to scout the damage done to our people's settlements. I sent my housecarls, so I'd get all details truthfully. This morning I had added thirty men and women to my housecarls. Did I trust them, hmm somewhat? If I were to challenge fate, I'd need protection. And soon, I'd have to release Leif, Egil, and Skul.

A terrifying cry was coming from the village. The screams intensified as they neared me at the docks. I grinned, looking at King Egbert, restrained in my housecarls grip. My newly appointed housecarls dragged the king towards me. King Egbert looked at me with pleading eyes thinking I may give him mercy. Mercy left me a long time ago.

'Earl Ivar, what is the meaning of this,' shrieked King Egbert.

The plumped Bishop Wulfhere followed behind his king, unsure how to assist. I slowly stepped down from the wooden steps grunting at the pain as I walked towards my detained puppet king. I reach out, taking the crown from off him and placing it on my head. I dismissed my housecarls. Bringing my right arm up and over his shoulder, I leaned into him.

'I thought I made myself very clear with you before I departed,' I said lowly in his ear. 'That if anything should happen to this kingdom while I'm away, I'd be taking my vengeance on you, king.'

King Egbert shivered in my hold as he stared up at the five prepared nooses that dangled down from the platform's beams.

'Please, Lord Ivar, have mercy. I swear to you it won't ever happen again. Please mercy.'

I chuckled softly, tapping my fingers on his shoulder and shaking my head. Oh no, I wouldn't be granting him an easy death after his failure.

'Come now, King Egbert, we've come a long way. You fully know the name Ivar the Boneless is not known for mercy. I'm known for being ruthless and undefeated but never for mercy,' I said, taking my arm off his shoulder. I patted him on the cheek, smirking. 'I have something else in mind that would be far more enjoyable.'

I nodded to my housecarls. They surrounded Egbert, seizing him.

'Take my puppet king to his cage to be displayed for his entire kingdom,' I said. I looked back at Egbert, wincing before grinning. 'It's going to be a little cold on your new throne.'

I stood back, my grin never faltering as my housecarls dragged Egbert to a steel cage, shoving him inside. He was crying, pleading for forgiveness, something I wouldn't offer. I raised my hand, and on command, my men above the palisades hoisted the cage high up into the air. I chuckled as the cage swayed from the breeze.

I walked over to Bishop Wulfhere, who did the cross sign over himself.

'Bishop Wulfhere don't get any ideas of leaving. Your new king,' I said, pointing at myself. 'Will need your assistance on passing judgment in these trials of treachery. And we can avoid your sworn loyalty to me. I know you won't mean it. You'll betray me just like everyone else.'

I waved for the bishop to follow me, walking back into my village. My army gave me curious stares as I walked past them with a crown on my head. Some of my men were cheering while others quickly backed away from me. Entering the hall, my warriors and shield-maidens who stayed behind to guard Yorvik were giving details of the attack.

At the front table sat Ubbe, Torvi, King Harald, Magnus, and Freydís. They were engrossed in listening to the warriors reciting the event. I smirked, staring at my usurpers.

If they want my title, they're going to have to fight for it.

Ubbe was the first to look up, taking notice of my presence. He couldn't even conceal his disgusted expression upon locking eyes with me. King Harald leaned over to Ubbe, whispering something as he stared at me. Magnus was gazing at me with his mouth wide open in admiration while Freydís looked as if she saw a corpse.

I placed my hand on the bishop's shoulder, motioning for him to take my seat. They had left a chair for me at the end of the table.

'Ivar, what is this? Where is King Egbert?' asked Ubbe.

'He's getting some air,' I said, chuckling.

'King Ivar,' said King Harald. 'What a surprise to see we are equals now.'

'Are you sure we're equals? Do you not know what power is? I have an army that far outnumbers yours,' I said as I walked over to the warriors and shield-maidens. 'I too want to hear each of your stories, but I'll need you to come individually to my house. When finished here, please find me.'

Ten of my housecarls walked inside the hall carrying their shields displaying my colors. They walked over, surrounding me.

'Ivar, why do you have so many housecarls?' asked Ubbe.

'Hirdmen Ubbe, I am a king now, remember. You see, Harald. An example of power.'

'Hah,' said King Harald biting into a piece of meat, staring menacingly at me.

'Ah, mother of my son, you should drink some water. You look as if you saw a ghost,' I said, smirking a Freydís.

I've suffered long enough from these people. I'm throwing everything back at them.

I turned away, giving them a sarcastic partial wave, leaving the hall escorted by my hirdmen. What started with ten bodyguards soon became thirty while I proceeded to my house. My hirdmen tightly surrounded me, allowing no one to get near me unless they put up a fight.

'Lord!' shouted Fletcher.

My hirdmen parted for my servant who ran towards me. Well, no one could get near me unless it's this little shit, apparently. Fletcher was wrapped in his fur cloak smiling at me as he ran to walk beside me.

'What are you doing outside?'

'Lord, I'm feeling better, but a woman is waiting for you at your house.'

A woman? I stared at Fletcher in puzzlement. Could it be Cara?

Coming up to my door, I could feel my heart nearly beating out of my chest. My hirdmen stood out in front of my house as I entered with my servant.

Stepping inside, I quickly dropped my arm down, slapping my hand over my servant's one eye. She was not Cara, but she was a rare beauty naked sitting on top of my table smiling at me. Her breast was full and not sagging. She had mischievous blue eyes and long curly red hair. The beauty was covered in freckles and had large feet.

This must be Hilda.

'Hello again, King Ivar,' said Hilda in my tongue, giggling. 'It's nice to see your face in person finally. I've heard many things about you because men love to talk. My late King Edmund talked about you as well as your King Harald.'

I shoved Fletcher out of the house, ignoring his cries as I slammed my door.

'Who sent you?'

'Your bodyguard Leif, although I would've done this service for free.'

Hilda giggled as she ran her hands through her hair. I walked cautiously over to her. She stood up slightly taller than me. Hilda leaned her face to the side of my neck and sniffed.

What?

I pulled back, squinting my eyes, frowning at her.

'There it is that stench I'll never forget,' said Hilda giggling at me. 'Marsh mud mixed with sweat and saltwater.'

Heh.

I reached out lightly, tracing my fingertips from her hip up the side of her smooth body. Hilda smiled as she stood there on display. I dropped my hand and walked past her to my chair. Placing my hand on the table, I lowered myself onto the chair, muffling a grunt from a sharp pain in my leg.

'You can get dressed, Hilda.'

'Lord king?'

She wasn't who I wanted. I would've been no better than Beowulf. I am nothing like that monster. As she got dressed, I reached into my pocket, pulling out the clasp I took over two years ago at Ripon. A golden clasp with an expensive jewel I handed it to her.

'What have you heard about me, anything I should take caution to?'

'Oh, you're truly not like any man I've ever come across,' said Hilda as she quietly wept in her hands. 'I'm sorry, please forgive me.'

I waited for her to get her bearing.

'I heard many things, lord king. If this is the service you require, I'll be most happy to assist.'

I nodded my head. I was drawn to Hilda for some reason, and this was it. She was the woman with all the secrets men would confess to her as they used her. I would never use anyone like that, not after what happened to me. I wasn't perfect, though, because I was still using her too. But I was paying handsomely, and I wasn't taking her morals at the cost.

'King Harald is an ambitious man. He wants to begin his conquest over Denmark starting with Kattegat, your hometown.'

I waved my hand. I wasn't interested in what happened in Denmark. That place was as foreign as ever to me.

'He also believes Ubbe can control you, so he's been trying to ally himself with your brother. He said you're too much like your father. He doesn't want to kill you, but he fears you'll conquer all of Britain and attempt to take his kingdom. So, he needs to, as he put it, break you down.'

I smirked, dropping my eyes to the hearth's flames in the center of my house. I knew I couldn't trust that snake. This whole time I thought he wanted me to help him defeat Björn.

'Lord Hvitserk,' said Hilda taking a seat next to me. 'He seems conflicted on who he should side with. I believe he loves and despises you. He said the gods have fated you two to be together, and he's unsure if he's supposed to kill or protect you.'

I rolled my eyes, rubbing my forehead. I don't need his protection if the gods have fated us to fight one another. I won't lose.

'I also have information from Prince Alfred of Wessex,' said Hilda timidly. I nodded my head for her to continue. She looked unsure, but then she began speaking. 'Prince Alfred believes if he can control you, as he put it, his puppet pagan ruler. He then can command all of the pagans.'

I gripped my fingers tightly into fists. Alfred never saw me as an equal after all. He just saw a puppet he could take advantage of, just as I saw Egbert. I was the naive idiot that fell for the act. I would rip this cross off my neck now if it weren't for the fact my father had owned it before him. I don't know why that bit of information hurt, but it did. I'm great when it comes to planning battle strategies. But when it comes to love, I'm an idiot.

'Thank you for all the insight.'

'I'll keep my ears open for anything that may benefit you, lord king.'

I slightly smiled. Nodding my head, I began setting my parchment up over the table. Hilda walked to me, leaning over kissing my scarred cheek. Hilda would be an excellent ally to employ, and somehow, I earned her loyalty. Cheering erupted as soon as she walked out. I rolled my eyes, setting my quill and ink down.

Soon my first warrior walked through my door. I held my hand out, motioning for him to take the seat in front of me.

'King Ivar, I was located up at the palisade at the fourth post near the gate when I heard shouting. There was a group of probably fourteen Saxons carrying weapons into Yorvik. The Saxons looked to be dressed.'

I held up my hand, halting him.

'They just appeared into my village heavily armed,' I said sarcastically, throwing my hands up. 'The fourth post near the gate would've seen these rebels long before they had a chance of entering. I need to know what you were doing besides obviously not sounding any horns to alert my village.'

'I did the best I could,' said the warrior growling at me.

'Did you?' I said, leaning forward inspecting his armor. 'Not even a single damaged link on that coat of mail. Why didn't you approach the rebels and fight them, hmm?'

The warrior slammed his hands against my table, glaring at me.

'I told you I did the best I could, lord. It. Uh, it was cold outside, and I might've not been thinking clearly. I only left my post briefly to get some hot soup. I swear I wasn't gone long, lord. I'm sure the men that traveled with you to East Anglia would've done the same thing.'

I smiled, reaching over and cupping his cheek.

'You're right. I forget that my warriors here had it as rough as I did when I traveled through East Anglia. Thank you for being honest with me. Please send the next person. Oh, and if you could. Please help one of my hirdmen unload the remaining barrels off my ship,' I said soothingly.

'Yes, yes lord.'

I nodded my head, dismissing him. The warrior unknown to him had a red paint mark on his cheek that I had smeared. He bowed his head and left. I repeated this process throughout most of the afternoon.

By late afternoon I stood watching the last five bodies that dangled lifelessly over the platform, each with a red mark on their face. In total, thirty-nine of my warriors and shield-maidens were hanged. Everything was well executed quickly and silently. The army never even grew curious about what was happening at the docks.

I glanced at my hirdmen.

'Tie all the bodies up onto the top of the palisade walls. I want them to be displayed to remind this army what it means to fail me.'

My men acted without hesitation, following my orders. They lifted the bodies and carried them to the palisade walls. I looked up and gave Egbert a wave who was still caged high above the palisades swinging from a rope.

Chuckling, I walked back into the village, smirking at what was about to play out. The uproar slowly started as men began pointing up at the walls. Screams and shouting followed as I gripped onto my crutch, carefully walking through the snow. I halted at the center, standing next to my statue. I slammed my crutch down, standing tall in front of the crowd that began approaching me. My hirdmen had already circled me shields interlocked.

'Here is a reminder of what happens when you fail your warlord in protecting my lands!' I shouted, pointing at the bodies.

'Ivar!' shouted Ubbe. I groaned as I glanced over to the hall. Ubbe, King Harald, and Magnus were running towards me. They came up to my hirdmen. Ubbe was glaring over them at me. 'What have you done?'

'I'm only enforcing my authority here.'

Ubbe was shaking his head. Both him and King Harald stared at me in disgust while Magnus looked horrified.

'I cannot allow this,' said Ubbe pointing at the bodies. 'This is not how we act. We are better than this.'

I stepped forward towards my pathetic brother. My hirdmen slowly parted their shields, allowing me to leave their protection. If it were a battle between Ubbe and me, he'd kill me. But not today, today I held power. I measured my brother up, stopping arm's length from him. An unusual silence struck the village as I stared my brother threateningly in the eyes.

'What are you going to do about it? Everything you've done has hindered this army! So, I've killed forty of our men due to their negligence. Don't forget I've saved thousands with my war tactics! Without me, this army would've crumbled and fought amongst itself. I am the warlord of this army, not you! And not you, King Harald or Hvitserk! It's me!'

My hirdmen placed their shields in front of me, probably predicting the tension was about to escalate.

'Our father would've hated you,' said Ubbe.

'I don't depend on our father's approval, and I never had. I only need the gods' approval. And right now, I'm just giving them a performance because I refuse to be a tool in their story.'

Ubbe screamed, throwing his hands over his face shaking his head. King Harald placed his hand on Ubbe's shoulder, guiding him away from me. The Norwegian king glanced back at me briefly before walking with my brother back to the hall.

So, it begins. Come and fight me, Ubbe. Come and fight me, King Harald. I placed my hand on my hirdman's shoulder.

'I'll be in my house for the remainder of the night,' I said.

I didn't take pride in slaughtering our people. I sat at my table for most of the day, mapping out battle locations that'd be ideal for fighting Wessex. I leaned back against my chair, snatching the crown off my head and chucking it across the room. I was exhausted from the lack of sleep. I rubbed my eyes, staring at my bed what I'd give for a dreamless night. I bedded down early, shifting my collar, trying to find a comfortable spot.

I awoke to movement on my bed. I screamed, scrambling back against the wall. Beowulf was grinning at me as he dropped his pants.

'No, no, no!' I screamed, leaning away.

'Shh, little pup,' said Beowulf ripping the blanket out from over me.

I can't breathe.

I shot up awake. I couldn't breathe, almost like my body forgot how to work. I gasped and cried out as the first bit of air finally entered me. My chest was cramping as if someone had tied a rope around constricting me. The only light was my hearth's flames flickering, and the glow from the stars out my window. I concentrated on getting my breaths even. My hands were sweaty and shaking.

I laid back down against my bed, staring at my ceiling wide awake. Every night it never fails. Every damn night it's always something. I'm happy I didn't cry out like a child when I had slept with Cara. I frowned, annoyed I'm always thinking about that damn woman. She left me for her precious Ireland.

I slapped my hand over my forehead. Ahh, stop thinking about her, runes think of runes. Wait, no, I hate runes, now I'm thinking about the damn seer.

My door swung open, nearly causing me to fall off my bed. I jolted up, glaring at the intruders. My seax already in my hand as I pointed the blade at them.

'Ubbe?' I said.

Ubbe and about seven of his men had stormed through my house with unsheathed weapons except Ubbe. He was staring at me with regret.

'Ivar, I'm sorry it had to come to this but for the future of our people. I cannot acknowledge what you have done. Our people, you've killed, the king you've hanged in a cage. It must end, all this madness. I know father will forgive me, but Ivar, you're banished here. I have a ship waiting to take you back to Kattegat to be trial by Björn.'

'What?' I said, squinting my eyes.

'I'm sorry, Ivar.'

My expression slowly morphed into a grin, and I began chuckling.

'Oh Ubbe, forever so predictable, it's nothing personal what I'm about to do. I'm just trying to evade my fate,' I said, grinning wickedly at him.

One of my hirdmen walked into my house with a sword held firmly against Torvi's throat.

'What is this!' shouted Ubbe.

'I would have your men put their weapons away,' I said as I leaned over, strapping my leg braces over my pants. Ubbe followed my instructions while I put my boots on. A few of my hirdmen walked into my house surrounding Ubbe. I grabbed my crutch groaning as I stood in front of Ubbe. 'Did you think I didn't have a plan? That I was going to allow you to toss me away like cargo.'

'You are no longer a brother to me.'

'Ubbe, that's the only reason I'm sparing your life is because you're my brother,' I said, glancing over to my hirdmen. 'Take all of them to the prison cells. The rest of you bring me, King Harald, alive.'

I grabbed onto my wool cloak, fastening it on as my men filed out of my house. Leaving my house one of my hirdmen was running towards me.

'What is it.'

'Lord king at the docks,' said the man timidly.

I groaned, forcing my legs to move while I ignored the throbbing, the cold was inflicting on them. At this point, I'd rather freeze my hands over the snow and crawl than walk. I clenched my teeth, striking my crutch as I headed to the docks.

Nothing, there was nothing here at the docks. Scrunching my face, I roughly grabbed onto my hirdman's jerkin, pulling him towards me.

'How. Does. This. Happen,' I hissed through my teeth. My hirdman squirmed in my grip. 'How did King Harald escape with all six of his ships, hmm?'

I shoved my hirdman away from me. Frowning at the missing ships, I screamed out. A scream all of Yorvik would hear.