The Son Of Ragnar

Chapter 395  Don't Shoot The Messenger

It stayed like this for a while but the Vikings saw a smaller boat heading in their direction, it was a single boat with one person in it.

The Vikings were wondering what was going on, there was no way this man was sent to fight them so he could only be a messenger.

Ragnar held the highest ranking here so it was only fair that he was the one to speak to this man. He ordered everyone to stand down, the archers were already itching to bury their arrows into him.

The other two leaders followed in Ragnar's lead, they ordered their men to stand down and they did just that.

The man was rough looking, he did not look like the other Christians that they had come across thus far and looked a lot more like one of their own.

"I know you…" Tyr blurted out, this was Alf no doubt but he had a look of urgency on his face.

It made sense that they would send one of their own to deal with them because he had an understanding of both languages even though his Old English was shaky, he could understand the gist of it.

"King Ragnar?" Alf asked, his eyes hopeful as Ragnar gave him a nod to confirm this.

"I am honoured to be before such a great man!" Alf said, bowing his head to show respect.

He could pick out Ragnar because of his appearance but mostly because of his blue eyes.

But more so because of the crown on his head, Ragnar was a simple man and did not like the concept of a crown but he knew he needed to carry himself as a King.

This would make it easier for others to know his status.

"I go by the name Alf and I am here as a messenger for Northumbria…" Alf spoke further.

Alf looked at Baard and knew the moment he set eyes on him that this man would rip him apart if he so much as pointed at Ragnar.

Baard was intimidating and Alf gulped because he did not know how intense this would be.

They looked at him with disgust and he could not blame them because he had betrayed their way.

This was a shameful place to be on the ranking ladder, and the fact that he did so for Christians made it even worse.

"What brings you here, Alf?" Ragnar questioned and Alf proceeded to clear his throat because he knew how important this was. He had to deliver it effortlessly, he had already made eye contact with Tyr but quickly averted his gaze, he was hesitant which was strange.

Tyr kept quiet, he did not want to think too much of this because they had sworn their loyalty to him but they were slaves, they were driven and influenced by money.

It would not be a long shot to say their loyalty was given to the highest bidder.

"Pagans, you have stumbled upon holy waters and with the teaching of Jesus Christ. We're willing to forgive this incursion if you turn back right now. But if you do not heed this warning, then you will be sent to the bottom of the sea," Alf said sternly and Baard could not believe the audacity of this man.

He reached for his spear but Ragnar gestured for him to stand down the moment he noticed this because Baard was going to kill him.

"I see and if we refuse?" Ragnar asked sternly, his voice was unwavering.

"Silly me, you have already given me my answer…" Ragnar said but Tyr quickly intercepted the conversation because he had something to say.

"King Ragnar, allow me…" Tyr shouted from his end and Alf rowed in his direction to listen to the man that they had sworn their loyalty to.

Tyr had no intention of making it a public showing either and this was why he boarded Alf's boat so they could have a private conversation.

"What is going on Alf? Where are the others?" Tyr asked but Alf could not even look him in the eyes.

"Why can't you look at me? Have you betrayed me?" Tyr asked, his voice turning cold.

"No. I would never betray you. The Christians, they have the others. They have said they would kill them if I do not get you to turn back…" Alf said.

"You told them everything…?" Tyr asked, he did not care what happened to them, what Tyr wanted to know was how much these Christians knew about them.

"We had no choice," Alf said but this was one thing that Tyr did not believe.

There was no way that they had no choice because every man had a choice.

There was no excuse for betrayal and Tyr looked visibly disappointed by the events.

"No wonder they knew exactly where we would come from, I thought that they did so because they only had one route but the fact that they were so ready to engage us meant that they knew we would be using this exact route… The same route was given to us by you…" Tyr said.

This was a guess, Tyr had no way of confirming this but he had his answer by the way that Alf reacted.

"I am sorry," Alf said but a smile crept up on Tyr's face.

He knew that with every misfortune, there was an opportunity and an opportunity had just presented itself right in front of them.

"Alf, they know I am the son of a King, correct?" Tyr asked and Alf nodded to confirm this.

"Take me to their leader, I need to speak to him. I promise you, I will not let anything happen to your friends…" Tyr reassured him. Alf could not believe how kind and understanding Tyr was.

He had just told him about his betrayal yet he had offered to help.

Tyr knew that whoever the leader was, he did not want to lose men unless necessary and that was why he even presented this option of retreat.

And the fact that he knew everything about them could play to Tyr's advantage, there was no way that they did not understand the importance of a King's son.

They sent a random Viking as their messenger but the Vikings were sending the son of a King.

Tyr informed the others of his plan but everyone thought it was reckless because he could easily be killed in the process but the chances of this were slim because who would see one man as a threat realistically?