Grj?tgard was drenched in blood, covered from head to toe with crimson red, one would think it was his skin complexion.

Hagen and Bjorn were speechless because what they had just seen was something that should not even be possible.

Grj?tgard faced them all on his own and did not even get a scratch.

Salgard looked at his brother with pride, this was the very reason why he respected Grj?tgard.

Grj?tgard had even slayed the horses so they could not retreat, he did not need a prisoner as he could not speak their language.

"W-What was that?" Bjorn asked, dazed by what he had seen.

"That was my brother, the man feared as the god of war," Salgard said.

Grj?tgard took a deep breath and recollected himself, the beating of shields stopped the moment this happened and the men got on their knees.

Bjorn, Salgard, and Hagen remained on their feet as Grj?tgard turned to face them.

At that moment, he did have the aura of a god.

"Bjorn, I am afraid we have to entertain the possibility that King Ragnar has fallen," Grj?tgard said. Hagen wanted to speak but he knew it was not in his place.

Grj?tgard had a point, if they caught wind of this then that could only mean that Ragnar's plan had failed.

And with him in the enemy's territory, this was the worst-case scenario.

They knew carrying on with the plan was a risk, they should have aborted it the moment that Ragnar was within their grasp.

"I just do not want your emotions risking our lives. Our objective remains the same, lower the gates," Grj?tgard said and he was right to worry,

Valhalla might be what every warrior sought but this did not mean they were immune to the feelings of loss, some more than others.

"Father dead? I do not think the gods are ready for such a great man to fall. Say, General Grj?tgard.." Bjorn said.

"Yes?" Grj?tgard responded, giving Bjorn his full attention.

"Shall we make a wager?" Bjorn said and Grj?tgard did not know what this was about but there was nothing to lose.

The men on their knees rose to their feet as Grj?tgard walked towards Bjorn.

Hagen did not know how to feel about it, he wanted to interfere because he knew that Bjorn was about to do something reckless.

Grj?tgard stood right in front of him, his size was intimidating but Bjorn looked at him right in the eyes without flinching.

"If my father survives, I want you to grovel before me.." Bjorn said.

Salgard wanted to smack him because he found this disrespectful but Grj?tgard raised one hand to halt his brother from carrying out his action.

Grj?tgard liked Bjorn's confidence, he carried himself like the son of a King.

"And if he dies?" Grj?tgard asked, there had to be a fair waver.

"I will fall on my sword and die right in front of you," Bjorn said.I think you should take a look at

This surprised Salgard, he looked at Bjorn with a raised brow, this was a tad bit too extreme considering that he was the one that was proposing.

The wager was against him, was this faith or simply madness?

Hagen shook his head, there was no way that Grj?tgard would accept something so outrageous.

Bjorn was becoming reckless because even Hagen knew he could not make such a wager.

He could have sworn that King Xenophanes would live a long life yet here they are.

Nothing was certain in this Viking world, death could sneak up on anyone.

"I accept your offer," Grj?tgard said without skipping a beat, Salgard and Hagen did not know what was going on in their heads but there was no way that Bjorn dying would be a good thing for any of them.

But that was why Bjorn offered to fall on his sword, it would be him taking his life so no one would be held responsible.

Grj?tgard liked his guts and without saying a word, Bjorn had earned his utmost respect.

They continued their journey to the wall but with much more at stake.

-

Ragnar was panting, he had slaughtered multiple enemies but being in the enemy's base, they just kept coming.

Ragnar knew he had to get out of there because he did not have an infinite amount of stamina.

The King of Northumbria watched him in amazement, he did not expect Ragnar to be this strong.

But he had to get rid of him, archers fired arrows and Ragnar narrowly dodged it, getting grazed in the process.

Ragnar thought he would have a chance to fight King ?lla but that was not the case.historical

King ?lla hung back, observing the strength of Ragnar and he had successfully run down his stamina without raising a sword.

Ragnar gritted his teeth but he didn't have any time to rest as a spear was aimed right at his lower limbs, Ragnar leapt into the air to dodge it but then arrows rained down on him while he was airborne.

"They are good!" Ragnar thought; the arrows were not only aimed at him but around him, and this took evading out of the equation.

Ragnar used the spear as a foothold, his body weight sending it plunging into the ground.

He knew he could not get injured or he risked impeding his ability to defend himself.

Ragnar used his sword to block the arrows before leaping forward and towards the man holding the spear to dodge the arrows he could not block/.

He used the position of the enemy to his advantage and with the spear being a long-range weapon, the enemy could not retract it in time to defend himself.

Allowing Ragnar to slit his throat, killing him in the process but Ragnar did something that even King ?lla could not have foreseen.

Ragnar grabbed the spear and launched it right at the King of Northumbria.

"Let us see you defend against that," Ragnar thought; he wanted to confirm his theory if this was a warrior King or not. If he was not, King ?lla would be a dead man but if he was, then Ragnar could have a proper battle.