It was difficult to pinpoint exactly when it happened, but the people attending the meeting in Rome seemed to realize all at once exactly what they were trying to accomplish. That it wasn't some vague idea or a lofty goal that would fall apart the moment they took their eyes off if it. They realized that what they were doing was real, that the reformation of the Roman Empire was possible, and that it was up to them to make it happen.

As an outsider looking in, it was rather fascinating to witness. The disdain they held for each other didn't magically vanish. The same issues that divided them before were still there, and in some cases, the arguing only got fiercer as both sides dug in to resist compromising. In the days since, there were three brawls, one honor duel, and several people had lost their voices from all the screaming, despite the fact most of the people here didn't share a common language. Yet, despite all that divided them and their almost visceral dislike of one another, they stood united in one goal

The restoration of the Roman Empire.

It didn't mean that they would succeed. Odds were that they wouldn't, or they wouldn't for very long even if they did surmount the long odds they faced for accomplishing that goal in the first place. Even as they worked together, united in their goal, they just couldn't agree on numerous wide sweeping issues such as manners of governance, faith, inheritance, and more. The Pope and Patriarch were much in the same position - they mediated where they could, trying to find meaningful compromises, all the while they jockeyed for influence against each other.

In short…

"It all comes down to Charlemagne and Irene. If they survive the rebellions and retain the foundation of their support, then they have a chance," I remarked to Morrigan, who was once again perched upon my shoulder. Her beak pecked at the side of my neck, making her annoyance clear. She was quite cross with me that I hadn't murdered Charlemagne when I had the chance. But, my stance hadn't changed.

It was a decision I knew I would regret at some point in the future, but I was certain that I'd regret it more if I stained my hands with murder.

"It was good that I came," I continued, unbothered by the painful nips. "As degraded as the city is, it is beautiful. And I am aware of their ideas on how they would move forward with the unification." In the end, for all that Charlemagne had acknowledged me, he didn't see me as an equal. Not really. Despite what I had accomplished, he still fully expected for me to return to Denmark, claim the throne and, at worst, he'd only hear of me again when I raided his coastline.

And he had been right to think that way. That was more or less what I had planned upon my return to Denmark after I accomplished what I wanted to accomplish. But, much like when he inspired me to sail to Constantinople, Charlemagne had inspired me once more.

Regardless of his success or failure here, my people would be ready should the Franks or Romans ever set their gaze upon us.

Just as they sought to turn their gaze upon the Abbasids. Using them as a means to unite their people with a shared enemy while also using it as a means to weaken the largest obstacles that would resist the unification.

I'm sure that both Charlemagne and Irene would regret letting me anywhere near this meeting when they eventually learned of my marriage to Jasmine.

But, as enlightening as this journey had been, I felt my part in it had come to a close. Irene only brought me along to insult Charlemagne, and now that things were progressing more… well, now that they were progressing at all, my presence was a detraction to her goals and she wanted me gone.

It was a testament to our relationship that she didn't bother with a farewell. I didn't particularly mind - I had no fondness for Irene in my heart, and any farewell would be a tedious affair, but I did find it annoying to be so thoroughly snubbed. In the end, it was through my efforts that she sat so secure on her throne. But, rather than acknowledge that much, my departure was arranged for the crack of dawn so I could vanish with as few questions as possible.

Though, that wasn't to say that I wasn't seen off.

"Sieg! Glad-" Astolfo cut herself off with an eye watering yawn, walking down the dock alongside another Paladin, Bradamante as I learned his name was, before continuing. "- I caught you before you left."

"Astolfo. Bradamante. I didn't expect for you to see me off," I admitted, earning a lazy grin from Astolfo while Bradamante just glared at me from behind his helmet. The Paladin hadn't uttered a word to me in the past week or so, and I had no interest in finding out why.

In response, Astolfo punched me lightly in the shoulder, "Course I would! After this… well, there's only going to be one reason for us to ever meet, you know?" Meaning across a battlefield. I nodded while Morrigan nipped at her hand, fluttering her wings as a word of warning. "So… are the rumors true? Did you really find a magic bird?"

"Raven," I corrected while Morrigan puffed out her chest. Her personality didn't change in the slightest with this form. "And no. Mugin is just more clever than most."

"She's a feisty one," Astolfo noted before she blew out a sigh. "So, what's next for you?"

"Finishing my preparations to leave the Mediterranean," I said. "By this time next month, I should be back home." Waging war for a crown and claiming vengeance. "I expect you to be busy in the coming years."

"Yeah…" Astolfo sighed, looking over her shoulder at the city of Rome. "We have our work cut out for us, that's for sure."

"Do you think it'll work?" I asked her, making Astolfo frown and tilt her head in thought. As if she never gave the idea much thought until I asked.

"King Charlemagne is a cautious guy when it comes right down to it. He's not the type that'd do something this risky unless he was sure there would be some kind of payoff. So, even if it doesn't work, he's going to get something out of it." That was my estimation as well. I nodded, accepting the answer for what it was, curious as to what Charlemagne hoped to gain even with failure.

However, it was then that Bradamante stepped forward, making Astolfo wince, as he planted the but of his spear into the ground. "I don't have the stomach to wait any longer!" He announced, and I was surprised by how young he sounded. His voice had yet to deepen. "I waited patiently to avoid disturbing the meeting and causing offense, but no longer! Wolf-Kissed! I demand a duel!"

Astolfo pinched the bridge of her nose, tilting her head back as she turned to her God in prayer for strength.

I looked down at the young Paladin, a frown tugging at my lips. "For what cause?" I questioned, willing to humor the boy if nothing else. He was a Paladin, meaning that I couldn't underestimate him. I was deadly at his age and I had killed many who thought me harmless because of my age. However, it was just different when a boy demanded a duel compared to someone like Roland.

"For the death of my cousin, Oliver, at your hands," Bradamante declared, leveling the spear at me in preparation for battle. My guards bristled at the action, but I waved them off with a raised hand as my gaze flickered to Astolfo, who wore an open grimace.

I see.

I recalled the death of Oliver easily, though claiming that he died at my hands was an exaggeration. I was hopelessly outmatched against three Paladins, so I used Roland and his monstrous strength along with his sword to my advantage. I had thrown a dagger, which Roland had then deflected with a swing, cutting the weapon in half. Thanks to Trajectory Projection, I was able to make sure that the severed blade struck Oliver.

However, that was hardly the noble death that he deserved. I could understand why his fellows chose to shift the truth around to hide Roland's involvement while laying the blame at my feet.

"...Very well then. I shall accept," I decided, making Astolfo's eyes widen.

"Sieg-" she started to protest, but I cut her off.

"Until one yields," I said, and a sigh of relief heaved out of Astolfo.

"I'll die before I yield," Bradamante swore as I gestured for everyone to take a few steps back while I drew Gram from my belt.

My actions were more driven by curiosity than anything else. I had long since accepted that I would leave orphans in the wake of my battles. Or leave families without their father or uncles. People who lost loved ones because of me. I would never grow comfortable with it, but I did accept that it was unavoidable so long as I was a warrior and fought. What interested me now was testing myself.

I doubted that Bradamante was Roland's equal, but he was still a Paladin. Gram increased my prowess significantly, and I had trained with the blade but even before I restored it, I had already far outstipped all of my warriors in terms of skill.

I was curious how that would translate in a fight against a Paladin.

Astolfo sighed, taking a step back before raising a hand. She hesitated a moment before letting it all, "Begin-"

The fight was over as soon as it began.

Bradamante lunged forward, a probing strike with his spear and I noted that he was just as fast as Astolfo had been when we fought outside of Frankfurt. Faster than most could hope to handle with his spear flickering like a serpent's tongue. However, as it darted forward, I swung Gram and effortlessly cut through the wooden shaft of the spear and continued the swing until the blade rested against the boy's neck.

He froze in place, the spearhead falling to the ground and beneath his helmet, he beheld me with wide blue eyes.

I tapped the side of his helmet with the flat of Gram, "Vengeance isn't something so easily claimed, boy. Nor is it something you should pursue so halfheartedly." With that, I withdrew my blade and sheathed it, leaving Bradamante frozen stiff.

I had my answer, it seemed, though I caught Astolfo giving me the most serious look I had ever seen on her. Even when we first met on the battlefield, as determined as she had been, she had been having fun. Now she looked at me like she was puzzling out how she would kill me if the need ever arose. And I imagine it would eventually arise. Charlemagne and I were destined for conflict.

"I-" Bradamante started, only to be pulled back with a hand from Astolfo.

"Looks like getting taller isn't the only thing that's changed," Astolfo noted, restraining Bradamante for a moment, the quick and easy loss not sitting well with him until he went slack. Bitter at his defeat, but knowing that I was as beyond him as Roland had once been to me.

I offered a thin smile, knowing that I had revealed my hand to Astolfo, and thus King Charlemagne, but it was worth it. I had a far better grasp of where I stood in contrast to his Paladins now. Perhaps I wasn't so beyond them that I could slay them all by myself, but the lesser of the Paladins were no true threat to me.

"Buuuut, I do have to correct you on one thing," Astoflo continued, reaching for Bradamante's helmet and swiftly undoing a clasp before yanking it up. "Bradamante isn't a boy! She's a little girl! You bullied a little girl!" She announced, making Bradamante lunge for the helmet. Bradamante was still young, but now that I could see her face, she was distinctly feminine in appearance.

The display was to break the tension, and on that account, it worked. Though, I did become curious. "So I see. Three of Charlemagne's Paladins have been women, then? Good. I never understood the refusal to acknowledge that women can fight I've found in the lands of the Franks, Rome, or the Abbasids." It also told me that Charlemagne recognized and awarded talent with his Blessing. I had been curious about that as the majority of his Paladins had some kind of relation to him.

Both Bradamante and Astolfo stilled before a mocking smile curled at the edges of Bradamante's lips. "Three?" She echoed, making my brow furrow as Bradamante glanced at Astolfo. I looked to her to find that Astolfo wore an expression of longstanding suffering and disappointment, pinning me with a flat look.

I felt uneasy even before Astolfo spoke, placing a hand on her hip as she met my gaze, "Sieg… I'm a guy."

It felt like the ground gave out from underneath me. "...S-since when?"

"What do you even MEAN, 'since when?!'"

Morrigan couldn't stop laughing even after Rome was left behind us.

[center]…/center]

Upon my return to Crete, I was reminded that not all surprises were so devastating or so utterly unexpected. Some of them were even quite pleasant.

We were in the final stages of preparing for our departure - our estates were sold off, as were the last of the spoils taken from the Great Raid, to both Rome and the Abbasids as we sold off anything that either wouldn't survive the journey or was simply too impractical to take with us. Upon my return, we had the final tally for the Great Raid and the wealth that we would be bringing with us to Denmark.

Eight hundred seventy-six thousand, five hundred thirty-three talents worth of wealth in terms of gold, silver, precious stones, spices, textiles, pottery, foodstuffs, and more. That sum was discounting the two hundred thousand talents that we left behind for the sake of ensuring that Hoffer had a full treasury to start his kingdom on the right foot with. It also didn't include the worth of the thralls taken or the value of the library of books and scrolls we collected. It was the sum of our Great Raid, where we sacked twelve cities so thoroughly we nearly took their homes with us when we left. It was the sum that we earned through trade, turning what had been a hastily built fortification into a prosperous trade port.

I was proud of the number. More than proud, really. Enough so that I had the number added to the final part of the Runestone that also depicted our departure. It was undeniable proof that coming to Rome had been the correct decision, and I would have all that I needed to fulfill my ambitions once I returned home.

One thing was clear, however - our ships could hardly carry such a bounty. We had already planned it out, but the wealth just confirmed the decision we had made.

For our return, we would be broken into two groups. I, alongside five thousand of my warriors, would take a quarter of the splendor and migrants with us and sail through the Gibraltar Strait. From there, we would sail around Hispania and Francia's coastline back to Norway first. From there, we would secure a foothold in Denmark and prepare for the rest of our people.

They would march overland, along the Dnieper River, back up to the Baltic Sea, before following it down to Denmark. I would arrive first, so by that point, I would be able to hasten the journey with my ships. The journey would be a hard one, but a safe one as they would be guarded by five thousand of my warriors, in addition to five thousand men that Krum had convinced to join him.

Which was another pleasant surprise - he waited until nearly the last minute to decide, but Krum and his Bulgarian resistance would join us in our trek and prepare for their eventual return.

He wasn't the only one who waited until the very last possible second to make a decision. It was as the day of our departure was fast approaching that Michalis decided to visit Norland. What he wanted was rather obvious, but another pleasant surprise was who accompanied him.

"I'm surprised. Happy, but surprised," I admitted to Alexios, my teacher at University, to find that he was grinning away as Michalis took a seat across from me.

"Eh, I'm going to be dying soon enough," Alexios announced with a casual acceptance that told me the thought genuinely didn't bother him. "I've spent most of my life in the university, and I figured I'd die there. I might have, but this… this will be the start of something new! I want to see first hand what comes about from it, or if it's a ruinous disaster."

That got a thin smile out of me as I turned to Michalis. He had gotten fat over the past two years. Heavy gold rings studded with gemstones adorned every finger he had, and on some he doubled up. He reeked of perfumes and incense, dressed in fine silks colored vibrant hues. He hadn't taken regaining what his family lost with grace. He seemed almost obsessed with reaffirming his status as a noble until he was all but beating you over the head with it.

I made him uncomfortable. I came to Constantinople as a young man, a youth. Now I towered over him and the dozens of pounds he put on in fat, I had put on in muscle. But, more than his caution, his greed shone through. He offered a tepid smile, thinking the one I wore was for him. "When we discussed the price for the lordship of Norland, the city wasn't half the city that it is today. Before, it was becoming a major trade port, but now it sits as an important cornerstone in the Mediterranean."

Because we traded freely with the Abbasids. And the Franks. And generally anyone else who wanted access to goods belonging to Rome, the Muslim Caliphates, or myriad barbarian kingdoms without needing to trade directly with them.

"As such, I believe that the price for the lordship should reflect the current status of the city rather than what it was estimated to be years ago." Meaning he wanted to make sure he outbid everyone else who was sniffing around my city. "Neither of us could have anticipated such progress in a mere three years. Had it been anyone but you, Lord Siegfried, I would think it would be impossible." Flattery for the sake of it.

Perhaps I was being too harsh. I just… didn't care for the man. I'd helped him because the gods decided to give me a test, and I had benefited from our partnership, but as a man, I found Michalis… lacking. He lacked honor and integrity.

When I said nothing, Michalis took that as permission to continue. "As such, I have secured five hundred individuals of note. Architects, astronomers, men and women of history, science, philosophy, and medicine. Blacksmiths, carpenters, glass smiths, jewelers - artisans of all fields, including poets. Additionally, I have collected men and women that speak various languages as your own abilities as a translator have become quite renowned." A little hint that he was aware of the meeting in Rome.

Unexpected, but from what I had seen, most people didn't understand the scope of what Irene was trying to accomplish in Rome. It was an open secret amongst the nobility, largely because you couldn't hide the departure of so many key players in the empire.

As for what he offered - for the most part, it wasn't anything that I didn't already have, but the collective knowledge would still be useful. That was, until he snapped his fingers and a servant marched forth and placed a box underneath a cloth on the table before me. Then, with flourish, Michalis lifted the cloth.

I wasn't sure what I was looking at, but my gaze was drawn to the gears, a handle, and the pieces on display. There were several engraved disks on the surface of the box, one depicting the planets, one depicting Mars in particular, another the moon. The other thing that I noticed was that it was old. Very old. Some of it had been refurbished, but that made the parts that hadn't been stand out that much more.

"What is it?" I asked, finding myself curious.

"It is a device that measures the planets and moon!" Alexios immediately gushed, stepping forward to turn the handle. "As you were born in winter, seventeen years ago, by cranking this lever I can deduce that Mars was possibly… in retrograde!" He informed me, and that sounded… interesting. Astrology wasn't my strongest subject. I left the esoteric and godly matters to Morrigan for interpretation. But, while astrology didn't have my attention, the device itself did.

"Possibly?" I asked, and Michalis opened his mouth to reply but Akexios beat him to it.

"It's horribly inaccurate!" He declared, his enthusiasm not waning in the slightest. "Practically speaking, the damn thing is useless. The gearwork, however, is marvelous! Ingenious! I've never seen anything like it."

"It has been in my family for generations," Michalis said, a brief look of panic fading when Alexios apparently went off script and told his honest thoughts. "I'm uncertain where exactly it came from, and it wasn't until I brought it to Alexios that I learned what it did. I've been told that it occasionally was brought out to entertain guests in my family villa, but even by my father's time, it didn't work."

"Rust, dust, and neglect," Alexios offered with a small nod. Meaning that he had repaired it. "I expect entertaining party guests was all that it was used for. No self respecting astrologist would use such a tool."

I was inclined to agree. I could all too easily see Morrigan turning up her nose when being presented with such a thing. But, in a far more relaxed setting, likely with a great deal of alcohol involved, I could see a group of drunk men and women taking turns cranking the tool to see what phase the moon had been when they were born.

Michalis winced ever so subtly, "When Alexios described it as fascinating, I thought it may be something you would find… interesting."

Annoyingly, he was right. "I do," I confessed, reaching out and gently turning the crank to make the pointer spin on the dias. There was resistance, and I could feel the gears moving as they were interlocked. In terms of a tool for astrology, the thing was useless. However, I had no idea that gears could be used like this. That was fascinating.

Letting go of the tool, I leaned back and reached back to a letter that I had prepared. I had received other offers for Norland. Many offered a great deal of wealth to purchase the land and titles from me. However, when I was already rich beyond belief, mere money held little appeal. Michalis' offer was by far the best, and I had anticipated as much. There was naked greed in his eyes as I placed the letter on the table between us and slid it over to him.

He wasted no time opening it, and he all but visibly sagged with relief when he saw it said exactly as he hoped it would. That I was recommending that he take over my place as lord of Norland, and the surrounding areas of Crete. Naturally, Irene would have to accept the recommendation, given the politics of it, and Michalis was a loyalist of hers, so I doubt she would even want to refuse.

"It has been a pleasure working with you, Siegfried. I wish you luck in your endeavors," he said, standing up. And, with that, he left the room the very moment he got what he came here for. Alexios watched him go, walking down the staircase that was wrapped around the spinning room. Once he was out of earshot, only then did Alexios speak up.

"You aren't going to check who he brought? He's the type to cheat you," Alexios noted and I offered a cutting smile.

"I've already verified everyone he found over the past two years. The only surprises were you agreeing and this thing here," I replied, glad that bit of business was over with. I was glad to wash my hands of Michalis - he wouldn't be the last of his type I would have to deal with, I knew. There would be plenty of his ilk in Denmark. But, perhaps thanks to my dealings with him, I knew how to handle people like him. Then I leveled a look at Alexios, "Are you certain about this? You are of course welcome, but my homeland is harsh."

"So I've heard," Alexios replied, unbothered by the prospect. "All men die, Siegfried. Here or there, it makes no difference to me. Here, I shall die as a longstanding teacher with my place swiftly taken by those who have sought it for decades. There, in your homeland, these old bones can be put in the foundation of something new. What that foundation shall be, or what will be built on top of it? I can't say, but if nothing else, it'll be interesting."

That it would be, I decided. Alexios would do well as a tutor for Ragnar, even if he was much younger than his usual students.

In short, I was happy that he was coming along and I hoped that what we created would be worth the journey for him.

[center]…/center]

Time continued to go by, both moving entirely too swiftly and too slow as our long awaited journey had finally arrived and we set everything in motion. The ships were boarded. Men and women were ferried to the Black Sea and Kiev to start their journey. Norland seemed to empty itself with each day that passed.

Then, one day, it was suddenly the day.

"Are you ready?" I asked Jasmine as we boarded my flagship, gazing out at Norland as the remaining people saw us off. My family was on the ship, as were my children with Ragnar vibrating with excitement with such intensity I worried he'd wear a hole in the ship.

In response, Jasmine reached out to Rajah, running a hand over the nape of his neck as he curled up around her feet. Her gaze lingered on the city that she spent the past few years in. As a hostage and prisoner. In name only, but still one all the same.

And now she was returning home for the final time before sailing half a world away. Away from her family. Her home. It was different than with Jill, Astrid, or Morrigan. For them, this trip was always temporary and they had the knowledge that they would one day return. That wasn't the case for Jasmine.

"I don't know," Jasmine confessed, her lips twisting into a frown beneath her veil. "I thought I was, but now it feels… very real," she admitted.

"It does," I agreed, watching as Hoffer led the ships out of the harbor to clear our path. For there was one last order of business that had to be settled before I returned home.

I had a wedding to attend.

"I like you well enough for someone who kidnapped me and held me hostage," Jasmine said, sounding more exasperated than anything. "I know you won't mistreat me. I've seen you with your children, and I can't imagine you'd love ours less than you do Ragnar, Magnus, Scathach, and Aife. And I've had years to wrap my head around the idea, but… We're getting married," she said, and I could see that it was really settling in on her now.

So, wordlessly, I offered a hand for her to take. She looked down at it for a moment, noticing the calluses and the small scars from battle, farming, and my art. When she looked back to my face, she gave a small grateful smile as she took my hand and gave it a squeeze.

We didn't love one another, but I hadn't loved Astrid when we were married either. Now I couldn't imagine my life without her. Her, Jill, or Morrigan. I hoped that it would be the same for Jasmine, and I think she hoped for the same, but only time would tell.

Then, together, we said goodbye to Norland and set sail for the Abbasid Caliphate.

...

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