Eivor Wolf-Kissed

Eivor Wolf-Kissed (born 847) was a legendary Norwegian Viking warrior, explorer, and ruler of the late 9th century AD. Born to the Raven Clan of Fornburg in the petty kingdom of Rogaland, he was orphaned at a young age and adopted by King Styrbjorn of Rogaland, growing up as a younger brother to Sigurd Styrbjornson. In 872, endless warfare and dwindling resources in Norway motivated Eivor and Sigurd to lead the Raven Clan in a migration from southern Norway to the former Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia in central England, founding the settlement of Ravensthorpe along the River Nene (in present-day Northamptonshire) in early 873. Eivor ruled the settlement during Sigurd's frequent absences, and he built alliances with both Saxon and Danish rulers across England with the objective of pacifying the island and making it safe for Norse settlement; among his most powerful allies were the sons of Ragnarr Lodbrok and the renowned warlord Guthrum. Eivor distinguished himself as a kingmaker who helped to install Ceolwulf II of Mercia, Oswald of East Anglia, and Vili Hemmingsson of Hellirborg on their thrones, while deposing rival rulers such as Burghred of Mercia and Ricsige of Northumbria. In 877, he became Jarl of Ravensthorpe after Sigurd voluntarily abdicated in his favor and relegated himself to an advisory role in the settlement. In January 878, Eivor completed his pacification of England by joining Guthrum's invasion of Wessex - the last of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms - and driving King Alfred the Great into exile at the costly Battle of Chippenham. Ravensthorpe would continue to grow and prosper under Eivor's rule, and his later adventures took him to Ireland and Francia, during which he participated in the 885-886 Siege of Paris. He ultimately emigrated to Vinland in North America following Wessex's unification of England, and he died and was buried in present-day Massachusetts in the United States.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Eivor was born in Fornburg, Rygjafylke, Norway in 847 AD, the son of Varin and Rosta. When Eivor was nine years old, in 856 AD, he attended a banquet hosted by King Styrbjorn of Rogaland in Fornburg, with skald Bjornulf Gnupasson playing a tune for Eivor to enjoy. Eivor was then given a gift by his father and told to give it to King Styrbjorn; along the way, he brushed into Styrbjorn's slightly older son, Sigurd Styrbjornsson, who teased him about handing over the tribute to him and about Eivor being unable to drink any mead. After wading through the celebratory crowd and meeting with his mother, Eivor was told to go to his father and King Styrbjorn to deliver the tribute. Eivor handed over the tribute ring to King Styrbjorn, who knelt down to Eivor and told him that he would swear an oath to them.

Massacre at Fornburg[]

Varin then led the partygoers in a celebratory song, but their revelries were interrupted when King Kjotve the Rich of Agder's raiders arrived to attack Fornburg. Varin and the men of the hall went out to fight the raiders, but he told Eivor that he was not ready, and told him to stay behind. Eivor, however, walked out of the hall and witnessed the fighting, and his mother rushed him to a nearby horse and told him to ride off. However, he instead dismounted, picked up a nearby sword, and climbed into a nearby hut to help his mother fight against the raiders inside. Eivor helped his mother and Sigurd fight off the raiders there, and they then exited the hall when it was set ablaze by fire arrows. Eivor and Rosta then watched as Varin agreed to let Kjotve kill him in exchange for Kjotve sparing his clan, and Kjotve hacked Varin dead with his axe. An angered Rosta tried to charge at Kjotve to avenge her husband, only for one of Kjotve's guards to hurl an axe into her back and kill her as well. Sigurd then rode past Eivor on a horse and pulled him on, and they rode out of the town before their horse was struck by an arrow, causing them both to fall off the road. Eivor fell onto a frozen pond, where the horse fell through the ice and Eivor was nearly killed by wolves, had it not been for nearby ravens to attack the wolves. Eivor then picked up an axe and fought off the wolves, escaping.

Quest for revenge[]

Avaldsnes[]

Eivor being held captive by , 872. — Eivor being held captive by Kjotve the Cruel, 872.

Eivor was then taken in by King Styrbjorn and raised as Sigurd's brother. The famed "Eivor Wolf-Kissed", nicknamed because of his injures in the wolf attack, repeatedly attempted to seek his revenge against Kjotve year after year. In the winter of 872, Kjotve captured Eivor and planned to sell him into slavery as he had Eivor's rowing crew tortured and executed. Eivor managed to escape the slaver Audolf Folkmarsson by using the mast of the longboat to knock out his captor (who dropped his torch, setting the boat on fire), climbing out of the boat and using the mast to kill one of the boat's guards, and have Audolf unlock his chains before kicking him under the water as the boat closed in to prevent Audolf from swimming up. Eivor then travelled inland on foot, running through the snow before coming across his crewmate Dag, who had survived the "sword-clash" with an Agder warrior. Dag agreed to protect the longship at the beach as Eivor searched the longhouses for the captive crewmembers, and he gave Eivor the dead warrior's shield. Eivor then snuck into Kjotve's fortress at Avaldsnes, where he found the Agder guard Rikiwulf taunting the captive Bragi; Eivor emerged from his hiding place and challenged Rikiwulf to battle when he saw that Rikiwulf was in possession of Varin's axe. Rikiwulf instead decided to make Eivor his first sacrifice to Kjotve, but Eivor killed Rikiwulf, picked up his father's axe, reminisced about his father's passing, and then freed Bragi and the other prisoners. They proceeded to fight their way out of the fortress and to the longboat, and they then resolved to return home. Bragi chided Eivor for his boneheadedness in his quest for revenge, but, as they came past Kjotve's small outpost on the island of Ikke en Oy, Bragi said that, even though Eivor was only "half-alive", they could still overpower the garrison if they wanted to. Eivor agreed to lead a raid, and the Rogalander Vikings stormed the beaches. Eivor looted the island's few valuables before continuing on to Fornburg, where he planned to meet the king.

Return to Fornburg[]

Eivor then returned to Fornburg, where he was greeted by his sister-in-law Randvi (Sigurd's wife) at the docks. She told him that Sigurd was still on a raid to Stavanger, and that the King was meeting with emissaries from the North. She then asked Eivor how his raid went, and, while Eivor admitted that it did not go according to plan (as most raids did not), he said that he had killed several of Kjotve's men and retrieved his father's axe. Randvi advised him to go to Gunnar the Blacksmith to have the axe sharpened, and Eivor decided to do so after he met the King. Along the way, he was greeted by Torfi Ernmundsson and two children, and the children asked if he had brought back any loot; Eivor said that he came back with a full crew, and that was worth more than silver. He then spoke to the fisherwoman Gudrun Torstendottir, who told him that the overuse of longboats in the fjord was churning the water and driving away fish from pole-fishers; Eivor jokingly suggested using a bow to shoot and catch fish. Eivor then passed by his old friend Alvis, who had taught him the art of writing poetry, and Alvis invited Eivor to practice flyting; after a bit of practice, Alvis told Eivor that he still had a bit to learn about flyting, but that he was on the right track. Eivor walked through the village to meet with Gunnar the Blacksmith, who was happy to see Varin's axe once again, and he then repaired the axe for Eivor free of charge.

Visiting Valka[]

Eivor talking with Eyvind the Sleepwalker

Eivor then went into the mountains to find the seer Valka and clear his mind, bypassing her guard Eyvind the Sleepwalker along the way. He woke Eyvind after Eyvind used a rope slide to cross the valley, and he told Eyvind to go back to his post before he was charged with desertion. Eyvind told Eivor that he spent his nights worrying about being attacked but could not wake during the day, so Eivor counseled him not to worry about his problems at night if they would still be there during the day; Eyvind said that Eivor had the wisdom of Odin, and he agreed to return to his post and change his way of thinking.

Eivor meeting with at her hut — Eivor meeting with Valka at her hut

Eivor proceeded to enter Valka's hut, where he saw her chanting religious phrases; he also saw Valka's mother Svala kneeling next to her and attempting to speak to the spirits. Valka welcomed Eivor in for consultation, and she gave Eivor a brew which gave him a vision of climbing a mountain during a blizzard, following a wolf, being welcomed past the gates of Odin's hall, and finding Sigurd with his fighting hand severed; the dream ended when Sigurd was pulled from the cliffside, and a large dragon appeared. Valka explained that the vision meant that Eivor was following his destiny, and that he would one day betray Sigurd. This caused Eivor to grow angry, insisting that he would never betray his brother, and that, if Odin could fight against his fate, so could he.

Eivor watching exit King 's hall — Eivor watching Guthorm the Wise exit King Styrbjorn of Rogaland's hall

Eivor then rode back to Fornburg and met with the King at his hall, and he found the King speaking with Guthorm the Wise. Eivor silently stood by as Guthorm left, having agreed to bring the King's terms to his nephew. The King then berated Eivor for disobeying his orders by trying to provoke open war with Kjotve, explaining that he had been building alliances in the north in preparation for a final battle. Eivor arrogantly told the King that he had poor judgment, that Sigurd would have agreed with his own actions, and that his own father had died a coward, something which Eivor sought to rectify by slaying Kjotve.

Meeting the Hidden Ones[]

Sigurd's return[]

The conversation was interrupted by news that Sigurd had returned, and Eivor and Randvi ran to see him. Sigurd cheerily greeted his family, and he introduced them to his friends Basim ibn Ishaq and Hytham, Hidden Ones whom he had met in Miklagard ("the Great City", Constantinople). They then entered the great hall, where Styrbjorn warmly greeted his son. Sigurd told his father that he wished to honor him with spoils and tales, and that he had plenty of both. At the hall, Sigurd related how he and his companions had sailed down the Volga in Rusland, with the native Slavs (whom he described as "shadowy tribes") throwing spears at his ships. He also related how he sailed to Miklagard (Constantinople), Rome, and Africa, meeting warriors of all colors. During the party, Eivor got to speak to both of the mysterious Easterners, who were friendly to him; Basim related how he secretly knew that Sigurd was planning to sack the Hagia Sophia when he met them. Eivor also spoke with Randvi, who related how strange it was for her husband to be back, as, during the three years they had been married, he had been gone on an expedition for two. Finally, Eivor met with Sigurd, who told him that he had brought back a special gift for him. Sigurd told Eivor that his friends had shown him around the Abbasid Caliphate and told them the secrets of their shadowy order, which had fought injustice for centuries. He then had Basim present Eivor with a hidden blade, with Eivor admiring the blade and Basim explaining that it was more of a tool against injustice than a weapon. Hytham protested, saying that the blade was sacred to their order, but Basim told Hytham not to fetishize the blade and to instead judge the person wielding it. Rather than wear it on his wrist, Eivor decided to wear it on the outside of his arm in order to preserve his finger, again triggering a protest from Hytham, who said that severing the finger marked a sacrifice to the cause. Basim again calmed Hytham, and the four of them went outside to test Eivor's skills. He used his hidden blade against several scarecrows, learning how to use the sharp blade. Basim and Hytham then excused themselves, and Eivor and Sigurd talked at the docks. Eivor asked Sigurd if he intended to stay in Norway or join the hidden order, but Sigurd calmed Eivor, telling him to focus on the here and now.

Burning Nottfall[]

That night, Eivor had nightmares about his earlier vision, but he woke upon hearing the snap of a twig outside his hall. He then noticed one of Kjotve's spies, whom he snuck up on and assassinated. With the help of his raven Synin, he tracked down the two other spies to the mountains, where he killed them. Eivor then interrupted Styrbjorn and Sigurd's argument at the docks to report that he had killed the three spies before they could kill the Rogalander chiefs in their sleep, and that they had come from the whaling village of Nottfall, which was under Kjotve's control. Basim volunteered Hytham to search for any more spies as Sigurd, Eivor, and himself would sail to Nottfall to burn down the village and prevent Kjotve from attacking again.

Eivor and meeting with and at — Eivor and Sigurd Styrbjornson meeting with Guthorm the Wise and Harald Fairhair at Nottfall

The Rogalanders proceeded to assault the town and burn it, upon which they met Guthorm the Wise. Eivor recognized Guthorm from Styrbjorn's hall, and Guthorm introduced himself as the uncle and protector of Harald Fairhair. He then introduced Harald himself, and Harald revealed that he had joined in an alliance with Rogaland against Kjotve. Kjotve told Sigurd to meet with him at Alrekstad once victory had been achieved against Kjotve; meanwhile, Guthorm invited the Rogalanders to meet him at Florli at the mouth of the fjord to the northeast.

Kjotve's downfall[]

After meeting up at Florli, Eivor, Sigurd, Guthorm, and the Syrians prepared for their final battle with Kjotve. Before the Rogalanders could set out, Eivor talked with Basim and Hytham, questioning why they would fight in a war that was not theirs. Basim told Eivor that he was wrong, and that Kjotve was part of the Order which they had been fighting; Hytham had trained for months to kill Kjotve. Ultimately, the two armies met outside of Kjotve's fortress at night, and Eivor challenged Kjotve to a holmgang duel.

Battle of Hafrsfjord[]

During the duel, Odin appeared to Eivor in a vision and told him that his time had not yet come, and Eivor proceeded to fight against Kjotve in a brutal duel. Hytham attempted to jump down on Hytham and assassinate him with a hidden blade, but Kjotve threw him aside and continued battling Eivor until Eivor could stab him with a hidden blade and kill him. Shortly after, Kjotve's son Gorm Kjotvesson appeared on the ramparts of the fortress and refused to surrender, instead ordering his men to fire. This forced Eivor and his men to assault the fortress, with Eivor cutting down the bar on the front gates to let his men in. He then slew the "woe-bringer" Haklang Sigebeorhtsson before opening the second gate and charging into the hall. There, the cowardly Gorm set the hall on fire before fleeing, and Eivor escaped the building and told Sigurd of Gorm's escape. Sigurd calmed Eivor and told him that they would still celebrate their victory at Harald's Althing at Alrekstad.

Alrekstad[]

Climbing the mountain[]

While riding to Alrekstad overland, Eivor stopped by the Fannaraki Summit to have a better view of the area. He also met the elderly Harek Gand along the way, and he helped him throw his goods (including a bow from Halfdan the Black) from a cliffside as a sacrifice to the gods. Harek then explained to Eivor that his sacrificed goods were meant to announce his arrival in Asgard, and he thanked Eivor as he hurled himself from the cliff, shocking Eivor.

Confronting Gorm[]

Eivor then climbed along the mountainside before swimming into the boundaries of Hordaland and coming ashore at Alrekstad. There, he found Sigurd in the same tavern as Gorm, and Sigurd told Eivor that they were all invited under Harald's truce; in addition, he claimed that Gorm was too weak to try anything bold. Basim then beckoned Eivor and told him that he knew a way how Eivor could spy on Gorm: using his cloak to hide in plain sight. Eivor used this tactic to sneak into Gorm's camp and confront Gorm in his hall, where he punched him in the face after an argument. Just then, King Harald's guards Asmund Skamkelsson and Thorvald Bersisson interrupted the fight and warned them against disturbing King Harald's peace. Eivor reluctantly left Gorm in his hall, and he decided to attend the althing at King Harald's hall.

Unification of Norway[]

The althing at — The *althing* at Alrekstad

Eivor then entered the great hall, where King Harald gave a speech to his nobles and laid out his designs for a united Norway with a strong army and expansionist aims. The jarl Hjorr and his wife Ljufvina were the first to object to such a consolidation of power, declaring their intentions to peacefully leave their kingdom in Harald's hands and seek greener shores elsewhere. Gorm then attempted to pledge his fealty, but King Harald responded with hostility and said that King Styrbjorn's son had already slain his father. Gorm accused Eivor of poisoning Kjotve before killing him, but Harald told him that he was lying, as Guthorm had witnessed Eivor slay Kjotve in a fair duel. Harald then asked Eivor how he should punish Gorm for slandering his clan, and Eivor modestly told King Harald that the decision was in his hands; Harald commended Eivor's answer and decided to rename Gorm to "Worm" and exile him. Next, King Styrbjorn gave a speech about how he tired of war, and he expressed his willingness to bend a knee to Harald if he would bring peace. This provoked Sigurd to angrily lash out at his father for making such a decision, which stripped him of his birthright. When Styrbjorn told Sigurd that he was doing to secure a lasting peace, Sigurd responded by exclaiming to his father, "You will die a thrall, you drink-addled cow! Alone and toothless on a bed of straw!" Sigurd then stormed out of the hall as Styrbjorn apologized to Harald for his son's behavior. Eivor then asked Harald if he and Styrbjorn had already had a conversation about Styrbjorn's decision, and Harald confirmed that they had talked for several nights. He then invited Eivor to serve his clan, and Eivor said that he wished for Valhalla, but not at the cost of betraying his family; he reaffirmed his loyalty to his brother Sigurd. Harald told Eivor that, if he and his brother wished to remain in Norway, they would have to serve him, and he told them Eivor that he would give them until the next day to consider his offer.

Leaving Norway[]

Eivor and the other Rogalanders returned to Fornberg, and they found that Harald had already sent men to set up banners in the town and claim his territory. At the docks, Eivor spoke to Harald's soldier Sigmund Geirleifsson, who said that he had been sent to survey Harald's new lands, and - when asked by Eivor whether his lands had also been taken away - that his family had served Viken since the days of King Halfdan the Black, Harald's father. Eivor then welcomed him to Fornburg, and he proceeded to search for Sigurd.

Preparing to leave[]

Eivor located Sigurd in the main hall, where he held a meeting with several townspeople, warriors, his wife, the Hidden Ones, and Eivor's crew. He spoke to the crowd about his desire for the Raven Clan to have a kingdom of their own, and he proposed travelling to England, to which Basim nodded. Several members of the crowd supported the idea, although Randvi expressed concern that there might not be any land left in the eight years since Ragnarr Lodbrok's sons invaded the island, and Bragi expressed his concern about being in a land where the natives hated them. Eivor suggested that Sigurd bring with him the riches obtained from the raid on Kjotve, but Sigurd insisted that the riches be left for his father as his due share of the spoils. Eivor deferred to Sigurd, acknowledging that England would have enough cargo and resources for the clan. Randvi then told the people in the hall to pack what they needed and prepare to leave that same day, and they all set out to peacefully pack up their belongings and not alert Harald's men. As the crowd left, Eivor noticed that Valka had stayed behind and listened, and he asked her if she intended to join them. Valka said that a new path had opened for Eivor and that it would be challenging, but that she had to stay behind for her mother's sake; she then bade Eivor farewell, while insisting that they would meet again in the future.

Journey to the West[]

The leaving — The Raven Clan leaving Fornburg

Before the party could leave, they noticed an approaching ship flying King Harald's flag, and they found it to be King Styrbjorn returning home. He confronted Sigurd about the assembly, and Sigurd told his father that he was planning to leave and start a new saga in England. Styrbjorn warned his son against "false victories" and told him that his place was in Norway, but Sigurd chided his father for being a "sad old bear who destroyed his honor with one bent knee." Eivor assured Styrbjorn that he would be Sigurd's anchor, but Styrbjorn told him that he must instead be Sigurd's better half. Eivor then boarded Sigurd's ship as Bragi guided the ship out of the fjord and towards England, where Sigurd intended to establish his new kingdom with Eivor's help. During the voyage, Eivor asked Sigurd what knowledge he had of England from his travels, and Sigurd told Eivor that he had spent a season in the kingdom of Mercia, a temperate, lush, and wild region whose heart had been claimed by the Sons of Lodbrok.

Arrival in England[]

Into Mercia[]

The ' arrival in — The Vikings' arrival in England

The Viking longships arrived off the coast of East Anglia in early 873 AD, and they parted ways as Sigurd and Eivor's ship began to sail up the River Nene and into the heart of Mercia. Along the way, Dag was amused with the sight of a Christian church, how the Christians worshipped the object which killed their god (comparing it to worshipping the wolf which would kill Odin), and at the sight of a Christian "ritual drowning" (a baptism). While he suggested that they plunder a monastery they passed by, Sigurd told him that they first needed to settle down before raiding. They were forced to halt when they noticed an Anglo-Saxon river chain, and Eivor volunteered to infiltrate the Anglo-Saxon base (at present-day Thorney, 3 miles southeast of Peterborough) and destroy the chain. The Vikings then continued to sail up the river until they spotted the sons of Ragnar's camp (at present-day Ailsworth, 7 miles west of Peterborough). Sigurd sensed trouble when he observed a lack of life around the camp, and, when the Vikings came close, they found that the camp had been mostly deserted, save for a few Anglo-Saxon bandits. After a tense standoff with Aethelweah Pittun and his band, the Norwegians charged into battle and killed all of the bandits.

Eivor was then told to check the longhouse for scavengers, but he instead found two captives: the Anglo-Saxon stable hand Rowan and the Chinese merchant Yanli. Yanli explained that they had been told by Jarl Halfdan Whiteshirt to trade with his brothers at their campsite, only for them both to be captured, and for Rowan's horses to be sold. The two of them were to be sold into slavery until Eivor and the Vikings arrived, and Eivor decided to free them. He and Sigurd both agreed that the Norse could use the two merchants' skills once they got settled, and, over the next few weeks, the Norse settlers built a magnificent longhouse, converted the abandoned camp into a settlement, and built a new home for themselves in England.

Founding of Ravensthorpe[]

Eivor, Randvi, and Sigurd meeting around the table at Ravensthorpe

Soon after, Eivor, Randvi, and Sigurd met in the finished longhouse, where they looked at a map procured by Randvi. When Sigurd learned from Randvi that they were living in an unnamed copse of woods, Sigurd was distressed by the lack of a name, so Eivor proudly declared that it should be named "Ravensthorpe" - the "village of ravens". He and Sigurd then agreed that, in order to get Gunnar the Blacksmith working again, they wound need supplies, and Sigurd declared that their neighbors would supply them, whether they wanted to or not. Randvi was hesitant to begin raiding so soon, but Sigurd decided that they couldn't take over the land simply by asking nicely. Eivor then decided to speak to Gunnar about setting up his shop, leaving the longhouse and walking through the new town for the first time.

Eivor overlooking from the — Eivor overlooking Leicestershire from the Ragnarsson Lookout

Before visiting Gunnar, however, Eivor decided to scout out the countryside around Ravensthorpe. He climbed Ragnarsson Lookout and obtained an amazing view of the countrysides of Cambridgeshire and Leicestershire, and he then returned to his town and spoke with Gunnar. Gunnar told Eivor that he did not have enough supplies to set up his shop, but he told Eivor that he had found a map of the Saxon "monk-huts" after slaying the bandits, and he gave Eivor the map and suggested that he go Viking to secure the necessary supplies. Eivor sailed his drakkar up the Nene and decided to sack the monastery at Alcester, slaying the yeoman Ealdbehrt Cumdon and the local levies before looting and burning both of the church buildings and returning to Ravensthorpe on his drakkar. There, he refurbished Gunnar's blacksmith so that it was larger and hotter than the one back in Fornburg; he also refurbished Eydis' barracks and recruited the jomsviking Vreidr the Berserker to his crew.

Eivor sleeping in his bed at Ravensthorpe

Eivor then returned to the great hall and met with Sigurd, who showed Eivor to his lavish room, telling him that he wanted him close at hand as the co-leader of the clan. Eivor thanked Sigurd, despite politely declining special treatment, and he became acquainted with his room, such as his comfortable bed, a letter box, and notes from Randvi about the settlement. After a good night's sleep, Eivor went on to explore more of Cambridgeshire, visiting the Roman ruins of Duroliponte, where he found that several Norse soldiers had used the ruins as a camp. He then sailed his drakkar up the River Great Ouse and sacked the Roman Catholic monastery at Meldeburne, freeing several captive Danes in the process. Eivor also went to the tower at Black Peak to have a better view of the surrounding countryside, familiarizing himself with south Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. He even briefly infiltrated Cambridge before deciding to return home and talk to Sigurd. He found Basim leaving the town and saw Sigurd preparing to leave; Sigurd told Eivor that he was headed north to meet the sons of Ragnarr at Repton in Leicestershire. He also told Eivor to meet him there when he was done with whatever work he had to do at Ravensthorpe; Eivor volunteered to ride with him immediately, but Sigurd told Eivor that he had to speak to Randvi first.

Cambridgeshire[]

Joining Soma[]

Eivor being introduced to 's "Alliance map" — Eivor being introduced to Randvi's "Alliance map"

Eivor returned to the great hall to speak to Randvi, who told him that her scouts were helping her gain her bearings in England, that Hytham was forging alliances in the cities, and that - for the settlement to thrive - Eivor would need to form alliances with other lords. She then told him that he had several options for his next move: ride north to join Sigurd in meeting Ragnarr Lodbrok's sons or ride south to meet the Danish jarl Guthrum and his second-in-command Jarlskona Soma. Randvi invited Eivor to consult her on any region he saw fit, and, when he asked about Cambridgeshire, she told him that the Danish "Summer Army" was encamped at the ruins north of Cambridge (which Eivor recognized as Duroliponte, which he had visited earlier). Eivor decided to pledge to Cambridgeshire and ride to meet Guthrum and Soma, hoping to forge a crucial alliance with the leaders of the Summer Army.

Eivor and overlooking — Eivor and Magni overlooking Cambridge

Eivor travelled to Duroliponte, where he met with Guthrum's officer Magni. Eivor was shocked to see the poor state of Guthrum's army, and Magni told him that Cambridge had been a hub of trade and song under Guthrum's wife, Jarlskona Soma. However, the Anglo-Saxons of Cambridge had rebelled against the Norse occupiers and thrown them out of the city, and Soma was forced to retreat northeast into the fog of the Fenlands with the bulk of her army, while Magni and a few other survivors took refuge in the ruins. Eivor volunteered to find Soma and bring her back to the ruins to help Magni retake the city, and he found Soma's longship at Middleton in Norfolk. He freed several of her captive men after a skirmish with their Mercian captors, who bragged about Ealdorman Wigmund chasing out the Danes. Eivor then went to search for Soma in the swamps to the east, where she was said to have sailed in order to elude her pursuers. Along the way, Eivor stopped at the Roman ruins at Witcham (Wycham) to get a better view of the area, spotting the Isle of Ely monastery in the distance.

Retaking Grantebridge[]

Eivor later found Soma in Middleton, where she was supervising the care of her wounded. Eivor approached her and introduced himself, and, when Soma said that a crazed order had orchestrated the uprising against her, Eivor deduced that it was the Order of the Ancients. Soma told Eivor that she could not move against Cambridge until her three advisors - Birna, Galinn, and Lif - were rescued from the Mercian rebels. She also told him a bit about Ealdorman Wigmund of Cambridge, whom she described as a "flailing ealdorman" still loyal to the old king, who - after several failed attempts - finally succeeded in wresting Cambridge from her. Eivor and Soma then set out to rescue her advisors, with Lif being the first one to be found and rescued. Eivor then headed to the ruins of Gratian's Villa and rescued Birna, and he also rescued Galinn from a watchtower besieged by wolves.

Eivor then returned to Soma's camp, and she decided to assault the city the next day, telling Eivor to meet her at the city's western gate. Eivor met her when he was ready, and they proceeded to take part in the storming of the city; Eivor began the assault by shooting a wagon full of explosives with an arrow to breach the gate as Soma distracted Wigmund - overlooking the attackers from the ramparts - with her taunts. However, Eivor was ultimately confronted by Wigmund's lieutenant Burchard Chaplin at the longhouse, as Wigmund had fled the city. Eivor slew Burchard and helped Soma take the city, and Soma then invited Eivor to perform the ceremonial blowing of the city's horn as a symbol of the city's rejuvenation and return to prosperity.

Finding the traitor[]

Eivor and Soma celebrating their victory

That night, Eivor took part in Soma's lavish celebrations at the longhouse, getting drunk and sleeping on the floor. During the party, however, he noticed that Soma appeared to be saddened, and, the next day, he asked her whether she was celebrating or mourning. She revealed that only she and her three confidantes had been aware of the existence of the secret tunnel in the longhouse which Wigmund had used to escape, and she entrusted Eivor with getting to know her three lieutenants by raiding with them as they stamped out Wigmund's power in Cambridgeshire. Eivor agreed, and Soma also gifted Eivor with a shield, one of her last possessions from her blood family. Eivor went on to investigate the tunnel, finding that its entrance had been marked by yellow paint, and that the paint led to the river, where the perpetrator had fled in a longship. With this in mind, Eivor set out to investigate Soma's lieutenants.

Eivor met with Galinn on the hill above Earnningstone, where Galinn planned to plunder the village; he explained to Eivor that the rest of the shire supported Soma, but Wigmund's "rats" had taken over the village. Hoping to find out more about Soma's inner circle, he asked Galinn about how he came to serve Soma, learning that he had been a troubled adventurer before having a vision of Soma and being taken in by her while laying naked in the fenlands, having been rejected by the Saxons. He also showed trust towards Lif, but he explained that Birna thought of life as a joke and was a smuggler before Soma took her in. With this information in mind, Eivor decided to join Galinn in razing the town. Eivor helped the raiding force slaughter the Mercian soldiers in the town and torch every building in the village, punishing the village for helping to rend Cambridge from Soma.

Eivor meeting outside of — Eivor meeting Birna outside of Ravensburg

Afterwards, Eivor travelled to Ravensburg to join Birna and her crew in seizing the fortified town from Wigmund's men. Eivor asked Birna how she joined Soma's clan, and she revealed that she had been in England for ages, smuggling under the noses of Saxons and Danes alike. She expressed a disliking for Galinn, whom she claimed was always seeking praise and conflict. Eivor quietly grew suspicious of Birna for her bellicose attitude, but he helped her quietly infiltrate Ravensburg and take out all of the guards after a drawn-out search. With Ravensburg in Danish hands, he bade farewell to Birna, who assumed that Eivor's praise for her meant that he was flirting for her; the then told him that she would see him back at Cambridge

Eivor meeting at — Eivor meeting Lif at Walden

Finally, Eivor headed to Walden (present-day Saffron Walden, Essex) to meet Lif, who was planning to assassinate the local priest for speaking favorably of Wigmund and funneling tithes to his rebel cause. Eivor then asked Lif's own story, and Lif said that he had come to England with Guthrum's "Summer Army", and that he remained with Soma when she took over the Summer Army on Guthrum's advance into Wessex. However, Lif expressed his belief that he should have become Jarl of Cambridge, saying that he would not give Galinn and Birna's opinions equal weight; he say Birna's proverbial "boots" as being in the mud (she was bellicose and girtty) and Galinn's were in the sky (he was too idealistic). However, he praised Soma for knowing trade and making Cambridge into a prosperous city. He also mentioned, in passing, that someone had stole his paints a week ago, mourning the loss of his expensive "happy" colors. Eivor and Lif then set out to assassinate the priest as Lif's men distracted the guards at the front gate. Ultimately, they joined the main assault and slew all of the guards in the burning town before Eivor assassinated Father Cuthbert with his hidden blade. Lif then told Eivor that he would see him back at Cambridge, so Eivor rode back to the city to help Soma find the traitor.

Eivor meeting with Soma and her lieutenants in Cambridge

Upon returning to Cambridge, Eivor found Soma and her three lieutenants standing next to a tied up Saxon captain, Letard the Thatcher, whom Soma reported had been captured while sniffing around Duroliponte. Soma told her lieutenants that there was no need to kill the captain, and they proceeded to question him. Letard insisted that Cambridge belonged to "Lord Wigmund of Walden" and called the Danes "heathens", but, after Eivor threatened to slit his throat, he revealed that Wigmund was hiding at the monastery on the Isle of Ely. Galinn proceeded to stab Letard in the side with a knife, causing suspicion among the others. Galinn said that the captain might have been trying to curse them, but Birna told the others that Christians did not curse. Eivor decided to tell Soma what he knew, and he told her about the yellow paint, her three lieutenants' conversations with him, and his suspicion that Galinn might be the traitor, but, when asked if he was sure, he decided to search for more evidence. Firstly, Eivor sought to locate a yellow-painted longship in the swamps, one which had used Lif's yellow paint. He sailed up the River Stour and up the River Great Ouse into the fenlands, where he found the yellow-painted longship and led a raid on the Saxon bandits guarding it. He then deduced that the pilots of the ship fled west as the ship was looted, and he set out to follow their tracks. The tracks led to the same wolf-surrounded watchtower where he had previously rescued Galinn; this new stunning information, along with Galinn's previous murder of the interrogated captain, led Eivor to conclude that Galinn was the traitor. Eivor returned to Soma and told her, and she was confused why Galinn would paint his longship differently from the others. Eivor then accused Galin, and Soma then had her lieutenants assembled before declaring that they could not move forward while there was still "a rat in the larder". She then drew a knife and held it to Galinn's throat, telling him that his delusions had caused destruction and that he had betrayed her; Soma then slit Galinn's throat and had his body taken away. Soma then expressed her feeling that she had torn off her arm by killing Galinn, but she resolved to deal with Wigmund and told Eivor to meet her and her army on the outskirts of the Isle of Ely. Before leaving, Eivor recruited the jomsviking Dyrhildr the Cold-Handed outside of the longhouse.

Finishing Wigmund[]

Eivor at the base — Eivor at the Isle of Ely base

Eivor then sailed up the Ouse and towards the Isle of Ely, joining forces with Soma and taking part in the assault. He led his longship to the beach before sounding his horn to start the raid, and scores of Vikings poured into the monastery and engaged in a gruelling battle with the Mercian soldiers stationed there. Ultimately, Eivor and Soma found Wigmund cowering in the church, and, while Wigmund was hacked down by a rank-and-file Norse soldier, Eivor confirmed his death by plunging his hidden blade into Wigmund's stomach. Eivor then proceeded to loot the monastery's treasures before returning to Soma's camp. There, Soma thanked Eivor for his help, giving him an arm-ring to symbolize her highest respect, regard, and trust, and she told him that she hoped she would see him in Cambridge soon.

Eivor then bade farewell to Lif before speaking with Birna. Eivor congratulated Birna on winning back her home, but Birna said that, as she had lost her place in Soma's heart, she had no true home, and Soma's noble focus on putting the people of Cambridge first was beyond her understanding. Birna then revealed to Eivor that Soma had granted her permission to come and live with the Raven Clan and join Eivor's crew, and Eivor welcomed Birna to his crew.

The Hunt Begins[]

With Cambridgeshire in allied hands, Eivor returned to Ravensthorpe, where he met the young Ethiopian boy Reda, who was announced as the guild master of the "Thousand Eyes" by his significantly older Anglo-Saxon apprentice. Reda told Eivor that he had heard of him through the Thousand Eyes' vast network of contacts and traders, and that he would be willing to sell Eivor rare and exotic goods in exchange for opal. Eivor then welcomed Reda and his apprentice to his settlement, where they permanently set up shop.

Eivor then spoke with Hytham as Randvi had previously told him to do, and Hytham told him that he believed that, of all the places in the world, England was the most overrun by the Order of the Ancients. When Eivor asked if they were causing the same disruption that Kjotve had, Hytham explained that they were also teaching people to abase themselves fro the sake of power. He also told Eivor that the Hidden Ones had not had a presence in England since the end of Roman rule in Britain in 410 AD, and asked him to help build a bureau at Ravensthorpe. Eivor agreed, donating enough supplies to build the bureau and increase the town's renown, leading to it expanding in size.

Hytham's gift[]

Hytham and Eivor in the bureau — Hytham and Eivor in the Hidden Ones bureau

In the new bureau, Hytham gleefully thanked Eivor for contributing, and Eivor said that Hytham and the Hidden Ones would be welcome to stay as long as they contributed. Hytham assured Eivor that they had common cause against the same enemy in England, and he told Eivor that, if he were to take down the Order of the Ancients in every region, alliances would be easier to come by. Hytham then told Eivor that the Order operated without restraint in London, and that, if Eivor were to eradicate them, the city would be in his debt. As a "gift", Hytham then took Eivor across the river to a steep hill to show him how to perform a "leap of faith", a skill which he could use in flight or for infiltration. Eivor was initially hesitant to jump from the cliff, but, after seeing Hytham perform the leap and survive, and after recalling that his past vision of his death would not occur in such a scenario, Eivor was emboldened to jump. After rising from the pile of leaves, Eivor agreed that it was an exhilarating experience, and he thanked Hytham for teaching him the skill. On the way back to the bureau, Eivor and Hytham discussed the situation, with Hytham warning Eivor that there was deeper threat in England than "harmless jarls and bumbling thegns", and that, even though he did not expect Eivor to join the Hidden Ones, he reminded Eivor that, while the Hidden Ones sought to fight the rot in England and Eivor sought alliances, their interests were the same. Back at the bureau, Hytham suggested that Eivor travel to London to stop the Order from seizing the city, and he told him to look out for the Hidden Ones' symbols and find the six former Hidden Ones bureaus in the city.

Eivor also took the time to look at the network chart compiled by Hytham, identifying known members of the Order. Eivor noticed that the head of the Order's military activities in Cambridgeshire, Leofgifu, was not far from Cambridge at Utbech (Waterbeach), so he rode to slay her. On his way out of the camp, he helped Yanli build a trading post with his looted resources. Eivor then sailed up the Great Ouse and raided a bandit camp before leading a raid on Utbech, during which his men cut down Leofgifu and Eivor finished her off with a hidden blade. After finishing the looting of Utbech, Eivor and his crew regrouped up their ship and decided to sail up the River Nene to Leicester, where Order member Hunta the Baldric was holed up.

Hunting Hunta[]

Eivor disembarked at the Roman ruins of Venonis (High Cross, Leicestershire), from which he took in the view of the surrounding countryside. He then came across the Glen Ford Camp before deciding to evade it and enter Leicester peacefully. After climbing the city's church tower and overlooking the city, he stealthily assassinated a few guards before spotting Hunta. He lured Hunta from the market square to the wagon of hay in which he was hiding, and he then pulled Hunta into the wagon and stabbed him with his hidden blade. Hunta told Eivor that he was saddened that he could no longer deliver his battle kennings, and that he wanted to live "a freebooter, someone who writes their own destiny"; Eivor responded by telling him to be glad that he would be entering Valhalla with a poem on his lips. After Hunta died, Eivor rode across the River Soar towards Tamworth with the goal of completing his knowledge of Leicestershire. He succeeded in infiltrating the fortress and obtaining a great view of the Leicestershire-Shropshire border and of the River Tame below, and he then decided to return to Ravensthorpe to speak with Randvi.

Reporting on Grantebridgescire[]

Eivor reporting on to — Eivor reporting on Cambridgeshire to Randvi

Eivor returned to the longhouse and told Randvi about his alliance with Cambridgeshire and Birna's arrival in the settlement, which Randvi celebrated as an early victory. He then asked her about Leicestershire, as he wished to join Sigurd soon. Randvi told him that he had headed to Repton to meet Ubbe and Ivar Ragnarrsson, who were on the verge of exiling the King of Mercia and installing a client king of their own. Eivor expressed his wish to help them, and Randvi encouraged him, telling him that he should head by ship to Repton, which was located up the River Trent.

Leicestershire[]

Eivor sailed up the scenic river on his longship, passing by Tamworth and reaching Repton. Eivor then disembarked at the docks of Repton, climbed the church tower of Repton, and took in the view of northern Leicestershire and the neighboring countrysides of Nottinghamshire and Shropshire. He then walked the streets, finding that the city had been mostly repopulated by Danish and Norwegian settlers. Eivor then heard screams coming from inside the church, so he headed inside to investigate.

The Sons of Ragnar[]

Ivar the Boneless' executioner killing a spy in front of Eivor

There, Eivor walked in on a blindfolded warrior torturing a naked, hung upside-down Anglo-Saxon man as Ivar the Boneless watched. Eivor joked that Ivar might stain the floor, and Eivor then guessed that he was the famed "Aygor"; Eivor then corrected him. Ivar told Eivor that the man being tortured was a spy who had been caught wielding a pitchfork, and that he had been executing other spies; he also joked that the church room could use more color. After paying the executioner, Eivor cut the rope holding the prisoner up and told him that he could now run freely through the fields of Mercia. Ivar then decided to give Eivor the tour of the town, telling him that Mercia's kings had been buried beneath the church, and joked that the Mercians were weeping when the Vikings drove them out. Ivar told Eivor that the only resistance left in Mercia came from King Burgred of Mercia and his war-thegn Leofrith, and that his brother was talking with them. He also joked that Sigurd and his brother Ubbe were talkers and might drive the wax from their listeners' ears. Ivar then took Eivor into Ubbe's tent, where he was arguing with the mercenary Tonna about sharing the spoils from the war against Mercia. Ivor drove a knife into the table next to Tonna's hand and threatened to gouge out her tongue and shove it up her anus, and he then had her leave the tent. Sigurd, who was also in the tent, then introduced Eivor to Ubbe, and he told Eivor that they were trying to hunt down a king. Once they deposed the sitting king, they would replace him with the thegn Ceolwulf, who said that, while he did not beg for such an honor, Mercia needed a king who could reign fairly over both Saxon and Dane.

Sigurd informed Eivor that Burgred was holed up at his fortress at Tamworth, making a final stand. Ceolwulf told the others that his legitimacy rested on Burgred not being harmed, and, while Ivar said that Ceolwulf's demand took the fun out of war, Eivor said that Ceolwulf was right to be cautious, as - if he showed mercy to Burgred - the people would have reason to trust him. Ubbe then invited Eivor and Sigurd to join him at his forward camp just north of Tamworth, and he told him that he could take in the sights of the town before joining him at the docks.

Eivor meeting at the docks — Eivor meeting Ubbe Ragnarrsson at the docks

Before he could do so, Eivor was challenged to a flyting contest by Jungulf as his friend Godrich watched. He defeated Godrich, winning 100 coins by defeating him. He then recruited the jomsviking Eykr the Strong Fist into his crew, and he met with Ubbe at the docks and told him that he was ready for the "spear din". Eivor then said that it would be an honor to take part in one of the Ragnarrssons' famous conquests for the first time, but their conversation was interrupted by Ivar, who was arguing with Ceolwulf's son Ceolbert as he forcibly brought him to the docks to prepare for the great battle. Eivor agreed with Sigurd that the King's heir would be no good to him dead, and they criticized Ivar for threatening to kill Ceolbert's father should his son die in battle.

Fall of Tamworth[]

Eivor then joined Sigurd, Ubbe, Ivar, and Ceolbert in riding to Tamworth, and, along the war, Eivor was impressed with Ceolbert's realization that he and the Ragnarrssons were from different regions due to their accents; Eivor said that he was from Fornburg in Norway, and explained that Norwegians (or, at least the ones who remained in Norway) were like a herd of sheep running off a cliff to their doom. Sigurd agreed with Eivor's description, but, when Ceolbert asked if they were angry that they had been forced out in a mass exodus, Sigurd spoke admirably about King Harald Fairhair (describing him as a boy wise beyond his years) and said that he had pacified his homeland by words and weapons both. Ceolbert expressed his own admiration for Harald, who was only six years older than Ceolbert, yet was able to unite his country, while England (smaller than Norway) still had four kings ruling over four kingdoms. Ceolbert was also fascinated about the similarities between the Old English and Norse languages, such as when Sigurd suggested that Ceolbert become a skald, similar to the Saxons' scop, their court poet. Ceolbert concluded that it was, "as if we were distant cousins, separated by an ocean of time as well as space."

addressing the others outside of 's walls — Ubbe Ragnarrsson addressing the others outside of Tamworth's walls

The Danes and Ceolbert then arrived at the siege camp, from which they addressed King Burgred and Leofrith. Burgred was hostile to the Danes (while Leofrith was more cautious and diplomatic), and Ivar declared that the Danes had come for his crown, with or without his head attached. Burgred then shouted that no Dane would ever occupy the Mercian throne, but Eivor then said that they had a Mercian; Burgred said that he would have Ceolwulf executed for treason once he defeated the Danes. Leofrith attempted to counsel Burgred to deliver a more measured response, but Burgred went on a tantrum about how the Mercians had fed the Danes, clothed them, and given them horses, yet the Danes continued to invade Mercia. He declared that, if Ubbe wanted his crown, he would have to pry it from his corpse, and Burgred then ordered his troops to man the walls. Ubbe then told his men that they would take Tamworth that night, and, as they rode back to the forward camp, Ubbe invited Eivor to be at the head of their battering ram.

Upon arrival at the camp, Eivor told the captain Vigdis Arnketillsdottir that it was time to roll out the battering ram, and he was then joined by Sigurd. However, Eivor noticed Ceolbert looking sad, so he walked up to him and asked him what was wrong. Ceolbert told Eivor that he knew the Mercians they were about to kill, having supped with them; just two weeks earlier, Leofrith had taught him how to wield a greatsword. Eivor told Ceolbert to find an empty tent and hide there before the battle; when Ceolbert insisted that he was not a coward and merely wanted to avoid killing his friends, Eivor told him to fight or hide, and he then joined the others as they prepared for battle.

Eivor meeting with the others in 's keep — Eivor meeting with the others in Tamworth's keep

During the assault, Eivor took the helm of a battering ram and repeatedly charged until the first gate was crashed, upon which he joined in the bloody and chaotic melee. After hacking through droves of Saxon troops, he helped breach the second gate, upon which he was sent to take care of the Mercian marksmen and elites. After killing the two elite skirmishers in the center of town, Eivor and the others charged into the empty keep. Ubbe sent men to search the rear, while Eivor investigated the keep for any evidence of where Burgred may have gone. Ivar, sitting on the Mercian throne, asked where the aetheling was, and he called out Eivor's "big and bold" lie when he said that he may have missed Ceolbert during the battle. Eivor then found an Order of the Ancients-sealed chronicle of payments made, including a letter from an Order member to Burgred warning him of the Viking onslaught and his secret haunts being discovered. Eivor gave the sealed letter to Ubbe as he returned with Ceolbert, Sigurd, and Ceolwulf (while Ivar slept on the throne), and Ubbe identified the seal as that of Tonna, the mercenary, who was apparently playing both sides of the conflict. Eivor decided to head to Tonna's camp, as she could provide a lead as to where Burgred may have gone. Before he left, Eivor was asked by Ceolwulf for a word, and Ceolwulf told Eivor that he had become aware of Eivor intervening in Ceolbert's situation with Ivar. While Ceolwulf insisted that his son be trained or tried as a warrior, Eivor advised Ceolwulf to keep Ceolbert far from Ivar, who was the farthest thing from a mentor.

Confronting Tonna[]

Sigurd and Eivor meeting at — Sigurd and Eivor meeting Tonna at Tonnastadir

Eivor then rode to Tonna's camp, where he met up with Sigurd, Ivar, and Ubbe. Sigurd told Eivor that the two of them would head into the camp alone, as it was better to go to Tonna without her knowing that they were in league with the Ragnarrssons. He also warned Eivor that Tonna wanted either silver or a stern hump in life, and said that they may be able to satisfy her. Tonna flirted with Eivor as she let Eivor and Sigurd into her camp, and Sigurd confronted her about her past dealings with Burgred. Eivor asked Tonna for her price, and she demanded 540 coins to buy a cow. Eivor told her that he would only give her half, but he would ensure that Ceolwulf did not execute her when he took the throne. Tonna told Eivor that he had "stones", but she accepted the money. She then told the two men that Burgred had paid her to steer the Ragnarrssons away from two locations: Leicester and Templeborough fort. Tonna then dismissed the two visitors as she returned to her camp, and Sigurd told Eivor that the brothers might know the two locations; he then told Eivor not to stick around the camp too long, and to tell the brothers about Burgred's possible whereabouts. Sigurd and Ubbe volunteered to take Templeborough, while Ivar decided to head to Leicester; Ubbe suggested that Eivor accompany Ivar.

Battle of Leicester[]

Eivor then rode to Leicester to meet up with Ivar, who was scouting the city from one of its guard towers. He noticed soldiers aplenty and wagons going in and out, and he deduced that Burgred must be in the city. While Ivar intended to wait for the return of his scout from investigating the church and the bathhouse, Eivor volunteered to investigate himself. He infiltrated the church first, finding orders from Leofrith to gather supplies and deliver them to the church and the bathhouse. When Eivor infiltrated the bathhouse, he found that Ceolbert was hiding there, and was shocked to realize that Ceolbert was Ivar's scout. Ceolbert reported that Burgred was not in Leicester, but that the Mercians were storing food there; Ceolbert also reported that Burgred had ordered more men to be sent to protect his wife, Aethelswith, who was in Templeborough. They were then alarmed by the sounds of battle, and they saw Ivar's men fighting in the square with the Mercians. Eivor helped finish off the Saxons there, protecting Ceolbert, but he was disgusted when Ivar beheaded a praying captive, Wighelm Bacchus. He rebuked Ivar for enjoying violence too much, and, when Ceolbert revealed that he had volunteered for the mission, Ivar also rebuked him for seeing himself as Mercia's champion when he was currently its enemy. He told Ceolbert to return to Repton and stay there, and he told Ivar that he would join his brother at Templeborough. Eivor went on to sail up the River Soar from Leicester aboard his longship, and he briefly led a raid on a brigand camp at Barrow upon Soar, looting the supplies there before continuing up the river. He and his men then disembarked to raid Sudwella Monastery, charging ashore and looting the treasures after slaying the guards and braving catapult fire from the gate. With enough plunder taken, Eivor finally sailed up to Templeborough to meet up with Sigurd and Ubbe.

Storming Templeborough[]

Eivor disembarked next to the camp, where he saw Sigurd and Ubbe interrogating Anglo-Saxon prisoners. Sigurd explained that he had captured them while they were on patrol, and they revealed that Burgred's wife Aethelswith was hiding in the city. Eivor confirmed this news, revealing that Ceolbert had told him from his scouting in Leicester; Ubbe grew angry at Ivar, but Eivor told him that, while it was a long story, Ceolbert was safe and back in Repton. Sigurd decided to help Eivor capture Aethelswith as Ubbe continued to interrogate the captives, and he said that they could either use Eivor's longship or attempt stealth. Eivor resolved to pursue the vikingr approach, which Sigurd celebrated.

The capture of Queen Aethelswith of Mercia

Eivor sounded his horn to signal his crewmen to disembark and assault the castle, and Eivor fought through numerous defenses before infiltrating the soldiers' barracks. There, he captured a book of knowledge before he and Sigurd ran into a chamber where Aethelswith and her handmaidens were hiding. Aethelswith asked that the Vikings spare her handmaidens, who then fled, but, when interrogating Aethelswith about her husband's location, Sigurd noticed that she had a servant's dirty hands. Eivor then chased after the real Aethelswith, who had escaped aboard a boat as her decoy Kadlin stalled Sigurd and him. Eivor killed her boat's pilot with an arrow as she tried to flee down the River Trent, and he tied her up after she swam ashore. Eivor brought her back to Ubbe, who decided to take her back to Ceolwulf for interrogation.

Kidnapping Burgred[]

Eivor then travelled back to Tamworth, where the Danes had regrouped. There, Sigurd told Eivor that he was exhausted with his failed attempts to get Aethelswith to talk, so Eivor went in to talk to her himself. She was defensive of her husband's cowardice, saying that the King was doing what he could for Mercia, and that his hiding was because even close friends could betray him. Even Eivor's reminder that Tamworth, Repton, Leicester, and Templeborough had fallen did not make Aethelswith talk, as she said that Ceolwulf would build his kingdom on the bodies of the true Mercians who died to defend it, and that God would curse the pagans. However, she cracked after Ivar brought in the heads of several slain captives and threw them to the pigs to eat, and - after Eivor told him that she would be betraying thousands of innocents by not giving up her husband and bringing about peace - she ultimately confessed that Burgred was hiding at an old crypt where the Alne and Arwy rivers joined. Eivor decided to capture Burgred while Ubbe arranged for Eivor to bring the king to the bridge at Venonis, where they could then deal with any trouble.

Eivor reasoned that the crypt must be located at Offchurch, a location he familiarized himself with through having previously observed the area from Venonis. He rode to the town, finding it under heavy guard. Eivor used his arrows to stealthily pick off several guards, and he then looted the crypts before finding Burgred. Burgred insisted on fighting Eivor, so Eivor beat him down with his bare hands (even though Burgred was wielding a sword) and proceeded to tie him up and bring him to Venonis. At Wilnecote, just south of Tamworth, the Saxons attempted to rescue their king, but a force of Norsemen arrived, resulting in a cavalry battle in which Eivor and the others slaughtered the Mercian rescuers. He then delivered Burgred to Tamworth, where he reunited with his wife before threatening Eivor, warning him that his zealots would track him down and kill him. Ubbe then knocked out Burgred and carried him off, joking that he should let his brother Ivar be the "lunatic of Tamworth".

Coronation of Ceolwulf[]

Ivar then invited Eivor to drink with him in celebration, and he said that "Ivar the Boneless" considered Eivor a friend despite their misconceptions about each other. Eivor asked him about his nickname, and he claimed that a slain opponent in Ireland had given him the nickname because he "moved like a reed in the wind"; Eivor joked that he might have received that nickname because he was "too drunk to plow". Ivar then confided in Eivor that he wanted to go to Valhalla, and that he and his brother Halfdan would do so, but he claimed that England had made Ubbe soft and dream of becoming a farmer. Eivor and Ivar spent the rest of the night celebrating by getting drunk, and Eivor eventually passed out on the outskirts of the city.

The next morning, while hung over, Eivor rushed into the city, warning that he had missed the coronation. Instead, he found everyone waiting for Ceolbert to arrive, but Ceolwulf's steward recommended that they start soon. Ceolwulf agreed, and Burgred was brought in to ceremonially crown Ceolwulf as the Witan announced Burgred's abdication on the grounds that he was unfit to rule. Burgred sarcastically insulted the room of "two-faced men" and the "robes of righteousness" which "fit loosely" on Ceolwulf's shoulders, and, when he began to speak about his terms for his abdication, Ceolwulf slapped Burgred and forced him to kneel and beg for his life, reminding him that his life was all the Danes would grant him. Burgred then broke down and offered the crown and his submission to Ceolwulf, who then crowned himself and ordered that Burgred and his wife be banished to Rome, never to return. Ceolwulf was then acclaimed king by the steward and those in attendance, but, shortly after, Herdis Fornidottir burst in and announced that Mercian troops were advancing on Repton.

Showdown at Repton[]

Eivor travelled to Repton, finding that the Mercians had already breached the gates, and that Leofrith had crossed the river, most likely to chase Ceolbert to the Isle of Waifs. He found Leofrith pointing his sword at Ceolbert, and he challenged Leofrith to a duel as Ceolbert stood aside. After an intense fight, Leofrith was wounded, and he stated that he was ready to die, having fulfilled his oath to Burgred. Eivor had a vision of Odin, who told him to pick between honor and truth, and Eivor decided to give Leofrith the warrior's death he deserved. Eivor told Leofric that the Norse had a word for a man like him - a drengr - and, when Leofrith said that he was ready, having made his peace with God, Eivor beheaded him. A disgusted Ceolbert said that Leofrith did not deserve such a death, but Eivor said that he had chosen such. As they walked back to Repton, Ceolbert asked Eivor why he saw fit to kill Leofrith. Eivor justified his action by saying that Leofrith died defending an ideal he believed in, and that there was some honor in that.

Eivor and Ceolbert then returned to Repton, where Ivar cheered at Ceolbert's return as a bloodied hero. King Ceolwulf then emerged from the hall and embraced his son, and he thanked the Danes for their help. Eivor said that they had all gained something from the alliance: silver, plunder, and allies; Ceolwulf told Eivor that he had his blessing, and announced that all of England would soon know that he was King. He was warned that the other kingdoms might not take kindly to him, but Ceolwulf said that even Burgred's soldiers within his kingdom would continue to resist him. Sigurd then announced that he was off to Oxfordshire to forge an alliance with some thegns there, and Ceolwulf asked if he could send his son Ceolbert to live with the Raven Clan until things settled down in Mercia. Sigurd agreed to escort him as far as the River Nene, after which Ceolbert could join the clan at Ravensthorpe. Sigurd then told Eivor to wait for his call, and he departed.

Eivor bidding farewell to the Ragnarrssons

Before Eivor left, Ubbe gifted Eivor with an arm ring as a sign of friendship, and promised him that, should Eivor call, the Brothers Ragnarrsson would come. Not to be outdone, Ivar declared that two could play the game of wooing Eivor, and he tossed Eivor a battleaxe and said that their friendship was the best thing to come out of the Mercian campaign apart from Ceolbert. Eivor bade farewell to his new friends, and he decided that the wind called him back to Randvi to report his successes.

Troubles at home[]

Reporting on Ledecestreshire[]

Eivor returned to Ravensthorpe, where he found Ceolbert talking to Randvi about the alliance map. Ceolbert told Eivor that Sigurd had been a great guide and storyteller, and that his best stories were about Eivor. Randvi then asked Eivor about Leicestershire, and Eivor said that the Sons of Ragnarr were now friends of the clan, upon which Randvi commended both Eivor and Ceolbert for their efforts. She then removed the knife (a symbol of pledging allegiance) from Leicestershire, and Eivor then moved a small raven piece onto the map, signifying the formation of a new alliance.

The next day, Eivor walked in as Randvi was teaching Ceolbert more about the Norse language and how the term jarl, once meaning the man second to a king, had softened to mean any powerful or wealthy man. Eivor joked that Ceolwulf had sent his son to Ravensthorpe to learn and not teach, and Randvi then told Eivor to lead the war by giving a speech on the clan's successes. Eivor walked to the front of the room and told his friends to hearken and hear a tale of toil and triumph, reporting that he had seen much of England, that the honorable Ceolwulf of Mercia now called them a friend, and that Soma Jarlskona and the Danes of Grantebridge had pledged their oaths to Ravensthorpe. Dag Nithisson then interrupted Eivor's speech, saying that Eivor had seated himself as Sigurd's equal in his speech, and asked if he would have done the same if Sigurd were there. Eivor said that Sigurd would still have celebrated what Eivor had achieved, but that this took nothing from the others, as he sat among the staunchest wills and strongest fighters he had ever known. He then raised his horn to Sigurd and to the Raven Clan, and the others cheered him before he returned to the crowd. He then got into an argument with Dag, who criticized him for supposedly seeking part of Sigurd's glory.

Attack on Ravensthorpe[]

Just then, Sunniva burst in and reported that attackers, apparently Danes, were attacking. Eivor and the other warriors hacked down the attackers, and Eivor deduced from the armor of the dead that the attackers came from Geatland, although he was unable to find out their motive now that all of them were dead. However, Dag produced one of the prisoners and brought him to Eivor, and he claimed that they had come to East Anglia in search of loot. He then cursed Eivor when Eivor asked who had sent him, and Dag demanded that Eivor execute the sellsword. Randvi advised that Eivor set him free to warn the others against coming back, and Eivor followed Randvi's advice and told the mercenary that he was not showing him mercy, but deferring his death. However, Dag hurled an axe into the mercenary's back, to Randvi's clear dismay. Dag claimed that Sigurd would have done the same, and that was all the justification he needed. Randvi told Eivor to ignore Dag's bluster, and Eivor decided to go to sleep.

Old friends[]

Eivor speaking with at the docks — Eivor speaking with Valka at the docks

The next morning, Eivor read a letter from Soma in his letter box, and she thanked Eivor for helping her reclaim not only Cambridge, but also her confidence in herself. He also met Valka at the docks that same day, and he was happy to see Fornburg's volva arrive at last, although he was saddened to hear of her mother's passing. He told Valka that his visions came and went, but he digressed and decided to help her carry her luggage. She was greeted by several of her old neighbors, including Gunnar the Blacksmith, who jokingly asked her if she came because Ravensthorpe was cursed, to which she responded that its curse was its "great lout of a blacksmith". She was also warmly greeted by Randvi, who asked what took her so long to follow; Valka said that she waited to see if Ravensthorpe was "up to snuff". She then complimented the town, but when Eivor mentioned his contributions, Valka told Eivor that he may have said more than he intended by talking about himself. She then thanked Eivor for helping her settle in, and Eivor welcomed her home. He then built her a seer's hut, and she told him to gather some thistle so that she could make an elixir for him and send him back into his visions. Eivor also built Rowan a stable and aviary.

Adopting a pet[]

While back in the longhouse, Eivor came across the boy Knud, who told Eivor that his friends Sylvi and Eira were injured and were in need of help in the woods. Knud told Eivor that he would not understand the problem until he saw it, but, when he ran to the hut at Huntaheall, he found that Sylvi and Eira were just fine, and Knud admitted to tricking Eivor. The children told Eivor that a dog was stuck in the well and needed his help, and, while Eivor knew from the howling that the animal was a wolf, the children still wished him to free it. Eivor slew a vicious boar near the house and found the house key near it, and he also found the hunter's body in the stable. Eivor used the key to unlock the door, enter the basement, and free the captive white wolf, which proceeded to run away.

Eivor then told the children to go back to their parents, but, as he escorted them, the four of them were accosted by three wild wolves. Eivor used his arrows to kill the three wolves, and the white wolf returned to protect the children. The children suggested that they give the wolf a name like "Dwolfg" (a mixture of "wolf" and "dog"), "mouse", or "chewy" (because she "chewed things"), and Eivor agreed to name the wolf "Chewy" and bring Chewy - whom the children now called their "best friend" - back to the settlement. Eivor told the children to scamper back to their parents, and Chewy became his first animal companion.

East Anglia[]

Entering East Anglia[]

Eivor talking with about — Eivor talking with Randvi about East Anglia

Eivor then returned to the longhouse, where he spoke with Ceolbert, who was upset that he was not able to help fight off the Geats. However, Eivor reassured him that he had done his part in defending the people and himself, and that he could help out next time. Eivor then spoke to Randvi behind the alliance map, asking her about East Anglia, where the raiders had come from. Randvi revealed that they were sent by Rued, who sought to sow discord among Dane and Saxon alike. She also told him that, years ago, the sons of Ragnarr Lodbrok had appointed Finnr as Steward of East Engle to find a suitable Saxon king, but that the kingdom had fallen into ruin since, with no king and violent raiders ravaging. Randvi told Eivor to see what the steward was doing wrong, and Eivor decided to head east and speak with Finnr; Ceolbert wished him safe travels.

Eivor recruited the jomsviking Reginleif Shadow-Walker at the docks before setting out aboard his longship, sailing down the River Nene, the River Great Ouse, and the River Thet towards Norfolk. His bard sang tales of the capture of Repton, the dethroning of King Burgred, and the defeat of the Mercian army as they sailed through The Fens and into East Anglia, but the peaceful cruise was interrupted when the longship struck a wooden palisade erected in the river to allow for nearby bandits to ambush the Vikings (at a location directly south of Brisleah Farm). Eivor slew all of the bandits, and he then resolved to continue the rest of the way by horse after taking in the view of East Anglia. Eivor climbed Britannia's Watch and viewed the East Anglian countryside, and he then rode through the Thetford Forest towards Norfolk.

Norwich[]

When Eivor entered the city, he found that it had fallen on hard times; the people lived in poverty and the air was murky. He found Finnr drunk and passed out in the tavern, and he pretended that Halfdan Whiteshirt had sent him and went on to ask why there was no king on East Anglia's throne, and why his settlement had been attacked. Finnr said that Rued's clan was responsible for the attack on Ravensthorpe, and that Rued had killed the previous East Anglian king Aethelstan II and would likely do the same to East Anglia's next monarch, unless the king could secure the support of his fiancee's family. Eivor asked who the new king was, and, after taking Eivor outside, Finnr told him that he was Oswald of Elmenham, who had served as King Edmund the Martyr's counsel before the invasion. Halfdan wanted a Saxon king to marry a Danish queen for a show of unity, and Oswald was the last East Anglian nobleman with any sway. Eivor asked where he could find the king, and Finnr told him that he was on his way to Elmenham; if Eivor would go by the north gates and along the road, he might be able to catch Oswald.

Eivor talking with Oswald at Beteleah Farm

Eivor found Oswald breaking up an argument between a Dane and a Saxon over Rued's raids, with the Saxon claiming that the peace with Rued would only hold until the Danes came again as raiders, and Oswald saying that the idea was nonsense, as the Danes had made their homes in East Anglia. Oswald said that, when he was King, he would make things right, but the Dane laughed at him, saying that, when Oswald became king, he would be a "flying troll". Eivor stepped in to comfort Oswald, saying that he handled the argument well, as it was not often that arguments between Saxon and Dane did not end in bloodshed. He then assured the King that he was not in the habit of killing kings, but meeting them, and asked about the situation. Oswald told him that Rued's clan had been sacking farms and hamlets across East Anglia for some time, growing more brazen by the day. Eivor then told the king that his home had also been attacked, and that he wanted to put an end to Rued's reign of terror. Oswald invited Eivor to accompany him to Elmenham, where he planned to marry Halfdan's cousin Valdis and seal an alliance between Saxon and Dane. They stopped at the sight of Beteleah Farm being sacked, and Eivor proceeded to stealthily shoot the raiders with arrows and loot what remained of the house's spoils; he also found a note from the housewife to her husband Edgar, cautioning him about going into the fields to find the raiders, as Alder had not yet returned.

After returning to Oswald, Eivor encouraged Oswald to go along with his planned marriage even if Valdis' brothers disapproved of him, and Oswald persuaded Eivor to join him for dinner at Elmenham. Eivor rode there and met Oswald not long after, and, as Oswald informed Eivor that dinner was not yet ready due to how early Eivor arrived, Eivor chatted with him for a while. Oswald suggested that Eivor have a look around the town until nightfall, and Eivor walked the streets and observed both Saxons and Danes living in the town.

Brawl at Elmenham[]

Eivor talking to the brothers after the fight

That night, Eivor headed to the longhouse to attend Oswald's banquet, with the guests of honor being Brothir and Broder, Valdis' brothers. Oswald presented a sword to Valdis as a gift, but Brothir and Broder lashed out at him for being "mushy", saying that they had lost 150 men just trying to protect the last Saxon king. Eivor decided to stand up for the King by insulting Broder and Brothir, saying that they did not have the "stones" to stand up to Rued's clan, and that, between them, he did not see a single "nugget". Brothir went on to walk on top of the table and threaten Eivor, and Eivor said that, if Brothir could be so offended by his words, what damage his axe could do to Brothir's "flaccid ego". Eivor then kicked the table from under Brothir, starting a fight. Eivor beat down both of the brothers after a tough brawl, and the told them that it was no wonder East Anglia was in such a sorry state. Brothir then stormed out, saying that East Anglia was better off without a king, and Valdis and Broder left with him. Eivor agreed to meet the despondent Oswald in the morning, sleeping in the attic.

The next morning, Eivor found Valdis greeting him on the street, and he struck up a conversation. After Eivor described Valdis as Oswald's bride-to-be, Valdis said that she was not his, and that the marriage was a mere alliance. She also said that Oswald could barely carry a sword or speak with conviction, and Eivor agreed that, while Oswald was many things, "A gifted leader he is not." However, Eivor said that, of everyone he met in East Anglia, Oswald was the only one willing to be responsible for it. Valdis then told Eivor that she would let him have the rest of his day, and told him that Oswald was by the docks, as watching the river calmed him.

Training the King[]

Eivor found Oswald making hay, and he said that, if Oswald could work like a thrall but not hold a feast, that was not a good start for a king. Oswald confided in Eivor that he found solace in his menial labors, although it was not kingly. Eivor then told Oswald that he should have answered Broder and Brothir's taunts at the feast, but Oswald said that it was "a petty row with hen-house wolves" and that he would "sooner answer the moo of a cow than worry about their insults."

Just then, steward Finnr arrived, and he began to roast Oswald using flyting verse. Eivor stepped to Oswald's defense in his own light-hearted flyting, jesting that he found Finnr to be a dog with more bark than bite. Oswald was confused, so Eivor explained flyting as "using rhyme and rhythm to lay a man flat", and encouraged Oswald to try it out. He guided Oswald as he attacked Finnr in verse, and Oswald gradually got a grip on how to rap battle. When Finnr expressed doubt that Oswald could hold his own in a battle, Oswald ignorantly challenged Finnr to a holmgang duel, unaware that it meant a fight to the death. Eivor stepped in, challenging Oswald to fight him instead of fighting Finnr. Finnr suggested that Eivor duel Oswald on an island downstream at Seahenge, and Eivor decided to meet them both there. Along the way, he stopped at Seahenge, finding that Brendan of Clonferth had left notes about the site, wondering whether the stones were left behind by the Nephilim or used as a barrier against invasion.

Oswald preparing for the duel at Seahenge

Eivor then swam to the island, where he complimented Finnr's skills at drawing a square; Finnr said that, while he had been in East Anglia for many years, he was always a Dane. Oswald then nervously asked if such a duel was necessary, and Eivor told him that strength came from such fights and that Oswald had to be prepared for battle. While Oswald noticed that Eivor came unarmed, Eivor said that he did not need weapons. Eivor repeatedly beat down Oswald, but he noticed that Oswald's fighting spirit increased each time. After heeding Eivor's advice on surviving at all costs, Oswald deduced that honor came not through winning a fight, but by living through it. Oswald then realized that the raiders who attacked Beteleah had a camp down the coast, and Finnr said that, if Oswald could slay those foes and bring back spoils for the brothers, he would win their trust, and they would be in his debt.

First victories[]

Eivor, Oswald, and Finnr at Serpent's Landing

Oswald and Finnr then climbed aboard Eivor's longship as he prepared for the assault on Serpent's Landing. There, they charged ashore, slew all of Rued's clansmen, freed several jailed locals from their cages, burned the crates stored by the pillagers, looted a magister's cloak from a large chest, and also obtained a crate of hacksilver which would be a worthy bribe for Broder and Brothir. However, Oswald said that the victory would be his gift for the brothers, as he had more than enough riches to bribe the brothers anyways. Eivor had Finnr send the riches back to Norwich, and he decided to meet up with Oswald back in town. Along the way, he visited Aethelstan II of East Anglia's tomb at the Norwich cemetery.

Upon locating Oswald, Eivor found Broder arguing with him and refusing to accept Oswald's gifts, saying that no Dane would follow him into battle. Valdis stood by her fiancee, saying that Broder would be a fool to refuse such gifts, and Eivor said that a refusal would be a stain on Broder and his descendants' honor. Brothir then interrupted the argument by saying that they had bigger problems to face, and he then threw down a body, which he identified as one of Rued's spies. Valdis deduced that there must be more spies in the city, and Eivor volunteered to find them. He captured one - Skarf Sæbbisson, who was posing as a pig farmer - after the spy tried to shoot Eivor with an arrow, and Eivor tied him up and rowed him back to the docks. There, Skarf spat on Oswald and repeatedly tried to defy his captors, but, after Eivor threatened to axe him to death, he revealed that, when the brazier was lit at Dunwich, Rued and his men would rally and attack Northwich by its weakest wall. He then insulted the "English Danes" as being "soft as butter", and he said that Rued would see Valdis again soon. Valdis proceeded to stab him dead, and, when Oswald said that it seemed as if Valdis knew Rued, Valdis admitted that she had been married to Rued for five years before fleeing to England, hoping to never see Rued again. Oswald decided that he would speak with Rued at Dunwich and convince him to leave East Anglia, causing Finnr to sarcastically declare that he would start looking for a new king, and Broder warned Oswald to stay clear of Rued. However, Oswald resolved to do so, and Eivor, Finnr, and the others agreed to accompany the king to the meeting.

The Lone Berserker[]

Eivor at 's hideout — Eivor at Bjorn Bloodtooth's hideout

Eivor rode to the church at Edmund's Hope, from which he obtained a better view of Suffolk. Along the way to Dunwich, Eivor remembered that Sigurd had told him that the famed berserker Bjorn Bloodtooth was seeking to meet Eivor, so Eivor rode to his cave next to a waterfall to find him. He found Bjorn sitting next to his white bear and several bodies, and Bjorn initially thought that Eivor had come to challenge him, as had the dead. However, Eivor told him that he instead wished to invite him to live with the Raven Clan. Bjorn said that he had no clan and was not looking for another, and that he only wanted to avenge his wife Alfhild's hanging by a Mercian lord. Eivor offered to join him in seeking vengeance, and Bjorn decided that, if Eivor fed his bear Njal and won Njal's trust, Bjorn might agree. Eivor followed Njal as the bear searched for food, and Eivor recounted how the skalds said that Bjorn had brought Njal into battle as a bear cub and raised the bear as his child. Eivor caught a bullhead fish for Njal, but he was then alarmed to see Mercian soldiers approaching. He and Njal killed all five of them, but Eivor then deduced that Bjorn must be in trouble. Eivor rushed back to the waterfall and helped Bjorn kill all of the Anglo-Saxons, including a powerful gedriht, and he then asked Bjorn about how his wife died. Bjorn said that he had tired of killing young challengers in Norway and had come to England with his wife and bear in search of peace and quiet. The Mercian lord had heard of Bjorn's strength and tried to force Bjorn to fight him; when Bjorn refused, he had Alfhild hanged. Bjorn then accepted Eivor's offer of help, and said that he needed nightshade for his berserker brew; once Eivor had it, he wanted Eivor to meet him beneath the gallows tree south of Beodoricsworth (Bury St. Edmunds).

Confrontation at Dunwich[]

Eivor then rendezvoused with King Oswald, Finnr, Broder, Brothir, and Valdis outside of Dunwich, and Valdis decided to light the brazier to signal Rued to come out. Eivor volunteered to light the brazier, as Broder, Brothir, and Valdis scouted the dock to make sure there were no surprises. Eivor infiltrated the fortress, doing so stealthily until noticed by the powerful "war-bringer" Gudrik Gormsson, whom he slew after an intense duel; he also killed several other soldiers. He went on to free the prisoners held in the fort, and he then lit the brazier.

Rued arrived a few hours later, and he asked what Oswald's terms were. Oswald offered him his weight in silver, plus cattle and livestock, if he would leave East Anglia and call off his raids. Rued said that he already had as much wealth, and he instead challenged Oswald to a holmgang for control of East Anglia. Oswald agreed, but, in the ensuing fight, he was bludgeoned and then held over the edge of the ramparts by Rued, who demanded that Oswald call him king if he wanted to life. Oswald refused, spitting in Rued's face and pulling him down with him as they fell to the depths below. Eivor believed both of them dead, and he told the others to flee as he distracted Rued's guards.

Eivor and the others regrouping outside of Dunwich

The group reconvened outside of the castle, with Rued's men giving up the chase. Broder spoke well of Oswald's bravery, while Finnr demanded that they go back to the castle. Eivor told the others that Oswald may have survived, and that they should ready themselves for another attack. Finnr decided that they should reconvene at Norwich, and Valdis - having gained a newfound respect for Oswald - said that Oswald died a hero and that, if his God would not take him, then Odin's sword-women would.

Men of Theotford[]

Eivor meeting with in — Eivor meeting with Finnr in Norwich

On his return to Norwich, Eivor heard an Anglo-Saxon boy announcing Oswald's valiant "death". Eivor then saw a despondent Finnr drinking with other soldiers, and Finnr expressed his regret that he had failed Halfdan yet again. Eivor said that they could finish off Rued's forces before they could attack again, but Finnr told Eivor that they were holed up in Burgh Castle, a fortress on the sea which had a timber-protected harbor. Eivor conceived a plan: he could rig Finnr's ship with oil at her front and sail it ablaze at the seagate. Meanwhile, they would raise a fyrd of East Anglia's farmers and throw them at the front gate as a distraction. Finnr expressed doubt that Saxons would die for a bunch of Danes, but Valdis then joined the conversation and said that, as long as they fought in Oswald's name, they would find the courage they needed. Valdis then proved the Saxons' willingness to fight by asking two peasants if they would chase off Rued's dogs; they eagerly agreed. She decided to ride to Elmenham and muster what remained of Oswald's men there, and Finnr pointed out that Reeve Wynnstan of Thetford would fight to the death for East Anglia despite his old age. Once the fyrd was raised, Vigdis would assemble a forward camp at the ruins north of Burgh Castle.

Eivor and Finnr both rode to Thetford from Norwich, stopping along the way to kill a few of Rued's men who had received written orders to slaughter anyone who sought refuge in Norwich. When Eivor entered Thetford, he found woodsmoke and ash, deducing that Rued's men had recently been there. He then met with Wynnstan, who was prejudicial towards the Danes and refused to fight for a "lost cause" while the men of Thetford had their own battles to fight. Eivor volunteered his axe to their cause, and Wynnstan told Eivor that, if he could help recapture King's Bury (which had fallen to Rued's men two weeks earlier), the pikes of Thetford would be his.

Eivor then summoned his longship and sailed from Thetford's Black Bourn River and then down the Amynnesmere River to King's Bury, where his crew launched a Viking raid on Rued's forces. They slew several enemies, including tough champions, and Eivor looted all of the treasure chests and killed all of Rued's men before climbing to the top of the church and sounding its large horn to signal the Reeve that King's Bury had been retaken. The Reeve and his men then arrived, and he gleefully celebrated hearing the horn once again. The Reeve reaffirmed his promise to aid in the fight, and Eivor told him to gather all of the willing men he could find and meet with him at the north gate of Burgh Castle.

Battle of Burgh Castle[]

Eivor and at the forward camp — Eivor and Finnr at the forward camp

Eivor then rode to Burgh Castle, where he found that the fyrd had assembled from all parts of East Anglia. When Finnr asked Eivor if he was ready for the assault, Eivor said he was, and Finnr gave him the plan. By night, Valdis would lead the fyrd at the front gates, while he and Eivor's forces would move on the sea gate from the black waters at the fortress' back.

Eivor then turned to see a huddle of Anglo-Saxon and Danish warriors waiting for him to speak. Encouraged by Finnr, Eivor decided to give a speech, focusing on reclaiming East Anglia. He promised, "Today we will reclaim her. Today we fight for your land. And tomorrow, we rebuild." Several of the Saxons in attendance nodded and muttered, "For East Anglia", and Eivor then said that they would rid East Anglia of Rued's clan once and for all.

That night, Eivor and Finnr sailed their longship towards the castle from the North Sea, and Finnr recounted how, when he met Eivor, he had a dream that he was sailing into Helheim on a ship of fire; he was now living out his dream. Eivor's ship and the others in the fleet braved hails of fire arrows from the castle until Eivor and his crew could light the flammable materials on their ship, abandon ship, and watch as the fire ship destroyed the sea gate. Eivor and his army then rushed into the breach with a battering ram, storming the castle. After breaching three gates, Eivor and his men charged into the courtyard, where he noticed Oswald being held by Rued at the ramparts. Eivor shouted, "Oswald lives!", cheering up his men, and he proceeded to charge up the ramparts when Rued challenged him to a duel.

Eivor easily defeated Rued and his wolf after a short duel, and Oswald interceded before Eivor could execute Rued, asking that he be tried before God in court. Eivor - despite having a vision of Odin encouraging him to look after his own pride rather than that of Oswald - agreed to Oswald's demand and allowed for Oswald to try Rued instead. After Rued was taken away, Eivor and Valdis encouraged the anxious Oswald, who finally looked forward to his wedding with Valdis. Eivor then returned to Elmenham, where he wished to attend the long-awaited royal wedding.

Wedding at Elmenham[]

Eivor then met with Oswald before the wedding, with Oswald joking that one should leave it to Eivor to keep a king waiting at his own wedding. Eivor jokingly complimented Oswald, saying that he looked like a man ready to marry a more powerful woman. Eivor then went into the church and watched as Oswald and Valdis exchanged rings and Oswald was crowned King of East Anglia, sharing in the happy moment. After stepping out, he talked with Finnr, who expressed his desire to once again have wind in his beard and salt in his lips now that he had fulfilled Halfdan's task. The two of them then enjoyed the festivities, getting drunk; Broder even attempted to hit on Eivor and offer to show him his "plow-sword", but Eivor convinced Broder to just keep drinking instead. Eivor then attended King Oswald's address to the guests, and Oswald toasted to the multiethnic future of East Anglia and to Eivor; Valdis publicly awarded Eivor an arm-ring as a sign of loyalty to the Raven Clan.

Before the couple could engage in the bridal race, however, Rued appeared, killing a wounded guard and announcing that the "sheep" sent to guard him had been "shorn". He then challenged Oswald to a duel, and, while Oswald accepted, Eivor stated that a king needed to have a champion, and that King Oswald would have to be alive to rebuild East Anglia plank by plank. Oswald reluctantly let Eivor stand in for him, and Eivor proceeded to slay Rued after a short duel. Eivor then decided to leave, telling Oswald that he deserved peace and happiness on his wedding day, and that he himself lacked both. Oswald reminded Eivor that he had promised him an alliance, as Eivor had done East Anglia a great service.

Before leaving, Eivor decided to speak with Finnr. Finnr told Eivor that, before Eivor's arrival, he feared he would crumble and die an old failure, but he was reinvigorated by their adventures and felt that he could live hard and die fierce. Eivor, sensing that Finnr wanted a better life, invited Finnr to serve aboard his ship, and Finnr happily agreed to pack his things and join him. Eivor, now joined by a new friend, decided to return to Randvi and give her the good news.

Back at the settlement[]

Dispensing justice[]

Eivor mediating between and — Eivor mediating between Holger and Rowan

Upon returning to the longhouse at Ravensthorpe, Eivor found Holger and Rowan arguing, and Randvi asked Eivor to arbitrate in the matter. Rowan accused Holger of stealing, so Eivor sat in the great chair and decided to hear their case from the beginning. Dag, who was watching, again attacked Eivor, saying that there was no excuse too small for him to covet Sigurd's seat. Dag then walked out in a fury, and Eivor had the two men tell their story. Rowan said that Holger had taken advantage of his generosity in letting him borrow tools by cutting off his horse Aelfgifu's tail for use as a paintbrush, while Holger claimed that he often took unorthodox materials for his works. Eivor decided that Holger would pay Rowan the market price for the horse to compensate for its loss of beauty, as he had taken something without asking. Eivor then met with Randvi in the alliance map room, where she jested that he would soon be known as "Eivor King-Maker" for helping to create kings. She then updated him that Ceolwulf had sent Ceolbert to Shropshire, hoping to install him as ealdorman there. She also said that Svend had passed away a short time ago in his bed, and recommended that he speak to his wife Tove at Svend's burial mound.

Day trip to Cambridgeshire[]

Eivor and Randvi riding into Cambridgeshire

The next day, Eivor approached Randvi at the alliance map and noticed that she looked upset. He asked her what was wrong, and, while she tried to divert him by asking if he wanted to look at the map, she ultimately admitted that she felt trapped in the longhouse, the settlement, and her way of life, and Eivor ultimately convinced her to ride with him to Cambridgeshire and have a break from managing the settlement. Randvi enjoyed smelling the soil and air, and she also suggested they swim across the River Nene, which they did. They then rode to Cambridge, and she was amazed by the "Roman marvel" that was Duroliponte; Eivor noted that, since the recapture of Cambridge, the Danes must have fully resettled within the city. She was also amazed by how rustic and new Cambridge looked, and Eivor said that the Summer Army had built Cambridge up from a small village to serve as a hub for trade with London and as a launching point for incursions into Wessex.

Eivor introducing to — Eivor introducing Magni to Randvi

Eivor then took Randvi into the longhouse, where he once again met with Magni, remembering him as one of Soma's loyal lieutenants. Magni commented that Eivor had a habit of befriending lovely women, and Randvi told Eivor that she noticed that as well. Eivor then asked Magni why the longhouse seemed so empty, and Magni explained that Soma had rounded up some warriors and took them west to open a new trade route with Oxford. Magni then expressed his regret that he was not the surrogate leader he hoped to be during these times of trouble, and, when Randvi asked about the trouble, Magni told her that a pack of surly bandits had encamped nearby, to the east at the water's edge. The bandits attacked merchants on the river and on the road, keeping traders at bay and even stealing Magni's horse. Randvi volunteered her and Eivor's aid, promising to deal with the bandits and either recover Magni's horse or steal him a new one; while Magni said that he had nothing he could offer the two, he said that the bandits surely would. Eivor and Randvi found the bandit camp at Raetborough, and he slew the bandit leader Blann Brodirsson and looted the bandits' treasures as Randvi took back Magni's horse. The two of them proceeded to ride back to the city, victorious.

Randvi and Eivor having a drinking contest

During the ride, Randvi proposed that she and Eivor celebrate by drinking. Eivor first decided to return Magni's horse, earning his thanks, before Randvi called him over to a large barrel of beer and challenged him to a contest. Eivor accepted, and he narrowly lost, as Randvi downed three horns while Eivor was halfway done with his third. Randvi then celebrated her title as the "Mead Queen" and "Slayer of Wolves and Barrels", and she then said that they could ride home, with one more stop. Eivor complained, but Randvi said that she wanted to visit a sunken tower near a waterfall and stop for a look before Eivor could be free of her. Magni then bade them farewell and safe travels, inviting Randvi to return whenever; Randvi thenked Magni for everything, and she and Eivor rode off.

Taken for granted[]

During the ride, Eivor joked that Randvi had punctured poor Magni's heart, nicknaming her "Slayer of Bandits and Breaker of Hearts", to which she said that she would wear the title with pride. Randvi then noticed that Eivor had a glow in his eyes whenever he mentioned Soma, and she asked if they had a relationship; Eivor said that they never had the time, and Randvi said that he should have "tested the waters", as he could have joined a jarlskona in leading an army and enjoying prosperity. Eivor light-heartedly said that he would pretend as if her words were caught up in the wind, and they then arrived at the Besuncen Tor (due south of Ravensthorpe and northwest of Earnningstone, in Cambridgeshire), and Randvi marvelled at how people centuries ago built the tower and could not have known what would become of their monument.

Randvi then invited Eivor to join her in climbing to the top, and, there, she said how the view reminded her of her adventurous childhood in Norway. She then expressed her sadness at becoming a "staunch and stoic woman" married off in service of peace between two clans, a role she never imagined for herself. Eivor suggested that she might have been a free jomsviking, and she said that she might have raided or travelled with Eivor, while Eivor said that they also might have faced each other on the battlefield. She then thanked for their day, as she said that it had been a dream from which she did not want to wake. Eivor said that they could stay at the tower as long as they liked, and Randvi then kissed him, surprising Eivor. Randvi then apologized, but she confided that she had been in love with Eivor for some time. Eivor confided that he had long felt the same way, but banished the thought from his mind. Randvi then commended Eivor for showing her his world in deeds rather than words, and Eivor said that deeds meant more than words; they proceeded to passionately kiss and make love.

When Eivor woke the next day, he deduced that Randvi had gone back to the settlement, so he decided to explore parts of Oxfordshire, taking in the view from the tower at the Thaerelea Ruins. Eivor then returned to the settlement and visited Tove by her husband Svend's grave, where he heard her out as she expressed her sadness at her husband's premature passing and her own situation. Eivor told her of his own parents' passing and how he resolved to continue living the life woven for him, and he helped her to her feet and embraced her, reassuring her that her father supported her craft. He then bade her farewell and told her to remember her worth.

Eivor then returned to the longhouse and Randvi, where, while she said that she had to leave early because there was work to do, she said that she had not forgotten their wonderful day (she even addressed him as "my love" when he entered the room). Eivor then invited her to his chambers, but she said there was no need, and they twice made love in the map room. He then decided to get down to business and asked her about Oxfordshire, where Sigurd had told him that he had business there. Randvi told Eivor that Sigurd was, in fact, in Oxfordshire at the moment, and he bade Eivor to meet him there. Sigurd had partnered with the rebellious thegn Geadric and hoped to install Geadric as ealdorman in exchange for an oath, and Sigurd hoped to meet Eivor at an alehouse in the center of Buckingham. Randvi explained that Buckingham was on the River Great Ouse that divided Oxfordshire, and that Sigurd would be pleased to see Eivor. Before leaving, Eivor kissed Randvi goodbye, and he also headed down to the docks and checked in on Birna, who said that she had found the settlement to have a nice mix of people.

Oxfordshire[]

Journey into Oxfordshire[]

Eivor sailing up the and into — Eivor sailing up the River Alne and into Oxfordshire

Eivor then ensured that Finnr and Birna were rotated into his crew, and he sailed his longship up the Nene and the River Alne, bound for Oxfordshire. He then turned south onto the River Cherwell to launch a raid on Evesham Abbey, sacking the town before continuing down the Cherwell and then steering left to sail down the River Great Ouse to the port of Buckingham. When Eivor docked at Buckingham, he noticed that the Mercian soldiers in the town were tightly wound, and, while hiding in a hut after killing a soldier with an arrow, he found a note from Thegn Brant to Geadric assuring him the loyalty of the thegns Holt, Sherwin, and Octe.

Tavern brawl[]

Eivor talking with the alewife Alfilda Inman

Eivor then got into a fight with the Mercian soldiers who detected him as he entered the alehouse, killing six of them before speaking to the alewife Alfilda Inman. She was hostile to Eivor, saying that she had already had to deal with troublesome Danes. Eivor said that he was searching for his brother and was not there to cause trouble, and Alfilda said that the tall Norseman and his tanned friend had caused the trouble while talking with Geadric, as Lady Eadwyn had sent men to the alehouse, and, while Sigurd and Basim escaped, Geadric was captured. She then offered to tell Eivor Sigurd's location if he would pay her, and threatened to call soldiers if Eivor made a scene. Instead, Eivor flattered her by saying that Geadric was a great man, and that she must also support Oxfordshire's self-determination; Alfilda then confidently told Eivor that Sigurd and Basim had jumped through the window and scampered off towards the river, and that they might be hiding in one of the fishhouses.

Battle of Buckingham[]

Eivor walked into the fishhouse, and Basim came up from behind him and held a knife to his throat before realizing that he was Eivor. Sigurd then greeted Eivor, and, when Eivor asked why Sigurd was on edge, Sigurd explained that half the soldiers in the shire were searching for him. Eivor suggested that Sigurd should send Basim back to his warren so that they could focus on the task at hand, building alliances, but Sigurd then told Eivor that he had been working on an alliance, as the local thegn Geadric had pledged an oath to him. Eivor asked why he had not allied with Eadwyn, and Sigurd explained that Lady Eadwyn had been the wife of the Ealdorman of Oxfordshire before he was slain by Guthrum, and she had taken up the fight with the goal of avenging her lost husband and livelihood; she was promised aid by King Alfred the Great of Wessex. Eivor then jested that Sigurd had chosen to ally himself with "a minor thegn" who likely commanded "hordes of farmers and fishermen", but Sigurd assured Eivor that a few hundred Saxons armed with hayforks and billhooks could be terrifying. Eivor reminded Sigurd that Geadric had been captured, but Sigurd informed Eivor that Geadric and the other prisoners were held in the longhouse, so Eivor resolved to aid his brother and Basim in freeing Geadric.

Eivor, Sigurd, and Basim talking with Geadric

The three warriors then engaged in hit-and-run clashes with the Mercian soldiers, gradually killing them off before barging into the longhouse, where Eadwyn and her guards were guarding Geadric. Sigurd arrogantly demanded that Eadwyn release Geadric, speaking with a strength he did not have in the standoff, and Eadwyn called him a "whey-face" and told her men to skin them alive as she left. Eivor, Basim, and Sigurd then secured the longhouse by killing the soldiers, and they freed Geadric and found out that Eadwyn had taken the other thegns; Basim also asked Geadric about setting up a meeting with the holy woman Fulke. Geadric said that Thegn Holt would know, as he lived on her lands, but that he would be dead with the rest of the thegns if the Norse did not rescue them. Geadric reported that the thegns were held southwest of Buckingham, halfway to Oxford, at the Leah Villa garrison.

Trial at Leah Villa[]

While riding to Leah Villa, Eivor asked Sigurd about Fulke, and Sigurd described her as a most important ally: a holy woman who traded in secret prophecies and hidden knowledge. When they arrived at the villa, they found that the thegns were about to be executed by the soldiers for "calumny" against their Lady Eadwyn, and Eivor decided to intercede before the sentencing could finish. He stealthily killed several guards before rescuing the three thegns on trial and then rescuing Holt from his cage, and Holt then thanked Eivor. Basim and Sigurd then asked Holt about Fulke, and, when Holt called her crazy, Eivor pointed this out to Sigurd. Sigurd still insisted on meeting with her, but Holt called her a heretic, a sower of poisoned knowledge, and an enemy of the Church; Fulke had claimed to have spoken with God himself, and, for this, Eadwyn had her imprisoned at an unknown location. Sigurd and Basim then decided to seek out Fulke as Eivor updated Geadric on the situation, and Eivor then insisted that the Norse might lose all of the gains they had made in Oxfordshire for the sake of the crazed woman. Sigurd assured Eivor that he would soon understand Fulke's great importance, and he told Eivor to meet him at a camp to the east of Great Linford at an old harbor on the River Great Ouse.

Eivor speaking with in — Eivor speaking with Geadric in Buckingham

Eivor then returned to Buckingham, finding that Geadric had cleared all of the soldiers out of the village. Eivor met with Geadric as he spoke to his men beside a wagon loaded with supplies and weapons, and Eivor reported that every single thegn lived, ready to raise a fyrd of fighting men. Geadric then asked if he and his brother were still on his side, and Eivor assured him that his and his brother's axe would be Geadric's, although Sigurd and Basim were still searching for Fulke to help put Eadwyn in an early grave. Geadric told Eivor that Eadwyn had moved to her castle, and he told Eivor to do what he must as he readied what men he had for the coming fight. Meanwhile, Geadric would move towards Cyne Belle Castle (Great and Little Kimble cum Marsh) and bring up the fyrd for an assault, although Eadwyn's fortress was strong and sure. Eivor then asked if he could do anything to weaken Eadwyn's hold on the shire or make her nervous, so Geadric advised that he chip away at her flag-bearers, defend his fyrd if they were in strife, or destroy her supplies. Geadric told Eivor that, when he was ready for war, Eivor could find him at a camp near Cyne Belle Castle.

Eivor stopped by the abandoned village of Perie, where he found that three ravenous and powerful wolves had taken over the town after killing its residents. He looted a few of its treasures and killed three patrolling Mercian soldiers before setting out to explore more of Oxfordshire. Along the way, Eivor was ambushed by a lone man on the side of the road, so Eivor hid by a stone wall and shot him with an arrow as he searched for him. He found on his body a revenge note addressed to Tercer from his father, telling him that his brother had been killed in battle with raiding Danes, and exhorting Tercer to avenge him. He also killed two more ruffians after swimming to the south bank of the River Great Ouse, and he then found the Evinghou Tower on the Ciltern Hills from which he could observe southern Oxfordshire. There, he found a note which declared the excommunication of the priest Paul of Oxford, and he found a note next to Paul's body revealing how Fulke had entrusted him with unlocking the meaning of a stone with script on it; he had fasted until he died while trying to decipher it.

Rescuing Fulke[]

Eivor meeting with Sigurd and Basim at Great Linford

Eivor then made his way to the camp near Linford, where he met Sigurd and Basim next to an old harbor. There, Basim revealed that Fulke was being held nearby at St. Albans, and Eivor and Sigurd had an argument about Sigurd's lack of explanation about the woman to Eivor; Sigurd ultimately said that Eivor should listen to Sigurd because he was his jarl, and that was reason enough. Sigurd then tried to convince Eivor that there was also all the silver and gold he could count in St. Albans, but Eivor said that, if there were no more farmers in the field to hire, then coins were useless metal. Basim then reasoned that men from all across Mercia would heed the call to fight a woman pledged to Wessex, and Sigurd then reminisced about the time when Eivor would follow Sigurd without question because of mutual trust. Eivor reassured Sigurd that he would never betray him, and that he would fight with him, but cautioned him that there had to be limits of the chase of Fulke, as Geadric was counting on them.

The Vikings in the crypt — The Vikings in the St. Albans crypt

Eivor and his longship crew proceeded to raid the abbey, slaying the Saxon soldiers defending it, looting the supplies and treasures, finding a letter unmasking Patrick the Anvil as an Order of the Ancients member, fighting their way into the church, and confronting a friar in the crypt. There, Eivor threatened to send God another martyr unless the friar unlocked Fulke's cage; meanwhile, Fulke prayed to "holy Judas" and claimed that the "self-begotten one" had sent an angel to rescue her. The friar decided to pray on the matter, and, after a few seconds of meditation, he claimed that God bade him to welcome all strangers; he then handed over the key to the Vikings and told them to depart with their "strange friend". Fulke then asked whether her rescuers were sent by the "Angels of Saklas" or the "Self-Begotten One above", and Sigurd asked if she was the collector of artifacts; Fulke said that she had collected "the instruments of the children of Saklas the Fool". Eivor thetn suggested they head to a safer place, as guards would undoubtedly be coming, so Fulke suggested the nearby stables.

Along the way, Fulke said that she had collected artifacts from Germania, Francia, and England, and that the Christian God was a false one. At the stables, Eivor again questioned Sigurd for his obsession with the mysteries, and Sigurd then said that the artifacts Fulke possessed could help him discover his "true nature". Eivor then retorted that Sigurd said finding Fulke was about victory and about defeating Eadwyn, and Sigurd responded that knowing that he was descended from the old gods would be a victory which would give him dominion over England. Basim interrupted the argument by asking Fulke about her artifact, which she called the "Saga Stone", as it had come to England with Ragnarr Lodbrok. Eivor then asked if Eivor would buy and trade the stone for an alliance, and asked if the stone was useful for anything other than Sigurd flattering himself. Fulke suggested that she leave the three alone to hammer through their differences, but Sigurd said that they were unified, and only wished to see the stone and read the runes inscribed upon it. Fulke then claimed that nobody on Earth could read those runes, suggesting that the language was long dead. Fulke then offered to let them read the stone, thanking the "gods" for "sending" the three to rescue her. Eivor said that no gods had sent him there, but that he had sent himself; Sigurd then retorted that Eivor came because he had called him, and that the gods had "spoken" through him. Fulke then again interrupted the argument by saying that the Saga Stone was hidden away with her acolyte, and Eivor agreed to get the Stone situation over with; Fulke told him to approach it with an open mind, as it might be more interesting than he expected.

The Saga Stone[]

Fulke and Eivor looking over 's body — Fulke and Eivor looking over Paul of Oxford's body

On the ride to the Stone, Fulke claimed that her God was not the Church of Rome's God ("Christ the Redeemer"), but "Christ the Educator, the keeper of secret knowledge." She believed that the Church had been deluded by the lies of Saklas, or Ialdabaoth, the demiurge of many names and a lesser god. They then rode to the Evinghou Tower, which Fulke described as a Roman ruin. She then searched for her priest, whom she said had been expelled by his bishop for his beliefs. Eivor led her to the room where Paul lay dead, having seen him not too long before; Fulke then knelt down and prayed for her dead acolyte. Fulke deduced that Eadwyn's men had killed Paul and taken the stone, and Eivor considered the idea that Paul had not died of fasting, but had been killed. Sigurd then angrily accused Eivor of slowing him down and leading to him missing his chance, and Eivor urged him to have patience and find the stone wherever it was.

Eadwyn and her soldiers at Evinghou Tower

Fulke then told the others to quiet down, and Basim realized that it was the sound of soldiers, and that Eadwyn had arrived. The four then left the tower and met with Eadwyn and her soldiers, where Basim offered an assurance of peace in exchange for the Stone. Eivor protested, as they had given their word to Geadric, but Sigurd promised Eadwyn that, for the stone, the Danes would leave her lands and not return. Eadwyn said that, in exchange, she required Geadric's head, and Basim whispered to Sigurd that the stone was within his grasp. Sigurd decidd to accept, despite Eivor's protest, and Eivor proceeded to shout, "We do not!" and threw an axe into the face of one of Eadwyn's soldiers. This provoked a melee as Eadwyn fled, and the four of them slew all of Eadwyn's men.

Fight between friends[]

Sigurd and Basim then angrily confronted Eivor, with Basim saying that their chance to obtain the stone without blood had passed. Eivor then criticized Sigurd for reneging on his promise, but Sigurd told Eivor that he was his jarl, and had sight and wisdom well beyond what he knew. Eivor called Sigurd a coward, but Basim told Eivor to remember his place, or nothing good would come of their troubles. Eivor responded by punching Basim in the face and telling him to stay out of the argument, and Sigurd told Eivor enough; Basim then told Eivor that, if it wasn't clear why Sigurd was in command, it was now, saying that Eivor's temper ran too hot. Sigurd then told Eivor that, if he wanted to settle things with Basim, he should call a holmgang; otherwise, Eivor would follow Sigurd, listen to him, and do as he asked. Eivor told Sigurd that they could just follow Eadwyn back to her castle and retrieve the stone there, but Sigurd said that Geadric and his "pathetic army" could never breach the walls; he also said that they could have first taken the stone and then laid siege. Sigurd then assured Eivor that he never had an intention of betraying Geadric, but Eivor criticized Sigurd for seeing fit to keep him guessing through all of Sigurd's fits of madness. Sigurd told Eivor that he was not always to be trusted, as his passions overcame him, saying that he knew that, Styrbjorn also knew that, and Eivor's own father knew it. Eivor then punched Sigurd, knocking him to the ground. Sigurd then got up and said that Eivor moved with the wrath of Odin, but did not have his wisdom, and that it would lead Eivor astray. Sigurd then told Basim to come with him, as they had a battle to prepare for.

Conflagration at Eatun[]

Eivor watching Fulke leave and Sigurd and Basim talking

After Sigurd and Basim left, Fulke commented on how interesting it was to watch the trio quarrel, and Eivor said that he and Sigurd had always moved as one and known each other's minds until that day. They then discussed how to defeat Eadwyn, and Fulke said that Eadwyn got her supplies from the eager merchants at Eatun Barn east of Oxford and south of Leah Villa.

Eivor and Fulke then rode to the barn, where Eivor started out by shooting arrows at wagons carrying oil jars and supplies. The merchants tried to attack Eivor to stop him from destroying their wares, but Eivor killed one with an arrow as Fulke cut down the other one. Anticipating that soldiers were coming, Fulke decided that they could set a trap for the Mercian troops by placing oil jars along the road towards the barn and burning the Mercians as they advanced. When the Mercian column arrived, Eivor shot an arrow at the jar, burning the Mercians; he then fired a sleeve of several arrows, killing the two standard bearers and several other men, and he picked off the remaining Mercians with his hidden blade or sword.

With the Mercians dead, Eivor returned to Fulke on the clifftop overlooking the barn, from which she had signalled Eivor of the Mercians' arrival with a howl. He found her to look puzzled, and she asked him if it was true that Sigurd was a descendant from "the Archons' children, the Isu". Eivor then confessed that only half of what Fulke said ever made sense to him, and Fulke then asked Eivor if his brother was a descendant of the gods, or a god himself. Eivor asked her if she really believed that, and she said that it was possible that Sigurd could be an imperfect, lesser god. Eivor said that Sigurd was merely the son of a king who might think of himself as a god, but Fulke then asked him if his line of kings was fathered by a god in ages past. Eivor dismissed the question and told Fulke that it was time that he regrouped with Geadric to see how the assault preparations were coming along. Fulke wished Eivor godspeed, and she told him that she would pray for the souls of the dead before she would join him.

Taking of Cyne Belle Castle[]

Eivor then rode to Geadric's camp at the Derelict Shrine of Camulus to prepare for battle, and he met with Geadric and told him that he had already bruised Eadwyn's forces. Geadric told Eivor that they would be fools to attack Cyne Belle Castle on account of the many traps and defenses, so Eivor volunteered to test the castle's defenses. His objective was to destroy the springalds and oil cauldrons protecting the fortress, and he did so while evading and killing the guards.

Eivor and Geadric preparing for the assault

Eivor then returned to the ruins, where he found Sigurd, bragging about being the "Jarl of East Mercia", urging Geadric to launch the assault. Sigurd stepped between Geadric and Eivor before Geadric could greet the returning warrior, and he asked if the task was done; when Eivor said that it was, Sigurd sarcastically asked if Eivor had composed his poems ahead of their victory. Eivor said that he was there to speak with Geadric, and Sigurd, again sarcastically, told Eivor that his "master" awaited; Sigurd then left, saying he would sacrifice to Tyr. Eivor then told Geadric that he was ready for the assault, and Geadric warned him that a force of King Alfred's men was on the march.

After meditating while Geadric's warriors readied themselves, Eivor took part in the assault. He shot the links to the drawbridge to lower it, and he then climbed the next gate to open the portcullis. The rebels then charged into the courtyard, where Eadwyn came out to fight. Eivor challenged her to a duel, assuring her that she would not escape again. While she put up a great fight, throwing explosive satchels, Eivor ultimately cut her down while she was trapped in the bushes next to a tree. With that, the castle fell, and a wounded and captured Eadwyn was then held in the square. Geadric decided that, since Eivor defeated her, he should decide her fate, and he decided that, since she fought with honor and purpose, she should be put in Geadric's care. Eadwyn agreed to recant her friendship with Alfred in exchange for an honorable existence as Geadric's guest. Geadric promised his aid to Eivor whenever he needed it, and he told Eivor to be quick about plundering, as King Alfred would soon be on his way.

Eivor and the others observing the "Saga Stone"

Eivor looted several treasure chests around the castle before joining Sigurd, Basim, and Fulke in the main hall, where they marvelled over the stone and its ancient writings. Eivor had a vision of Odin, and he told him that he remembered walking through that doorway with Sigurd once, in a dream; Odin then told Eivor that he had done so not just once, but a thousand times. Sigurd told Basim that what he said was true, and that he could somewhat understand the words and the symbolism; Eivor warned Sigurd not to trifle with the stone, which he claimed was dark seidr, but Sigurd said that it was everything, and that it was real.

Parley with Aelfred[]

Eivor, Sigurd, and Basim in the parley tent

Just then, Geadric interrupted the moment by calling his men to the walls, and he rushed into the room to warn the Vikings that King Alfred and his army were near. Sigurd asked if they could escape, but Geadric said that the men were exhausted, and they had no chance. Sigurd then demanded a parley, stating that he would speak, and Alfred would listen. Sigurd, Basim, and Eivor met Alfred in his tent, and Sigurd suggested that Alfred let the Danes handle Mercia and the West Saxons return home. Alfred refused to do so until he could no longer hear the songs of the Danish pagans, so Sigurd, encouraged by Basim's whispering to him, proposed that they trade their best warrior for Alfred's best to ensure peace, and the Danes would then fall back north of the River Great Ouse. Alfred offered his war thegn Wolfrich, while Basim volunteered himself. Fulke then ran in and interrupted the parley, and Alfred addressed her as "Paladin Fulke" and asked if she was with the company. Fulke said that she was, in order to retrieve what she claimed to be hers by right. She also told Alfred that Sigurd was the man he needed, as he was the son of a king, and she told Alfred that Sigurd was a heretic who claimed to be a living god. Sigurd agreed to be taken, saying that he was not fated to die by Alfred's hand. Fulke, Alfred, Sigurd, and a few guards then left the tent, and Basim assured Eivor that he would shadow them and ensure that they did not escape.

Reporting on Oxenefordscire[]

With Oxfordshire allied to Ravensthorpe, and Sigurd captured, Eivor decided to return to Randvi and give her the full report. Along the way, he helped some of Geadric's fyrdmen kill some of the remnants of Eadwyn's army, who had been sent to kill them; he then travelled back to his settlement. There, he built a shipyard, giving Gudrun the supplies to set up shop. He then went to meet with Randvi, and he told her that, while Oxfordshire was theirs, the cost was high. Randvi revealed that she already knew, as she read a letter from Fulke which she left on the table. Eivor angrily called Fulke a witch and read the letter, revealing that Fulke had taken Sigurd for experimentation by the Order, and that she hoped he would know his worth to the Order before his suffering would break him. Eivor then told Randvi his realization that Fulke was part of the Order of the Ancients, the same order that Kjotve followed, and the one Basim was hunting. He then told Randvi that Sigurd had been taken hostage, captured by Alfred and given to Fulke. He then said that Sigurd had done his part in forging an alliance with Geadric, and that Geadric would come when Eivor called, while Basim was trying to locate Fulke.

London[]

Eivor then returned to the alliance map, asking Randvi for more information on London, which Hytham had mentioned in the past. Randvi described it as a "wild city" which resisted all of Halfdan Whiteshirt's attempts to claim it. Eivor recalled that Hytham warned the city was overrun by the Order of the Ancients, and that killing the cultists there might win the Norse the respect and alliance of the honorable people there. Randvi told Eivor to approach by the north gate and start asking around, and Eivor then stuck a knife into London on the map to signify his pledge.

Before leaving, Eivor noticed a scribbling from Randvi which contained her thoughts on Eivor, how she always dreamed of what could be whenever she looked at him from across the map, and how her lie of faith to Sigurd was growing thinner by the day. Eivor also noticed a letter from Ceolbert thanking him for his "joyous and educational" stay at the settlement, and containing his sincere thanks and his hope that he could one day return. Eivor then travelled to Wandrie in Cambridgeshire, where he summoned his longship and decided to sail down the Ouse and the River Ver towards London.

Crepelgate[]

Eivor and entering — Eivor and Stowe entering London

Eivor rode towards the city from the north, finding a large crowd assembled at Cripplegate, where Stowe tried to calm their anxiety by promising that they would clean the wrack up in no time. Eivor complimented Stowe's leadership skills, asking if he was something of a shepherd, and he then asked who governed the borough. Stowe identified the governor as Tryggr, a Danish governor who arrived four years earlier. Stowe told Eivor that he could find Tryggr at the villa almost daily, dealing with all manners of knavery. Shortly after, the Norse thug Reinn Onundsson accosted Stowe and informed him that Avgos wanted his cut of the summer harvest. The confrontation devolved into a brawl when Eivor shoved the extortionist to the ground, another extortionist, Hjort Atsurrsson, tried to make Stowe bob for an apple, and Eivor and Stowe began to beat down the three Danes. After the thugs were dealt with, Stowe identified himself as the shire reeve (sheriff) of western London, and told him that Tryggr was his man to talk to about forging an alliance with the Raven Clan. Stowe then walked Eivor through the city, telling him that he was raised by Saxon priests in Lundenwic, the Saxon quarter of the city. He also told Eivor that Tryggr's other lieutenant was Erke Bodilsson, a Dane who was an orphan of the last Viking horde to put down in London for a season.

Crime scene[]

Stowe and Eivor investigating the Governor's Villa

When Stowe brought Eivor into the Governor's Villa, however, he noticed several dead bodies, and Eivor noticed the smell of iron and recent blood. Stowe then found Tryggr's decapitated, arrow-ridden, seated body on the throne, and Erke told Stowe that it had taken three arrows to kill Tryggr, while the rest were an insult. Erke then said that there was no need for outsiders to get involved, but Stowe vouched for Eivor, telling Erke that Eivor had helped him deal with some thugs from the garrison at Cripplegate. Erke then introduced himself to Eivor, and he said that Tryggr would have welcomed Eivor heartily, as he was a trusting man, although he said that this nature brought Tryggr to his death. The three men then decided to investigate Tryggr's death, and Eivor found a letter reading, "From Rome went an order of heretics who worshipped the relics of a time before Christ," and it warned of three such heathens who had infiltrated London, likely his killers. Eivor also found a barber-surgeon's tools, most likely the tools used to behead Tryggr. He then found footprints, marking two small people and one large one leaving the villa, found a letter to Ubbe Ragnarrsson inviting him to take the throne in London if he ever wished to retire from being a Viking, and he also found a hanged Danish warriors holding a letter with a Roman seal.

Eivor, Stowe, and in the villa — Eivor, Stowe, and Erke Bodilsson in the villa

Eivor deduced that Tryggr was shot as he sat reading the letter, one of the guards grabbed the seal and tried to escape, only for a second killer to find him first. The bigger man lifted the guard to his death on the noose, a third attacker took his eyes and then came for Tryggr's head, symbolizing a headless ruler with eyeless guards. Eivor then noticed that the letter mentioned "the Leech", "the Arrow", and "the Compass", and it was signed by someone calling himself a "Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ". "The Arrow" was described as "a pugnacious Dane invader", "the Leech" hailed from Wessex, and "the Compass" was a Frankish captain. Eivor then showed the old seal to Erke, who recognized it as being from the Mithraic Temple, which Stowe explained was dedicated to a pagan god beloved by the ancient soldiers who built London. Stowe, heartbroken by his lord's death, decided that he should ready Tryggr's body for judgment, and Erke sympathetically suggested that Stowe should get some air from time to time, as it reeked in the bloody villa. Erke then dispatched Eivor to investigate the temple, as there was a crowd gathering outside the villa in need of a reeve's address.

Investigating the Compass[]

Eivor investigating the London Mithraeum

First, Eivor headed to the Londinium Amphitheatre to get a better view of the city. Afterwards, he found that the Mithraic Temple was well-guarded, and he searched for its entrance. After stealthily killing a few guards, he snuck into the underground entrance and searched for evidence as to who ran the order. He found out from a letter that "the Compass" held sway over the others, and that they had ordered "the Arrow" to recruit archers in a market to the west. He also found a letter from "the Compass" ordering Tryggr's assassination, and a letter from "the Leech" describing the intended methods of execution.

Eivor then returned to the villa after stealthily killing a few more guards with arrows, and he found that Erke and Stowe had cleaned up much of the mess. He brought them a few sheets of vellum and notes between members of the Order, and he said that he was in London to kill that same order. Eivor identified "the Compass" as the Order's leader in the city and "the Arrow" and "the Leech" as his hands, and he then told the others what he learned. He identified "the Arrow" as a battle-hardened archer, and Stowe bet that he was the one sowing discord among the city's Danes, whike Erke suggested that he might be hiding among other fighting men. Eivor also said that "the Leech" was in need of flesh and was buying thralls, and Erke revealed that they had found a number of dead down by the quays lately, but not all of them thralls. He then mentioned that "the Compass" was a Frankish captain, and Stowe feared that he might be far away, but Eivor asked, "Would he scream if we cut off his hands?" Erke commended Eivor's strategy, and Eivor stated his intent to kill his lieutenants before finding and killing their boss. Eivor decided to meet Stowe at the western market, while Erke made for the quays to fish more bodies out of the muck.

The Leech[]

Eivor meeting Erke along the quays — Eivor meeting Erke along the River Thames quays

Eivor first met with Erke at the quays, where he found Erke looking over a new batch of covered-up victims, finding out that there were now a score dead. Erke knew that they were the Leech's victims, as their eyes were taken out, just like Tryggr's guards. While the two were walking, they were approached by the frantic Danish woman Gyda, who was searching for her daughter. Erke told her that her daughter was not among the dead, and she muttered about how her daughter had gone missing one night while working for a secretive blacksmith. Eivor asked her more, and she said that her neighbor had seen her daughter Regna lingering under London Bridge for a time. Eivor thanked her for the inforamtion, and he set out to investigate.

Eivor remembered how Gyda had described her daughter meeting with a man to trade products for hacksilver and scurry back to her boss, so Eivor hid in a crate at the drop-off point under the bridge and observed a man approaching that same night. Eivor followed him to the Bodilsburg garrison, where he killed the "war-bringer" Hardrefil Steingrimsson with several arrows and snuck into the blacksmith Oija's shop. There, he pretended to be a friend of his deliveryman, telling him that his man feared he was being followed. Oija laughed, saying that he knew that his man was soft, unlike his other girl, who was "hard as hog's breath" until she fell ill and was sent to Sister Frideswid. Oija said that he sent Frideswid whatever she needed, but Eivor taunted him: "Not anymore, you don't!" and cut him down, bludgeoning him to death with his own shield.

Eivor telling Erke of "The Leech"'s death

Eivor then infiltrated Frideswid's convent at the Basilica and Forum, and, after leading the guards on a chase out of the convent to distract them, he killed Frideswid after a short battle. He then returned to Erke at the quays, where he told Erke that "the Leech" was Frideswid. Erke was agonizingly taken aback, as he remembered her as a saint who mended his injured leg; however, Eivor showed him her book, "Secrets of the Human Form", which Erke deduced was the scrawlings of a mad woman. Eivor said that all of her ideas and discoveries were written down, calling them "ill-gotten gains". However, as it included cures for everything, from boils to broken bones, Eivor declined Erke's suggestion that the book be burned, and Eivor said, "We fight wars to save those we love, and pay in blood for what we win." Erke suggested that Eivor might be right, as the dead could not be returned to life, but their sacrifices could still mean something. Erke then reported that he would be at St. Paul's Cathedral searching for something on "The Compass", so Eivor decided to meet Stowe in the western market to find "The Arrow".

The Arrow[]

Eivor and Stowe in the "West Market" of London

Along the way, Eivor rescued Kaupmann Gormsson, who was trapped in a warehouse full of putrid-smelling chemical jars which caused Eivor to vomit as he broke them in order to move the barriers trapping Kaupmann. Kaupmann then thanked Eivor, and he acknowledged that his freedom came at great (sensory) cost. He then found Stowe in the west market, and he spoke to him from around a building's corner in order to reduce suspicion. He identified "the Leech" as Frideswid, causing Stowe to worry about how powerful the Order must be if they could corrupt London's favored saint. Stowe then reported that, in the market, a man gave out marked coins which granted people entry to a contest run by The Arrow's men. Eivor volunteered to find the man, although Stowe had not been able to spot him all day. Stowe then asked Eivor's opinion on Erke; Eivor said that Erke had helped them a lot so far, and asked if there was a reason to suspect him then. Stowe then apologized, saying that he had been a reeve so long and learned to shed earthly attachments while in God's service, but he was unsure that he could shed Erke's friendship. Eivor then set out to find the coins, and Stowe said that he would head to St. Paul's just down the road.

Eivor got into a scuffle with the Arrow's guards in the marketplace, and he ultimately killed two of them and then shot the coin-giver Folkmar Guthheresson in the face with an arrow and stole his coin. He found that it matched the London Coliseum, so he headed to compete in the Arrow's contest. He met the Norse warrior Asvor Haddottir, and he gave her his coin before taking part in a practice round she offered him; she was impressed with his eagle-eyed archery skills. Eivor proceeded to compete against the reigning champion, Saer, defeating him by hitting all of the targets with his arrows. Asvor then invited him to meet the Arrow, telling him to meet Hussa at the Imperial Arch and recite the phrase, "May the Father of Understanding Guide Us" in order to signal that he was the winner.

Avgos Spearhand speaking at the Imperial Arch

Eivor did so upon meeting Hussa, and Hussa told him to keep still and look well when the Arrow arrived. Avgos Spearhand then arrived to address a large crowd, saying that they had a hard week because "cowardly invaders" stole into their Governor's home and robbed him of his life. Eivor then realized that the Avgos mentioned by the ruffians upon his entry into London was "the Arrow", and he stabbed Avgos in the back with his hidden blade, flung him from the stage with his axe, jumped into the square, and finished him off with one last hidden blade stab. Avgos expressed his belief that he had given the Londoners a common enemy and had thus united them, and Eivor's vision of Odin agreed with Avgos, saying, "A man without an enemy defeats himself." Eivor then reported to Stowe, who was shocked, saying that his old friend Avgos had no cause to murder. However, he realized that he may have ignored Avgos' ambition, greed, and anger. The two decided to make preparations for "The Compass"' arrival, and Stowe told Eivor to meet him in the church once he had time to rest.

The Compass[]

Eivor talking with Erke and Stowe in the church

Eivor then made his way through the Anglo-Saxon crowd accusing the reeves of murdering their "heroes" Frideswid and Avgos and entered the cathedral, where he saw Erke and Stowe with their arms around each other at the altar. Eivor surprised them with his entrance and warning about the surly crowd, and he warned them that anyone could have walked in on them; Stowe said that he had made his penance before God and was not worried about hiding his relationship with Erke, although Erke said that he was in no rush to join Tryggr among the headless. They then went over what they knew, and Erke pointed out that the Bishop of London had already issued an apology for Frideswid's actions on behalf of the Roman Catholic Church. They continued to share knowledge until that night, and Erke warned that they would not know how or when "the Compass", a Frankish captain, would strike back.

Just then, a Norse warrior threw a torch into the church and locked the door, and the three men worried about finding an exit as more torches were thrown at the side of the cathedral by other soldiers. Stowe and Erke told Eivor to head for the steeple, and, upon escaping through the roof, Eivor found that Vicelin was sending forces from his ships at London's port to attack the church. Eivor jumped down to assassinate one of the soldiers guarding the front door, and he proceeded to slay the others and destroy the objects blocking the door; Stowe and Erke then ran out of the burning church.

Eivor then told Stowe and Erke that, while he was on the roof, he observed that a new flotilla had arrived in London harbor. Stowe conceived a plan: if they could commandeer the springalds that Avgos built, they could rain a cloud of arrows on the invaders. Eivor agreed, and he and Stowe used the springald ballistae to kill several of Vicelin's men and wipe out his ship crews attacking Dour Gate. He then swam to Vicelin's ship, where he duelled the lone warrior and took a toll on him by burning him, shooting him with arrows, and then stabbing him in the chest with his hidden blade. In his last breaths, Vicelin said that Boudicca was right to burn London down, and warned Eivor that the Order was an unstoppable, churning tide. Eivor then discovered that Vicelin's associate "The Keel" was none other than his old foe, Gorm Kjotvesson.

Eivor bidding farewell to his new friends

Eivor returned to shore, where he saw London's defenders cheering. He then talked with Erke and Stowe, and he told them that London was theirs to wreck or rebuild. Erke resolved to strengthen the walls, reunite families, and likely use less wood and more stone, and he and Stowe then decided to pray together after the battle. Eivor asked them if he could count on their support if needed; Stowe told Eivor that he came to London searching for a friend, but instead found two. Erke then gave Eivor a silver ring gifted to him by Tryggr as a symbol of their bond. Eivor said that he would wear it with pride, and he then departed from his two new allies, intent on updating Randvi.

Eivor rode to Lundenwic Abbey (now Westminster Abbey) to take in the view of the rural countryside to the west of London (now Westminster) before carrying on with his journey home. Upon returning to Ravensthorpe, he built a tattoo parlor, and his settlement grew in size to a borough. He then caught up with Tove and offered himself as her first canvas, getting a "war-paint"-like tattoo around his eyes and shaving his head. Eivor proceeded to go to the longhouse to inform Randvi of his victory, and she said that Hytham would be pleased; she then removed the knife from London and placed a statuette there, signifying London's allegiance.

Vinland[]

With London cleansed of the Order, Eivor went to Hytham to discuss new targets. He told Hytham the good news, but Hytham told Eivor that Jorvik (York) now suffered from the safe infestation. Eivor said that, as Jorvik was under Norse control, he should have no problem finding allies there. Hytham then told Eivor that he had bad tidings: Gorm, Kjotve's son, had taken his place in the Order. Eivor asked if Gorm was another blot on their list, and if he was another blot on their list; Hytham confirmed that Gorm was on their list, but that he was not in England. He was instead further west in Vinland, discovered several centuries earlier by an Irish sailor called Brendan. Hytham reported that the Order of the Ancients had recently developed a fascination with Vinland, but for unknown reasons. Eivor volunteered to find Gorm, but Hytham warned Eivor that Vinland was far away, and it could take weeks to find Gorm after a long and perilous journey.

Eivor then went to Randvi to arrange passage to Vinland, and she told him that she had laid out a map of Vinland after some guesswork. Randvi informed Eivor that she had found someone willing to sail Eivor to Vinland, and that she claimed to have seen it once before. She said that the captain's name was Nessa, and she warned Eivor that it would be a long voyage. Eivor assured her that he would find and kill Gorm where the Valkyries could not find him.

Eivor made his way to the docks, where he met Nessa, who promised him psasage across the seas to Saint Brendan's land. Eivor said that Randvi had called "Vinland", but Nessa said that they were one and the same; it would be a three-week trip by longship, as well as "arduous, dull, (and) possibly fatal." Randvi then came to Eivor with a change of clothing, telling him that he should be dressed as a thrall when he arrived, or else he would raise suspicions dressed as a warrior; all but a few of the men at the new camp were loyal to Gorm. Nessa then told Eivor three things: "my ship, my rules"; "Second, you follow the rules"; and "Third, if you listen to my rules, you live."

Arrival in Vinland[]

After three weeks, Eivor and the crew arrived in Vinland, and he was greeted by Hilde, who noted his strength and asked his name. Eivor identified himself as "Jora of Jorvik"; when Hilde asked why his name was "horse", Eivor said that his father never wanted to have children. He then asked where he was, and Hilde said that they were at Nyhofn, a wild place found on on map. She then mentioned her brother Olav in a conversation with a dockhand, so Eivor decided to seek out Olav and look for clues as to Gorm's location. He went to the Tiotenontatierenhton peak and obtained a better view of the island, and he also discovered an Iroquois village at Karonhiaken:iate'.

Eivor talking with and in — Eivor talking with Konwahawihshon and Karonhiaktatie in Karonhiaken:iate'

Eivor then walked into the Native Amercian village, where he turned heads due to his Norse ethnicity. He then approached the woman Konwahawihshon and the man Karonhiaktatie and asked if they spoke Norse or Saxon, but they spoke in Iroquoian; Karonhiaktatie seemed standoffish towards Eivor, but Konwahawihshon giggled when Eivor's raven Synin perched on his arm. Konwahawihshon then said someting to Eivor and started to walk away, and Karonhiaktatie gestured for Eivor to follow her.

Olav the Unlucky[]

As he followed Konwahawihshon, Eivor heard someone speaking in Norse in the distance, and he was led into a cave, where he was introduced to Olav the Unlucky before Konwahawihshon left. Olav cowered, telling Eivor to kill him quickly and not stab him in the back like "Sigurd and the dragon". However, Eivor said that he was not there to kill Olav, and was there for Gorm; Olav warned Eivor to stay clear of Gorm and asked why he wished to see him. Eivor said that it was a matter of honor, and Gorm owed him a great debt. Olav said that honor was good, and promised that he would help Eivor. Olav said that Gorm was far away at the camps in the woods, all of which were well-guarded. Olav agreed to show Eivor, and he warned him that Gorm carried a talking crystal which told him what to do, and that he sought to find the door to Jotunheim.

Taking out the camps[]

Olav took Eivor to a ford across from one of Gorm's camps, the Steinnhus Camp, and he warned Eivor that he could not easily kill the guards without good weapons. He volunteered to gather ore and hides to barter for war gear, and, when Eivor asked if Olav could translate for him, Olav told Eivor that they talked with signs, telling him to just walk up to a trader and start trading. Eivor accepted some goods from Olav and bought a club, and, after bidding farewell to Olav, he decided to attack the Steinnhus Camp and loot its valuables to help his bartering position. Along the way, he found Steinolf Åsmundsson's body in a pit, as he had slipped and fallen to his death; Eivor then mined some of the iron ore nearby. He then infiltrated the Steinnhus Camp through a cave, killing the war-bringer Ozur Thorvardsson and several other warriors before looting the treasures there. He also found a muddy note from Gorm telling the guard to remember the code: "Steinnhus, Bruhamarr, Hvallgrof, Narfljot." After clearing the camp, Eivor went to the Wenhni'taken:iate' peak, overlooking the Bruhamarr Outpost and much of the countryside. Eivor went to Bruhamarr, where he found a note from the local captain, Nori, telling his men that Gorm had ventured deeper into the woods, and warning them with death should they slack. Lacking the second key to the Bruhamarr Outpost's chest, Eivor decided to head to the Hvallgrof Outpost to retrieve the other. Along the way, he passed by another tent and killed the guards there, retrieving another key; he then used this to unlock the Bruhamarr Outpost's chest and retrieve two bars of carbon ingot.

Karonhiaktatie giving Eivor elderberries

Eivor then travelled to Hvallgrof, but he was stuffed with arrows and beaten down by the captain. He woke up at Karonhiaken:iate', aching all over, and found that Karonhiaktatie had taken care of him. Karonhiaktatie then gave Eivor a bowl of elderberries, which he ate, healing him. Eivor then left the hut, where he found Olav waiting. Olav told him that elderberries tasted good and were good for him, and that they could be found across the land; Eivor decided that he would eat them whenever he was in need of energy. Eivor then returned to Hvallgrof, killed the war-bringer Ysoppa Hranfastsson (who had previously injured him), led the garrison on a chase before returning to the undermanned outpost, found a letter from the commander which indicated that he might know Gorm's location, killed all many the guards in fights on the watchtower, killed the two rabid wolves, looted the treasures, and then moved on to the last outpost, Narfljot Outpost.

Gorm's downfall[]

While at Narfljot that evening, Eivor overheard Gorm telling his men to dig. Eivor stealthily picked off several guards and stole the keys to the treasure chest in the camp, upon which he focused on killing Gorm. He ambushed Gorm with his hidden blade, bludgeoned him with his club, and finished him off with the hidden blade to his chest. In his dying words, Gorm panicked about not reaching Valhalla, and Eivor told him that he was instead headed to Niflheim, "the hell of mist and cold". He then took a mysterious glowing stone from Gorm and decided to return to Olav at Karonhiaken:iate'.

Eivor attending 's storytime — Eivor attending Konwahawihshon's storytime

Olav was elated to hear that Gorm had been killed, and Eivor said that Olav could then return to his sister. However, Olav told Eivor that he wished to hear the natives' storties by the fire, and Eivor was surprised to hear that the natives had sagas of their own. Eivor then approached the fire as Konwahawihshon told a story, and he sat down with the welcoming Iroquians as she finished. Karonhiaktatie then invited Eivor to tell a story, miming speaking to let Eivor know what he meant.

Leaving Vinland[]

Eivor decided to tell them of his gods, such as Odin, and of how his son Baldr had suddenly died, felled by his only weakness, mistletoe. Odin went to the goddess Hel and asked her to return his son to life, and she agreed, as long as every living creature in the nine worlds shed a loving tear for Baldr. All but one, a Jotun named Thokk, agreed, with Thokk saying that Hel should keep what she had received. With that, Baldr was gone forever, buried in Midgard among trees and rocks. What Odin did not know was that Thokk was his own son Loki in disguise, and Eivor reasoned that Loki had done so either out of evil, out of revenge for what Odin had done to his children, or that all acts, kind and cruel, were sewn long ago in teh patterns of their lives, and that people have their fates written out for them. Eivor said that they should resist such a notion, and he ended his story. He then took out the glowing stone, saying that Gorm had brought the stone across the "whale-road" for a strange purpose, and he said that he believed it belonged to the natives. He gave it to Konwahawihshon, telling her that her people might one day know what to do with it. He then thanked the tribe for everything they had done for him, and he decided to return to Hilde in Nyhofn.

Eivor spoke with Hilde, who laughed as she said that Eivor had shirked his work for some time. Eivor revealed that his name was not Jora, but that he was Eivor, a drengr of the Raven Clan, and that his purpose had been fulfilled. Just as Hilde asked what his purpose was, Olav ran towards Hilde, shouting that Gorm was dead, and that "the troll is dead!" He then embraced Hilde, and he celebrated "Eivor Raven-friend, Eivor Forest-strider, Eivor Olav-saver!" Olav then told his sister that he might continue to stay in Vinland with the friends he had made, and Hilde asked Eivor if he would return across the sea with her. Eivor agreed, and he bade Olav farewell, telling him that he looked forward to seeing him in that life or the next. Three weeks later, Eivor returned to Ravensthorpe and spoke to Randvi, who was happy to see him back after so long. Eivor said that he looked forward to focusing on matters closer to home, and Eivor celebbrated Gorm's death and the wiping of the Kjotvesson clan from the world.

Return to East Anglia and Cambridge[]

The Way of the Berserker[]

Eivor lacked the strength to pledge to Shropshire, so he decided to fulfill any outstanding commitments he had. He first travelled to Edmund's Hope and then to the gallows tree south of Beodoricsworth to meet up with Bjorn Bloodtooth. He delivered Bjorn's nightshade, and he marvelled how Odin had hung himself on a tree similar to the gallows tree; Bjorn recalled "Yggdrasil the World-Tree", the place where life and death were one. Bjorn then finished the concoction, and he and Eivor cheered before drinking down their seidr potions. Eivor had a vision in which he fought a bear before passing out, and, when he woke, he approached Bjorn, who excitedly asked him if he could feel the power of the bear's blood coursing through his veins. Eivor agreed, and Bjorn suggested that they slaughter the "cowardly" Mercians who had holed up in Beodoricsworth. The two men killed dozens of Mercian soldiers before luring out the Mercian huscarl Lord Wigbeorn; Eivor split his head with his axe. He and Bjorn then fought their way out of the town, and Bjorn then sadly asked Eivor for one more favor. He said that Njal was tired, and he would tend to her beneath the tree where the whole vendetta began; he asked Eivor to get some of Njal's favorite flowers.

Eivor picked the flowers from Alfhild's grave, and he met Bjorn as he knelt over a lifeless Njal. Bjorn regretted how he had lost both his wife and Njal under that same tree, and Eivor assured Bjorn that Njal slept at the All-Father's feet that night. Bjorn agreed, saying that the gods let loyal hounds into the Hall of the Brave, and that Njal was there with Alfhild. That afternoon, Bjorn laid Njal atop a funeral pyre and sorrowfully lit the shield, sending Njal to the afterlife. Bjorn then said that he was ready to join Eivor's clan, and that he would sing of Alfhild and Njal during their travels and carry their names into battle.

Return to Norfolk[]

Eivor then called his longship and decided to sack Beodoricsworth and deal with the remnants of the Mercian interlopers who had taken up shelter there. They succeeded in looting the monastery, and Eivor then travelled to Norwich to visit Oswald's capital. He came across a white cat (whom he called "friend of Freyja") who initially ran from him, and a child told the cat, Nali, to get back to him. Eivor ultimately caught up with the cat, which jumped on him and snuggled in his arms. The child was impressed, as the cat had refused to let anyone touch her since her old human died. Eivor told the youth that cats were good to have on longships for company and for eating rats, so Eivor decided that he would have another "raider" on board his ship.

Shortly after, Stækar Hreinsson challenged Eivor to a drinking contest outside of the longhouse, and Eivor agreed to lock horns. Eivor narrowly lost, losing 150 silver coins. Shortly after, Chadwick, Monger of Gossip challenged Eivor to a flyting contest, saying that hee had heard that "Eivor the Dane is a coward, a cur, and a leech." Eivor then bet 200 silver coins he could defeat Chadwick, and, after four verses, Chadwick decided that Eivor had one, gave him the silver, and said that, from then on, only praise for Eivor would cross his lips.

Eivor then headed into the longhouse, where he plucked the arrows from King Edmund's throne as a prank on Cynedeall Seal, who had been studying the arrows from afar. She was initially shocked, but then guiltily offered to buy them from Eivor, as she had never been able to touch them; she believed that, since Father James blessed them, it was impossible to touch them. Eivor agreed, although he warned that some of the King Edmund arrows could be mixed up with his own. Cynedeall explained that she had the eye of an archivist, able to sort the new from the old, and told Eivor that the kingdom's history would be restored. She then bought the arrows for 40 silver pieces, and she thanked Eivor before leaving.

Eivor them met the girl Asta at the docks, calling out to her deaf "steed" Skinfaxi. Eivor told Asta that the horse could not hear her, and she told him that she knew the horse was deaf, but that the horse always came to her father when he called. Eivor decided to cross the river and bring the horse to Asta, who claimed credit for being "the Great Summoner"; Eivor joked that, next time, she should try summoning a bridge.

Eivor then scoured the East Anglian countryside for treasure, killing the bandits at Scotthoh Farm and looting the nickel ingot stored in the locked-up farmhouse. He also found a small, isolated farm surrounded by wolves, sneaking in through a crack and finding a corpse next to a letter from Eadyth assuring him that she was searching for herbs for his illness and warning him to barricade himself against the wolves and Danes.

Catching up with Oswald[]

Eivor then travelled to Elmenham, where he caught up with King Oswald. He told Oswald that the crown suited him, and he suited the crown, and Oswald said that East Anglia's crops and livestock prospered, while there was harmony between Danes and Saxons. Eivor then asked about Valdis, and Oswald said that their marriage was blooming and that she was expecting a child by next summer. Eivor said that he hoped that his descendants would rule East Anglia for many generations, and Oswald assured Eivor that, if that was the case, he would always be welcome. Eivor then had a walk around the town at dusk, and he also noticed Reeve Wynnstan of Thetford spending time outside of the church. Eivor continued to explore the countryside, including the Mercury Temple. He also rode to the Isle of Ely to find any remaining treasures there.

The Fens[]

While in the Fens, Eivor found a tied-up, rotting body at an abandoned shrine, and he questioned what must have happened there. He then had a vision of Goneril, who insulted him and asked if he was there to mock her family, make light of her father's sacrifice, or if he was sent by the "traitor kings" Edmund, Burgred, or Aella. Eivor said that he was sent by no king, and that he would not bow to her. After an intense fight in which Goneril disappeared and reappeared several times, Eivor ultimately slew her, vanquisihng the vision.

Eivor coming across in — Eivor coming across Cynegar the Pious in the Fens

While travelling further west, Eivor came across Cynegar the Pious, who, while praying, said that he could deliver the pagans from heathenry and make them better people. Eivor greeted him and said that there was no need to brag about his God, and that he was content with his own gods. The monk told Eivor that, because of his faith in God, he was never angry, and he said that he was completely changed and was no longer obsessed with riches like Eivor. He even invited Eivor to steal all of his possessions and burn down his house to test his faith. Eivor then asked what the priest was before he became a monk, and he revealed that he had once been a "lost and violent" heathen (Eivor found out from a letter in the house that his name was Egil), and the priest told Eivor that he should try praying before it was too late. The priest then stood up, and Eivor picked up a key he had been sitting on, using it to unlock the door in the back of his cottage. He found a room full of hanging, upside-down bodies, and he looted the treasure chest before vomiting. He then accused the priest of hypocrisy and of being an opportunist, and the priest ultimately broke into his heathen old self, telling Eivor that he would die. Eivor hacked the priest to dead with his axe after a short fight, and Eivor then left the dead priest and the burning cottage behind.

Eivor rode through the Fens and vanquished a few bandits along the way, looting their ill-gotten gains. He then chanced upon a house marked by a horrific odor, and the boy in front prayed that God would lift the curse of manure on his house. He explained to Eivor that his father Degolas dipped his arrows in cow dung for good luck and never showered, and that he had surrounded the house with crates of cow dung. Eivor threw all of the crates out of the house, and the grateful child told his mother Proppa that the house was safe again, and that he would go and get his father back from his watchtower. When the father refused to come down to bathe, Eivor cut down the watchtower and caused Degolas to fall into the stream and wash. Just then, the zealot Eorforwine arrived, and Eivor fled, as she had too powerful of a shield to fight past.

Return to Cambridgeshire[]

Eivor being invited to face "" — Eivor being invited to face "Fergal the Faceless"

Eivor visited the Cambridgeshire town of Wandrie, and, after killing several guards, he looted all of its treasures. He then went to Cambridge, where an Anglo-Saxon woman invited him to challenge the legendary flyter Fergal the Faceless to a battle. She told him that she would give him the keys to his "lair", where few returned unharmed; Eivor flatly corrected her, saying that people were, of course, unharmed by words, and that Fergal's "lair" was just a house. Eivor then waited in the house as Fergal began to rap through the woven wall, but Eivor bested him after two verses (during which time it became clear that Fergal could not rap), and Fergal ultimately was at a loss for words. Eivor taunted him, calling him "Fergal the Wordless", and Fergal ultimately ran away rather than continue the humiliating competition.

Eivor then visited the longhouse, where he was reunited with Soma. She told him that the city was prospering once again, and that it would continue to do well as long as she looked out for its citizens. Following this brief chat, Eivor bade her farewell. In the marketplace, Eivor met with one of Reda's informants and accepted a contract to kill a brigand who had been striking fear into people's hearts in the countryside to the east of Elmenham in Norfolk. Eivor ambushed Thormod Jomarsson and his three "woe-bringers" as they marched down the rural road, killing the woe-bringers with arrows after shooting Thormod in the head. Eivor then confirmed Thormod's death, earning his keep for Reda's contract. He then killed Tidhere Stiganding as he attempted to ambush him; Tidhere's last words were, "For my brother!", but Eivor beheaded him and found a letter from Tidhere's father urging him to avenge his brother, who had fallen during a Danish raid.

Travels in Suffolk[]

Eivor stumbling upon at — Eivor stumbling upon Sister Aelfwyn at Edmund's Hope

Eivor then rode deeper into the East Anglian countryside, passing by Cedd's Stone and then finding Sister Aelfwyn praying near several Danish bodies at Edmund's Hope, praying that God would not let them into Heaven. Eivor then asked if she had killed the men; she said that God had told her about them, and that he had told her about Eivor as well. She then tried to kill him, so Eivor cut her down and forced her to submit. Eivor asked what God had told her about him, and she said that God had called Eivor "the Crow-Eyed Devil", and he sent his angels to find and kill him. She then died of her wounds, and Eivor found a letter to God at the altar dedicating a "blood offering" of dead pagans to God from "Saint Aelfwyn, Hammer of the Heathens". He then visited Needham Lake and Sutton Hoo, where he killed the bandits who had overrun the burial site and then looted the underground treasures.

While riding along the coast, Eivor found a woman, Rada, crying at the home of a seer, saying that, without her potion, she would die. Eivor followed blood tracks to the wounded seer Hallbera Thorkelldottir before an ancient shrine, and he asked the seer if she needed him to carry her home. She said that the blood was hers, and that she had made the "Freyja's Blessing" potion to make the crops grow. Eivor realized that she was making blood-mead, and the seer then asked Eivor to carry her to the clearing to ensure that her pain could cause new life to spring from the soil. However, he decided to carry her back to Rada, who asked her for her blood mead so that she could ensure that her family would not starve from a bad harvest. The seer agreed, and Rada invited Eivor and the seer to come to her farm in a few days to enjoy the harvest with her.

The Legend of Lerion[]

Eivor at 's tomb — Eivor at Lerion's tomb

Eivor then looted the treasure at Dunwich, destroyed a haunted symbol at ruins in the countryside, and then investigated a ruined church. The church's basement contained a letter from King Aella of Northumbria to Ealdorman Lerion (promising that the Wuffingas would be restored to the throne of Mercia, and sending his affection to Lerion's daughter Cordelia), and Eivor found another letter from King Edmund of East Anglia's advisor Bishop Romulf to Lerion warning him that the King would strip him of his titles and spoils if he decided to take action against King Burgred in Mercia. Eivor discovered another letter to Thegn Leofwine from Thegn Aethelstan reporting Lerion's execution for treason, the disappearance of his daughters, the desertion of his estate, Lerion's pagan views, and the eeriness of his crypt. Eivor then chanced upon the statue and decided that the dagger he obtained from Goneril in the swamp must fit into the statue's back; he noticed that there was room for two more. He also noticed a letter from Leofwine promising aid to Lerion if he could ascertain that aid from Aella would arrive and that he did not dabble in blood magic. He then found another letter from Aethelstan to Leofwine thanking him for his help in betraying Lerion's plans, for which Leofwine was granted a third of Lerion's former estate. Eivor decided to search for the other two daggers; meanwhile, he crossed the River Yare and looted the treasures of Burgh Castle.

The Anvil[]

Afterwards, Eivor decided to travel to Oxfordshire, aiming to assassinate the Order member Patrick the Anvil at his blacksmith shop in Oxford. He first completed looting the Evinghou Tower, finding nickel ingot and a Roman artifact in the process. He also looted the Leah Villa's vast amount of riches before riding into Oxford. There, Hogg the Burly challenged him to a flyting duel, and Eivor defeated him by joking about his baldness; he won 200 silver coins. He then looted the church before approaching Patrick from behind as he worked on his anvil, stabbing him in the back. In his last words, Patrick expressed his regret at how his Hwiccan ancestors were defeated by the "Christ-beaten bastards".

Eivor freeing from — Eivor freeing Cynewulf from Cripplegate

Eivor then looted the treasures at the Shrine of Camulus before deciding to travel to London to reap its many rewards. He decided to infiltrate the heavily-guarded Temple of Sulis Minerva, looting the treasure there. Eivor also started an uprising of captured garrison soldiers at Cripplegate Fort by releasing the loyal garrison troops from their cages and attacking the brigands holding them; the loyal soldiers ultimately freed themselves. Eivor also freed the musician Cynewulf of the Gleemen from a cage, and he learned that Cynewulf had been arrested for adultery with the guard captain's wife, the alewife Lugg, and Ysane's muse. Eivor said that he was a bad friend and a fiend, and he told him to apologize to his friends.

Scoping out the countryside[]

Eivor then decided to explore the land to the south of London, and he rode across London Bridge to Southwark and then to Croydon, Tuicca's Farm (Twickenham), and the viewpoint at the Cistern Tower in Sussex. He then rode through the Weald and east into Kent, hoping to get a better view of that region as well. He rode to St. Hadrian's Priory, from which he was able to see Rochester and much of the Kentish countryside. Turning north, Eivor rode through the Epping Forest and into Essex, climbing the Agnitum Tower to survey the surrounding lands. Eivor then returned to the settlement at Ravensthorpe, where he invested his looted resources into building a fishery and a grain farm. Before going to sleep, Eivor put Frideswid's book on his dresser and read a letter from Ceolwulf II telling him about how grateful he was for Eivor's help in educating his son and enabling Mercia to be stable for the first time in years.

Shropshire[]

Eivor then went to the alliance map to speak with Randvi about Shropshire, which she had mentioned in the past. She said that it had been mired in a long war with Rhodri the Great, King of the Britons. Ceolbert had hoped to negotiate a peace with the Britons of the west, but Randvi said that it would be hard for someone so "green"; Eivor expressed his confidence that Randvi had taught him well, but Randvi said that she thought it best if Eivor would supervise the talks. If Ceolbert could make the peace treaty work, Ravensthorpe could gain another valuable alliance. Eivor decided to set out, and Randvi told Eivor that Ceolbert and Ivar should be in Quatford along the Afon Hafren (River Severn).

Reunion at Quatford[]

Eivor meeting in — Eivor meeting Ceolbert in Quatford

Eivor first decided to ride to northwestern Leicestershire to gain a better view of Shropshire; he used the Bardon Lookout to this end. Eivor then rode down the hill and into Shropshire, reaching Quatford and finding several war-weary Saxons complaining about the war and their hunger. Upon entering the longhouse, he found Ivar wrestling with Ceolbert while trying to teach him how to fight, and Eivor interrupted them. Ceolbert expressed his happiness that Eivor had arrived just in time for the peace talks, as Rhodri himself was planning to talk with Ceolbert; Ivar bragged about how Rhodri was "desperate for peace" because they captured his "sniveling brother, Gwriad". As the last ealdorman had been killed in battle, Bishop Deorlaf was standing in to represent Shropshire. Eivor suggested that, as ealdorman, Ceolbert should also speak at the peace talks at church, but with humility, as Rhodri expected to be treated like a king. Ivar told Eivor that Rhodri was the kind of man who would want people to sniff the "rosy wind" released from his rear, and that he had previously met him in battle; Ivar showed him a nick on his face given to him by Rhodri's troops, and Ivar suggested that he could give Rhodri a scar himself. Eivor recommended that Ivar let Ceolbert do the talking, and Ivar reluctantly agreed.

Peace talks[]

The trio then made their way across town on horseback to meet Rhodri at the church. Along the way, Ceolbert told Eivor how he had been at war with the Welsh for going on two years, and Ivar added that the Britons had the best of the conflict until Ivar's berserkers came plowing through the Welsh ranks and drove Gwriad into a ditch. Ceolbert credited Ivar with bringing Rhodri to peace talks, but Eivor reminded Ivar to keep it peaceful after Ivar bragged about his title of "King Killer". Ivar then asked about Eivor's brother, so Eivor told him that they had parted, as Sigurd's road was unsure.

Eivor breaking up the argument between Ivar and Rhodri the Great

The three of them then walked up to the church as the Norse soldiers taunted the Welsh soldiers from the opposite side of the road, and they found Rhodri and his captain Ynyr ap Cadfarch talking with Deorlaf and insisting that no peace talks could be begin until Gwriad was released. Ivar then interrupted the conversation to say that, "The king's brother is a moldering sack of cow dung," so Rhodri joked about Ivar's scar, leading to Ivar promising to kill Rhodri. Eivor intervened to break up the argument, and he decided to introduce Rhodri to Ceolbert, the future ealdorman. Rhodri insulted the "green stripling" and said that he "couldn't piss without help," and he also insulted Ivar again; Rhodri's wife Angharad asked that Rhodri seek peace, but he insisted that his brother be released first. Ivar said that Gwriad would only go free if Rhodri's head was mounted on a pike, nearly causing Rhodri to draw his sword, although his wife and Deorlaf intervened. Eivor then talked with Deorlaf, who told Eivor that he had a large sum of silver he could use to buy peace if needed. Eivor then approached Rhodri and offered to release Gwriad after a guarantee of peace was made, after which he would also be paid a sum of silver to overlay the difficulty; Rhodri insisted that he could not "be purchased with looted silver." However, when Eivor met with Rhodri's counsellor Ynyr, Ynyr confided that he could be persuaded to recommend peace to the king in exchange for silver, so Eivor gave him the 650 silver pieces and reported to Deorlaf.

Scuppering the peace[]

Ivar then caused a scene by claiming that Rhodri was insulting him, and he challenged him to single combat; Eivor then held back Ivar, and Rhodri insisted that he had foreseen his death at the hands of a dragon, and not at Ivar's hands. Ivar then asked if his destiny also guarded his brother, and he then took the captive Gwriad and slit his throat, causing the peace delegation to disperse and the soldiers to begin fighting. Rhodri fled as his men fought against the Norse, and, after killing all of the Britons in the church, Eivor, Ceolbert, and Ivar then set out to clear the rest of the town of the Briton soldiers. Ceolbert chided Ivar for scuppering the peace, saying that they did not need to fight that battle; Ivar assured Ceolbert that, when he was king, he would crave battles.

The trio debriefing at the church — The trio debriefing Deorlaf at the church

They then returned to the church to tell Deorlaf that the battle was done, and Deorlaf criticized Ivar's erratic behavior. Eivor said that what was done was done, and said that they should press their advantage before the Britons could regroup. Deorlaf said that Rhodri had returned to his great caslte, so Ivar suggested starving the Britons out, attacking their supplies, and watching them beg for death. Eivor asked Deorlaf for advice, and Deorlaf said that the Britons stockpiled cargo at Wenlocan Outpost (Much Wenlock), south of Quatford. Rhodri also had another secret supply line, and Deorlaf suggested that Eivor ask the refugees down by the river, who had been driven from their homes in the lands occupied by Rhodri. Thirdly, Ynyr and his soldiers trained in Wesberie (Westbury), west of the ruined tower. Ivar volunteered to scout ahead at Wesberie, and Ceolbert decided to follow him to supervise him. Eivor agreed to meet them at Wesberie once he had done some damage to the Britons. After Ivar and Ceolbert left, Deorlaf told Eivor that they would need a fyrd before the battle was done, and suggested that Eivor free any captives he could, as they would swell the Mercian ranks.

Cutting the supply lines[]

Eivor talking to along the riverside — Eivor talking to Radbod Wright along the riverside

Eivor then went down to the Severn riverbank to talk with the Saxon refugee Radbod Wright, who instantly asked Eivor, "Friend or foe?" Eivor said that he would have it that they were friends, and Radbod expressed his distrust of the pillaging Danes. However, Eivor reasoned that they shared a common enemy in Rhodri, and that Radbod and his people would no longer walk the land in wretchedness once Rhodri's supply lines were cut and he came back to Quatford begging for a truce. Radbod then agreed to help Eivor, telling him that the Britons moved their goods through Dhustone Quarry (Titterstone Clee Hill), near the tower to the south, the Hill Gate Remnants.

Eivor burning supplies at the Dhustone Quarry

Eivor thanked the man, and he then sailed up the Severn, raiding the Wenlocan Abbey along the way. They pillaged the monastery without opposition, and Eivor then went to the tower and observed the surrounding countryside. He first rode to the Wenlocan Outpost, which was closer to the tower, along Dudmaston Lake. Eivor killed all of the guards with arrows, and he went on to loot the supplies and treasures and rescue Bealdeag and two other Mercian captives from a cave which had been used as a jail by the Britons. He then went to the quarry and did the same, rescuing Orlaf, Eadric, and four other Mercian captives, as well as torching the supply wagons and looting the treasures. With this done, he set out to find Wesberie, and he used the viewpoint at Wroeken to locate the fortress.

Ravaging Wesberie[]

Eivor found Ceolbert and Ivar observing the hamlet from the woods, and Ivar told Eivor that Ynyr was in command of the village. Ivar then suggested that they send a message to Rhodri by burning the village and cutting Ynyr's throat, but Ceolbert refused to be cruel, and Eivor suggested that the smoke and flames leading to the negotiating table were more important than Ynyr. Eivor decided that it would be better to stealthily infiltrate the village rather than provoke all of the Britons into battle, and Ivar warned Eivor to put the Britons down quietly, or he would join him the way he did in Leicester. Ultimately, Ivar decided to charge into battle anyway, and the three men proceeded to kill all of the Britons in the town and torch the cottages. Shortly after, Ynyr arrived with reinforcements, but the trio were able to kill all of the soldiers, while Ivar savagely hacked Ynyr to death with his two axes shortly after Ynyr taunted Ivar about his defeat at the beach at Mona.

The trio then regrouped to see their handiwork, and, when Ivar made fun of a praying Ceolbert for feeling remorse over the killings (and saying that Eivor and him were born for such violence), Eivor asked Ivar if they had spilt enough blood to slake the thirst of Fenrir. He then asked Ceolbert if he was satisfied with the victory, and Ceolbert agreed; he then set about contacting Rhodri. Eivor deduced that Rhodri had seen the flames and realized the fate of Wesberie. Ivar then expressed an eagerness to test whether Rhodri could only be killed by a dragon, but Eivor emphatically told Ivar that they sought peace and not revenge; he then told Ivar that, if he could not accept that, he should immediately return to Repton. Ceolbert decided to defuse the situation by inviting Eivor and Ivar to fish with him in the nearby pond, and he decided to fish for eel, as Deorlaf relished nettle soup cooked with fresh eels.

Eivor used his fishing line to catch three eels, while Ceolbert used a rod. Shortly after, they brought their catches to Ivar, and they were then joined by Deorlaf and a few bodyguards. Deorlaf jested that fishing was a strange way to celebrate victory, but acknowledged that Jesus was a "fisher of souls". Ivar complimented Ceolbert's fighting skills to Deorlaf, and, while Ceolbert said that he would rather be fair and just, he took the compliment. Deorlaf then announced that he had sent word to Rhodri that they would be willing to talk again, and that he was praying Rhodri would accept, in spite of his brother's murder. Eivor then told Ivar that it would take the skill of restraint to win the peace; Deorlaf said that, in order for the process to continue, Ivar should "lay low". Ivar was offended, asking, "After all I have done here, you tell me to dunk my head?" Eivor said that the Bishop was right, as Ivar had "a warrior's heart, not a peacemaker's." Ivar insulted Eivor, and he then told him that he knew Rhodri and the kind of tricks he would pull, emphatically warning Eivor. Ivar then stormed off, and Ceolbert told Eivor that, while Ivar's anger and pride got in the way, he was not without honest feeling; he resolved to hunt him a large boar to make amends. Eivor then told Deorlaf that they had to prepare for Rhodri's arrival, telling him to rally his men and set up a camp along the pond.

Meeting with Angharad[]

Lady meeting with the Saxons and Norse at Wesberie — Lady Angharad meeting with the Saxons and Norse at Wesberie

The next day, the Britons arrived by the great oak tree, represented by Lady Angharad; Deorlaf expressed concern that Ceolbert had been gone for some time. Angharad told Deorlaf that Rhodri remained at the castle at her behest, as she was concerned about the "cutthroat" Ivar. Eivor assured her that they had confined the cutthroat to his tent, and Angharad said that it seemed they were of the same mind, fretting over their "war-hungry companions". Angharad then proposed that Wales withdraw all of its soldiers to the "time-honored border" of their lands, and she asked that the Saxons give the Britons some days to collect their furnishings and leave Caustow Castle. In return, she asked the Saxons to end all hostilities that moment. Eivor agreed, shaking hands with Angharad; Deorlaf then praised God that they had quickly made peace, and told Angharad to go with God.

Murder of Ceolbert[]

Eivor then went to search for Ceolbert, and his guard Tofi Hrutsson told Eivor that his brother Onäm Hrutsson had seen Ceolbert last. Onäm was passed out, drunk from the early peace celebrations, so Tofi suggested that Eivor dump him in a lake to wake him up. Eivor did so, and Onäm grudgingly told Eivor that Ceolbert had followed the stream south to the forest for boar hunting. Eivor found a large cave and entered it, finding blood trails throughout. He killed two wolves before finding a dying Ceolbert laying alone in another part of the cave. Eivor removed a dagger from Ceolbert's chest, finding that it had the Britons' dragon insignia on it. Eivor then resolved to take Ceolbert back to the camp to say his goodbyes, and the guards were shocked to see their lord's body.

Eivor and Ivar standing over Ceolbert's body

Ivar ran over to Eivor and Ceolbert, and Ceolbert repeatedly said Ivar's name as Ivar told him to be quiet; he then asked for an axe so that Ceolbert could go to Heaven, but Eivor told Ivar that Ceolbert was gone, and that his God would accept him without an axe. Ivar deduced that the wolves could not have killed Ceolbert, and Eivor showed him the Briton dagger, causing Ivar to blame Rhodri. Ivar resolved to sheathe the dagger in Rhodri's lungs, and Eivor decided that they should move fast and attack before Rhodri could revel in his trick. Eivor called Deorlaf over, and Deorlaf agonizingly prayed for Ceolbert's soul; Eivor told Deorlaf to send Ceolbert's body to his father for a Christian burial, and he told Ivar that Angharad said that Rhodri was holed up at Caustow Castle, either a lie or a tiny slip. Ivar decided to scout the castle, and Eivor accompanied him after talking to Deorlaf, who was upset at the loss of what would have been a talented king with Christian values and Viking knowledge.

Storming Caustow Castle[]

During the ride to Caustow Castle, Eivor had Ivar tell him of how he knew Rhodri. Ivar said that, while on the way back from a failed invasion of Ireland, he and his men decided to console themselves with easy loot, so they landed in Wales with the intent of plunder. However, Rhodri was waiting there with his men, and, after an exchange of insults, Ivar ordered his men to charge. However, the numerically-superior Vikings were bogged down in marshland, and Rhodri's men cut the Vikings to pieces, while Rhodri himself scarred Ivar's cheek. Shortly after, they found the castle fully occupied, so Eivor had Ivar summon his clan and make camp outside the fortress walls.

The next morning, after meditating, Eivor noticed that Ivar's men had rapidly set up camp, as they were eager for revenge, as were Bealdeag, Orlaf, and Eadric, who had joined the fyrd outside the walls. He then approached Ivar, who had made himself into the dragon with his tattoos. They then decided to start the assault, and Eivor breached the first wall by igniting a wagon full of oil jars, the second wall by throwing an oil jar at it, and the drawbridge by shooting down its links. Ivar and Eivor then broke into the keep, where they confronted Rhodri. Rhodri initially outmatched Eivor by splashing mead on him and lighting him on fire, but Ivar - while alight - knocked Rhodri's eye out with a candle holder and patted out his flames. With Rhodri's incapacitation, the castle fell.

Killing the King-Killer[]

Eivor and Ivar preparing to take away Rhodri

Afterward, Ivar told Eivor of his plan to make Rhodri's death a spectacle; Eivor sad that Rhodri was now just "a sad sack of flesh" and proposed that Ivar finish it. However, Ivar had a planned place and method for Rhodri's execution, and he told Eivor to load Rhodri onto his horse and keep him alive. During the ride, Ivar bragged how he had killed King Aella, King Osberht, King Edmund, and now Rhodri, and asked who else could claim such a string of victories. They rode up the Stiperstanas mountain to Manstone Rock, where Ivar inflicted the excruciating "Blood Eagle" form of execution on Rhodri and put him on display for all Mercia to see. Ivar then decided that his saga with Eivor needed an end, and he challenged Eivor to a fight to the death to prove that he was the greatest Viking who ever lived. Eivor said that Ivar was battle-drunk and decided to leave, but Ivar said, "Poor Ceolbert. He barely said a word." Eivor then asked when, and Ivar revealed that he had pushed the dragon dagger into his heart; this proved that Rhodri's claim of innocence about Ceolbert's death was true, and that the Vikings had betrayed the peace on a false premise. Ivar revealed that he needed Ceolbert to die so that he could fulfill his "destiny" as the "King-Killer", despite admitting that Ceolbert was like a son to him.

Eivor and Ivar proceeded to have an intense fight, with Ivar throwing Eivor down to lower cliffsides throughout the battle. Ivar briefly called a truce to tell Eivor something, and he used the opportunity to ask if Eivor's father was in Valhalla, or if he was a coward in Helheim. He then kicked Eivor, continuing the fight. Ultimately, Eivor mortally wounded him, and a dying Ivar asked for his axe. However, Eivor kicked it away and said, "To Helheim with you." Ivar then died of his wounds, and Eivor took his body back to the castle, telling Hragnelf Alriksson to take Ivar's body back to Quatford and to tell Ubbe that his brother had died.

Return to Quatford[]

Eivor meeting with Deorlaf and Ubbe in Quatford

Eivor then rode to Quatford's longhouse, where he met Deorlaf and Ubbe, who were mourning Ivar's death; Ubbe believed that Ivar had died at the hands of a Briton. Eivor then confessed that he had killed Ivar, and that, after peace was made, Ivar murdered Ceolbert and pinned the crime on Rhodri to get another swing at him. Ubbe said that he believed Eivor, but that it was still hard to hear; when he asked if Ivar died well, Eivor said that he died fighting, and Ubbe took solace in knowing that Ivar died as he would have wanted, and that peace and quiet were now possible. Eivor then told Deorlaf to send a messenger to Angharad to tell her that her husband died by teachery, and that Ivar had paid the price for it. When Eivor mentioned that he could not fathom King Ceolwulf's grief, Deorlaf said that he was felled by his son's death, but that he was making plans for it: Deorlaf was to be named ealdorman. Deorlaf then said that, therefore, Shropshire declared itslef Eivor's friend and ally, and would remain so for the length of Deorlaf's days.

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where he told Randvi of the news. Randvi said that she had heard of Ceolbert's death from her scouts, saying that it was "such a tragic death for so dubious a gain." She then asked if Eivor had paid his killers back in kind, and Eivor confirmed that he had. She eulogized him by saying that he was good company in the short time he was with the Norse, and assured Eivor that he would be remembered.

Kent[]

The next day, after sleeping with Randvi, Eivor met with her to discuss the alliance map. She told him that Basim had reported to her, and that he had tracked Paladin Fulke down to Kent; she had taken shelter at St. Hadrian's Priory. Eivor decided to set out, but Dag confronted him just as he was leaving the longhouse. Dag said that he would not be joining Eivor, even to save his jarl, as he felt that someone needed to administer the settlement; he then insulted Eivor's frequent absences, and rejected Eivor's second demand that he join him in coming to rescue Sigurd. Eivor warned Dag that the argument was not over, and that it would resume once he came home.

The Abbot[]

Eivor and Basim at , — Eivor and Basim at St. Hadrian's Priory, Kent

Eivor then travelled to St. Hadrian's Priory, which he had visited not long before. He found Basim debating faith and reason with Brother Hortbert, and Brother Cedric emerged from the abbey and yelled at Hortbert for supposedly questioning the scriptures and declaring Judas an "innocent" (Hortbert had been saying to Basim that some believed Judas was used, while debating free will and Judas' predestination to betray Jesus). Cedric then threw Hortbert out of the monastery for his supposed blasphemy, and Eivor then approached Basim to sarcastically ask if he was making friends. The two them got down to business after an uneasy welcome, and Basim said that Fulke had been sighted in Kent a month before. He pointed out his concern about "a heathen and a heretic" looking for Fulke, so he decided that he needed a "Christian snare" to find Fulke. Basim then told Eivor that he had befriended Abbot Cynebert, "full of pious fire, but with an ambition that far outweighs his wit."

Basim then took Eivor to meet the Abbot, who was overlooking Rochester from the priory's garden and asking himself if England wasn't "God's own country." Basim then introduced Eivor to Cynebert as the Norse he had been telling the Abbot about, and the Abbot said that Eivor was a fearsome Norse at that. Eivor then asked Cynebert about Fulke, and he said that they had talked and trank when she passed that way a month ago, calling her "a very pleasant woman". He then told Eivor that he and Basim agreed that Eivor would do him a favor as his "axe" in exchange for the Abbot's help in finding Fulke. Eivor reluctantly listened to the Abbot's demands, and the Abbot told him how the ealdorman had died a week ago, and how King Alfred had chosen his replacement. The Abbot wanted Eivor to find out the new ealdorman's identity immediately (in order to woo him before he became overwhelmed with audience requests), and he could do so by intercepting the King's emissary. He mentioned that Tonbridge Monastery often gave hospitality to the King's men, so Eivor had to investigate there. While Eivor asked if Alfred would be angry that the Church was interfering with politics, Basim said that Eivor finally had the chance to defy Alfred. The Abbot then told Eivor that he had business up the south coast, as Folcanstan (Folkestone) had "the best fish in Wessex".

Raid on Tonbridge[]

Eivor looting monastery — Eivor looting Tonbridge monastery

Eivor proceeded to summon his longship and raid Tonbridge monastery, overcoming the West Saxon defenders and looting their treasures and supplies. He and his men overcame several archers before barging into a few well-guarded churches, but they made short work of the guards in Eivor's first battle against Wessex. The Viking then set fire to Tonbridge Monastery, leaving much of the surrounding land scorched.

Afterwards, Eivor decided to ride to the nearby inn to investigate the whereabouts of Alfred's messenger. Eivor spoke to the guard Bregowine Trumhering, who initially threatened to call the guards, but Eivor bribed him in exchange for his help. Bregowine told him that Alfred's man was long-gone, but suggested that Gowan the Bard might know where the messenger had gone. He told Eivor that Gowan had been drunk, and that he had passed out somewhere between the trees and the bridge; he then rudely told Eivor to "go find someone else to vex."

Eivor found a drunken Gowan laying down in the mud under the bridge, so Eivor sobered him up by dumping him in the River Medway; Gowan exclaimed that the river as "cold as a witch's tit" and immediately came to his senses. Eivor then interrogated him, telling him that he was the fearsome Norseman Gowan sung of, and asking him where Alfred' emissary went after drinking with Gowan in the tavern. Gowan suggested that a little silver in his palm could help him remember, but Eivor threatened him instead with steel in his gut, so he revealed that the emissary had went to the white coast to the southeast, specifically Dover Fortress. Gowan then explained that Dover was where "they" trained those religious fanatics - Zealots - who prayed all night instead of sleeping. Eivor thanked Gowan and warned him against too much "beer-bibing", and he proceeded to ride for Dover.

The kidnapping plot[]

Eivor meeting with Basim and Cynebert at Folkestone

Along the way, Eivor explored more of the countryside, dodged the garrison at Beamasfield, visited Canterbury, and then infiltrated Dover Fortress. He killed several guards with arrows before sneaking up on the emissary Uscfrea Walker from the bushes and pickpocketing his letter, discovering that the new ealdorman was Tedmund. With this knowledge, Eivor decided to travel to Folkestone to meet with Cynebert and inform him. He found Cynebert chatting with Basim, and he then told Cynebert that the new ealdorman would be Thegn Tedmund. Cynebert was shocked, telling Eivor, "He is made mouse by you Danes!" and explaining that he barely left his fortress at Rochester. He then despondently concluded that he could not ally with a man who would not talk to him, but Eivor then suggested that Cynebert could make Tedmund owe him his life if Eivor was to kidnap the ealdorman and let Cynebert "beat back his enemy" and save him from "sure death". Cynebert warned Eivor that "that fortress will be harder to pry open than a nun's knees," and, while Eivor suggested storming the fortress, Basim said that there was a lumber mill nearby; Cynebert said that Alfred invested much in fortifying Wessex and used Kent's forest to do so, with Beamasfield providing his wood. Basim said that Tedmund was there, and that Tedmund had been lured out of self-exile to manage work on the fortifications of Canterbury. Basim and Eivor decided to kidnap Tedmund from Beamasfield and bring him to the Megaliths, while Cynebert set off to rustle up a small rescue party, promising that, when he had Tedmund's fealty, Eivor would have Fulke.

Basim with a captive at the Megaliths — Basim with a captive Shergar at the Megaliths

Basim and Eivor rode towards Beamasfield, but they were forced to divert the road after coming across the paladin Woden Pagan-Hole and his armed retinue. Eivor and Basim snuck into the village at dusk and killed several of the guards before kidnapping the cowardly Tedmund and taking him to the nearby Medway Megaliths. There, Cynebert arrived with a rescue party, and Eivor agreed to talk with Cynebert about releasing the captive. However, Cynebert whispered that the captured man was shorter and fatter than the real Tedmund, and the captive revealed that he was named Shergar, and that Tedmund had paid him to serve as hs body double. Eivor told Shergar to call a meeting with Tedmund, but a nervous Shergar told Eivor that he only communicated with Tedmund via letter. Eivor then suggested that he could just kill Tedmund, but Tedmund then said, "To storm the walls, you need Danes!" He then revealed that there was a raiding camp west of the Megaliths he was told to be wary of, and that, acting as Tedmund, he had ordered a band of soldiers to capture the brigands, suggesting that Eivor could stop them if he was quick enough. Eivor had Shergar released, and Cynebert suggested that Shergar - a former monk at Augustine's priory - take a vow of silence.

Eivor and Basim liberating the Danish camp in Kent

Eivor and Basim found the Danish camp in the nearby woods, and they killed the few guards present before liberating the captive Danes. Eivor then invited Runa Egilsdottir and her warriors to join him in plundering Rochester, but Runa warned him that the small band would not break the city's iron-thick walls. Eivor decided to send a message to Oxfordshire, as "the men of Mercia would gladly take a swipe at Wessex." Runa then said that she had a fleet upriver, but the entry to Rochester was blocked by a naval chain. Eivor decided to break the chain and thus allow the Vikings to attack the city, and he then told Basim to go to Buckingham and remind Geadric of his promise; Runa reluctantly agreed to let the Mercians use their armor and weapons to mask their Saxon identities.

Eivor talking with Basim around the campfire

That night, Eivor and Basim sat around a campfire, and Eivor asked about the migratory lifestyle of the Hidden Ones and their purpose. Basim explained that he had nowhere to call home; for him, home was family, but he had no family. Eivor explained that he had lost his own parents when he was nine winter along, and credited Sigurd with taking him in. Basim then talked of the wonders of having children to replace oneself, and he told Eivor that he once had a son, whom he missed terribly ever since his passing. Eivor expressed his condolences, and Basim explained that his son had been taken from him by a friend and mentor whom he would trust with anything.

Assault on Rochester[]

The next day, Eivor rode to the Rochester blockade outpost across the Medway from the city, infiltrating the main guard tower and sabotaging the chain's supports, causing the chain to fall into the river. Eivor then acknowledged that, with the chain down, Geadric and the Danish ships could get through. Eivor then returned to the Danish camp and met up with Sigeheah Folkbiornsson, who told the "Raven-Tamer" that he and his men were ready. Eivor then told him to dig in and wait for the arrival of their allies, and they proceeded to wait for several hours.

Eivor and storming — Eivor and Geadric storming Rochester

Geadric then arrived with his ships, and Eivor warmly greeted. Geadric joked that he was honored for Eivor to think of him and his Mercians first when looking for men to help axe the West Saxons. Shortly after, Eivor ordered the assault to begin, storming the well-defended fortress. He cut down several guards on the ramparts to aid the battering ram in breaking through the first gate, destroyed four burning oil cauldrons by shooting the oil jars next to them and their guards, shot down the drawbridge deeper into the city, and helped the Danes breach the gate beyond the bridge. Eivor and Geadric (who had manned the ram for the last breach) then ordered their men to head for the tower keep, where Tedmund had holed up. Eivor climbed up the tower and subdued Tedmund after a short duel, and Basim soon joined Eivor on the tower. Tedmund said that all of Wessex would rise against the Danes, said that he defecated on Eivor and his "toy gods", and said that he would rather die than become a Danish puppet ruler. The conversation was interrupted when Sigeheah warned Eivor that an army was marching on Rochester from the south, a holy man from St. Hadrian's Priory backed by a fyrd. Tedmund celebrated the arrival of Cynebert, and said that the Church would pay the Vikings a large sum for his release.

Tedmund being held captive at the city's gates

Eivor and Basim then brought Tedmund to the gates, where Cynebert demanded that the "heathens" hand over his ealdorman. When Eivor asked what Cynebert could offer them in exchange for Tedmund's release, Cynebert said their lives, but Eivor said that they had lost many good men storming the keep and told "Christ-slave" that their deaths would not be in vain. Eivor then demanded twenty chests of silver as recompense. The Abbot cautiously warned the Vikings that this would bleed God's coffers dry. Tedmund began to grow suspicious of the Abbot, asking how he knew of the Danish attack, and, although the Abbot claimed that he had received a vision of a host of heathens attacking the city, Tedmund said that the coincidence seemed ominous. He then began to struggle to breathe, causing Eivor to release him from his stranglehold. The man then collapsed and died, and Basim deduced that he had died, causing Cynebert to fret. Basim deduced that Tedmund had taken poison as an alternative to capture and ransom, and, when Cynebert panicked about what he would tell Alfred, Eivor told Cynebert that the Norse followed the road to its end and said that Cynebert might not have liked where the road led, but he still owed the Hidden Ones their half of the bargain. Cynebert told the Hidden Ones that they would have their Paladin, and he would bring her to the priory. Eivor privately suggested to Basim that they abandon Cynebert and find Fulke themselves, but Basim instead urged him to pursue peace. He told Eivor to speak with Geadric and relieve him of his oath, and they would then meet at Cynebert's abbey.

Eivor then spoke with Geadric, saying that his men fought well, and that he relieved him of his oath. Geadric told Eivor that it was good to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him against the "pox-dogs" of Wessex, and prayed "may our friendship endure." Eivor said that he was aiming to find Sigurd, and Geadric told him that, when he found Sigurd again he should come see Geadric and theey, would feast and sing, with mead and friendship to warm them.

Facing Fulke[]

Eivor and Basim meeting at St. Hadrian's Priory

Eivor then met Basim at the monastery, which he found was empty. Basim said that he had followed the abbot there and kept him in his sight, but had seen nothing of the monks or his servants. Basim then told Eivor that the abbot was in his quarters, and told him to be on his guard. Eivor asked if the situation did not smell of betrayal, but Basim asked why a holy man would ally with a heretic such as Fulke. Eivor explained that Cynebert was a man who craved power and position, and, with Tedmund dead, he would have to find it somewhere else.

Eivor and Basim confronting at — Eivor and Basim confronting Fulke at St. Hadrian's Priory

Eivor and Basim entered the dining hall, where they found Fulke sitting there. She sarcastically told Cynebert that her guests had arrived, and Eivor and Basim noticed that Cynebert was slouched in his chair, dead and with his eyes cut out. Fulke explained that Cynebert had sent her a warm invitation and said that her friends were eager to meet with her, and she had Eivor and Basim sit and eat with her; Basim told Eivor that, if he killed Fulke, he would never find Sigurd. Fulke said that Sigurd was unlike most humans, as he was touched and deified, and that the gods spoke through him. She ultimately enraged him so much that he tried to throw his axe at her, but she used her wooden tray to catch the axe and told Eivor that he would never find Sigurd until she had her fill. She finished her wine and left, and she told her guards to kill Eivor and Basim before bringing their heads to her sanctum in Canterbury.

Investigating the sanctum[]

Eivor and Basim searching the first room

Eivor and Basim escaped through an open window behind the church and talked on the hillside. Eivor and Basim agreed that, even though Fulke may had purposefully ensured that they overheard that her sanctum was in Canterbury, that was the only lead they had to work with, and they agreed to investigate further. They rode to the city's outskirts, and they then planned to infiltrate Canterbury Cathedral while remaining wary of the high traffic of armed guards patrolling the city. They killed the guards in the cathedral and found their way into its underground levels, obtaining the keys to Fulke's sanctum from an Order huscarl and finding a room full of Fulke's notes and plans. Eivor then investigated a dark room, hoping to find Fulke and Sigurd.

Eivor found a spiked throne and opened a chest beneath it, finding a severed forearm and determining it to be Sigurd's, causing him to release an agonizing cry. Basim then came in, and Eivor asked him if he had found anything. Basim revealed that he had found a fortress in Sussex, where the Order trained its soldiers. Basim and Eivor then returned to the scroll room, where Basim found documents of interest to the Hidden Ones and said that, for Sigurd, Portchester was their only lead. Basim deduced that they would need a massive army to breach the castle's walls, and Eivor told him that he had made allies across England who would be there to help. He then curiously asked if a man could survive his arm being cut clean off, and Basim said that, while they could, it could drive a man to despair; Eivor told Basim to banish any though of Tedmund's suicide from his mind. Eivor then lamented that he would have to tell the people at his settlement that their jarl remained a captive, knowing that they would not take it well. Meanwhile, Basim decided to scout ahead and send word to the settlement when he knew more of Portchester.

Duel with Dag[]

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, and he found Dag waiting for him in the longhouse. Eivor said that Sigurd was alive, but Dag demanded to know where Sigurd was. Dag tried to block Eivor as he went to speak with Randvi, and he ultimately accused Eivor, saying, "You never found him...because you didn't look." Eivor then met with Randvi, who deduced that the absence of Sigurd meant grim tidings. Eivor said that he could not find Sigurd and that Fulke had slipped away, taking Sigurd to Sussex. He then said that they needed to call in their alliances and assemble a massive army, but he stumbled at the word "before...", with Randvi pressing him. He then revealed that Fulke had done unspeakable things to Sigurd and severed his arm and left it as a gift. Eivor then expressed his fear that Fulke meant to kill Sigurd, slowly.

Eivor then went to his room to rest, but Dag woke him in the night by calling for him. As Eivor approached th eexit, Dag called on Eivor to face him. Eivor told Dag to turn around and walk away, but Dag said that Eivor's habits were not his own, and said, "I do not flee responsibility for the sake of my glory. I stand firm with my people." As townspeople gathered to watch the confrontation, Dag said how he had stood at Eivor's side for many months because he trusted Sigurd's judgment, but he then said that following Eivor's commands had led the people of Ravensthorpe without a jarl or purpose, watching Eivor "chase glory around this land like a spooked hare." Dag then publicly challenged Eivor for the leadership of the Raven Clan until Sigurd was safe home, and Eivor reluctantly accepted a fight to the death.

Eivor addressing the crowd after Dag's death

The two of them formed the holmgang circle in the rain, and they repeatedly locked swords, during which time Eivor offered to spare Dag, only for an angry and brutish Dag to insist on fighting. Eivor even knocked Dag to the ground and offered to exile him and let him keep his life, but Dag shouted and charged again. Ultimately, Eivor cut Dag down, and a dying Dag reached for his axe with the goal of entering Valhalla. Eivor ignored his vision of Odin's advice to keep Dag out of Valhalla because of his disrespect, giving Dag his axe and letting him die with honor. Eivor then addressed the crowd, which ignored his demands for them to go home. He told them that they all knew that nobody wanted Sigurd to return more than he, and swore to them that he would "burn the fields and dredge the rivers of Wessex to find him,"; Yanli, who had sympathized with Dag, walked away after Eivor met her accusatory glance with his heartfelt oath. He then told the crowd that he found find their jarl, and he emphatically promised it.

Eivor then buried Dag next to the settlement, and he prayed to Dag's body, saying that he died just as he lived, proud and defiant. He also expressed how he missed hearing Dag telling his stories, but said that he remembered them well. He finally said that he wished Sigurd knew how much he meant to Dag, but lamented that they were beyond the time of telling such things now.

Visions[]

The Havi meeting with , , and — The Havi meeting with Tyr, Thor, and Freyja

Eivor then decided to focus on other outstanding tasks as he waited for Basim. He blew open the cave underneath Ravensthorpe's waterfall and collected the thistle rewquested by Valka befor returning to her hut. She told him that, with her elixir, Eivor would access Odin's wisdom and memories and be transported to another time and another plane. He drank the elixir, envisioning himself atop Heimdall's Tower in Asgard, and he heard Havi prophesie that the Aesir and all Asgard were doomed. Skuld, Urdr, and Verdandi warned him of the doom, and that the wolf Fenrir howled terribly before the gates to Hel. When the Havi would go to fight the wolf, he would fall to Fenrir. He then dove from the tower and into a pool and found Tyr, Thor, and Freyja arguing over strategies to fight the warriors from Jotunheim, who were attacking on all fronts. Thor demanded that the Havi let him borrow his warriors to attack Jotunheim, but Freyja advised that the einherjar (champions) be left behind to defend Asgard. The Havi decided to take the fight to the enemy before they crossed the Bifrost, and he chose Freyja to fight by his side, as Tyr had suggested that they defend the great hall, and Thor was irascible. He fought his way to the Bifrost gate, and, after slaying powerful Jotuns, he closed the gate, although he grew sucpicious of Loki, who had neglected his duty of guarding the gate.

The Havi and talking with — The Havi and Loki talking with The Builder

The Havi then found Loki talking with a captured human who introduced himself as "the Builder", a man who had once worked in Jotunheim, but who was exiled due to the Jotuns' distaste for his magical ways of working. Eivor ordered that the Bifrost be sealed, and, when the Builder suggested a more encompassing solution, the Havi said that he found the Builder's arrival suspicious. Loki challenged the Builder to a demonstration of his skill to test the veracity of his identity, and the Builder agreed, with the condition that he needed water from the Well of Urdr. Despite Loki repeatedly insisting that he go, Odin volunteered to fetch the water himself, as he did not trust the mischievous Loki.

Return to reality[]

Eivor then woke from his dream, and Valka noticed that he was awake so soon. Eivor told her that the fog cleared suddenly, and that, while he could speak of what he had seen, he felt pulled away. Valka told Eivor to say nothing of his dream then, and to return to the visions another time.

Eivor then went to Rowan and purchased a brown war horse, Prudence, and he asked about how Rowan came to be so good with horses. Rowan told Eivor that he grew up a sickly boy with a stammer, and that horses were the only ones who never teased him. Eivor then bade him farewell, and he went on to use some of his supplies to build a home for Holger and Alvis, engaging in some practice flyting with Alvis. He also built a museum for his Roman artifacts, a fowl farm for the clan's chickens, a brewery for Tekla, and a bakery for Tarben.

Eivor and sailing up the — Eivor and Tarben sailing up the River Nene

Tarben thanked Eivor and expressed his desire to someday repay him, and he also asked Eivor for his help with transporting a half-dozen bags of grain back to town. They headed to the Wayfarers' Wharf, and they discussed their personal lives, with Tarben revealing that he had come to Ravensthorpe to join the Raven Clan after hearing of a settlement which took in misfits from all across the world. They then picked up the grain, but not before the Anglo-Saxon vendor Aelfmaer Baker nervously served them, drawing Eivor's suspicion. Eivor asked Tarben if he knew the vendor, but Tarben said that he may have been mistaken for any other big-bearded man in the area. The two then returned to the docks, and Eivor thanked Tarben for the pleasant diversion. He also chatted with Bjorn, welcoming him to the clan.

Return to Kent[]

Eivor, having run out of supplies, travelled to London, intending on sailing down the River Thames to plunder coastal Kent. They first disembarked to raid the Lolingestone bandit camp, killing the bandits hiding among the Roman ruins and looting their treasures. He then sailed down the Thames, stopping at the coastal town of Maldon to take in the view, and he then sailed to Raculf Monastery (Reculver) to plunder its riches.

Eivor giving his bet money — Eivor giving Acolyte Alwin his bet money

After plundering Raculf, Eivor decided to revisit Canterbury and plunder some of its riches. He snuck into the barracks and killed Captain Edwin, discovering a letter from him to the Captain of Dover asking him for reinforcements to help protect the city treasury, and flirting with him over the "beautiful letters and poems" the Captain of Dover had sent him. Eivor then used the Captain's key to loot the treasury, stealing nickel ingot. He then met Acolyte Alwin, who asked if Eivor was into flyting, and introduced him to his brother, who was bound by a strict vow of silence. Alwin then offered to translate and relay his brother's verses to Eivor. Eivor defeated Brother Quiescis, and Alwin said that, as an impartial observer, he believed Eivor had won, and he gave him the prize money and translated Quiescis' rhyming demand for Eivor to go away now that he had won the day.

Eivor talking to about the "Pig of Prophecy" — Eivor talking to Tilman Dexter about the "Pig of Prophecy"

Eivor went on to visit the Dorobernia Theater, and he met the traveller Skorri Birningsson, who helped him familiarize himself with more of the map of England in exchange for 30 silver coins. When entering the theater, he met Tilman Dexter, who was watching another man talk to a pig. Eivor asked what was happening, and Tilman revealed that the pig granted prophecies for money; if Eivor drank a certain concoction, the pig would speak. Eivor asked the pig to speak, but the pig just snorted; he then drank the water, and the pig introduced itself as "Matilda the Seer" and offered to show "Raven" what was to come. The pig then said, "River's swan. The gloved hand does hold the clever boy. He weaves his words, the meter measured." Eivor then asked the owner Tilman where he found the pig, and he merely said "Market." When Eivor asked if that was all he had to say, he said that the pig spoke enough for both of them. Afterwards, Eivor blew open a hole in the theater's ground and looted the treasures beneath.

Eivor sailing off the coast of Folkestone

Eivor then travelled to Folkestone, looting nickel ingot from a sunken ship before sailing to Dover Castle. There, Eivor infiltrated the fortress, found a key atop a ruined watchtower, shot the support on a church's chandelier to kill the four guards inside, looted the treasures of the fortress, found a West Saxon garrison in an oceanside cave, killed several soldiers before looting some armor from a treasure chest, and then escaped the area on his longship.

Eivor and looting — Eivor and Finnr looting Sancta Maria's Abbey

With Dover plundered, Eivor travelled to Cambridgeshire, from which he decided to raid Sancta Maria's Abbey in Essex, now that he was finally equipped to take on such a well-defended region. He raided a small West Saxon outpost along the River Ver before attacking the abbey, overcoming heavy resistance and looting its plentiful treasures before evacuating the burning abbey on the drakkar.

Guthban[]

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where he read his letters. He found that Bishop Deorlaf had sent him a letter informing him that things had settled down in Shropshire, and inviting Eivor to pay him a visit if he ever found himself back in Shropshire. He then read a letter from Thegn Holt informing him that he had convinced Geadric to accept a formal ceremony for being named ealdorman, that Ceolwulf was to be present, and invited Eivor to attend. Eivor then went to the alliance map room, where he and Randvi went on to sleep together. The next morning, Eivor found Tekla in the center of the great hall, and she told him that Saxon brigands had robbed her on the road to Lincoln and had lifted four barrels of ale and all of the coin she was carrying with her, while mentioning "Guthban" (meaning "battle bone"). She then suggested that Eivor ask some of the Saxon members of the settlement about Guthban in order to discover his identity.

Eivor and Randvi talking about Lincolnshire

Now interested in Lincolnshire, Eivor asked Randvi about the region. She said that "a rather boisterous man" named Hunwald had arrived recently, wishing to speak with Eivor on a matter of great importance. She then said that he was down at the docks, carousing with her scouts, scaring the fish from the river, and waiting for Eivor with great eagerness.

Eivor then went to Rowan, the Roman relics collector Octavian Claudius Britannicus (who introduced himself and recruited him to steal back a legionary statue taken from him by Maximus, a relics collector in London), and Tarben, who revealed that he was "Guthban". Tarben revealed that he had once led a "brutal, bloody life" while serving with a gang of mercenaries, roaming the wilds of England. Ultimately, Tarben had grown tired of the violence and laid his sword on the grass, vowing to never again spill a drop of blood or engage in acts of violence. Tarben apologized for bringing violence upon the clan, but Eivor forgave him and told him that he would see the matter resolved; Tarben decided to help Eivor deal with the threats. During the ride, he warned Eivor that the bandit leader Wilf made his comrades feel like a friend or family, but that he only loved what he owned. During the ride, Eivor stopped to fight off an ambush by Yngvild Arinbjorndottir and two of her bandit henchmen on the south bank of the Bant River (across the river from Leicester), slaying them. On one of the henchmen, he found a note reading, "I am hiring you to deliver England from the pernicious Eivor of the Raven Clan. You will be well remunerated."

Eivor and Tarben then rode to a small hut south of Leicester, where Tarben warned Eivor that Wilf was likely inside, and called him a serpent. Eivor and Tarben confronted Wilf, who was happy to see "Guthban" returned, but was puzzled as to his friend. Eivor told Wilf that he and his men had robbed a member of his clan, and that the attack would not stand; Wilf then taunted him by telling him to tell Tekla that her ale was some of the best they ever tasted. Tarben then held back Eivor and told Wilf that he was done with him, but Wilf said that the gang was not done with Tarben, as they had made him who he was. Wilf then offered to clear Tarben's name if Eivor would help him recover his confiscated personal wares, which were guarded by "a battalion of bloated, brainwashed military men" at a campsite to the west. Eivor and Tarben then rode to the Glen Ford Camp, where Eivor killed all of the guards and looted all of the treasures. He and Tarben then returned to Wilf, giving him his possessions back in exchange for Wilf handing over Tarben's ledger. Wilf then suggested that Eivor would make a good thief in their outfit, but Eivor simply spat at Wilf and left with Tarben, who lamented how, when his mother died, Wilf and his gang took him in. The two of them then returned to the settlement, where Tarben again felt insecure about being allowed to stay at the settlement; Eivor simply told him that his repayment was to keep doing what he loved: making fresh loaves of bread.

Lincolnshire[]

Meeting Hunwald[]

With the road to Lincoln now safe from Wilf's bandit gang, Eivor decided to speak to Hunwald at the docks and start the process of forging an alliance with Hylrborg. Eivor found Hunwald chatting with the Norse warriors Norvid and Svanhildr that evening, and he interrupted Hunwald's discussion about poetry to ask who he was. The bumbling Hunwald told Eivor that he was the son of Ealdorman Hundbeorht of Lincolnshire, who was ailing; in his father's delirium, "evil men" (possibly from a "secret order") corrupted his judgment. Only a month ago, without forewarning, Mercian soldiers chased Hunwald from his home, although he knew that his father would never exile him. He then asked if one of Eivor's clan could accompany him back to Lincoln, march beside through at the city gates, and set him at his father's "noble feet" once again. Eivor agreed in exchange for an alliance, and Hunwald assured him that he would have it, as his father was a great friend of the Danes in spite of the recent wars. Eivor said that his clan needed him at the moment, but he would be happy to help Hunwald; Hunwald then told Eivor that he would be waiting for him at his safe haven of Botolphston (Boston) to the northeast, and, from there, they would make their way to Lincoln.

Eivor atop the ruins in — Eivor atop the Roman ruins in Lincolnshire

Eivor and his longship sailed down the Nene and into Lincolnshire, stopping to pillage Medeshamstede Abbey. Afterwards, he parted way with his crew (which sailed off in the longship), riding to the derelict church at Crowland and observing the nearby countryside from its spire. He then rode to the Roman ruins east of Wynmere Lake and Ancaster, observing the rest of the Lincolnshire countryside south of the River Witham. Afterwards, he rode to the Beardney Camp (on the western shore of the peninsula on the south bank of the Witham, midway between Lincoln and Boston). He used arrows to kill most of the guards before looting the treasures, and he then hunted in the vicinity before infiltrating Saint Guthlac's Point (across the River Witham from Boston) and doing the same there. He called in his crew to help with his escape, and, after a skirmish on the beach, they crossed the river to Boston to find Hunwald.

Brawl at Boston[]

Eivor meeting with Hunwald and in — Eivor meeting with Hunwald and Thegn Aelfgar in Boston

Eivor then headed to Boston, where he killed a few guards to loot the town's treasures, engaged in a losing drinking contest with Ufegeat Cheeseman at the longhouse, and met Hunwald as he drank with Thegn Aelfgar in the same building. Hunwald introduced Aelfgar as an ally of his family, the house of the "ferocious swan", and said that, with Aelfgar's influence and Eivor's might, they could rid Lincolnshire of all the "ruffians" who plagued the land once and for all. Eivor grew impatient with Hunwald's drinking, idealism, and getting ahead of himself, and he told Hunwald that they would either leave for Lincoln that moment, or Eivor would walk away. A jolly Hunwald agreed to be away to Lincoln immediately, although he warned Eivor that the road from Boston to Lincoln was teeming with brigands who wished him dead.

Aelfgar chided Hunwald, telling him that one Dane would not be enough to protect him from harm. Just then, two men approached the table, and Hunwald told Aelfgar that Eivor might just have the chance to prove himself. One of them, the cearl Aethelfrid Tyler, told the "snow-dog" Eivor that he was itching for a fight so that he could stove his "heathen" face right in, so Eivor stood up and asked them if they had heard of a "Blood Eagle". The cearl was confused, so Eivor explained that he would crush the Saxons' ribs, pull out their lungs, and stretch them into wings so that he could fly to heaven as fast as possible; the cearl was shocked, and he insulted the "heathen" before walking off with his friend. Hunwald then celebrated the "canny Fox" Eivor and decided to void his bladder before seting out for Lincoln, and Aelfgar chided Hunwald's rash moves to Eivor before they both heard Hunwald scream. Eivor rushed outside and found four men accosting him, so he slew all of them and rescued Hunwald. Hunwald then celebrated the "great victory" at the "Battle of Botolphston", saying that it would be remembered for years, and he and Eivor then set out on the River Witham towards Lincoln.

Arrival in Lincoln[]

Eivor and Hunwald sailing up the River Witham

Along the way, Hunwald came to the realization that his noble status could not protect him from cearls and serfs intent on harming him, and he then told Eivor that the Mercian soldiers who had come to arrest him told him that he was an immediate threat to his father for allegedly praying for his father's death, hungry for his inheritance. The soldiers had then shackled Hunwald, rode him blindfolded to the River Wash, and told him plainly to either start anew elsewhere or be killed in Lincolnshire. He deduced that the order for his exile came on high, probably from Burgred before he was deposed. Eivor told Hunwald that Burgred had been too focused on fighting the Danes, so it was unlikely that he had the time to focus on Hunwald. Hunwald then theoorized that King Alfred might have been responsible, as he had a fearful hatred of the Danes, and he must have heard that Hunwald was dating one, whom Hunwald called "a beauty who knows no equal."

Eivor and Hunwald meeting with in — Eivor and Hunwald meeting with Raeganhere in Lincoln

Shortly after, the two of them beached the boat outside of Lincoln and rode into the city, killing several standard bearers and other guards in the process. Eivor noticed that the city was crawling with Mercian troops, but that the market was humming; Hunwald said that the sight of the city brought tears to his eyes. They later made their way to Hunwald's estate, where they met his servant Raeganhere. Raeganhere was excited to see his lord again, but he informed him that his father had been carried off weeks earlier by men with swordds, those of a cloth, and even a healer who had once been a guest in the house, whom Hunwald identified as Galwyna. Bishop Herefrith was also among them, and Raeganhere told Hunwald that Herefrith had kept a vigil for Hunwald at the town hall and looked after the city in Ealdorman Hundbeorht's absence. Eivor asked if there would be trouble getting in, and Raeganhere reported that there were many more soldiers in the city since Hundbeorht took his leave.

Finding Hundbeorht[]

Eivor and Hunwald then snuck into the town hall, having already killed the guards during their entry into the city. Hunwald embraced Abbess Acha, but Bishop Herefrith was surprised to see Hunwald, sternly telling him that he should have sent word ahead to avert bloodshed. Hunwald asked if he was rumored dead, but Herefrith told him that the rumors were worse: that Hunwald was lost in Northern England, "bedding a Dane on some squalid farm." Eivor told the Bishop not to engage in insults and rumors, and Hunwald then asked where his father was. Herefrith said that his father would be gone until the storm had passed, saying that he had feared for his life and could not defend himself in his weakened state, much less against a Dane. Hunwald then scorned Herefrith, saying that Eivor was above reproach. Herefirth then expressed concern at the thought of Hunwald returning after a prolonged absence with a Viking in tow, saying that it did not portray benign intentions. Eivor explained that he was only there to protect Hunwald, rebuking Herefirth. acha then told Hunwald that his father was at her hospice for some days and was very well treated, but that he had left in secret. Herefrith then told Acha that they should leave the young lord and his "scurrying thoughts", saying that there was nothing more of use they could say to him.

Hunwald suggested that Eivor should go to the healers and ask them about the whereabouts of his father, so Eivor went to the hospice and spoke to Sister Hildeburg. Hildeburg criticized him for carrying weapons around like a warchief, saying that it was bad enough that she was being watched by "armored codpieces". Eivor convinced her that the armed guards would leave if the ealdorman was found, and she agreed that he had a point. She told Eivor that the ealdorman was in poor condition and still declining when he came to the hospice, only for some guards to come in and take the ealdorman to a bathhouse. As there was no working bathhouse in Lincoln, she deduced that they had taken him to the old ruins just south of the city, by the eastern walls. Eivor then thanked Hildeburg, who said that she would pray that he would find him, as he was in desperate need of care.

Eivor infiltrated the Old Lincoln Sewers, where he killed several brigands and looted their treasures. He then made his way to Roaring Meg's Spring, which was strewn with bodies. He found that it had been a struggle between nobles and bandits, and that the bandits did not fare so well. He found a letter revealing that a Saxon nobleman had paid some bandits to sneak through the tunnels on their way to Bolingbroke Castle. Eivor deduced that the bandits had double-crossed the nobles, leading to their own deaths, while the Ealdorman was able to escape to Bolingbroke Castle, despite the loss of his cloak. Eivor rode to the castle, and he proceeded to use its springalds to inflict heavy losses on the defenders and make his way to the keep, plundering and killing as he went along. In the keep, he found a touching letter from Hundbeorht to Hunwald, reminding him that he was a descendant of the Anglian kings of Lindsey.

Eivor talking with , next to Ealdorman 's body — Eivor talking with Galwyna, next to Ealdorman Hundbeorht of Lincolnshire's body

Eivor then found Galwyna praying to a dead and decaying Hundbeorht in the keep's basement, and an initially startled Galwyna asked if Eivor was there to pay tribute to his ealdorman. Eivor jested, "This biscuit has been dry for some time, sister," and asked how long the ealdorman had been dead. Galwyna said that she preferred to say that the ealdorman had "transformed", and Eivor said that her statement was not untrue. Eivor then asked why Hundbeorht's death was being kept secret, and said that the people of Linolnshire, especially Hunwald, should know. Galwyna told Eivor that, when the guards put Hundbeorht in her care, she was told to keep Hundbeorht's death a secret until the appointed time. When Galwyna asked who gave the orders, the guards struck her. She then allowed Eivor to take one of his effects as proof of Hundbeorht's death, so Eivor took a brooch with the Ealdorman's crest and decided to return it to Hunwald in Lincoln.

Calling the shiremoot[]

Eivor returned to the town hall, where he saw Hunwald meeting with Aelfgar, Herefrith, and Acha. Hunwald was initially excited to see Eivor, but Eivor gave him his father's brooch and told him that his father was dead, causing all in the room to distress. When Acha said, "poor boy" while trying to approach Hunwald, Hunwald lashed out, saying that he was a man and his father's son. Eivor then revealed that Hundbeorht had been dead for some time, and that it was obvious from the state of his corpse. Eivor then accused Aelfgar, Herefrith, and Acha, saying that one of them knew more than they were letting on. Acha revealed that she had already asked a priest to administer his father's last rites when he disappeared, and Acha said that she did not tell Hunwald because she thought, by some miracle, Hundbeorht had survived. Acha then called an angry Hunwald a "silly sobbing mooncalf" and asked if he would ever grow up. With Acha and Hunwald now out of the room, Eivor told Herefrith that they needed a new ealdorman, and that King Ceolwulf would choose one; Herefrith said that they, for once, found themselves in agreement. Herefrith announced that the local nobles could convene a shiremoot to select a new candidate, and that the winner would stand before the king for approval. Eivor said that the Norse had a similar custom called an althing, an assembly of good folk. Herefrith said that, with so many like habits, there should be peace between Saxons and Danes, and suggested that it could begin then.

Eivor then asked, apart from Hunwald, who else would put their name forward for the ealdorman's seat. Herefrith said that, if he might be so bold, he would put his name forward, as, under his care, the shire had found some peace over the past month. Aelfgar then chimed in, saying that he would also put his name into contention, as his family had ancient ties to the land, and he had quite a friendship with the Danes to the north. Herefrith decided to send out his priests to call a moot, and said that it would be held in a few days' time. Aelfgar and Eivor then left the room, and Aelfgar invited Eivor to stop by his estate, as he claimed that he had something he thought Eivor would enjoy. Aelfar then left, and Herefrith asked Eivor to stay behind, as he wanted to say a word with him. Eivor asked if it would be "Christ" or "pagan", and Herefrith said that he deeply regretted the churlish way he treated Eivor when they first met. Herefrith then thanked Eivor for putting the mystery to rest, and expressed his hope that he would see Eivor at the moot. Herefrith then arranged for Eivor to be welcome in Lincoln, and Eivor decided to find Hunwald now that his father's death was an open secret, and since Acha had followed him.

Catching up with Hunwald[]

Eivor talking with at the gate — Eivor talking with Abbess Acha at the gate

Eivor found Acha at the gate, and he then asked her where Hunwald had gone. Acha said that she had tried to console Hunwald and convince him not to take the ealdormanship, as she believed his mind to be scattered. Hunwald had broken off from her, and she told Eivor that she had seen him ride north, following the paved Roman road to the tall old tree where he often passed time with his father. Eivor then asked Acha what devil put her up to all of her deception, but she retortted that she wasn't put up, but felt compelled to carry on for the good of the shire, until she knew the truth. Eivor said that she had given him a pretty answer for a dirty lie.

Eivor then rode out of the city, but it was not long before he came across a Mercian soldier carrying a screaming man on horseback. The man said that he had never heard of Hunwald, so Eivor decided to rescue him. Eivor killed the guard and untied the captive, Osgar Mulliner, who said that God had sent Eivor to rescue him, as Eivor confirmed that he knew Hunwald. Osgar told Eivor that there was a bounty on Hunwald's head, steeling Eivor's resolve to find him. Osgar then said that he hoped he could one day repay Eivor for his aid.

Eivor then rode past the Lindsey Mill and to Ealdorman's Overlook, where he found Hunwald reciting a poem in honor of his upbringing. Eivor came up to Hunwald, who was drinking by a small campfire, and Eivor advised Hunwald to be easy with his grief; Hunwald claimed that he had found the antidote, and invited Eivor to drink with him. Eivor gave him poetic advice not to gorge his sadness in drink, and Hunwald said that his father would have liked Eivor, as he liked everyone who could swing a sword and speak a verse with ease. Eivor said that Hundbeorht had a large heart and a love for his people, and that he thought he would have liked Hundbeorht too. Hunwald confided that he and his father had gone hunting in the area, and that, while he was a "rubbish hunter", his father always told him he was proud. Eivor decided to toast to Ealdorman Hundbeorht of Lincolnshire, "He may have dwindled from this world in death, but in life, he was as stalwart as this tree." Later on int he day, after much drinking and storytelling, Hunwald told Eivor that they should visit his Danish lover Swanburrow in Great Grimsby, and the two of them rode off.

Eivor and Hunwald riding to Great Grimsby

Hunwald drunkenly told Eivor to explore the splendors of his shire, but Eivor said that Hunwald had never seen mountains, nor deep fjords like a giant's axe wound, towering falls that steamed in the dead of winter, or snow sparkling like a blanket of jewels. Hunwald asked Eivor why, then, he had left for England, and Eivor explained that he could not grow crops in a blanket of jewels, and admired the English countryside. Hunwald expressed his desire that, should he follow his father's footsteps, he sought to do his solemn duty to protect his country. When they rode through the valley of Spitalgate, they sensed that someone was watching them, so Eivor volunteered to find the trouble before it could find them. Eivor then located several ambushers and killed them, and Hunwald helped finish them off. Eivor warned Hunwald that they had twice tried to kill him, and that, if Hunwald was not careful, they would eventually succeed.

They then rode to Grimsby, and Hunwald then took Eivor to Swanburrow. Eivor found that Swanburrow was a plain-looking Danish woman, but she kissed Hunwald after seeing him, and Hunwald then introduced Eivor to her. Swanburrow asked if Eivor was shocked to see Hunwald with a Dane, but Eivor said that he was instead surprised to see a Danish woman with a Saxon, but was nonetheless able to see how Hunwald enchanted everyone he met. Hunwald then told Swanburrow of his father's death, and he then stated his wish to leave his title behind and stay with Swanburrow. Swanburrow told Hunwald that he was destined to be ealdorman, and Eivor said that, whatever strength Hunwald lacked, he found in his woman. He then told Hunwald to stay at Grimsby until the moot could be held, whence Hunwald would attend it.

Aelfgarstun[]

Eivor talking with at farm — Eivor talking with Thegn Aelfgar at Aelfgarstun farm

Eivor decided to ride back inland to meet with Aelfgar, stopping at the Roman ruins of Caistor Lupus along the way. He then rode to Aelfgarstun, the small village where Aelfgar lived. Before meeting with Aelfgar, Eivor found a note from Gil concerning "the Billhook", Havelok, telling the note's recipient to meet with Havelok in Lincoln if he had any troubles. He also remembered from an earlier letter from "the Crozier" telling the recipient to meet the captain at Aelfgarstun Farm for a deal, and that "the Crozier" was a nobleman in Lincolnshire; this raised Eivor's suspicions about Aelfgar. Eivor then talked to Aelfgar at his table, and the two joked about the large size of Aelfgar's holdings before Eivor asked why Aelfgar had invited him. Aelfgar showed Eivor Hundbeorht's old bow and tried to gift it to Eivor, but Eivor asked if it shouldn't go to Hunwald instead. Aelfgar said that he figured Eivor would know how to use it, and he had Eivor take the bow so that they could go on a rousing hunt with no talk of the shiremoot or politics.

Aelfgar told Eivor that they were going to hunt a bear which had been pestering the farm for weeks, and, breaking his earlier promise, he promoted his own case for the ealdormanship. He explained that the old kings were all gone, that the shire was languishing under its current rulers, and that there was need for new blood, causing Eivor to sarcastically propose himself for the title of ealdorman, as he was new blood. They then talked about the arrival of the Danes, with Aelfgar flattering the Danes as decent people, and saying that the local men feared that the new Danes would seduce their wives with their culture, such as bathing, perfumes, and hair-braiding. Eivor again sensed that Aelfgar was trying to flatter him, asking Aelfgar if he wanted him to braid his hair. The two then came across Grim, and, while Aelfgar said that he was greatly surprised to see Grim there, Grim said that he came as Aelfgar had requested. Aelfgar diverted by asking about Grimsby and the other Danes, and said that Eivor might know Aelfgar as a fellow Dane. Eivor corrected Aelfgar, telling him that he was Norwegian, and that he might have known that if he had asked. Aelfgar then diverted, and the three of them headed up to the Still Hollow cave to find the bear.

The trio instead found several wolves, killing all of them. When they emerged from the cave, they found Aelfgar's estate on fire, so Eivor charged into the village at Aelfgar's bidding and slew all of the Mercian soldiers. He then regrouped with Aelfgar and Grim and asked if they should put out the fires. They decided to do so, and Eivor did what he could to help. Aelfgar regretted the damage done, but Eivor assured Aelfgar that, as a wealthy man, he would be able to rebuild. Aelfgar then thanked him, only to laugh upon seeing that the bear had arrived. Aelfgar went on to fight the bear, while Eivor decided to return to Lincoln in time for the shiremoot.

Massacre at the Shiremoot[]

Eivor met Acha in front of the town hall and agreed to accompany her into the shiremoot; she informed him that twelve lords had already casted their votes, resulting in a three-way tie. Acha told Eivor that it was now up to him to break the impasse, as he had earned the trust of the three candidates and would serve as the thirteenth elector. At Eivor's request, Acha counselled him to vote for competent and righteous leadership rather than "foolish friends in high seats"; Eivor deduced that this meant anyone but Hunwald. Eivor then went around the room to consult the other lords' advice, meeting with lords Earconbert (who saw Hundberht's qualities in his son), Aelfnoth Clark (King Ceolwulf's representative), and Grim (who cast his stone for the bishop, thinking that Christians would be easy to be swayed by the Danes). Eivor decided to stand by his new friend Hunwald, as he had heart and spirit, and would be the most likely to support the Raven Clan in its time of need. Acha then announced the results, and a nervous Hunwald promised to do his best as the shire's leader.

Eivor fighting off an assassin at the shiremoot

The lords then drank and partied, but Eivor noticed Herefrith storm out as men with axes entered. Herefrith said that a septic rot had overtaken the shire, and that there was only one cure. His men started to kill the lords in the hall, but Eivor killed his would-be murderer. Herefrith then exclaimed, "Fory the glory of the ancients! Leave none alive!" Eivor ordered the nobles to hold fast, and they went on to fight the assassins. Eivor then realized that "the Crozier" was not Aelfgar, but Herefrith. After killing all of the attackers, Eivor consoled a distraught Hunwald, telling him that, as his war counsel, he suggested that he waste no time in catching the "grief-tosser" Herefrith, who likely wouldn't be far. Eivor also bade farwell to Acha at the hospice, and she prayed that God - or the gods - be with Eivor.

The Sword-Shower at Anecastre[]

Eivor talking with Hunwald outside the castle walls

Meanwhile, Hunwald had set about raising a fyrd, and Eivor met him and Aelfgar outside the city walls. Hunwald revealed that Herefrith had fled to Ancaster following the massacre, and that Hunwald had assembled a large fyrd awaiting Eivor's orders. Eivor correctde Hunwald, telling him that the fyrd awaited their ealdorman's orders. They then set out on horseback for Ancaster, and Hunwald expressed his shock at Herefrith's betrayal, asking what had possessed him. Eivor said that Herefrith had mentioned an ancient order before the massacre, although he said that the story was too long to relate to Hunwald. Aelfgar said that Herefrith's betrayal would send waves of disgust through all the parishes of Mercia, and that Herefrith was a new and ugly stain on the bishopric. Eivor joked that, while Jesus was a remarkable man (if "a little soft"), he met so few Christians like him.

Eivor talking with Hunwald and Aelfgar at Wynmere Lake

Shortly after, they arrived at Hunwald's camp at Wynmere Lake, where they assembled for battle. There, Eivor signalled the warrior Ordric the Skinner that he was ready to fight. Hunwald and Aelfgar approached Eivor, and Hunwald asked if the men Eivor saw in the camp would be able to win the fight. Eivor said that, if they fought like double their number, they might. When Hunwald asked if there was room in Valhalla for a ferocious swan, Eivor assured him there was, and he then had Hunwal let fly his glorious banner.

Eivor manned the battering ram as it breached the outer walls, and he then used a springald to destroy the flimsy barricade protecting the second gate. Eivor found several bodies hanging or imapled across the fortress, deducing that Herefrith had gone mad. Eivor asked the priest Wigferth Challender where Herefrith was, and Wigferth told him that Herefrith was in the chapel, calling the bishop a "scabrous coward". Eivor chased the bishop out of the church and to a cliffside, where Eivor mortally wounded him with an arrow to the throat before finishing him off with his hidden blade. Herefrith regretted how he debased himself in order to bring the "light" of his order to a wider view as a bishop, and said that he wished he had lived like the ancients (as a pagan), but Eivor said that he should have enjoyed his time on earth.

Reporting on Lincolnscire[]

Eivor then walked away from the dead bishop to talk with Hunwald, who regretted that Acha would need some time to grieve the loss of her former friend. Eivor then complimented Hunwald's bravery in battle, noticing a few scars on his "baby fat", and he warned him that the hardest battle - being ealdorman - had just begun. Hunwald said that, now that he had fought in battle, he was beginning to know what leadership was. He then asked Eivor for a favor; he wanted Eivor to let Swanburrow take refuge at his settlement, at least until the danger had passed. Hunwald then thanked his "sturdy Norse berserker", joking that the meadhalls of his shire would be lonely without Eivor "stomping about". Hunwald proceeded to embrace Eivor, who said that they were now bonded.

Randvi signifying the completion of Eivor's quest in Lincolnshire

Eivor then returned to his settlement, where he delivered six Order medallions to Hytham before meeting with Randvi. She asked who their new ally in Lincolnshire was, and Eivor told her Hunwald, the boy who had come to Ravensthorpe. Randvi joked that, since he was so loud, he need only shout if he was in need of help. Eivor then removed his knife from the map and replaced it with a Raven statuette, signifying his success in forging a new alliance in Lincolnshire.

Essex[]

Eivor then asked Randvi about Essex, and Randvi said that he had received a summons from the ealdorman and Lady of Colchestser for "a matter of great secrecy". According to Randvi's scouts, the ealdorman cared more for his own indulgences than the safety of his people, and she warned him to approach with care. Eivor decided to set out, and Randvi reminded him that an alliance with Essex would be invaluable. Eivor then went to his room to read a new letter from Acha, expressing her apologies for placing her trust in Herefrith and for inadvertently enabling him to shed the blood of many "yellowbellies" (people from Lincolnshire). She then said that she had so much love and respect for Eivor, and that all of her prayers were directed at the light that shone through Eivor and the people he protected.

Bishop of the Ruins[]

Keith talking with Eivor at the Agnitum Tower

Eivor proceeded to travel to the Agnitum Tower in Essex, which he had visited earlier in his travels. There, he found Keith and several other musicians playing their instruments and arguing with a puritanical man opposed to their music. Eivor asked Keith what was going on, and Keith said that the madman calling himself the "Bishop of the Ruins" was criticizing the band's innovative music, calling Keith's music "the Devil's bagpipes." Eivor then spoke to the Bishop, asking him if his title was given to him by Alfred. The Bishop said that his title was God-given, and that God spoke to him while Keith was urinating against the stones, and that he was God's instrument "to stamp out the Devil's tune". When Eivor said that he disagreed, the Bishop tried to start a fight, only for Eivor to beat him down and drive him out of the tower. Keith thanked him, and he promised to compose a song in his honor. As he rode off, Eivor met the traveller Alrik Spiutsson, and he paid him 30 silver coins in exchange for his information on some gear.

Arrival in Colchester[]

Eivor talking with in — Eivor talking with Lady Estrid in Colchester

Eivor then rode into Colchester, overlooking the old Roman city and finding that Ealdorman Birstan of Essex's villa was in ruin. Upon entering, he found lords Wyatt and Eadred gossiping about the Ealdorman and his wife. Wyatt commended Eivor as a "heroic-looking Dane", and he told Eivor that Lady Estrid was upstairs, receiving visitors in her room as usual. Eivor found Estrid and Gisele upstairs, and, while Estrid initially pointed a knife at the visitor, Eivor introduced himself and said that Estrid's husband Birstan had sent for him. Estrid then introduced herself as the Lady of Essex, and said that, as Eivor had likely heard, her lord was not at home. When Eivor asked Estrid where her husband was, Estrid explained that her husband was in the woodlands, hunting game and ignoring the vital affairs of Essex. She told Eivor that her husband's favorite haunt was in the woods to the southwest of Colchester, so Eivor set out to find Birstan.

Eivor rode into the Epping Forest, where he found a bloodied camp full of corpses and an eaten-up horse. Eivor then found Birstan fighting two bears, so he helped kill both bears with his arrows. He then told Birstan that his wife and his nobles wanted his balls on a blacksmith's anvil, and, after an awkward conversation, Birstan asked if Eivor was a swellsword. Eivor told Birstan that he was Eivor of the Raven Clan, and Birstan had hinted at an alliance for Eivor's loan of his unique talents. Birstan decided to talk to Eivor about his purpose back at Colchester; meanwhile, he decided that his men would be buried honorably, disregarding their deaths during the hunt.

During the ride, Birstan showed disdain for his wife, whom he described as "cold and dead". Eivor countered by saying that Estrid had handled herself well around Birstan's thegns, and Birstan acknowledged that he had not been the most attentive husband. Eivor grew worried with Birstan's incompetence, as, when he asked Birstan if his people were happy, Birstan said that he was unsure; Birstan also expressed his desire to build himself a new palace. Birstan then took Eivor inside his palace, where he introduced him to his nobles as an advisor. He then asked his nobles what their problems were, and Eadred started by insulting Birstan for his incompetence and for letting King Alfred's troops to overrun the former kingdom. Birstan acknowledged that they were a nuisance, although Alfred notionally had the right to send them in. Eivor advised Birstan to take a stand against them and send them home in shrouds, and Birstan acknowledged that Essex was once a thriving kingdom of its own. Birstan then asked Wyatt about his opinion, and Wyatt asked how Birstan could spend so much coin on the Lammas festival while his own people were starving. Eivor advised that Wyatt contribute to the festival as well in order to alleviate the burden on the commoners through Birstan's taxes. Birstan then asked Aldrich of his problem, and Aldrich asked how Essex could provide soldiers to Alfred's fyrd while their harvest suffered daily. EIvor advised Birstan to refuse to send men, but Aldrich - seemingly reversing course - asked if Birstan was mad for suggesting that he refuse his king. The three nobles all agreed that Birstan was useless, so Birstan had the nobles leave his hall.

Matchmaker and Heartbreaker[]

Birstan then told Eivor that it was a fine outcome, and Eivor agreed that he needed a firm hand, both in ruling and hunting. When Birstan said that he longed for the woods, Eivor asked him if he was not concerned that another man was drenching his wife's sheeets with his sweat. Birstan said that both of them were doing what they needed to do, and said that Eivor would someday understand. Eivor then accompanied Birstan to Estrid's room, where Estrid congratulated Eivor for doing what no other man could: return her "errant gander to his coop". Estrid then told her husband that the nobles had drank all of the ale gifted to them by the abbot, and she chided her husband, saying that, if he valued her as much as he valued hunting, their marriage might have survived. Eivor then asked what Birstan needed from him, and Birstan explained that he wanted his freedom from his wife, and his wife wanted freedom from Essex. Estrid revealed that, some time ago, they hd paid a Dane to kidnap her to Francia, but, evidently, the Dane did not deliver. Eivor decided that the kidnapping should be a spectacle, and Estrid decided that the Lammas festival would be such a time. When Eivor suggested that she needed to find a boat captain, and Estrid suggested "him", Birstan said that he considered "his steed and seamen spent". Estrid then left, and Birstan explained that his true love was Alfida, his childohod sweetheart whom he had left in Maldon twenty years earlier to marry Estrid. Birstan then asked Eivor to find Alfida, birng her to Birstan's lakeside cottage, and light a bonfire there to signal the ealdorman. Eivor said that he would do as the couple asked and pray to Freyja for support in the love game.

Meeting Rollo[]

Eivor decided to meet with Estrid first, as her need seemed more pressing. Estrid said that she missed the woman she was back in Francia, and that all that was left for her in Essex was a loveless marriage and two burial mounds for her stillborn children. Eivor then asked about the festival of Lammas, and she said that it was a holiday to celebrate the harvest; there would be drinking and dancing, and Eivor reasoned that glazed eyes and impaired memories would help the kidnapping. She then told Eivor she knew just the captain to help her escape, and she took Eivor to meet him; she described him as a boy of 17 years, full of "youthful bravado". She took Eivor to the brothel, where she told him that the captain's name was Hrolfr, or "Rollo" in her tongue. Estrid then told Eivor to convince Rollo to help her, as she and him did not part on the best of terms.

Eivor then entered the brothel, where he found Rollo blindfolded and tied up, being whipped by a bare-chested woman wearing his helmet. Eivor's introduction to Rollo was interrupted when a group of soldiers claiming to be from the King arrived, searching for Rollo. Eivor opened the door and pretended to politely let the soldiers in, only to slam the door on the soldier, bar it shut, cut Rollo's hands free, and escape through the window with Rollo, who took his axe back from his prostitute. They proceeded to kill the Saxon soldiers who cornered them in the alleyway, but not before they taunted Rollo about finding his camp. After the Saxons were slain, Eivor introduced himself to Rollo, who recognized him as Norse from the "music of his words". Rollo said that he was mind-drunk to leave his warriors behind at his camp, and he invited Eivor to follow him there. Along the way, Rollo said that he had recognized Eivor's name from campfire stories, including a rumor that Eivor had given Ivar his nickname "the Boneless".

Eivor at 's camp — Eivor at Rollo's camp

Upon reaching Rollo's camp, Eivor and Rollo noticed that two of his surviving warriors were bound by his loyal lieutenant Ake, while the others were killed. Eivor deduced that there must have been a traitor among the survivors (who were nowhere to be found during the attack), and it pained Rollo that his close comrades Lork and Gerhild were among them. Gerhild said that she was sworn to Rollo, had been out hunting rabbits at the time of the attack, and criticized Estrid for interfering in Rollo's life. Lork also claimed to have been hunting rabbits, but he heard Gerhild shouting and all hell turned loose, saw her talking with a Saxon, claimed that Gerhild was full of spite and ambition since she was an infant, and said that he owed Rollo's father a blood oath and served Rollo as a result.

Eivor found a full rack of meat in the camp, so he accused Lork of lying; Lork then said that he was falling asleep when he heard Saxons trampling through the trees, causing him to hide. Gerhild then admitted that she was not hunting, but had gone to a nearby village to meet with a local man, saying that Rollo was not the only one who dallied with locals. Eivor then talked to Rollo, who said that Gerhild rarely hunted, as she had been a terrible shot since they were children. This alone led Eivor to conclude that Gerhild was the traitor.

Eivor gave his verdict to Rollo, and, despite Gerhild's pleas, Rollo killed her with one blow of his hammer. Rollo told Eivor that she "was always a jealous crow, beak-picking over every decision I made." Eivor then told Rollo that some of his other warriors might still be alive, and Rollo told Eivor that there was a Saxon camp at Port Walton, theorizing that the prisoners might have been taken there.

Eivor called in his crew to raid the port from sea as he rode overland, setting fire to the outpost and allowing him to free the prisoners as his crew dealt with the garrison. After freeing the captive crewmembers, Eivor met with Rollo at the docks, and Rollo agreed to help Eivor smuggle Estrid out of the country in gratitude for Eivor's help; he promised to put his and Estrid's past aside and finish the job. Eivor told Rollo that he would meet his men during the Lammas festival back in Colchester.

Reuniting the lovers[]

Eivor then travelled to Maldon to find Alfida, but he found that the house was being patrolled by soldiers. He killed one of the guards and found Alfida's brother Eluric in the stable, aassuring him that he was not among the soldiers. Eluric introduced himself as the man of the house, and he asked why Eivor was looking for his sister. Eivor said that he was acting at the behest of another, but Eluric said that the family was poor and his sister was beyond marriagable age. Eivor then asked where Alfida was being held, and Eluric said that his sister was having "yet another stay at the king's pleasure" at the prison camp of Brentwood. Eivor told Eluric to meet him north of the lake near Brentwood once he had rescued his sister, and he then set out to rescue Alfida.

Eivor, , and at the cottage — Eivor, Alfida, and Eluric at the cottage

Eivor travelled to Brentwood, a large garrison, where he killed over a score West Saxon soldiers and looted their treasures before rescuing Alfida. She was injured in the ankle, and she told Eivor to be careful, as the soldiers were not gentle with her. She then asked who he was, and he said that he was a friend; when she asked him if Eluric sent him, he said that he was sent by another who wanted to rekindle a friendship. Eivor then delivered to the cottage Birstan had designated, and, a day later, after Alfida had rested, Eivor asked if he could speak to her in private. Alfida complimented her brother, but said that he could have done with a father figure; she then explained to Eivor that their parents died in a plague when Eluric was three months born, and no suitors showed up to her door because they believed Eluric to be her illegitimate child. Alfida then asked why Eivor had rescued her, and he told her that Birstan was wondering if she could love him again. Alfida was surprised that Birstan remembered her, and she said that she would have tried to rekindle their romance, had it not been for her need to care for her brother. Eivor told her that Birstan could only think of Alfida, and that, with his wife returning to Francia, Birstan had sent Eivor to find Alfida. Eivor then persuaded Alfida to light the bonfire to signal her old lover to come for her.

After a short period of time, Birstan surprised Alfida at the cottage, and they instantly reignited their romance, as Birstan brushed off Alfida's concerns about her aged appearance. Eivor then introduced Birstan to Eluric; when Eluric accidentally called Birstan "your worshipfulness" (he was unsure how to call him), Birstan insisted that Eluric simply call him "Birstan". Eluric then asked if this meant he was leaving Maldon, and Birstan said that he would have both of them move in with him in Colchester, where he could teach Eluric the joy of the hunt. Eivor resolved to leave the lovers alone, and he advised Eluric to take a walk around the lake so that Birstan and Alfida could properly reunite.

Kidnapping at the Lammas festival[]

Eivor after defeating Lady Ellette of Colchester

Eivor then returned to Colchester to oversee the successful kidnapping plot. He first stealthily infiltrated and looted the barracks, and he then came across the flyting herald Alward Bender, the representative of Lady Ellette of Colchester. Ellette was condescending towards Eivor, calling him a "peasant", but Eivor managed to beat her after three verses, winning 200 silver pieces from the pouting noblewoman.

Eivor then met with Rollo that evening, telling him to wait for his signal to begin the loud kidnapping. Eivor approached Estrid as she paced around the courtyard during the party, but he was spotted by guards, leading to a bloody battle. Eivor escaped with the tied-up Estrid on his horse, taking her to Rollo's base at Wulfaswic. Along the way, Estrid prided herself on her dramatic performance, even though Eivor said that she had brought half of the city's guards onto them with her convincing pleas for help. Upon arrival in Wulfaswic, Estrid expressed her elation that she was separated from Francia only by the English Channel, and Rollo told Eivor that they would wait until the Channel's weather calmed before making the crossing. Estrid told Eivor that Birstan would meet him northeast of Colchester tomorrow, and she said that Eivor earned all that her husband promised, and more. She also told Eivor to come find her if he wished, away from the reveling Danes.

That evening, Eivor approached Estrid as she sat by herself. She lamented how she felt that she had been sleepwalking her whole life, and that she needed someone to shake her awake. Eivor asked if Rollo was that man, but Estrid said that Rollo was still a boy with boyish dreams. Eivor said that Rollo was honest, and he could love her if she gave him the chance, as it would be quite a match. Estrid then said that she felt chilly, and that she would join the others by the fire, feeling that Eivor did not return her affection. Eivor then spoke to Lork, who thanked Eivor for trusting him and promised never to be a coward again, and Rollo said that he felt confident he had done the right thing.

Short-lived celebrations[]

Eivor then met with Birstan at his hunting camp, and, when Eivor asked if Birstan's thegns every asked why Birstan wasn't searching for his wife, Birstan said that he had told them that a search was impossible, and pretended to sob all day. He then told Eivor to come hunting with him, and, along the way, he said that they would hunt boar for a feast held in honor of Alfidad. Eivor expressed concern that such a move might blow Birstan's cover and lead to Alfred stripping him of his title, but Birstan assured Eivor that he would sup with a few friends and family. Eivor then expressed his worry that the people would recognize him after Lammas, but Birstan predicted that the people would see Eivor as just another Dane; in addition, they were so drunk that they could probably only remember Estrid's screams. They went on to hunt five boars in the marsh, and Birstan then gleefully invited Eivor to the feast.

Eivor headed to the ealdorman's palace, where Birstan reunited with Alfilda and told her that they would hold a thank-you dinner for Eivor over suckling and ale. Eluric then barged in to criticize Alfilda for having an affair with the Ealdorman, and he revealed that he knew that Eivor had kidnapped Estrid, and said that all of Essex was suspicious about Estrid's kidnapping and Birstan's infidelity. Alfilda shut him up by saying that she was the mother of Birstan's child (revealing that she was actually Eluric's mother), and Eluric said that he would never forgive Alfilda. Just then, as Eluric left, Osgood Piper came in to report that Estrid had been rescued by King Alfred's men, and was being returned to Birstan as they spoke. Eivor promised to fix the situation, and Birstan promised to be in Eivor's debt in exchange for seeing to it that Estrid was successfully smuggled to Francia.

Seeing off Estrid[]

Eivor bidding farewell to Rollo and Estrid

Eivor rushed to Wulfaswic to warn Rollo and Estrid, and he told Lork to guard Estrid with his life. Lork agreed, only to be shot full of arrows as the West Saxons arrived. Eivor and the Norsemen proceeded to hold off waves of West Saxon troops until their attacks petered out, upon which he spoke with Estrid. Estrid said that she would miss Eivor, and Eivor poetically told her that she would soon see "summer" wrapping her in a gown, as her beauty would never wither. Rollo commended Eivor's poetic skills, and Eivor wished Estrid and "Rollo Stoutheart" a good journey; he also told Rollo that, if he was ever in England again, he expected to see him at his mead hall.

Feasting at Ravensthorpe[]

With both halves of the bargain fulfilled, Eivor decided that his time in Essex was done, and he decided to return to Randvi. Back at home, he built a home for Mayda, a cattle farm, a cartographer's building for Olsen, and a woodshop for Kari, and he came across Swanburrow, who had safely arrived at the camp. She expressed her fear that the burden of ealdormanship would be too great for Hunwald, but Eivor assured her that Hunwald had the heart of a leader and would be fine, and he told her to settle in and enjoy her new home.

To celebrate Swanburrow's arrival and the formation of new alliances, as well as to boost the morale of the village, Eivor decided to host Ravensthorpe's first feast, with the villagers enjoying themselves with beer, bread, and meat the whole afternoon long. Eivor then decided to speak with Randvi, telling her that, in Essex, he "played a matchmaker and a heartbreaker", an easy way to make an alliance, although he joked that they should stick to war and diplomacy. Shortly after, Rollo arrived at the settlement to offer his services as a jomsviking. Eivor then checked his mail, where Birstan sent him a letter thanking him for his help, and sending him the great "Arc of Elan" bow as a gift.

Sussex[]

Eivor then went to Randvi, telling her that his mind was fixed on Sussex, as Basim and him had a chance to save Sigurd. However, he said he would need an army. Randvi told him that, the more allies he had, the more likely he would be victorious. Eivor assured Randvi that he would bring Sigurd back with him, making a solemn promise, and Randvi told him that Basim was waiting for him in Croydon.

Assembling the army[]

While travelling through Sussex, Eivor admired the countryside as the "breadbasket of Wessex" and a "land of plenty". When he arrived at the longhouse in Croydon, Eivor heard several familiar voices, and he went on to meet several old friends. Brothir mocked Broder for moping since the wedding, as Broder's greeting to Eivor was slightly depressed due to Eivor's rejection of Broder's advances. Eivor also reunited with Stowe and Erke, who were happy to aid Eivor in his time of need; Stowe joked that Eivor was his "second-favorite Norse" (his lover Erke being the first).

Eivor then came across the Great Heathen Army's commander, Guthrum, who was choking Bard Herlusson for neglecting his guard duties. Guthrum told Eivor that he had heard much about him, and that he would see what Eivor was made of. Eivor responded that he was honored to meet "Guthrum Jarl, Saxon-bane and reaver of the south" at last. Guthrum appreciated that Eivor showed respect where due, and he expressed his hope that Eivor would fight as smootly as he talked. Basim then emerged, telling Guthrum that Fulke had holed up in Portchester fortress, while Guthrum needed control of the fotress if he sought to become King of Wessex. Guthrum retorted by saying that Basim had promised a great army, but he "couldn't breach a crone's garden" with the army he had assembled at Croydon. Eivor assured Guthrum that this number was not the sum of his forces, and Basim told Eivor that his allies were on their way. Eivor was impatient, as he sought to rescue Sigurd before it was too late, but Basim warned Eivor that, while they might muster for an attack in the woods east of Portchester, there were scouts between there and Croydon. Eivor offered to kill the scouts, so Basim told Eivor that one walked the road between Briggworth and Chichester, another on the riverbank north of Crawley, and a third on the hill south of Croydon. Eivor decided that he would take care of the scouts while Basim and Guthrum moved the men into position near Portchester.

Fulke's scouts[]

Eivor found that the Croydon scout Merewald the Bacchus had been mauled to death by wolves before he arrived, so he set out to find and kill the others. He called in his longship to raid Cichester when the other scout (Herrig the Taverner) ran into the settlement, and he fought alongside his new ally Rollo, who helped loot the treasures in the burning settlement. Eivor killed Herrig at the beach, and he plundered the monastery before moving on to his last target. He killed Grimbald Acwalding at the Crawley dock no the south bank of the River Medway, and he looted the treasure before fleeing. He then obtained a great view of hte countryside from a tall rock, and, with East Sussex mapped out, Eivor decided to join his army on the east bank of the River Embert, across from Portchester.

Eivor meeting Basim and Guthrum at the camp (near Donnington) — Eivor meeting Basim and Guthrum at the River Embert camp (near Donnington)

Eivor rode through the woods and found Guthrum and Basim at their camp near present-day Donnington, West Sussex, telling them that any eye that had seen them was dimmed by death. He also reported on one of the letters he found on the scouts, which revealed that Fulke had news of Croydon's fall; Fulke went on to gather men and supplies to weather a siege. Basim decided that, if Fulke was able to dig in, it would be many months before they could rescue Sigurd. Eivor then asked Guthrum if he still felt that his hastiness was a mistake, but, just then, the Norse guards reported Saxons approaching from the west. Eivor helped repel their attack, but he could only watch as Fulke's champion Tating Voss killed Brothir and wounded Broder. Eivor then mortally wounded Tating in a one-on-one duel, and he executed him afterwards.

Making new plans[]

Eivor then carried Brothir's body back to camp, where Guthrum berated Eivor as a "glory-hoarder" whse actions had left too many of Guthrum's men dead. Eivor said that they had claimed victory, and that no amount of blame could bring the dead back. Guthrum then sneered that, if that battle was what a Raven Clan victory looked like, he could not wait to see what their defeat would look like. Ubbe and Soma arrived shortly after, and Eivor resolved the argument with Guthrum by hearing him out rather than arguing with him; Guthrum decided to head west again, but he told Eivor to be more cautious, know that bravery was just as often his enemy as it was his friend, and to go with the wisdom of Odin, the power of Thor, and the wit of Freyja to rescue his brother.

After Guthrum left, Basim said that there was wisdom in Guthrum's words, and Eivor said that he was not too proud to admit his mistake; Basim said that there was wisdom in Eivor yet. Eivor decided to wait for his allies before the final attack, but they would have work to do in the meantime. As the Saxons thought the Danes had retreated, Eivor planned to move the camp closer to Portchester, and he told Erke and Stowe to ride ahead of him. After that, Soma suggested that they strike at Soma's supplies all across Sussex. The letter found on the scout mentioned Briggworth, Guildford, and Crawley, and Basim explained that the Saxons produced weapons in Crawley, food in Guildford, and soldiers in Briggworth. Eivor decided that he needed Ubbe's axe-arm at Guildford, while Soma and his men would aid Eivor at Crawley. Meanwhile, Basim would reconnoiter Briggworth. Ubbe said that Eivor had "A lion's heart and a crow's cunning," and said that Guthrum had judged Eivor too swiftly.

Before meeting up with Stowe, Eivor decided to catch up with his old friends. He asked how Cambridge was, and Soma said that they were thriving as they were in their first year, and that they had Eivor to thank for that. Eivor acknowledged that the risk he took was far less than the risk Soma was taking now, thanking her for heeding his call. Soma responded by saying, "An oath is an oath, Eivor. Silver-gilded and ironclad." Eivor then spoke with Ubbe, who joked that Eivor was tempting him with a swipe at Wessex, and that he was not one to resist. Eivor laughed and told Ubbe that they might finish the work Ubbe's father Ragnarr Lodbrok began a decade back, and, when Eivor asked if Ubbe was ready, Ubbe said that he was more than ready - he was hungry. Lastly, Eivor caught up with Broder, who announced his intent to bury his brother on East Anglian soil, and Eivor wished him luck until they met again.

Weakening Fulke[]

Eivor, Erke, and Stowe at the forward camp

Eivor then forded the River Embert to meet with Stowe at Cyning Vale, and, along the way, he purchased map information from the traveller Ljot Vandilsson. Eivor rode to the Foris Turre southwest of Guildford to take in the view of the surrounding area before returning east to meet up with Stowe and Erke. Along the way, he found a Saxon forward camp, so he killed every soldier inside it; Stowe and Erke then came into the camp, celebrating that the camp was theirs. Eivor did not know that Stowe and Erke were planning to use that camp as their own, so he jubilantly decided to set out and help destroy Fulke's supplies as Stowe and Erke saw to it that the Danish army set up their new base at the now-vacant camp.

Eivor rode north and joined Ubbe outside of Saint Lewinna's Church in Guildford, and Ubbe commented that, "for a town of farmers and shepherds, this place bristles with swords." He also pointed out that a thegn had entered the longhouse, so Eivor said that they might avoid the thegn's attention while burning the grain silos; Ubbe said that Eivor had to be joking, as he relished the chance to face real Saxon opponents.

Eivor stealthily infiltrated the church that evening and looted its treasure, and, at dawn, he and Ubbe began their infiltration of the village proper. Eivor initially tried to keep quiet, burning down a silo with a thrown torch and killing a few soldiers with arrows. However, he was eventually spotted while creeping through the town, leading to Ubbe joining him in charging into battle. Eivor and Ubbe proceeded to kill over a dozen Saxon soldiers in the town, and Eivor threw torches at silos as he went. After the last silo was burnned down, Ubbe joked that he had barely broken a sweat, and Eivor jokingly told him to wait until Portchester. Ubbe then headed back to camp, so Eivor then decided to meet with Basim at Briggworth to cripple its garrison.

Eivor then joined Basim at the fortress island of Briggworth on the River Embert, and Eivor realized that a forest of swords lay within its walls of stone. Basim told Eivor that the fortress was reinforced from the river, and that two of Fulke's finest oversaw the fort's operations. Eivor resolved to kill the leaders and burn their ships, which would put the West Saxon soldiers to panic and ensure that the frightened men would look to their own interests rather than join Fulke in Portchester. Eivor first burned all of the boats on the beach and assassinated the commander Dudemaer Conner there, and he then looted the treasure in the guard tower, destroyed the river's naval chain, made his way to the keep, and assassinated the other commander, Lambin Spicer, there. Basim then congratulated Eivor on preventing Briggworth's garrison from joining Fulke at Portchester, and he told Eivor that he would see him back at camp.

Eivor at the remote camp — Eivor at the remote Sussex camp

Eivor went on to ride northwest to a remote Roman Catholic church from which he was able to have an overview of the countryside, and he then decided to ride back to Croydon to meet with Soma. Along the way, he took out a small Saxon camp in the remote countryside north of Guildford, looting the treasure there. He then rode east, eventually coming across Crawley, where the West Saxons had stored their supplies. Eivor decided that Soma must be nearby, and he found her in the bushes; she had assembled a force of archers, and she told Eivor that local bandits had killed most of the guards in the town, making it easier for them to attack. She advised that they charge in while the guards were distracted, but also said that it would be safer to use fire arrows.

Eivor agreed, and the archers began to shoot fire arrows from the cliff overlooking the town. When some of the local soldiers climbed the cliff to fight them, Eivor ordered a charge, and he killed the few West Saxon soldiers at the cliff and then led his soldiers into the town. There, he killed the bandits and soldiers who were milling about the town and threw torches at the thatch roofs of the cottages, setting them alight. He also destroyed the supply carts around the town, and he and Soma's company departed as Crawley was razed to the ground.

Eivor then returned to the forward camp in Cyning Vale, where he readied his army for the assault on Portchester. He met Hunwald, who, although uneasy about the battle, said that he had brought the best archers in Lincolnshire to lend their bows to Eivor's cause. Eivor then spoke with Stowe, who quoted the Bible in justification of his desire not to fight, and he told Eivor that he had slain too many of his own people and needed to return to London. Erke decided to return home as well in order to ensure Stowe's safety, and Eivor decided that, as they had helped him take the camp, he would ask no more of them, and told them to let their friendship be a beacon to both Saxons and Danes.

Eivor talking with Ubbe, , and Basim at the camp — Eivor talking with Ubbe, Deorlaf, and Basim at the camp

Eivor then talked with Birstan, asking how his family was. Birstan said that Alfida kept his house and heart in order, even charming the "old shrew" Eadred. He also told Eivor that Eluric was rumored to be "a man full of tempests, picking fights in taverns," and that he could only hope that he would one day return. Eivor apologized for Birstan's troubles and thanked him for his help, and Birstan told Eivor that he had brought with him a ram of unsurpassed craftsmanship, and that the gates would not hold long against it. Soma expressed her apprehension at the losses the Danes might suffer, but expressed hope that Eivor might find his brother. Eivor was surprised to see Deorlaf in attendance, and, while Eivor warned him that they would be fighting Saxons, Deorlaf said that he was no stranger to horse and hunt during his youth, and that he would be fighting the "false Christian" Fulke. Soma then ran up to Eivor and warned him that, on the body of a dead Saxon, she found a letter revealing that Fulke had called for aid, and a Saxon army was marching from Winchester. Deorlaf volunteered to lead his men to harry the Saxon army every step of the way and buy Eivor time, and Basim told Eivor that they could then begin the assault at once.

Storming of Portchester[]

Eivor and a few of his allies approached the walls as the army prepared, and he found that Fulke was on the ramparts. Fulke asked Eivor if he liked the "gift" she had left him in Canterbury, and Eivor vowed that she would die that day, and that no wall was tall enough to keep him from her. Fulke then invited Eivor to come and claim his brother if he could, as she would be waiting with him in the meantime. Fulke then taunted Eivor, saying that, if he wanted to find his brother, he need only listen to Sigurd's screams. Eivor then gave his soldiers a rousing speech, saying that Odin himself would stir from his throne to watch the slaughter, that ravens would blacken the sky to feast on the Saxon dead, and that all of them would carve their names into legend that day.

The assault then began, and Eivor chopped down two rows of palisades to let the ram advance. He then destroyed the oil cauldrons and springalds at the front gate with his arrows, then manned the ram and breached the gate. Once inside, he destroyed a second palisade, reached the next tier, opened the portcullis, and charged into the courtyard, where he killed Thorweald the Wayne in front of the keep and used the key to enter. Eivor, Ubbe, Soma, and Basim then fought their way up the keep tower and found Fulke's torture room, where Sigurd's blood was still fresh. From the balcony, Eivor saw Fulke running to the church, so he chased her there, figuring that Sigurd was held there. He found a gravely injured Sigurd, while Fulke climbed down a trap door at the altar. Basim volunteered to care for Sigurd, and Eivor chased Fulke into the basement and confronted her in a final duel.

Eivor shot her full of arrows, some of which passed over some lit braziers and caught fire before they hit her. Fulke was gravely wounded after a brief fight, and she then told Eivor that Sigurd was "An Ancient One, an archon, Nephilim, Isu...he is reborn!" Eivor told Fulke that Sigurd was his brother and his jarl, and that Fulke was mind-sick. Fulke then used a smoke bomb to allow herself to escape above ground, but she was surrounded by Eivor's warriors, and Eivor told them to leave her to him. Fulke unstuck a cross from the ground and tried to use it as a weapon, but Eivor executed her by hacking her in the neck with his axe. In her last moments, Fulke claimed that she had achieved her victory by making Sigurd aware that he was a living god, and Eivor's vision of Odin agreed that Fulke had helped him by doing so. Eivor's vision of Odin then told Eivor that Fulke's was the highest achievement of humankind, and told Eivor that he had to carry her work forward.

Eivor then briefly reunited with Sigurd before Deorlaf and Ubbe arrived to report that the West Saxon reinforcements from Winchester had arrived. Eivor told them to get Sigurd to a boat as he held off the reinforcements. Eivor helped to finish off the West Saxon troops who had breached the walls, but Soma told Eivor that there would be more Saxons, and, without Guthrum's army, the Danes did not have the number to hold the fort. Eivor said that they had Sigurd, and that was all that mattered. Eivor then heard men cheering, and they applauded him once he came to see them. Ubbe then told Eivor that Guthrum had misjudged him, and that Eivor was fit to stand with the best; he then told Eivor to tend to his brother, as he would see to the matters at the fortress.

Eivor talking to Hunwald after the battle

Eivor then spoke to Deorlaf, who admitted that the battle was exhilarating, and that it reminded him of his younger years. Eivor then acknowledged that, if Deorlaf had not odelayed the reinforcements, the besiegers might never have succeeded, and he said that Deorlaf was brave (for a priest). Deorlaf told Eivor not to underestimate the Christian faithful, as they gave their lives to a God they could not see or touch, and there was no greater bravery than that. Eivor then thanked Hunwald for his archers and said that he might need them again one day, confusing Hunwald, who initially thought that Eivor could only call in his favor once. Eivor also thanked Birstan for his ram, and Birstan said that it was a trifle in comparison to the great service Eivor had rendered him. Eivor suggested that he would have stories to tell Alfida, and Birstan joked that battle was not as glorious as the stories told, and that he would have to spruce the tale up a little.

Sigurd's return[]

Sigurd calming himself from his hostile monologue

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe to check in on Sigurd, but, when Eivor merrily greeted Sigurd as he sat on his throne, Sigurd acted hostile. When Eivor said that he missed Sigurd, Sigurd sneered, "Maybe once or twice", and he said that Eivor took his time to find him, asking him if it was so that Eivor could enjoy Sigurd's throne. Sigurd also accused Eivor of slaying all who questioned him, but Eivor told Sigurd that Randvi could vouch for him. Sigurd then sarcastically agreed that his wife would be able to tell him the truth. Eivor asked what Fulke had done to Sigurd, and Sigurd said that he had seen and learned unimaginable things. Sigurd then lashed out, saying that he was a lord of war, a Roman Mars, and that he knew his destiny, and Eivor would not hinder him. This led to the crowded room turning their eyes to the brothers, and Sigurd told Eivor to forgive him, as he was faint, and he was tired of the day and all that passed. Sigurd then said that he needed air, and he walked out of the longhouse. Randvi then asked Eivor to speak with Sigurd and settle his mind, and Eivor promised to try.

Eivor talking to Sigurd over Dag's grave

Eivor left the hall as Holger shared a poem he wrote in celebration of Sigurd's return, and he found Sigurd at the cemetery, in a dark mood. Sigurd asked if Dag had died defending his honor, and, when Eivor said that Dag claimed to have, Sigurd said Dag was a fool, as he said that his honor needed no defense and that it was "stone-solid" and "unblemished". Eivor tried to explain, but Sigurd shushed him and told him to say no more of the past, as there was a rift as deep as death between "then" and "now". Sigurd then told Eivor that he had been tested in a crucible of blood and fire, but he was reborn from his agony. Sigurd also said that his mind was a wellspring of prophecies and visions that told him who he truly was, and that he was grateful for the suffering. Eivor said that he wanted to understand Sigurd, but all that Sigurd was saying made little sense. When Eivor said that he only saw before him a brother who had returned to where he was loved and cherished, and where he belonged, Sigurd said that Eivor was kind, but that Eivor's eyes were clouded by the past, and that he himself could no longer see the past, fearing that his and Eivor's paths diverged long ago. Sigurd then told Eivor to go, return to the feast and drink for him, and celebrate the days to come in his name, as Sigurd wished to be alone.

Reporting on Suthsexe[]

A day later, Eivor reported to Randvi, who said that Sigurd had went to bed the night before without saying a word to Randvi; she asked if Sigurd knew about their affair. Eivor said that Sigurd had made no mention of it, and he expressed his disappointment with how Sigurd wanted to blame him for every mishap that had befallen him without giving him any credit for his rescue. He lamented how he had burned all of Sussex down to rescue Sigurd, yet he was hardly the man they knew before. They then marked Sussex as finished on their alliance map, and Eivor next made plans to travel to Northern England and forge new alliances there.

Jorvik[]

Making preparations[]

Eivor then approached Randvi and asked for her to tell him about Jorvik (York), as Hytham said that they had three more targets there. Randvi said that, if that was true, they were in luck, as their old friends Hjorr Halfsson and Ljufvina Bjarmarsdottir had made their homes there. As both had status and influence in Norway, Randvi suggested that they might have valuable insight into the city's politics. Eivor agreed to pledgge to Jorvik, and Randvi told him that, when entering a new city, it was best to ask around the ports, as Randvi claimed "The people there know more than the average peasant."

Before leaving, Eivor spoke with Rima, who said that Gunnar was away for a beautiful reason, and that Gunnar had entrusted her with the forge while he was gone. Eivor had Rima upgrade his weapons and armor, and he then used his owwn crafting materials to improve the quality of his equipment, also embedding runes in themfor further improvements. Now even more prepared for adventure, Eivor set out for the North.

Return to Lincoln[]

Eivor first travelled to Lincoln, where he snuck into the barracks and stole some Galloglach bracers from a treasure chest, putting them on immediately. He also ambushed the soldier who was carrying the garrison's treasure - nickel ingot - as he played cards with the other guards, killing all four men with arrows and stealthily escaping before a patrol passed by. Eivor also snuck into a ruined building, killed the bandits there, blew open a barricaded wall with an oil jar, and looted the treasure there. He then headed towards the docks, where he found the standard-bearers Cathwulf Cuthhearding, Hunfirth Norhope, and Norbert Langay guarding a small warehouse, so he killed all three of them and looted their treasure. He did the same when he found another warehouse guarded by standard bearer Blithweard Todd and two of his guards, killing the three men and looting the last treasure at the docks.

Although Eivor was preparing to leave Lincoln now that the city's treasures were his, he recalled, just as he was leaving, that the Order of the Ancients member Havelok still operated from within the city walls, so he travelled to deal with him. Eivor found Havelok alone in a room at his villa, so he climbed through a window, approached Havelok from behind, grabbed him, turned him around, pushed him to the floor, and stabbed him with his hidden blade. In his last words, Havelok related how he had cried when he carried out his first killing for the Order, but he eventually came to see all of the murders as "pebbles" on the path to his destiny. With "the Billhook" dead, Eivor was free to depart from the port, sailing up the Witham.

Journey to the North[]

Along the way, Eivor also found that Templeborough, which he had visited almost four years earlier in 872 AD, was still rife with treasure. He ordered his crew to raid the fortress, and he used a springald to kill several of the Mercian defenders before looting the treasures across the fort. After killing the pikeman Dycgbeorht Mills, Eivor collected the last treasure of the fort, and he and his crew then returned to their longship to continue their journey north.

Eivor and in — Eivor and Finnr in Fiskerton

The raiders sailed up the River Trent, but it was not long before they sighted another lucrative opportunity in Fiscartun (Fiskerton, Lincolnshire), a Roman Catholic monastery along the river. Eivor and the others faced heavy resistance from the garrison, but they ultimately overpowered them and looted all of the treasures, ensuring that not one chest lay untouched.

Eivor overlooking from the Danish watchtower — Eivor overlooking Doncaster from the Danish watchtower

Eivor then sailed further up the Trent before beaching along the right bank of the river to ride inland to Lacestone, from which he aimed to complete his knowledge of Lincolnshire, specifically its northwestern corner. He also destroyed a cursed symbol plaguing the woods between Lacestone in the east and the riverbank to the west, freeing the woods of its poison. Having noticed a distant Doncaster from the the viewpoint, Eivor decided to ride there to explore the area. He found Danish peasants working in the snowy fields outside of the fortress, and he then got a better look of the area from a Anlaf's Lookout to the south of the city.

Eivor then visited Doncaster, looting several treasures, including two in the fortress keep, and one on a rooftop, where he found a letter from a Saxon man saying that the treasure was meant to raise an army and return Northumbria to being a Christian kingdom. Afterwards, Eivor was called over by Berk the Bard, who was playing a lyre and recognized the "Wolf-Kissed". Eivor asked how Berk knew who he was, and Berk initially flattered him by saying that his generosity was known throughout the land. Berk then asked Eivor for "a queen's ransom" in exchange for singing a song about him, and Eivor quipped that, "Silver comes and silver goes, but the fame of the great endures." Berk commended Eivor for being wise and generous and "history's mightiest champion", and he then told Eivor to wait as his muse inspired him. He sang a song of, "Now comes Eivor of the Ravens, with the sun for eyes, trailing a river of blood, enough to paint the skies!", as well as "For the one blessing, and the one curse, is to meet the Wolf-Kissed!" Eivor joked that Berk's kennings were weak, but he made up for it with his "clever tongue".

Eivor riding to , with the city in the distance — Eivor riding to York, with the city in the distance

Eivor then went to Doncaster's market and purchased the black horse "Fiendish" as his new steed, and he rode the horse out of the city's north gate, crossing a river crossing the River Humber (to his right) and the River Air (to his left). As he rode north along the River Ouse towards the west gate of York, Eivor was ambushed in a cropfield by Aethelmaer the Smythe, who was out to avenge his brrother's death at the hands of the Danes. However, Eivor beheaded him after a short fight and discovered his revenge letter.

Arrival in Jorvik[]

Eivor talking with an boy at the docks — Eivor talking with an Anglo-Saxon boy at the docks

Eivor then rode into the city, whose west gate was draped with Northumbrian banners. He rode past the Roman-era Jorvik Theatre and to the city's famous cathedral, The Minster, climbing to its spire (called "Ecgbert's View") and looking over the north side of the city. Eivor then collected the treasures in the Minster before riding through Coppergate Market and to the pagan temple at Forseti's Rest, from which he observed the south side of the city. Eivor then headed down to the docks to search for Hjorr and Ljufvina, and an Anglo-Saxon boy told Eivor that he remembered the name Ljufvina, as he had once asked her where she was from dude to her accent, and she said that she was from Bjarmeland. The boy told Eivor to speak with the dockmaster Grigorii, as he had seen Ljufvina speak with Grigorii before.

Eivor found Grigorii speaking to a large crowd at the trade depot, where he had just turned away an angry Eardnoth Kenelming and told him that he needed a clean dock. Eivor asked if Grigorii was the dockmaster, and, when Grigorii asked what gave it away, Eivor bluntly responded, "Everyone hates you." Grigorii mistook Eivor for a friend of the Saxon, telling him that, if his wares had been seized, he would need to take it up with the council. Eivor said that the merchants were not his friends, but he was looking for some friends, Hjorr and Ljufvina. Grigorii was shocked to hear that Eivor knew them, and he asked where he knew them from. Eivor said that he knew them from Norway, and that, while they had bid farewell to that land, they had not to old friends. Grigorii told Eivor that it might please him to know that they were living well, and that they lived in a manor surrounded by flowers. Grigorii then asked if he could have some coin for his trouble, but Eivor sneered, "How about I cut out your tongue?", causing Grigorii to tell Eivor to forget he said anything.

Finding Ljufvina[]

Eivor then rode through the market, where he heard some people complaining about pickpockets, and others expressing excitement for the Yuletide feast, as it was already December of 875 AD. Eivor then found Hjorr and Ljufvina's home, but he found that the place had been ransacked, and found the body of a thief next to scattered scrolls. He followed the trail of blood through a window, to another dead thief, and then to another building, where he found Ljufvina. She initially held a knife at him, even after he reminded her that he was Eivor, but he swore on his honor that he heard there was trouble in Jorvik and was there to help. Ljufvina then apologized, saying that she did not mean to doubt him, and told him that it had been a tense few weeks. She then told him that the assassins meant to kill her for possessing a letter, and Eivor noticed that it was also from "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ", telling Ljufvina that he had seen a similar letter in London. Eivor then asked where Hjorr was, and Ljufvina told Eivor that he was at the Royal Hall, and she volunteered to take him there. They initially tried to sneak past the thugs in the Coppergate Market, but they ultimately had to kill all of them after they recognized Eivor.

Eivor and Ljufvina arriving at the royal hall

After being clear of the thugs, Ljufvina and Eivor walked over a footbridge over the Ouse to the west side of the city, and Ljufvina told Eivor that, with King Ricsige of Northumbria preoccupied with a money shortage, a group called the Red Hand had been imposing their will. When Eivor asked if the Red Hand were the ones who attacked Ljufvina, she said "yes and no", as the Red Hand were bandits, but someone was controlling them. Eivor told her to look no further than the names on her letter, and that they were the reason he had come to Jorvik. Ljufvina said that their names were all coded, but Eivor deduced that the sludge on the streets dripped from the halls, and that one should always view those in power with suspicion; Ljufvina asked if Eivor meant the council, as Hjorr was on the council. Eivor said that worked in their favor, as they had someone whose information they could trust.

Reunion with Hjorr[]

Ljufvina then took Eivor to the hall, where she was eager to see her husband again. She embraced Hjorr at the entry to the hall, and Hjorr told Eivor that it pleased him to see his old friend Eivor, and that all were welcome in Jorvik. Hjorr deduced that Eivor had not come all that way for the Yuletide, and Eivor told the "old warrior" that he had come to warn him about a "rot" in his city: three figures, corrupt and dangerous. Eivor them proposed that they work together to bring them into the light and kill them before they could come to power. Hjorr warned Eivor that he could not just go running around the city poking and prodding and killing at will, but Ljufvina told Hjorr that she had nearly been killed, shocking him. Eivor told Hjorr that the corrupt officials had sent the Red Hand after Ljufvina, ready to shed blood on the city's streets to keep themselves a secret. Hjorr told Eivor that the letter sent to his home mentioned "The Needle", "The Firebrand", and "The Vault", and Eivor explained that they were members of the Order of the Ancients, and that the nicknames were their assumed names. Hjorr warned Eivor that corruption had seeped its way into Jorvik, but King Ricsige's hands were full, which meant his hands were full. He also warned Eivor that King Ricsige would not be available for counsel, but Eivor told Hjorr that the matter should stay between the three of them, although he would like to meet Ricsige and align with him if they were to go about the hunt freely.

The King's blessing[]

Eivor speaking to King Ricsige of Northumbria

Meanwhile, Faravid and Audun argued over whether to continue the Yuletide festival as the Picts invaded, and Hjorr introduced Eivor to King Ricsige, who rudely dismissed them because they interrupted his meeting. When Eivor reported on the Red Hand's reign of terror, Ricsige asked if Eivor was some sort of wandering mecenary. Faravid explained that Eivor had taken their old camp by the Nene, and he introduced himself to Eivor as Halfdan's war chief, while Audun was the High Reeve of Jorvik. Eivor then demanded that Ricsige tell him what he knew about the Red Hand, and he promised to rid the city of them. Faravid and Audun vouched for Eivor, and Ricsige ultimately gave Eivor gis blessing to rid Jorvik of the Order before Yuletide, while he told Hjorr to gather enough silver to buy supplies for Faravid's men.

Hjorr, Eivor, and Ljufvina at the Royal Hall

As they left, Hjorr told Eivor he couldnt imagine that the meeting went Eivor's way, but Eivor said that it went well enough, as Ricsige would stay out of his way; no one could argue against dealing with the Red Hand. He and Eivor then returned to Ljufvina, who was sitting at the end of the hall, as the "pissing contests" angered her. Hjorr apologized to his wife that he was not at the home to protect her, but Ljufvina told him that he had his duties to fulfill, and a few bandits was hardly something to worry over. Hjorr then told Eivor that he would be around if he needed anything, and Eivor and Ljufvina chatted, with Eivor claiming that Hjorr had softened since he came to England. Ljufvina then scoffed that politics took "the Norse out of a Norse"; however, Eivor said that he was happy for the couple, as they had made something of themselves in Jorvik. Eivor also noticed that Ljufvina had a collection of scrolls with her, and she identified them as Christian texts: the Gospels, Ecclesiastes, The Revelation of John, and other works that the Red Hand had stolen. Ljufvina and Eivor concluded that the Red Hand did not wish for the christians to be able to practice their faith, and Ljufvina told Eivor that Audun feared that the Red Hand would come for the city archives next. Between the archives and the chaos at the harbor, Ljufvina concluded that they had some leads. Eivor then asked about the dockmaster, and Ljufvina said that Grigorii had been using Jorvik's money shortage to increase taxes as if he'd been ordered to by the council; she also called Grigorii "a thief and a liar". Eivor decided to have a look around the harbor, and Ljufvina advised him to try the trade depot, as it was where they held the merchants' wares. Eivor then decided to set out, but, when Ljufvina got up to follow him, Eivor told her that he needed her at the hall to listen to the voices there, look for signs, and notice changes in behavior Ljufvina told Eivor that she would swallow a horse heart to join him, and Eivor commened her loyalty, but said that he would return once he found something.

The Firebrand[]

Eivor first decided to investigate the archives, where he found a small stash of weapons, a list of expensive items to buy for the feast, and a letter. Before Eivor could read the letter, Audun and Abbess Ingeborg arrived, and Audun asked what brought Eivor to the archives. Eivor said that he feared the Red Hand would target the archives and their Christian texts next, and Audun said that he shared Eivor's apprehension. Audun then introduced Ingeborg to Eivor, and Ingeborg volunteered her help in clearing the city of the Red Hand. Eivor asked about the Red Hand and who might collaborate with them, and, after noticing a look between Audun and Ingeborg, Eivor pressed the question. Ingeborg said that she suspected something foul at the rectory, as the Bishop had been sneaking around and visiting the priests in the cover of night. Eivor agreed to investigate the rectory, and, as Eivor left, Audun merrily invited Eivor to come to the Yuletide festival and have a drink or two.

Along the way, Eivor heard the cries of a man near death while riding along the bridge, and he headed under the bridge and found a blind man, Chad, crying and saying that his boss Burk had blinded him after falsely accusing him of theft. Chad then asked Eivor to bring him back up to the bridge, as he needed medicine, and Eivor agreed to do so. When Eivor laid Chad down, Burk and his thugs Åsmund Skjoldsson and Osvald Thormarsson arrived, and Burk demanded that Eivor hand Chad over. The guards initially picked Chad up and began to carry him off, but Eivor killed both of the guards, forcing Burk to flee. Chad then thanked Eivor, saying that he thought his fate was sealed.

Eivor then reached the rectory near the Minster, and he found that the rectory was eerily silent. He then confronted the priest Bregowine Gage, who was scared for his life when Eivor entered the room. Eivor asked why Bregowine was afraid, and he said that the Red Hand was everywhere, and that he didn't want any trouble. Eivor asked why Bregowine was the only one at the rectory, and Bregowine said that he was waiting for the bishop; one of the brothers said the bishop would return soon. Eivor then asked where the other priest was, and Bregowine said that he locked himself in at a nearby house. Eivor snuck in through the roof, and he spoke to Nothwulf Barber, who said that the bishop had gone to his quarters and said he would return once he finished tending to a private matter, although that was some time ago.

Eivor had Northwulf lead him to the bishop, only to find that his quarters had a burnt smell. They investigated, found burned Christian texts, and then found the bishop's burned body on his chair. He was sitting atop a partly-burned letter to his priests, warning them that he was resigning from his duties at the Minster because of the Abbess' methods, and identifying "the Firebrand" as a woman, although the name was burned out. Eivor then deduced that Ingeborg must be "the Firebrand", and that the texts must be stored in the Minster. Shortly after, the Red Hand arrived to search the place for "the pagan", but Eivor stealthily killed all of them before making his way to the Minster.

Ingeborg ("the Firebrand") in the Minster

After stealthily killing several of the guards, Eivor climbed to a balcony within the church, where he saw the priest Inguburh Graves complain to Ingeborg (who had entered the room, revealing herself as "the Firebrand") about the burning of religious scrolls in the aisle. Ingeborg explained that she had ordered them to be burned, and that the vellum that burned before Inguburh were covered in "lies". The priest rejected Ingeborg's offer to join him and asked her to repent, so she choked him and threw him onto the bonfire. She then ordered her body doubles to burn every text, every passage, and every scribbled piece of paper.

After Ingeborg's guards left, Eivor jumped down and wounded Ingeborg with an arrow to the face before hacking her in the neck with his axe and finishing her off with his hidden blade. In her last words, Ingeborg told Eivor how the Order gave her a space for her heretical views to not be discriminated against, and she also expressed her belief that knowledge must be controlled. With Ingeborg dead, Eivor decided to look at the clues regarding the other two Order members in York. "The Vault" was "a well-placed man, clever and elusive" (which Eivor took to mean Audun due to his association with Ingeborg), while "the Needle" was "a notorious coin-clipper and black marketeer" (which Eivor took to meak Grigorii). Meanwhile, the note taken from Ingeborg's body identified "the Vice" as a man wearing a black coat and medallion.

The Needle[]

Eivor telling Ljufvina about "the Firebrand"

Eivor then returned to Ljufvina and told her that "the Firebrand" was Jorvik's Abbess Ingeborg, shocking Ljufvina. Ljufvina then asked if the Order's influence knew no bounds, and Eivor often said that it was the people they suspected least who had the most ambition. Eivor then explained that the Abbess sought to destroy all christian texts in the city and to rid Jorvik of their ideals. However, Eivor brought up that she uttered a phrase that perked his ears - "One of the four is ours." Ljufvina was confused, as there were only three targets in Jorvik. Just then, Faravid entered the hall, cursing the Picts for holding the North and freely roaming into Yorkshire as well. When Ricsige (who was accompanying Faravid) asked Ljufvina for a moment of her time, Eivor noticed that Ricsige was wearing a black cape and a medallion (like "the Vice"), raising his suspicions.

Eivor then set out to investigate the trade warehouse, finding it under heavy guard. He snuck in through the roof, finding that none of the complaints had ever reached the council, finding a room full of seized exotic wares which would be worth a large sum on the black market, and found a letter mentioning "the Needle's sting." Eivor deduced that the Dockmaster sold the seized goods on the black market, and the black market stalls in the marketplace bore black cloths to identify themselves. Eivor first approached the merchant Eanswyth Mulliner and said that he had a shipful of silver he wanted to spend, but Eanswyth harsly told him that he would get himself killed talking like that, and that the black marketeers operated in the narrow alleys. Eivor then killed the woe-bringer Armod Skeggisson and stole his key, although he did not know where it led to. He meditated until nightfall, when he spoke with the merchant Eadsige Forester, who suggested that Eivor speak to Grigorii if he wanted to acquire black market goods. Eivor then spoke to the boy Grimcytel Voss, who told him he could meet "the Needle" at the statue near the east gate if he wanted to buy something.

Eivor confronting Grigorii ("the Needle")

Eivor found a house next to the statue and used Armod's key to unlock the door, finding a sewer entrance. Joking that it was fitting that "the Needle" should hide among the rats, Eivor climbed down the ladder and into the sewer. Once in the sewers, Eivor found large quantities of silverware, some still in their crates, deducing that they were also seized goods. He then found a large room in which workers were melting the silver into bars and coins, and, after killing the guards, he unlocked a door and found Grigorii at a table with several silver goods. Grigorii was astonished and told Eivor he didn't belong there, but Eivor criticized him for saying he ran a "clean dock" while he stole and sold silver. Grigorii told Eivor that he had it all wrong, and he then compared the world to used-up and shredded fabric, with someone having to stitch it back together like a "needle". Eivor said that Grigorii was a poor poet, but at least he answered his question if Grigorii was "the Needle" or one of his puppets. Grigorii laughed and said that they both had their weaknesses, but that Eivor's was the iron bars between them. Grigorii then ordered Hæming Thangbrandsson and Gærrar Hreidarsson to quickly kill Eivor before meeting him at the market, but, rather than waste time on the Red Hand, Eivor fled the sewer and headed to Coppergate Market to confront "the Needle" and end his life.

Eivor then found Grigorii in the market as Grigorii repeatedly stabbed Eadsige for stealing from him to feed his children, and Eivor accidentally jumped down at one of Grigorii's bodyguards to assassinate him, resulting in a brief fight in which Eivor cut down Grigorii and his guards. In his last words, Grigorii lamented how, despite his faith in God, it was "the Vault" who had saved him, giving him a fine house, hearty meals, and a warm bed, and showing him kindness and compassion for the first time. Eivor said that Grigorii had sacrificed too many lives for his cause, and Grigorii told Eivor that he perhaps deserved his death, but that he was one cog in a large wheel which still turned unhindered.

Eivor then returned to the royal hall to tell Ljufvina about the Needle's death. Just as Ljufvina was about to ask who "the Needle" was, Hjorr rushed in and reported that there had been an attack in the marget, and that Grigorii the dockmaster was dead. Eivor revealed that he was "the Needle", and that he had been selling seized wares to give money to "the Vault". Hjorr said that Grigorii had no such authority, and asked why anyone would believe him, so Eivor showed Hjorr the council seal that Grigorii had been using to forge the council's approval. Hjorr said that it was concerning how Grigorii was able to conceal his activities, but he then said that he would return to preparing for the Yuletide feast with "a bent ear and a keen eye." Eivor said that the seal and the riddle "One of the four is ours" was curious, but he realized that "the four" referred to Ricsige, Faravid, Audun, and Hjorr. Eivor and Ljufvina decided to search their offices while they were occupied with the Yuletide feast.

The Vault[]

At the archives, Eivor and Ljufvina found a list of items needed for the Yuletide feast, and Ljufvina said that it was in Audun's handwirting. He had struck out some items on the list, and Eivor asked himself where Audun found the funds to make that large a purchase. Eivor also found a note from Hjorr telling a silversmith to move a large quantity of silver to Coppergate Market to be melted down, and he told the silversmith not to tell a word to his wife. Eivor then noticed scratch marks ont he floor, and Ljufvina noticed that Hjorr's desk had been moved to the other wall, so they pulled it back and found a hidden entrance. Eivor found a stash of wine, and, as the room smelled of almonds, he suspected that the wine had been poisoned. Ljufvina worried about Hjorr, but Eivor told her they could worry about him after finding the evidence. They then decided to investigate the festival to ensure that nobody was poisoned, and Ljufvina told Eivor that the festival was to be held at the Roman amphitheatre.

When Eivor and Ljufvina arrived, Eivor told Ljufvina to search for the wine as he questioned all of the council members one by one to catch one of them in a lie. Eivor first approached Faravid, who invited him to a drinking contest, but he suggested ale instead of wine to see who could hold their drink better. Eivor then spoke with Audun, inviting him to celebrate the great turnout with some wine. Audun abruptly and emphatically refused, saying that the wine was for the people of Jorvik, and that he mustn't indulge. Eivor then approached Hjorr, and he told him that one of the council members was "the Vault". He then told Hjorr to drink himself into a drunken fit to create a distraction, as the wine would arrive soon. Eivor also spoke with Ricsige, who semeed willing to dump the wine if it went bad, so Eivor told Ljufvina that Audun must have been the culprit, as he had access to the wine as the festival's organizer, helped Ingeborg ("the Firebrand) collect Christian texts, and flat-out refused to drink the wine once it arrived.

Shorlt yafter, Audun took to the stage with four of Jorvik's leading lords and ladies, toasting them for helping to keep the city trudging through its troubles. However, as they began to choke, Audun said that they had been deafened and blinded by their lust for indulgence, as well as their foolish pride, and Audun said that nobility was a death sentence. Audun said that a new world of order was upon them, and he said that it would be a pity that none of the guests would live to see it.

Eivor told Ljufvina to guard the council as he dealt with Audun, who tried to run away as his guards tried to dispatch the guests. Eivor shot Audun in the back with an arrow and then finished him off with a hidden blade, and he then asked Audun what riches were worth so much misery and the deaths of honorable men and women. Audun responded by saying that only a feeble mind would call them honorable, calling them privileged, sedentary, and complacent, saying that they wasted their resources. Audun then said that he secured the Order's power through wealth, and he contributed to the future of "a glorious order."

Farewell to Jorvik[]

Eivor talking to Ricsige at the royal hall

After Audun breathed his last, Eivor went on to kill his remaining thugs in the theatre, and he then rendezvoused with Ljufvina at the docks. She told Eivor that Faravid and his karls had escorted Ricsige to safety at the royal hall, so Eivor decided to meet with Ljufvina and Hjorr there. he found Ricsige yelling at Faravid for answers, and Eivor told Ricsige to calm, as Audun was dead. Ricsige said that if Eivor wanted to calm him, he should start talking. Eivor told Ricsige that Audun aligned himself to a secret group that was plotting to overtake Jorvik, and Ljufvina explained that he had help from Grigorii and Ingeborg. Ricsige then asked Eivor if he was after the conspirators from the moment he arrived, and Eivor explained that he was, although he initially had to keep his purpose a secret. Faravid told Eivor that Jorvik owed him a great debt of gratitude, and told him to be sure that Halfdan would hear of Eivor's actions. Ricsige then thanked Eivor and offered to make him an honorary High Reeve of Jorvik, and eivor thanked him. Eivor then told King Ricsige that a large hoard of silver was laying unaccounted for in the sewers, and, when Ricsige asked what eivor thought should be done with it, Eivor advised Ricsige to honor Yuletide by giving the silver back to the honest citizens of Jorvik, from whom it had been stolen. Hjorr agreed with Eivor's suggestion, and Ricsige aid that he would see to it that Hjorr distributed the silver evenly.

Ricsige and Faravid then headed off to secure the hoard, and Ljufvina then told Eivor the Bjarmian saying, "Only the dead get to complain." Eivor celebrated that they were still alive, and, while Hjorr mentioned that he could make a few complaints about the king and the treasury, he would forego them, and he congratulated Eivor for succeeding. Eivor then assured them that the success was theirs to share, and joked that they would have been the recipe to stop King Harald from taking over all of Norway. Ljufvina suggested that they still could, but Eivro decided that Norway was behind him, and the rest of England lay ahead. Before Eivor could take his leave of his old friends, Ljufvina gifted him an arm ring, promising, "Should you ever need us, we will come." Eivor thanked her, and he then asked Hjorr a last question about what the silver on his desk was for. Hjorr then revealed that he had hired a silversmith to craft a love token for Ljufvina as a Yuletide gift, and Ljufvina proceeded to passionately kiss her husband; Eivor then joked that he would leave before they shamed the throne. As Eivor left, Hjorr invited him to come back to Jorvik sometime, as he knew of an alehouse down the street.

Exploring and Raiding Yorkshire[]

With his tasks in Jorvik done, Eivor summoned his longship and sailed down the River Ouse, and they then turned west and sailed up the River Air, sailing past Taedden's Shelf (Tanshelf, now Pontefract). The crew then disembarked for a raid on Elmet Monastery, where they fought their way through droves of Pictish raiders and looted all of the monastery's treasures. Eivor then travelled to Taedden's Shelf, visiting the small town and looting the treasure in its longhouse before sailing due east down the River Humber.

Eivor sailed past Wyke (now Bradford) and into the Humber estuary, upon which he turned north and sailed along the coast of the East Riding of Yorkshire. During the voyage, Rollo told his crewmates a story of how, when he was in Essex with Estrid, when he was almost a year younger, she would use wit as her weapon and was able to unman someone with a word. Rollo said that his experience as her once-lover had led him to decide that, when it was time for him to choose a wife, he would want a wife who was his equal, and he her equal.

Shortly after, on that foggy night, they attacked Flaneburg Priory (Flamborough), charging up the cliffside to loot its treasures and slay its Saxon defenders. After pillaging the monastery and finishing off the Northumbrian soldiers in the adjoining village, Eivor returned to his ship and continued to sail up the Yoskhire coast before disembarking on the snowy beach at Scarborough. There, he rode his horse atop the rocky clifff and headed to the ruined church, from which he obtained a view of the North Sea and East Yorkshire.

Eivor drinking and flyting with — Eivor drinking and *flyting* with Borghild the Alewife's Bane

Eivor then rode inland to the North Yorkshire town of Pickering, where he recruited the jomsviking Brigida the Ribs Smasher. He also came across Borghild the Alewife's Bane, who challenged him to drink and flyt with her. Eivor's rhymes made Borghild tell Eivor that he was the smartest person she ever met, but the two of them got exceedingly drunk, and Borghild gave Eivor his prize money, acknowledging his victory. Eivor also visited Ingvar Saksisson's shop, where he purchased designs for his settlement and ship, weapons, and hair designs, while selling his collected trinkets and useless runes.

Design and decisions[]

Eivor visiting 's shop — Eivor visiting Tove's shop

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where he set up several new design pieces such as Victoria statues, dragon effigies, Celtic crosses, a large new tree, and a home for Swanburrow and Hunwald (upgraded from a tent). He then went to Rima to upgrade his weapons and armor, using tungsten to turn his helmet and chestplate gold, and improving his two-handed "Bone-Biter" axe. He then went to Tove's shop, where he dyed his hair red and grew out his hair in braids. As Eivor walked to the longhouse, Basim thanked Eivor and his clan for welcoming Hytham as family, and Eivor told Basim that Hytham was welcome, as Basim was.

Randvi convincing Eivor to settle the dispute

When Eivor entered the longhouse, Randvi told him that Holger had again angered a member of the settlement, and she asked him to sit in judgment. Eivor was reluctant, suggesting that it was the job of a jarl, and that Sigurd was home; however, Randvi told Eivor that Sigurd had not come out of his room all day, and she begged Eivor to sit in judgment just one last time. First, Eivor let Gudrun speak, and she said that she had been robbed, as some of her sailcloth had been stolen three days earlier, and she found it at Holger's home, scrawled upon and defaced with "silly stories". Gudrun then confronted Holger and demanded silver in recompense for her ruined sail. Holger then claimed that he found a pile of "mildew-stained detritus" beneath the docks and salvaged what he could,and he claimed that his only crime was giving "something ugly and decrepit a bold new life."

Just as Eivor was about to deliver his judgment, Sigurd interrupted, angrily telling Eivor that the duty of settling disputes was his alone, and he claimed that Eivor showed him "such a bold defiance." Sigurd then sat in the throne, and, just as Holger began to speak again, Sigurd told him that he had heard enough to make up his mind. He told Holger that, for as long as he had known Holger, he spun words into lies, weakened the minds of children, and deluded the minds of men; he criticized how he had sunken lower from "Holger the Liar" to "Holger the Thief", robbing a woman of her livelihood in the name of his "stupid stories". Sigurd ordered that Holger pay Gudrun the value of thirty sailcloths; when Holger said that such a debt would ruin him, Sigurd told Holger to pay the fee or be exiled. Gudrun then intervened, saying that she sought only compensation for a single sailcloth, but Sigurd interrupted her by barking, "Thirty times! In silver! That is my judgment." Holger then asked Eivro if Sigurd's judgment was not unfair, and Eivor told Sigurd that the punishment must fit the crime, and that his judgment was cruel and unfair. Sigurd retorted by telling Eivor that he was the definition of what was fair and what was not, and then said, "I am your jarl, the source of all right and wrong. The lord of justice in this place." He then said that, without order and a chain of command, life would be untenable. Eivor said that, as his brother and jarl, he backed Sigurd, but, in the face of injustice, he could not help but speak. Sigurd then asked Eivor if he had never learned when to hold his tongue or defer to those wiser than himself, an Sigurd said that his word was final and ordered that the judgement was carried out exactly as he had said. Sigurd then told Eivor that, should the need rise again, to not fail to rouse him.

Eivor and Randvi discussing Sigurd's judgment

Eivor then met with Randvi in the map room, where she thanked him for stepping in when Sigurd would not, in spite of what happened. Randvi confided that she ha dnever seen Sigurd react with such anger, and Eivor told Randvi that they should do their best for Sigurd, as they were his best hope for healing. Eivor then told Randvi that he had purged the Order from Jorvik with Ljufvina and Hjorr's aid, and that Jorvik would come to their aid if needed. Randvi asked if Eivor's work was a prelude to him joining the Hidden Ones, but Eivor said that he doubted it, as there was "not enough glory in these back-alley brawls."

Yorkshire[]

Consulting Randvi[]

Eivor then asked Randvi about Yorkshire, and Randvi told Eivor that Halfdan Ragnarrsson, "Conqueror of the North", sent his greeting, and that he wished to meet with "Eivor Wolf-Kissed" personally. Eivro related how he had heard Halfdan Jarl's name so many times, he felt as if he knew him already. Randvi told Eivor that Halfdan was in a war with the Picts of the northern hills, and she suspected that he wanted Eivor's counsel or his axe. She said that, if Eivor was keen to meet Halfdan, he asked to meet Eivor at his war camp at Anlaf's Lookout. Eivor decided to head to Yorkshire at once, but Randvi cautioned him, saying that Yorkshire was at war with the Picts, a proud clan that lived just beyond the Roman wall.

First clashes[]

Eivor quickly travelled to Anlaf's Lookout, having previously visited the site. On his arrival, he found signs of battle across the snowy hills, and he found Faravid tending to wounded warriors. Faravid greeted "Eivor Raven-Friend", as they remembered each other from the Yuletide feast, which Faravid called "the Yuletide massacre". He then asked why Eivor had come, and Eivor said that Halfdan Jarl had summoned him. Faravid said that Halfdan was near, but the Picts had hit them hard, and they were separated.

Eivor and facing off against the — Eivor and Faravid facing off against the Picts

Just then, they heard guttural battle cries, and Eivor warned Faravid of a fresh attack from the hill. Eivor wielded his double-handed axe into battle for the first time in years, cutting down several Picts before shooting at the archers on the other ridge and killing all of them. When more Picts appeared on the opposite ridge, Faravid bragged that, if they died, they would be drinking with Odin that same night, but Halfdan then appeared, sounding a horn and personally leading his force into battle with the Pictish reinforcements.

Meeting Halfdan[]

Halfdan then came to Faravid to brag that he had saved his life once again, but, when Eivor said how much of an honor it was to finally meet Halfdan, Halfdan asked if he was one of Faravid's new dogs. Eivor then identified himself, and Halfdan recognized him for playing kingmaker with his brother Ivar and Ubbe in Mercia, and with Finnr in East Anglia. Halfdan then joked that, from the tales he heard, he feared Eivor might be taller. He then had Faravid build funeral pyres for the dead, and he then invited his men and Eivor to Doncaster for a victory feast. Faravid then asked Eivor what he thought of Halfdan, and Eivor said that he made an impressive heroic display, although he figured that he would have to earn Halfdan's trust for him to be more welcoming. He then explained that he wanted to forge alliances with the new lords of England, although Faravid sternly warned him that there was only one lord of Northumbria.

As Eivor rode to Doncaster, he marvelled at its size, telling himself, "The Roman giants outdid themselves with this fortress." He then found Halfdan arguing with Ricsige in the keep, as Ricsige demanded that they end the war with the Picts as soon as possible due to the Picts' devastating winter raids. Halfdan said that his hammer protected the land, and he then dismissed Ricsige before Eivor approached the King. Halfdan said that he had heard of all of Eivor's battles, and said that his skalds sung that Eivor was the "hero of Jorvik". However, Halfdan then criticized Eivor for "gifting" his silver to "the karls and thegns of Jorvik", and Eivor insisted that he had given it to those who needed it most. Halfdan said that Eivor was a fool, as the coin never left Ricsige's treasury. Eivor said that he did not often second-guess himself during a time of war, and Halfdan agreed, saying to second-guess oneself would be to stall the victory. Halfdan said that he did not regret sending Faravi dinto battle when Eivor won the day, but Faravid said that both he and Eivor had felled the Picts so that Halfdan could "sweep in, stab a few cold corpses, and claim a glorious victory." After an initially tense moment, Halfdan laughed, telling Faravid that his jests hit like Odin's spear, always on the mark. Faravid then said that he would not have been there without Halfdan's hammer, and he then gave Halfdan his share of the spoils from the battle, a Frankish cup. When Halfdan asked Eivor's opinion, Eivor said that it was fit for the lips of a king, and Halfdan said to Faravid that there was much wisdom in Eivor. A quietly jealous Faravid decided to return to his forward camp, saying that it had been a long and cold ride.

Victory party at Doncaster[]

Once Faravid left, Halfdan called him "a two-faced, smirking glory-hound." Halfdan then told Eivor to dance, sing, fill himself with ale, and then meet him atop the stone tower so that he could tell Eivor his true purpose in Yorkshire. There, Halfdan poromised, he would weave a tale of friendship and treachery. Eivor then went to the party, and he met Moira of Wyke, Halfdan's herbalist; Eivor initially thought that she was a nun, saying he thought that nun dressed like geese. She was annoyed by Eivor's presupposition that Halfdan was already a mighty warrior, saying that her herbs had allowed him to fight the Picts, and she then asked if Eivor would pardon her as she returned to another conversation.

Eivor then came across the Anglo-Saxon ceorl Lambert Tyrer, who challenged him to a fistfight in front of a crowd. Eivor claimed that he had wrestled with sharks, but Lambert insisted that it was the righteous who won. In the ensuing battle, Eivor beat down the quick-hitting Lambert, and he told him that his legend ended that day, bound to no name.

Halfdan's friendship[]

Eivor then headed to the tower, where he and Halfdan marvelled at the view of Northern England. Halfdan boasted that he had conquered all of that, and Eivor added that Halfdan had won battles across all of England. Halfdan then said that it was not just he who had fought, but also Bjorn Ironside, "fearless Ubbe", Ivar the Boneless, and Sigurdr Snake-in-the-eye, his brothers. He also said that Faravid had fought with him every step of the way, and that "even a hero needs loyal friends", saying he never lost sight of that. Eivor then asked if he had room for one more among those Halfdan called friend, and Halfdan asked what Eivor meant by friendship. Eivor explained, "Friendship goes beyond words. It's a solemn bond, a chain unbroken." Halfdan said that Eivor had spoken like the volur, and that friendship was indeed a kind of magic. Eivor then noticed that Halfdan "wriggled like an eel in a basket" and asked what had caught the king.

Halfdan then walked to the corner of the balcony and said that friendship could also spoil like rotten meat, and that, after all of the years, Faravid dared to bite his hand. Eivor said that Faravid seemed to be a good and loyal man, but Halfdan said that there were rumors of little men plotting treason in the dark. Eivor asked if Halfdan had proof of the treachery, but Halfdan said that he had none yet, and that was where Eivor entered his saga to find out if Faravid had been disloyal. Then, Halfdan promised to talk of oaths. Eivor told Halfdan to start him somewhere and give him something to go on, and Halfdan gave Eivor a narwhal tusk he used to filter his wine and mead. Halfdan explained that he feared Faravid had tried to poison him countless times, and he asked Eivor to unearth his treachery. Eivor asked why Halfdan would trust him with such tasks, and Halfdan reasoned that Eivor had stopped the ill deeds of Audun and "his swarm of rats", and Eivor could do the same here. He then explained that Faravid had left the feast already, heading for his camp upriver. He told Eivor to join his warband and, behind his back, dig.

Battle of Stenwege[]

Eivor then rode to Faravid's camp at Allerton, which was located across the River Air from Elmet Monastery and along the border with Nottinghamshire. Upon entering the camp, Eivor met with Faravid, who asked him how his experience with "Doncaster hospitality" went. Faravid's fellow warrior Ulf was hostile to Eivor, as he did not want Eivor to steal his glory in battle. Eivor asked Faravid for a knife so that he could geld Ulf, so Faravid shooed Ulf off and explained to Eivor that small men always talked big. Faravid then asked Eivor if Halfdan had been generous, and if Eivor got what he came for. Eivor told Faravid that Halfdan offered his friendship in exchange for helping Faravid fight the Picts, and Faravid explained that the Picts had raided Elmet Monastery and plundered its silver and gold. Eivor joked that the Saxons built more churches than barns and filled them with herds of monks, and Faravid said that monasteries made tempting targets, not just for the Danes; he also said that he had tracked Pictish raiders heading north. Eivor said that he knew the place, as he and his raiders had sacked Elmet not long ago. Faravid said that the Picts had picked the bones left over from Eivor's feast, and Eivor said that he was ready to fight and put the Picts in the ground. Faravid deduced that Halfdan didn't send Eivor north to fight a skirmish Faravid's men could win with half their numbers, and Faravid asked why Eivor was there. Eivor said that he was there to battle the Picts, nothing more, and that Halfdan knew Eivor's reputation and the advantage he would bring. Eivor then asked if Faravid questioned his word, and Faravid pointed out that Eivor never gave it. Eivor then gave Faravid his word that he was there to fight the Picts. Faravid then called his men to arms and invited them to roast the Picts.

Eivor talking to Faravid in Wiccan's Cave

Eivor killed several Picts who were lying in ambush on the ridges of a small valley through which the Danes marched, and they then entered Wiccan's Cave, where they killed the last few Picts. Eivor discovered that the cavee was a passage, and the Picts were using it to cross the mountain. Faravid told Eivor to track the Picts through the cave as Faravid and his men circled back to snare any who tried to slip away. Eivor made his way through the cave and found a few Picts talking about how they were on the wrong side of Hadrian's Wall, and Eivor killed both of them and found a note with orders for the Picts to take what they could from Stenwege, and letting them know that they would not be alone in their fight against the Danes. Eivor then met Faravid at the opposite end of the cave, where he told him about the Pictish camp at Stenwege (Stanwick); Faravid said that Stenwege was to the north, and that the Pictish chief might be there.

Eivor then helped Faravid to kill some Pictish scouts before they could alert the camp, and the Danes then rode to Stenwege and prepared to assault the fortress. Eivor asked if the Picts would really attack during winter, and Faravid said that Halfdan thought not, and that the Picts might use that to their advantage. Eivor then led an attack on the fortress with a handful of Danes, fighting their way to the outer layers before Eivor infiltrated the courtyard around the longhouse and killed the guards. He then came across the Pictish chieftain, Galan, Son of Mordeleg, jumping down on him as he tortured a Danish captive and wounding him with his hidden blade. He then brought Galan outside to be interrogated, but, as he prepared to ask Galan his plans, Faravid stabbed Galan in the neck. Eivor called Faravid out, saying that Galan might have talked had he not been killed. However, Faravid said that they got what they came for, and he showed Eivor some capturred maps. Eivor discovered from the maps that the Picts were at Magnis, but Faravid told Eivor to relax and share the spoils with them, while Ulf said that they should keep all of the plunder for themselves, saying that Halfdan was "warming his c*ck in a Saxon castle." Eivor decided to take up the men's offer to drink, and, while Faravid said that the wine's was Halfdan, and Eivor initially deferred, Ulf said that if "the Raven" wanted the wine, they would drink.

The three men went on to drink, and, when Faravid and Eivor were alone, Faravid said that he could tolerate the sour wine, but that he refused to drink one of Moira's herbal brews. Faravid said that Moira always skulked in the shadows of Halfdan's throne, and Eivor went on to ask if all people in Halfdan's service skulked around his throne. Faravid asked Eivor why he had so many doubts, saying that Eivor was a warrior and not a rumormonger. Eivor said that doubt was too strong a word, but there was a feeling of mistrust among Halfdan's men, and Eivor wanted the alliance to be ironclad. Faravid told Eivor to give him a chance to change his mind, as he had a plan to end the war for good, before the winter set in. Faravid said that Magnis was a strong fort, but they would be attacking from the south, which would catch the Picts off-guard. Eivor said that, with Halfdan's blessing, he would fight beside Faravid anywhere, and he told him to name a tme and place. Faravid responded that Halfdan was done fighting for the finter, as he thought it too great a risk. Faravid told Eivor that, if they told Halfdan of their plan, he would refuse. Faravid then proposed that Eivor and him could succeed together so that Halfdan would sing their praises all the louder. Eivor decided to swear by Sif's blade that he would say nothing to Halfdan of Faravid's plan, and he said that, while he would return to Doncaster for a while, he would join Faravid for the battle. Faravid told Eivor to deliver a goblet to the jarl and tell him that more spoils were coming from their latest victory. When Eivor was ready, Faravid told Eivor to meet him at a place near Jorvik called "The Wolds".

Meeting with Moira[]

Eivor then returned to Doncaster, arriving in the keep shortly after Moira left the room after serving Halfdan some herbal brew. When Eivor asked for how long Moira had been serving Halfdan his brews, Halfdan said that Eivor was stalling, and asked for news from the North. Eivor told Halfdan that the Picts were beaten back, the Danes had taken their lives and their treasures, and Faravid asked him to deliver Halfdan a goblet. Halfdan grew angry, throwing the goblet and accusing Faravid of taunting him over the various alleged poisoning attempts. Eivor then told Halfdan that Faravid had planned to give Halfdan a casket of Frankish black, and he himself drank from it, revealing that there was no poison. Halfdan then told Eivor to speak without guise and tell him if Faravid plotted against him or keep secrets from him. Forced to consider whether he wanted the lies to stack up and sabotage his chances at an alliance with Halfdan, Eivor was forced to confess that Faravid was planning an attack on the Picts at Magnis without him. Halfdan called Faravid a "twin-faced, back-stabbing, glory-eater", and Eivor told Halfdan that he did not know when the attack would occur, but that they would meet agan at a place called the Wolds. Halfdan told Eivor to go to Faravid, watch, listen, and unearth his lies. Before leaving, Eivor told Halfdan that, if he feared posion, he must consider everything, including Moira's brew. Halfdan initially stated that Moira was no witch and was kind, but he then suggested that Eivor could speak with her, as she stayed within Doncaster, not far from the keep. Halfdan told Eivor that, if he found something, he should meet with him at the north gate, as one of his scouts had troubling news. Eivor headed to Moira's empty house and found a letter from a man asking her to heal his sister in Wyke, so Eivor decided to travel to Wyke and find Moira there.

Eivor found a mob with torches demanding that Moira come out of her home, so Eivor shot one of them with an arrow, dispersing them. He then helped Moira escape her hoem, and she thanked Eivor for his help. Eivor then asked if she could drink some of her own brew, and she said that she often did so to ensure that it was not too bitter for Halfdan. Eivor then asked if Halfdan's illness was mental and not physical, and Moira said that she feared so, as the same malaady bedeviled her mother, causing the body to break down and the mind to fall apart. Eivor then asked what she put in her brews, and she said lavender, rosemary, meadowsweet, and yarrow, all common soothing herbs. Eivor said that he would return to Halfdan at the Temple of Flora, and Moira advised that Eivor tread lightly with him, if he would discuss the topic at all with him.

Ulf's betrayal[]

Eivor met Halfdan at the temple, across the Humber from Doncaster, where Halfdan said that his scout had informed him that some traitors were lurking there, although the scout Olav was nowhere to be found. Eivor found a dying Olav atop one of the ruined columns, and he took him down to Halfdan, who promised to bury Olav with honors, and told his trusted scout that he would see him on the other side. Halfdan then had his dog Beonton track down the attackers, and Eivor and Halfdan followed the hound. When Eivor asked Halfdan whom he suspected of treason, Halfdan said that he believed they were thieves who stole his war spoils.

They made their way to the Petuaria Ruins, finding an underground entrance and a room full of Halfdan's treasure. There, Halfdan asked Eivor about his visit to Moira, and Eivor said that he did not believe that Moira was trying to poison him, at least intentionally. She also said that she had seen Halfdan's illness before in her own family, but that it was slow acting and incurable. Just as Halfdan began to deny that he was sick, and was poisoned, they heard voices above them.

Halfdan and Eivor ran above ground to confront them, finding that the voice was Ulf's. Halfdan accused Ulf of stealing his tribute, but Ulf said that they had not stolen, as Faravid had given them all of the loot as gifts for a hard day's battle. Halfdan then asked if they had to take Olav's life, and Ulf said that he thought the man was a thief, and was unaware that he was Olav. Ulf tried to get Eivor to intercede on his behalf, but Eivor took Halfdan's side, saying that treason was punishable by death. Ulf then told Halfdan that Faravid treated them better than Halfdan ever did, and he then spat on the ground. Ulf and his men drew their weapons, forcing Halfdan and Eivor to kill them. Halfdan blamed their deaths on Faravid, and he told Eivor to meet Faravid at the Wolds and find proof of his guilt or innocence.

Faravid's plot[]

Eiovr met Faravid at his woodland camp, where he found Faravid gleefully tipsy. Faravid asked Eivor how Halfdan liked his gift, but Eivor told Faravid that there were other things on Halfdan's mind, such as Faravid's man Ulf, whom Halfdan had killed as he protected the stoils he had stolen from Halfdan. Faravid chided the late Ulf for wagging his tongue about like a dog, and, when Eivor asked if Halfdan had always been so riled, Faravid said that riches and glory had shaped Halfdan into something new. Eivor then asked what had hapened to the camp, as he was expecting an army ready for warcraft, but only saw Faravid. Faravid said that the Wolds were the site of his, Halfdan, Ubbe, and Ivar's first campsite in Northumbria during the Great Heathen Army's invasion. Eivor then asked what the pile of goods was, and Faravid said that it was his share of the treasure he had taken from those distant days, having buried it for a rainy day; the large bag was heavy with silver, enough to pay for an army. Faravid then challenged Eivor to a race for Jorvik, and, while Eivor said that Faravid was too drunk, Faravid had Eivor drink to make it fair.

Eivor and Faravid riding to the royal hall

Eivor won the drunken race to the city's gates, and, when he asked Faravid why they had come to York, Faravid said that he sought to convince King Ricsige to lend his army to the assault on Magnis. Eivor was amused that Faravid would ask a puppet king for help, but not his jarl. Faravid said that, if he had told Eivor his true plan, he would ever have left the campfire, so Eivor said that he preferred the light of a fire to the darkness of Faravid's plans, and warned him against tricking him again. During the ride through Coppergate Market, Eivor heard a woman comment on how great things were since Audun's death, but another woman told her not to speak that dirty name. While riding across the bridge over the Ouse, Eivor heard a man relate to his wife how he did not trust wine since the Yuletide feast, and his wife joked that he should drink more ale. Outside the royal hall, Eivor heard a man saying that he wished Yuletide could be every month, as the present month was a slog, but another man said that he hoped each month would not be like the last Yuletide.

Before entering the hall, Faravid asked Eivor not to tell Ricsige that Halfdan was ignorant of their plans. Eivor asked if Faravid was insane, as Ricsige answered to Halfdan, and Faravid would put Ricsige in grave danger if he defied his master's will. Faravid assured Eivor that Ricsige could not take the blame for orders he never heard, and he promised to take the blame should the plan fall apart. Ricsige was surprised to see "Eivor-Wolf Kissed and Halfdan's cupbearer", and Eivor said that he hoped York and Ricsige were doing well. Ricsige said that he and the city scraped by with what they still owned, and he said that the war should make them wealthy again, until their tribute was taken. Faravid called out the king's sarcastic remark and told him not to forget who was in charge, so Ricsige retorted by asking Faravid to remind him who was in charge, as yesterday it was Halfdan, and Ricsige heard whispers that it was now Faravid who was leading the charge. Faravid said that Ricsige answered to Halfdan, and now Halfdan ordered the final strike on the Pict stronghold at Magnis. Ricsige said that making war on the North on such a scale would require a hefty amount of silver and a large force of men, and Faravid said that his soldiers and silver were pledged already, and said that he expected the same of Ricsige. Eivoralso said that he had committed himself, and that the battle must be decisive. Ricsige then asked Faravid if he had the orders in writing from Halfdan himself, so Eivor said that they did not have the orders in writing, but Halfdan's orders stood. Ricsige said that duty compelled him to refuse, as, without strict orders from Halfdan, he would not risk the lives of so many. Ricsige then explained that to gift Faravid would put his wealth and reputation at risk, and Halfdan needed a strong and loyal king.

Forging with Faravid[]

Eivor catching up with Hjorr and Ljufvina

Faravid and Eivor then left the hall, and Faravid told Eivor that the King was "the greatest snake in Northumbria", but they needed the army to take Magnis. Eivor decided that they would have the army if they falsified the orders from Halfdan themselves. Faravid asked Eivor if he would really draw up fake orders and pass them off as real, so Eivor then told Faravid that he could contact Hjorr for help. Faravid told Eivor that Hjorr's favorite alehouse was nearby, and advised that Eivor seek him there. Eivor found Hjorr and Ljufvina being confronted by an angry mob of Anglo-Saxons protesting at increased prices in the city, with one saying that things were better under Audun. Eivor helped to beat down the hostile mob, earning the couple's thanks. Ljuvina then asked what brought Eivor back to Jorvik, and Eivor said that he was running secret errands for Halfdan, also saying that he needed an army to face the Picts in the North. Hjorr said that it was unlike Halfdan to attack the North, so Eivor clarified that it was Faravid's plan. He said that Halfdan didn't know about the plan, but he had given Eivor leave to act as he must, for reasons he could not share. Eivor then asked if Hjorr and Ljufvina could aid him with some trickery, as he needed them to help him forge a set of orders from Halfdan himself to force Ricsige's cooperation. Ljufvina persuaded Hjorr to agree, and Eivor acknowledged that they were taking a great risk and thanked them. Eivor told them they could meet outside the royal hall once they had the documents.

Eivor then met with Hjorr outside the hall after meditating there, and Hjorr cautioned Eivor about the risk and led him into the hall. Eivor dellivered the letter to Ricsige, saying that it was straight from Halfdan's hand, and Ricsige said that, "if Halfdan's loyal mules have pledged to fight," he would do so as well, but his help would come at a price. Before Hjorr could offer Ricsige money, Faravid interjected to remind Ricsige that Ricsige's soldiers were his, and Ricsige then retorted that the orders were for Halfdan's soldiers and not his. Ricsige said that he jested, and that, if Halfdan ordered his men to fight, he would have his marching army. Faravid told Ricsige to get them marching at once, as the assault had to happen soon. Ricsige said that he would do so as soon as they were mustered and no sooner, and, as the three Danes left, Ricsige asked if Eivor could stay behind for a moment.

Eivor talking with Ricsige at the royal hall

Ricsige told Eivor that Faravid was Halfdan's man, as were the Hemmings of Nottinghamshire and himself in Jorvik, although Eivor was not. He then asked who Eivor was truly fighting for, and Eivor said that he was fighting for himself and his people. Ricsige commended Eivor, saying that any great leader must do so. Eivor then asked Ricsige why he was asking about his loyalty, so Ricsige said loyalty was a word that slid off the lips like honey: "sweet to the taste, but never lingering." Ricsige warned Eivor that there were things simmering in Northumbria, hidden from even Eivor, and he warned Eivor to take heed and have a care.

Ride to Stenwege[]

Eivor investigating the chamber at Wiccan's Cave

Eivor then decided to return to Faravid at Stenwege, but, along the way, he returned to Wiccan's Cave to investigate a treasure there. He found a secret Roman chamber and killed the boars and chickens guarding it before finding a way in, picking up an ancient Briton artifact. The stone tablet bore on it the crock and dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric, and Eivor decided that it might come in handy some day.

Eivor then rode north, coming across the sunken Olikana Tower, where he saw two young girls, Runa and Rilda, worrying about their father Sigeric Varsson. They told Eivor that he had swam underwater to look for treasurte, but had not come back in hours. Eivor dove underwater and found their father's body, but he went on to break a wooden barrier and steal the treasure before coming back to the girls. He decided that the bracelet he found was theirs by right, and he gave it to Runa, who thanked the "brave traveler". Rilda then asked if Eivor had found their father, so Eivor solemnly told them that the lake would serve as their father's grave, but, with the last gift, his memory survived. Runa sobbed, so Eivor asked Rilda where the rest of her family was, but she said that their mother had died of illness, and they had no family left. However, Runa reminded Rilda that their father's sister lived in Jorvik, and Eivor told the girls to sell the trinket for food and then travel to their aunt, as their father would wish that. After the girls left, Eivor climbed the tower and observed the River Ure, the River Swale, and Stenwege in the distance.

Eivor then rode to the Isurium Aldburg ruins along the way to Stenwege, killing several wolves before finding that the ruins had been converted into a Pictish brigand camp. Eivor killed all of the Pictish women with his battle-axe and arrows, and he then looted their treasures, inccluding tungsten ingot. In a tent, he found orders for Bridei to scout ahead with her warrior-women.

Siege of Magnis[]

Eivor meeting with at — Eivor meeting with Faravid at Stanwick

With the Pictish bandits dealt with, Eivor rode into Stenwege, which had been converted into a Danish base. Eivor met with Faravid, and he asked him where the Saxons were, and Faravid told Eivor that Ricsige's men were already at Magnis, while Ljufvina was ahead with a dozen Danish swords. Faravid suggested that they march, so Eivor meditated as the Danes at the fortress readied themselves for battle. He then rode to Magnis' staging grounds to meet up with his Northumbrian allies. Along the way, he visited Hadrian's Wall, which he had been told was build by Roman giants.

Eivor meeting with Ljufvina before the Battle of Magnis

Eivor then met with Ljufvina as she assembled her men at the staging grounds, and he was surprised to see Halfdan join the army before the battle. Faravid expressed his hope that they could fight together just like in the old days, but Halfdan sneered that Faravid was a traitor and had no right to speak of the old days. Faravid then asked who had told him of the plan, and Halfdan said that his new ally was more loyal to him than his old friend. Faravid then insulted Eivor, calling him "Eivor Two-Faced". Eivor responded by saying that he had come to Yorkshire for Halfdan, to prove his worth and loayalty to him, and that Faravid brought the situation down upon himself. Ljufvina then broke up the argument and reminded the Danes that they were at the end of war, telling them to save their rage for the enemy. Halfdan said that Ljufvina talked sense, saying that they would fight the battle and end the war, and, at the moment, nothing else mattered. The next day, Halfdan had "Raven-Tamer" come with him to use his sharp tongue to convince the Picts to surrender.

Eivor and Halfdan then met with the Pict envoy Deorsa Caileanach, and Eivor told the Pict to "turn tail and run, back beyond the wall." The envoy boasted that the Romans built the wall to keep the Picts out, but the Romans were gone, and the Picts remained. Halfdan then boasted that the Norse had more gods than the Catholic Picts, and, while the envoy said that they might have just one God, they had more friends. Ricsige then called from the ramparts, "Who now is the rightful king of Northumbria?" Angered, Halfdan threw his axe at the walls, signalling his army to attack. Eivor then killed the Pictish envoy Deorsa and his guards, and he participated in the assault on Magnis. He first helped to lower siege ladders, and he then charged beyond the next gate, cut down its bar, and opened it for the besiegers. He then shot down the drawbridge and blew up the palisade before it, allowing for the Danes to storm and capture the courtyard.

Ricsige's betrayal[]

Halfdan then celebrated the victory with Eivor, and he then wondered if Ricsige was the thorn in his back and the real traitor the whole time. Eivor told Halfdan to save his praise, as Ricsige was not yet confirmed dead, but Halfdan said that Ricsige was likely dead in a snowdrift somewhere. Their conversation was interrupted when the Picts assaulted the walls, and Eivor helped to kill all of them. Faravid then noticed Ricsige fleeing north, so Eivor pursued Ricsige and stabbed him in the back of the neck. A dying Ricsige begged, "Faithful counselor. Please, help me back to Jorvik. Let my heart expire at home." Eivor told Ricsige that he had no favors left to offer him, and told him that he would soon walk beside his God. Ricsige said, "But I...I see no light. I feel no warmth. Only...an icy darkness, a cave." Eivor said that it was Hel's frozen door welcoming him. Ricsige asked Eivor what waited for him there, but he died just then.

Halfdan talking with Eivor over Ricsige's body

Halfdan then approached, saying that it was a traitor's death for a treasonous fool. Eivor said that Ricsige was the hero in tales he told himself and a Saxon who loved his homeland, and that Halfdan could not begrudge him for that. Halfdan agreed that there was something in that, and he decided that there were to be no more Saxon kings, as he was done playing the puppeteer, and said that the fate of the shire rested on his shoulders alone. Eivor asked if Halfdan could take on the extra burden that a crown brought, and Halfdan said that he would not rule alone, as his friends and allies would keep him standing upright. Halfdan then proposed that he and Eivor talk of their alliance in Jorvik and leave Ricsige to his "winter kingdom".

Hadrian's Wall[]

Eivor then rode east along Hadrian's Wall, reaching some abandoned Roman housesteads. There, he blew open the barricaded wall of one of the huts and retrieved Lagertha's axe from the building, equipping the weapon once wielded by Ragnarr Lodbrok's wife and legendary shieldmaiden. Eivor then continued to ride east, reaching Brunton Tower and observing the countryside of Northern England. Before he could climb the tower, he came across the drengr Nokkfylla Shine-Eye, who self-deprecated by saying that he was vile and should not be allowed to suck in air. Eivor noticed several dead bodies around Nokkfylla and asked if it was his battlefield, and if the dead men were not innocent. Nokkfylla said that many of them were innocent, while many were not, and their blood was mingled and stank of the iron of his blades. He then confided, "Beloved Ragnarr Lodbrok, he always kept me in check. He steadied the ship of my hugr. Without him, I lost my bearings. I scare myself. Not a thread of decency remains. The drengr I was, I have lost him. Would you end this suffering? For me?" Eivor said that Nokkfylla lived with a great pain, one which could not be eased by a wergild (penance), nor a reckoning. Nokkfylla asked for Eivor to fight him to the death, and Eivor promised to help the lost drengr find what Ragnarr had given him. Eivor shot the much more Nokkfylla full of arrows and slashed him until he fell to his knees, and he told Eivor, "You have lanced me, Nokkylla, the fetid boil. Let this death be the only good I have done since my master's death." Eivor responded, saying, "Odin welcomes all kinds, so long as they war louder and drink faster than the last man."

The Eboracum Bureau[]

After placing Nokkfylla's axe in his hands and riding off, Eivor climbed the turret and observed the countryside, and he then rode to the coast and visited the abandoned Roman fort at present-day Newcastle upon Tyne. After looting its two small treasure chests, Eivor returned to Jorvik. While there, he discovered the boarded-up subterranean (and underwater) entrance to the Hidden Ones' Eboracum Bureau, so he swam through the submerged ruins and then rose up in the above-water, underground ruins. There, he picked up several abandoned treasures and investigated its history. He found a letter from Magister Marcellus warning the Hidden Ones that, because of Magnus Maximus' order to withdraw all imperial troops from the north, the Hidden Ones' mandate to remain in Eboracum had weakened considerably. He decided to cease all operations in North and West Britannia, telling the Hidden Ones to return to their bureaus in Londinium and Camulodunum for further instructions. He also found an anonymous note telling the "interloper" that the Hidden Ones had no more need for the tools that had failed them, and pointing him to a key atop the bookshelf which Eivor used to unlock a nearby chamber and retrieve his first Hidden Ones robes. He then found a note from Magister Khloe ordering the assassination of Emperor Septimius Severus for flouting the Hidden Ones' terms with Aurelian by fortifying and reoccupying the Antonine Wall; the assassin would meet with Centurion Calvinus at the Eboracum villa and help the assassin poison Severus. He then looted a chest of tungsten ingot before leaving the bureau through a ground-level door emerging from a riverside hut.

Faravid's fate[]

Eivor then visited the Jorvik Theatre, where, after a similar treasure hunt, he found King Aella's bardiche axe and looted it. Eivor then headed to the royal hall, where he met with Moira, who told him that Halfdan had settepped outside to talk with Faravid. Worried, Eivor went to look for the two men. He found them discussing Ricsige's betrayal on the walls, and he persuaded them to come back to the hall for the ceermony. Halfdan then sat on his throne, and he gave a toast to Eivor and the Raven Clan, Jorvik's newest ally in blood and glory. Eivor then toasted to Halfdan and poetically sung his praise, saying, "Crown spire, stout oak of Valkyries, spinner of battle wisdom...long may you live and rule. Skal!" Just then, Halfdan had another coughing fit, resulting in blood spewing from his mouth. Halfdan dropped his goblet, and Eivor picked it up, asking Moira what metal the cup was made of, as it was soft like "Roman pipes". Moira revealed that it was lead, a toxic metal. Eivor asked if the Romans knew that lead could drive a person mad, and Moira emphatically agreed, saying that the Romans knew it well, and that her mother had also been driven insane by lead poisoning. Halfdan then stood and, looking at Faravid, he shouted, "All these years, you gifted me poisoin! You gifted me madness!" Faravid claimed that Halfdan's sickness had clouded his judgment, but Halfdan said that the sickness was no accident, and that he had trusted Faravid. Faravid then tried to unsheathe his sword, but Eivor told Faravid to stand down. Faravid told Eivor to make Halfdan see sense, but Halfdan called out Faravid for his treason. Eivor sided with Halfdan, warning Faravid that he would be forced to fight him if he did not stand down. Faravid asked if Eivor would dare to do so after all they achieved together, so Eivor told Halfdan that saying that, if any of his clan committed such a betrayal, he would rip his flesh from his bones.

Faravid and Eivor then fought in the center of the hall, with Eivor cutting Faravid down with Lagertha's axe and bringing a captive Faravid to Halfdan. Halfdan demanded that Faravid stand and fight him, but Faravid instead asked Halfdan if he remembered the days they used to race their horses across Northumbria, saying that Halfdan was always faster and always won because he let Halfdan win. Faravid then said that he would let Halfdan win one last time, and that he would see him in the corpse hall. Halfdan relented, but he then smashed in Faravid's head with his hammer and then wept over his old friend's body.

Leaving Yorkshire[]

Shortly after, once Faravid's body was disposed of, Eivor approached Halfdan and told him that it was time that he returned to his home in Mercia. Halfdan got up from his throne and gifted Eivor an arm-ring as a sign of friendship, a bond between their clans, and a symbol of the pain and suffering it took to win the peace. Before leaving, Eivor turned around and said, "I hope we were right about him," and he then took his leave from the royal hall.

Eivor then rode south, looting the treasures at the Petuaria Ruins and the Temple of Brigantia along the way. He then returned to Ravensthorpe, as the treachery of King Ricsige had been unveiled, his secret alliance with the Picts exposed, and Halfdan crowned King of Northymbre. When he told this to Randvi, she was pleased to hear it, and they marked Northumbria as an ally on their map.

Gloucestershire[]

Briefing on Gloucestershire[]

Eivor then decided to talk to Randvi about Gloucestershire, his next destination. Randvi told Eivor that he may have noticed that Gunnar had disappeared from his forge, revealing that he had gone to Gloucestershire in search of a wife. Eivor asked when Gunnar had fallen in love, and Randvi asked when their "dear, lovelorn blacksmith" wasn't in love. She said there was a bright side, as Gunnar asked Eivor to join him. Eivor asked why Gunnar would want him to join his search for a wife, so Randvi explained that he wanted Eivor to esnure that he did not make a fool of himself, and so that Eivor's presence would bolster his image. Eivor then agreed to be Gunnar's keeper and pledged to Glowecestrescire, and Randvi told Eivor that he would find Gunnar at Gloucester.

Fight with Ubbe[]

As Eivor left the alliance room, Sigurd told Eivor that Ubbe Ragnarrsson had come, and claimed to have some business with Eivor. Eivor then met with Ubbe, who treated him angrily, telling Eivor that he knew his secret. Eivor was unsure of what Ubbe was talking about, so Ubbe said that he had banished Ivar to Helheim and denied him a seat in Odin's hall. Eivor reminded Ubbe of what Ivar had done, the oaths he broke, and the lies he spread. Ubbe protested, saying that Ivarr was his brother and a king, but Eivor said that he knew all of that, and that he did not regret what he had done. Ubbe then challenged Eivor to a public fistfight, and, after a short fight in the rain, Eivor beat down Ubbe. Eivor told Ubbe that he had done his brother justice by coming, but he then suggested that Ubbe leave. Eivor told Ubbe that there was no shame in leaving, and he told him to mourn as he must. Ubbe then asked Eivor if he would have denied him his reward had it come to a duel, so Eivor said "never". Ubbe then bid farewell, saying, "When we meet again Eivor. May it be as friends." He then beat his chest and bowed in respect to Eivor, and he left.

Journey to Gloucestershire[]

Eivor standing over 's body — Eivor standing over Redwalda's body

Eivor then rode west to Venonis, where he ambushed the zealot Redwalda and cut him down. Redwalda lamented how he had served and prayed under Saint Chad at Tamworth as a monk, and said he should have stayed there. Eivor asked if Chad had died with an axe in his hand, and, when Redwalda explained that Chad would be revered for avoiding the axe, he said that he wished he had done so himself rather than taken a path full of violent honor. He then said, "The Old Gods will fade from our sight, in time. God forgive me, for I have sinned."

Eivor then rode into Oxfordshire, stopping by the village of Perie, looting the local treasure, and fighting against the legendary wolves Hwit-Wulf, Eald-Wulf, and Niht-Wulf. After a brief fight, Eivor shot the wolves full of arrows and then hacked them to death with his legendary axe, rescuing the abandoned village. He then headed to Buckingham to play dice with the local inn's champion, who was friends with the Order member "the Lathe". Eivor sat down with Eadild Parson, the friendly Anglo-Saxon woman who was the dice champion, and, after beating her in a close game of orlog, he received from her a note telling him that "the Lathe" boasted of putting an end to a rival; a sealed chamber at the Eatun Barn was said to hold the answer as to whom he was targeting.

Along the way, Eivor ambushed the zealot Cudberct, Eel of Earth along the River Thames' north shore, due west of Cyne Belle Castle in southern Oxfordshire. He approached him from behind, stunned him, attakced him with a small axe, and then cut him down with his bigger axe without a fight. He then finished off Cudberct with his hidden blade, and Cudberct lamented how Lennius was the Order's only king, having fought alongside King Arthur; he believed that the Order had been blind ever since then.

Eivor investigating the hidden chamber in Eaton

Eivor then returned to the small village of Eaton, where he blew open the barricaded cave entrance and located the secret chamber. He looted the treasure within the chamber before locating another hidden room blocked by a stone barricade, which he moved aside. There, he found a letter from one of the Lathte's victims, who had been condemned to starve in the chamber. He said that the Lathe's true name was Mucel, shipbuilder of Buckingham, and the victim urged the reader to take vengeance for him.

Eivor heeded the dead man's call and travelled to Buckingham, tracking down Mucel. He found Mucel sitting on the dock by himself, and he came up from behind and stabbed him dead with his hidden blade. In his last worrds, Mucel expressed his belief that his lord Aethelred would rule one day, but Eivor said that Aethelred was no Alfred, from what he had heard. Mucel said that he lied to everyone, and that they would tell stories of how he was a good man who served his lord. Eivor said that his hugr (mind) would inhabit a new beast, and he took his medallion and a letter from "the Ash-Spear" reporting that he had set up an outpost at the Roman tower north of Norwich.

Arrival in Gloucester[]

Eivor then forded the River Great Ouse at Oxford and rode into Gloucestershire, riding past the megaliths at Belas Knap and then into Gloucester itself. He used the viewpoint at St. Kenhelm's Church to familiarize himself with the area, and he looted some treasures at the church, down a well, and in a house on the west bank o the river before seeing Gunnar smiling in a way he had not for some time. Gunnar introduced Eivor to his attractive and young fiancee Brigid, who only spoke Welsh, and he explained that he had met her when she came to the settlement to trade some runes for a brooch. He also translated that she was the daughter of the last high priestess and ealdorman, but they both passed away. The current ealdorman looked after Brigid, so Eivor told Gunnar that he would like to meet the ealdorman to ensure that the couple was married.

During the ride, Gunnar said that the ealdorman had heard of Eivor's exploits, not just from himself, but also from the many skalds who had taken notice of Eivor's many adventures. Eivor asked if the locals were worried about lurking Vikings, but Gunnar said that they were too preoccupied with the Samhain festival (31 October-1 November of 876 AD). Eivor showed Eivor to Ealdorman Cynon of Gloucester as he greeted the festival's other visitors, and Eivor decided that, as Cynon was being a good leader by looking after his people's needs, they could visit him again later. Gunnar then decided to introduce Eivor to Tewdwr, who was to be ealdorman after Cynon. Tewdwr was blunt and rude, sarcastically saying that it was "just lovely" that more pagans would be crowding the festival table. Eivor took offense, saying that, where he came from, one did not poison the well of friendship so quickly. Tewdwr then asked what "Dane friendship" had done for "Christian Mercia" anart from "unseated God-right kings for puppet rulers." Eivor remarked that "so-called puppet kings keep your lands safe and your bellies full. I ask no thanks, only hospitality." Gunnar then interrupted the conversation to suggest that the two men try the apple cider.

Meeting Tewdwr[]

Just then, Cynon came over and merrily greeted Eivor and welcomed him to his last Samhain. He asked Tewdwr if he had introduced himself, and Tewdwr passive-aggressively responded, "At your behest, we welcome all pagans set upon God's own Glowecestre". Cynon then reprimanded Tewdwr as his "harvest king", telling him to remove the "turnip" from his "arse" and be merry. Cynon then asked if Eivor had come to meet the family before he whisked his Brigid away to her life as a smithy's bride, and Eivor said that, while he would be honored to have her join the Raven Clan, Gloucestershire's lush landscape would be hard to match. Cynon lamented that he had to give away girl and land that misty season, but he said that Gunnar was a good man, and that Gunnar had spoken tirelessly of Eivor. Tewdwr then abruptly excused himself, saying that he had matters to attend to. Cynon suggested that Eivor accompany Tewdwr to the shrine to protect him from bandits, despite Tewdwr's protest at "a heathen escort". Tewdwr conceded, seeing that he was outmatched, and he said that God would weep at the sight of a Dane joining in praise to Saint Kenhelm.

Eivor and Tewdwr at the shrine to Saint Kenhelm

During the ride, Tewdwr criticized Cynon for holding the Celtic Samhain festival due to its "fires and magic, spirits in the air," saying that Gloucester had strayed from God's light. Eivor said that there was need for carousing to bring warmth and joy before the winter frost, but Tewdwr told Eivor that he planned to lead a religious reformation in Gloucestershire, ban Samhain after becoming ealdorman, and bring people to the pews rather than let them worship "false idols of wood and clay." Eivor then pointed out that Tewdwr worshipped at the shrine to Saint Kenhelm, who was not his god, so Tewdwr said that Kenhelm was closer to God's ear. When Tewdwr began to pray before the statue on his knees, Eivor asked why he should get his knees dirty when Danes prayed to Odin while standing, and Kenhelm reasoned that it meant humbling oneself before God; he also quipped that he had dirtied his knees doing worse. Eivorjoked that it was a tale worth hearing, and, when Tewdwr insisted on praying, Eivor again joked by asking if he should look away. Just then, he spotted three wild boars, killing them before they could harm Tewdwr. Tewdwr then thanked Eivor for saving his life, and he promised to get him a drink at the festival, but he told him that he no longer needed protection; Eivor said that he had given his word to Cynon that he would protect Tewdwr, but Tewdwr said that he would tell Cynon how Eivor had saved him.

Samhain festival[]

Eivor then returned to Gunnar and Brigid's hut, where Gunnar and Eivor drank some apple cider from last year's harvest. Gunnar then invited Eidor to a "hoodening", explaining that Gloucester gave its wealth to otherworldly visitors, and that, if Eivor dressed as one, he would get that bounty himself. He then had Eivor wear a skeltal mask and a cape to transform him into "the very spirit of the Mari Lwyd", the spirit who sang for cake and ale. Eivor then went to "trick or treat" around the town, first going to Wighard Dexter's home and getting moldy cheese from him. Gunnar made fun of Eivor as he went knocking on doors around the town, taunting him, "Eivor, mighty warrior, knocker of doors, victor of cakes. How does it feel to pillage what is freely given?" After getting two cakes from a young girl, Eivor noticed that Gunnar had gone missing, wo he went looking for him.

Eivor found Gunnar arguing with a xenophobic Saxon, Tamas Fletcher. Gunnar asked Tamas if he was foolish enough to fight with someone from the Raven Clan, so Tamas said that it was a fitting name for scavengers who took what wasn't theirs. Eivor tried to break up the argument, but Tamas tried to throw a punch at Eivor, leading to Eivor and Gunnar teaming up against Tamas in a fistfight at the docks. The fight was broken up by Modron, who said that there were children watching, and, when Tamas called her a "witch", Modron said that she had brought Tamas in to the world, and warned him to mind his tongue. Modron then offered to tend to Gunnar's injured leg, and Eivor thanked her. She then introduced herself, saying that she led those who still followed the "Old Ways" in Gloucestershire, offering her healing services on both sides of the river. Modron then sent her daughter Gwenydd to go back to the house and bring her a garlic salve. Eivor said that Modron did not have to help Gunnar, so she joked that, while she could cure his leg, she could not cure the endless dribble from Gunnar's mouth.

Eivor then went to speak with Tewdwr back at the great hall, and he spoke with the merry Cynon before meeting Gwilim, who fascinated him, as he was apparently a priest celebrating a pagan holiday. Gwilim said that he wasn't "the Church", but he turned to God just three years earlier. Eivor asked what Gwilim had done before then, and Gwilim explained that he had been a grain farmer, although he had to take up the sword a few times to protect his crops. Eivor then asked what brought Gwilim to God as a monk, and Gwilim said that one knoews when they have to change after the third night waking up breechless in pig manure with no idea how one got there.

Eivor them spoke with Tewdwr, who invited him to join him and Gwilim in a drinking contest. He lost to Tewdwr, and he then went to sepak with Cynon. Cynon, merry as usual, revealed that he was to be sacrificed in the wicker man as the King of the Harvest, like Ealdorman Simkin before him, and all before him. Tewdwr called it a "horrible barbaric practice. A burnt offering after poor crops. They hope well-fed gods will smile upon them." Eivor then decided to offer a toast to Ealdorman Cynon, joyous and generous, to let each man show him loyalty until he suffered death. He then got drunk with Tewdwr and Gwilim, and Tewdwr apologized for his previous asonine behavior. Eivor then suggested that, once Tewdwr became ealdorman, they should unite their clans both through marriage and through oath, and Tewdwr was drunkenly excited to make his first ally as ealdorman. They spent the whole evening drikning, and Eivor ultimately woke up at Tewdwr's house, having fallen unconscious the night before.

Accused murderer[]

Upon exiting the hut the next morning, he was accosted by Cynon and a few guards, and Cynon accused Eivor of having murdered Tewdwr. Cynon said that Gloucester would now be without an ealdorman, and he said, "Eye for an eye, your Raven Clan will lose their chieftain." Eivor killed the two guards and then investigated the house, finding that Tewdwr's bodyguard had been knifed to death, that Tewdwr might have been dragged away from the house after he was killed, and found Gwilim's pouch in a sealed-off room where the assassin must have hidden.

Modron sniffing 's pouch — Modron sniffing Gwilim's pouch

Eivor decided to visit Modron to discover what was in Gwilim's pouch of herbs, and he met Modron along the river. Modron told him that the pouch was a very unusual blend, and that there was a druid who used the mix to aid sleep. Eivor then told her that Gwilim had slipped the contents of the pouch into his drink the night before, and that it gave him a strong reaction. Modron's daughter Gwenydd suggested that Eivor visit the druid Halewyn, who lived at a cabin on a lake where the River Cherwell and the River Great Ouse met. She warned Eivor that Halewyn was a "strange fish", as he preferred the company of the spirits to mortals, and she told him to meet her at Rollendritch when he was done.

Eivor rode to a tower on the hillside of Thieves' Warren, from which he was able to locate the druid's cottage. As he had heard that "the Vellum" had a factotum at Thieves' Warren from an intercepted letter to his henchman Baldric, Eivor headed up the hill to investigate the fort. He killed the guards there and looted the tungsten ingot treasures, and he also found a note identifying Eanbhert of Gloucester as "the Vellum". He then rode to the druid's cottage, where Halewyn ignored his knocking, as he was uninterested in mortals. Eivor then donned his "Mari Lwyd" costume, and the insane Halewyn welcomed the "spirit", saying that he had foreseen it during a rainstorm a few days earlier. Halewyn then invited the spirit to take part in his ritual involving the men of straw set up around his house, and Eivor used fire arrows to set the wicker men alight. Before speaking with Halewyn, Eivor went into his home and looked around, noticing various materials used for charms. When Eivor returned to Halewyn to interrogate him, Halewyn decided to test the "spirit" to ensure that he was really a spirit of light. He asked him about the different types of charms, and, as Eivor had already gathered evidence from the house, he was able to identify the charms of Threefold Death, the Double Spoon, and the Skull Souls. Eivor then showed Halewyn the pouch, and Halewyn said that he had filled the very pouch to help the customer sleep, and that he had spoken with the customer about his home, Cudd Lladron. Eivor then thanked Halewyn, but told him that he had other souls to visit that harvest moon.

Cudd Lladron[]

Eivor and Modron riding to Thieves' Warren

Eivor then rode to the Rollendritch standing stones and met with Modron, who told him that she had learned of his plight, but knew that Eivor would not be one to endanger his friend's marriage. She then told Eivor that "Cudd Lladron" was the Welsh name for "Thieves' Warren", and she offered to lead Eivor there. During the ride, Eivor remarked how he felt that he was in a different, untamed world while riding through the forest of Gloucestershire, and Modron said that there was old magic there, which would be snuffed out by Tewdwr and his church. Eivor asked if this was why Tewdwr was killed, but Modron suggested that an ambitious man may have done it, or rival Danes, but Eivor discarded the latter theory, as he would have heard the other Danes' horns. As they approached Cudd Lladron, Modron decided to break off, and she told Eivor that she would be at a nearby shrine if he needed her.

Eivor proceeded to infiltrate Thieves' Warren, killing the brigands before recognizing Tewdwr's voice. He found Gwilim and Tewdwr in a hut, and Eivor proceeded to choke Gwilim and interrogate him. Gwilim told Eivor to have mercy, as he was under orders from Cynon to dispose of Tewdwr. He also let the other prisoner Ascferth Frobisher see Tewdwr alive to squeeze more coin out of Cynon to have his secret kept. Eivor freed Ascferth and asked Gwilim why Cynon wanted Tewdwr dead, but Gwilim was unable to reply, as Cynon had kept him in secrecy. Eivor then left Gwilim at the camp as he took Tewdwr, who was sick, to Modron. Along the way, Tewdwr said that Cynon had been like a father to him, but he had disavowed his earlier fanatical Christian views and come to see that pagans merely saw God with many faces.

Eivor brought a sickly Tewdwr to Modron and told her that Cynon had hired the bandits to kill Tewdwr, only for them to neglect their duty and leave Tewdwr alive, albeit with blood poisoning, as Modron suspected. Modron told Eivor that Tewdwr and Cynon were once alike, God-fearing Christians arguing the nature of life with her before Tewdwr softened. Modron then theorized that Cynon may have become so obsessed with power that he intended to put Tewdwr to flame in his place at the Samhain festival. Eivor decided that Tewdwr would not be safe until he dealt with Cynon, and he asked Modron to tend to Tewdwr's wounds until he could deal with the power-hungry nobleman.

Confronting Cynon[]

Eivor meeting with and — Eivor meeting with Gwenydd and Brigid

Eivor headed to the Gloucester longhouse to search for Cynon, but he instead found Brigid, and he decided to talk to her and hope that he understood some of what she said. Their conversation was interrupted by Modron's daughter Gwenydd, who innocently called Eivor "the Samhain Butcher". Eivor asked he where Cynon was, but she only agreed to help him if she would watch her perform magic tricks. After a long wait, Eivor finally asked if Gwenydd could take him to Cynon, so she recommended she speak to the festival organizers to find Cynon. Eivor spoke with Fritheswith Fisher, who said that, since it was past sundown, Cynon had retired to the church for prayer. However, she said that he had locked himself in, and only Geva had the key, although she said that Geva was a clumsy girl. Eivor thanked her and said that he would speak to Cynon the next day, although he intended to procure the key. He met Tidweald Rocker, who told Eivor that people were not supposed to get into the church, and Tidweald said that he would have to be drunk to show someone inside of the depressing church. Eivor decided to get Tidweald drunk, and Tidweald told Eivor how upset he was with pagans shattering his stained-glass windows at the church; Eivor deduced that the windows broke easily.

Eivor broke through the window and then into Cynon's blocked-off room, where he confronted Cynon about his plan to burn Tewdwr in his stead. Cynon said that he would go to the wicker man gladly, but he wanted to get rid of the Christian zeealot Tewdwr. Eivor then asked how a leaderless Gloucester would manage against a Christian zealot, but Cynon corrected him, saying that Modron would sit upon the horned throne. He then revealed that he and Modron had made their plan to build a future for their daughter, revealing that he and Modron were once lovers, and that Gwenydd was his daughter, born from a fertility ritual. He also said that his affair with Modron had helped to build a united Gloucestershire - pagan and Christian - while Tewdwr threatened to tear the peace apart. Eivor told Cynon that Tewdwr had changed, and Cynon was shocked to hear that Tewdwr had been taught reason. Cynon - with his faith restored in Tewdwr - told Eivor that Modron would have taken Tewdwr to her forest temple; if Eivor made haste, he might be able to stay her blade. Cynon then said that he had matters to attend to, unless Eivor would kill him first. Eivor decided that Cynon was already a dead man, as he would die in the wicker man, and he said that he would not make his people suffer for his actions.

The Forest Temple[]

Eivor then rode through the Forest of Denu to confront Modron at Aelfwood, where he killed all of her brigand guards and looted the many treasures of her camp, including thegn's breeches, which he equipped due to their superior armor. He then followed the sound of her chants into the Ochre Caves. He made his way through several different caves before finding a hidden underground temple, where he found Modron preparing to sacrifice Tewdwr. Eivor told Modron to stop, or else he would have to kill her. She criticzed Cynon for not having the guts to feed Eivor to the dogs, and she decided to show Eivor the wrath of the gods.

Modron proceeded to run, swing, and climb from platform to platform so that she could shoot arrows at Eivor from a long range, but he ultimately shot her full of arrows and cut her down with his axe. She then asked if Eivor would leave Gloucestershire to a zealot in the name of his clan and trade routes, but Eivor assured Modron that Tewdwr had changed. Modron said that a man would lie to save his skin, and that, once Eivor was gone, he would gut Modron and burn her people; she claimed that the gods had shown her that vision. Eivor acknowledged that Tewdwr would likely not have changed had it not been for Modron's plot, and Modron said that she thus had no regrets. However, she said that the gods had also given her a vision of Eivor's future, which she described as having as many twists as the River Ouse. Despite a vision from Odin urging him to kill Modron for dishonoring her people, Eivor told her that she had spared Cynon, and told her to say her goodbyes and keep out of his sight. Gwenydd then ran in and hugged mer mother, and Tewdwr awoke and asked Eivor if they were in Hell. Eivor assured Tewdwr that he was only in England, and that, despite the many attempts on his life, he would live to be ealdorman yet. Modron then told Tewdwr that his wounds should heal by next moon if he got some rest. Tewdwr, unaware that Modron had just attempted to kill him while he was unconscious, told ?Eivor that they should leave, and that Modron was a lovely woman, but terrifying.

The Wicker Man[]

Eivor then returned to Gloucester in time for the ceremony. Along the way, he bought some map information from the experienced traveler Thorketil Rodmarsson, and he then met with Gunnar and Brigid, telling them that the time to leave was coming, even though they had barely shared a drink with each other in Gloucester. First, Gunnar suggested that they bid farewell to their "Wicker King". Along the way, Eivor came across Modron, and he asked her to give him his prophecy. She said, "You are a great warrior, conqueror of this land, and that of your birth. But, at the end of all things, you will find yourself with nothing but your regrets." Eivor then went to Cynon, who prepaed to enter the wicker man. Cynon first bade farewell to Modron, recalling how they had first met at Ealdorman Simkin's festival, and Modron said that there was some poetic symmetry after twenty years of prosperity. He then bade farewell to his tearful daughter, saying that he would join the dirt that grew the trees and the barley, and his body would feed the gods, worms, and even her.

Hours later, Tewdwr told Cynon that it was time, and Cynon handed over his crown to Tewdwr. Tewdwr commended Eivor for being a friend of Gloucestershire and living up to his reputation. Cynon then ruefully told Tewdwr that he knew he owed him less than nothing, but asked that he would look after his family. Tewdwr said that he took no pleasure in the suffering of others, and that Cynon would have understood that if he had given him a chance. Cynon then made a brief address to the crowd before entering the wicker man, and Tewdwr gave Eivor the honor of lighting the wicker man.

Eivor threw the first torch against the Wicker man, and the townspeople soon followed, engulfing the wicker in flames and sacrificing their ealdorman of twenty years. Cynon then prayed aloud, "Our Father, who art in Heaven. Our Mother, who art in Earth. Please accept this offering." As the flames rose, his coughing intensified and interrupted his prayer, and he ultimately screamed in pain as he was burned to death. Eivor then stayed the night in the town, and, the next morning, he decided to return to Randvi and give her the good news. He first upgraded his gear at Gunnar's shop, and he then read a letter from Hytham informing him that he had received another letter from "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ" with new targets. Eivor then told Randvi that he did not know how to explain what happened in Gloucestershire, but she would learn soon enough; Randvi then asked if they had succeeded in forming an alliance, and Eivor said yes, for all of their pains.

The Hunt Intensifies[]

More Intel[]

Eivor then met with Hytham at his bureau, and Hytham told him that he was happy to see Basim back at the settlement, as there was so much he wished to learn from him. Eivor then reported that he had wiped out the Order in Jorvik, and Hytham told him that a new letter had arrived for Eivor, which Eivor predicted was "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ". Hytham then asked if Eivor knew the person; Eivor said that he did not, but he had intimate knowledge of the order and had helped Eivor to eliminate the Order in the cities so far. Hytham told Eivor that the "Fellow-Soldier" wanted Eivor to travel to Winchester, visit God's house, and look for a man in white before reciting the passsage, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame. But with the lowly cometh wisdom." Eivor decided to talk to Randvi about the opportunity, and he then took his leave.

Return to Gloucestershire[]

Eivor then travelled back to Gloucester to kill Eanbhert, but, along the way, he found Tewdwr - wearing the "Harvest King" helmet - assuring the locals that they would still be celebrating Beltane next spring. Tewdwr was then happily surprised to see Eivor, and Eivor said that he looked like a true leader with his helmet. Tewdwr said that holding two sides of the river together was no easy task, and that he respected Cynon's composure. Eivor then asked gow Gloucestershire was, and Tewdwr said that it had been a kind and uneventful spring of his service, with Halewyn assuring him that all of the gods were smiling on him. They then caught up all day, but, at sundown, Tewdwr noticed that Eivor looked upset, and Eivor said that the had made many mistakes, and that there was no use in gawking at an open wound. Tewdwr then came close to Eivor and said that, if he ever needed someone to talk to, he flirtatiously offered to let him shoulder some of Eivor's burden. Eivor thanked Tewdwr for his kindness, and he then headed off to deal with Eanbhert.

Eivor found Eanbhert alone in his boathouse at the docks, so he climbed through the roof and jumped down on him, fatally stabbing him with his hidden blade. A dying Eanbhert then asked, if an evil man gave one biscuits, should one feed them to their children. Eivor said that he would not let good food go to waste, but Eanbhert said that he would let his children starve, as "a serpent's gift will always end in malice." Eivor then responded, "Sweet from evil remains sweet. Even if it crumbles quickly in their hands." Eivor then retrieved a note to "the Dart", which said that "the Dart" would leave instructions at the old tower east of Caustow Castle.

Eivor then headed to Thieves' Warren and came across Beorhtsige the Joy-Canker, an Order zealot. He ambushed him on the road and cut him down after a short duel, dodging Beorhtsige's bombs and swings beforfe lodging his axe in Berrohtsige's neck and shoving him to the ground. Eivor confirmed the kill with his hidden blade, and Beorhtsige said that he always dreaemd that he could cover himself with a blanket of leaves and join Cernunnos; he then asked Eivor to tuck him in with a song. Eivor said that the sound of Odin stomping on his bones was the only sound he would hear, and he then took Beorhtsige's medallion. Eivor then rode to the Cragstone Watchtower for a better view of the surrounding countryside.

The Dart[]

Eivor's view of from — Eivor's view of England from Manstone Rock

Eivor then rode from the watchtower in northeastern Gloucestershire to the Manstone Rock in southwestern Shropshire to complete his knowledge of southern Shropshire. While rdiging to Manstone Rock, he found an abandoned ruined tower guarded by three Welshmen, so he killed one with his axe, shot another one with his arrow, and stealthily assassinated the third. He then recovered a Roman artifact from the rubble, and he carried on with his journey. He then climbed Manstone Rock and viewed a large portion of England and its many rivers, and he then headed to the tower east of Quatford and found a letter to "the Vellum" from "the Dart", revealing that he was the stablemaster of Quatford and was known as Tata, Defender of Otta's Wyrd. Before pursuing Tata, Eivor went to Caustow Castle and plundered its untouched riches.

Eivor then travelled to Quatford, where he looted the local treasures before heading to the stables and stabbing Tata in the back. In his last moments, Tata told Eivor that, while Offa of Mercia told everyone he was Christian, he was not, and was instead a member of the Order of the Ancients, and that he wanted silver and swords for his men of Mercia. Eivor asked if Tata was continuing his legacy, and Tata said that he was doing so without flinching or hesitating, and said that Offa would be proud of him. Eivor said that Tata must have lived a hundred years, and Tata said that it sometimes felt so. Tata then died, and Eivor took his medallion. Eivor then found a letter fro "the Adze" mentioning her friend who was the drinking champion at the Roman ruins within Leicester, and he added another target to his list.

The Adze[]

Eivor then travelled to Leicester to challenge the drinking champion Aelfsi Aluarding, and he defeated him after a cheerful competition. Aelfsi then gave Eivor a note saluting him for out-drinking him, and telling him that "the Adze" used to spend time at the watermill south of Tonnastadir. Eivor travelled to the Roman ruins at Venonis and looted some of the treasure there before riding west to Cweornric, finding the watermill and killing the Mercian guards there. He looted the treasures there and found a note identifying the Adze as Gunilla; the note was a goodbye note from Gunilla to her lover, telling her that she was going to join the Order at Repton (despite her lover's hatred for the Order), and telling him that, from that day hence, she was to be called "the Adze".

Eivor returned to Repton, where he found Gunilla sitting by herself near the docks. Eivor approached her from behind and swiped at her with his hidden blade, cutting her down. In her dying words, Gunilla said that everyone had to turn to the Order not for truth, but for true power, as the Order kept people well-placed. Eivor said that the Order desecrated the true purpose of life, but Gunilla disagreed, saying that she placed power on power and created greater power. Eivor then took her medallion and a note revealing that "the Vice" was Reeve Derby of Pickering, who was based out of his hometown, and could be found near a waterfall in Pickering.

The Vice[]

Eivor proceeded to travel to Scarborough on the east coast of Yorkshire, and he then rode inland to Pickering. He entered Derby's house and found Derby sleeping in his bed, where Eivor slashed him with his hidden blades in an ambush. The fatally wounded Derby woke from his pain, and Eivor told him to rest easy, as his time had come. Derby said that he would now be judged at the witan of the gods, and, when Eivor told him to go to Helheim, Derby agreed, saying that even Helheim needed a reeve.

Eivor then decided to head to South East England to pursue "the Ash-Spear" in East Anglia and "the Sickle" in Essex. While riding south, Eivor came across the Order zealot Callin Long-Sorrow east of Threaded Pass and far up the road from Flamborough Head. During a duel with Callin in the snowy woods, Eivor shot Callin full of arrows, dodged his poison bombs, and ultimately hacked him down with his battle axe. In his last moments, Callin said that he would often awake in his vagrancy, shaking and sweating, and he told Eivor that he hoped it would stop now. Eivor told him farvell ("farewell", or "goodbye") and that the trolls awaited him.

The Ash-Spear[]

Eivor then travelled to the ruined Roman tower north of Norwich, where he killed several Danish bandits before finding a note from "the Lyre" to "the Ash-Spear" telling him to move his men to a forward camp not far from Britannia's Watch. Eivor travelled to the tower and then rode slightly southeast and into the Thetford Forest, where he found a small camp. He killed the four guards there and found a letter from teh local bandits to "the Ash-Spear", Gifle, telling him that they would meet at the highest point of Thetford Forest, not far from the Roman walls up near the Watch.

While riding to the bandit camp, Eivor came across a shrine in which a desecrated body was tied up, and, while investigating, he was haunted by a vision of King Lear's daughter Cordelia. The vision was too strong for him, so he instead decided to ride on and take care of "the Ash-Spear" before eventually returning to take on the seidr. Eivor found the bandit camp and killed several bandits before suffocating Gifle to death. A mortally wounded Gifle told Eivor that he wished life had been a carnival of drinking ale and pissing, and while Eivor suggested that he could have chosen that life, Gifle said that, while the Order had given him the means to drink ale, he lamented that the price was murder. Eivor then found a note on Gifle's body which identified Tatfrid as the Maegester of the Order, and located him in Cambridge.

The Lyre[]

While riding out of the forest camp, Eivor came across the zealot Wuffa Death-Boon, and they engaged in a short fight along the road, with Eivor also killing a few bandits who had emerged from the bushes to attack him. Eivor cut down the bandits and then fought Wuffa, who used a flaming sppear, ultimately mortally wounding her in the neck with his axe and finishing her off with his hidden blade. A dying Wuffa told Eivor, "My...sword is lost. Floating down a creek. I shall follow. Till I dance again, or drown."

As Eivor was now just a few miles east of Cambridge, he decided to ride into the town and confront Tatfrid. Eivor found Tatfrid sitting by himself in the marketplace, playing music on his lyre. Eivor ambushed and killed him with his hidden blade, and, in his dying words, Tatfrid conceded defeat, saying that the scops would sing of his conquests. Eivor said that cowards did not get sagas, but Tatfrid insisted that he was no coward, claiming to be the victor in a long lost battle for Wessex. Tatfrid suggested that the scop could sing of how he regained lost honor, but Eivor said that he would leave Tatfrid's reputation as it was: "here in the blood-blackened mud."

The Sickle[]

Eivor then left for Maldon's saltern camp to investigate the identity of "the Sickle". Along the way, he came to Black Peak in southern Cambridgeshire, where he found that the land was cursed. He found the curse pole in a cavern ocated in a rut on the roadside, and he destroyed the curse pole; he then found a note asking the Saxon pagan god Woden to curse the Danes and drive them from England. Eivor then ambushed Kendall the Blood Brewer on the road into Saffron Walden (on the town's north side), and, while she was well-armored and bore a large shield, Eivor ultimately cut her down. He taunted her, saying that the trolls would take her, and she said that the maggots should go on and rule "Old Albion".

Eivor then travelled to Maldon, climing down the cliff to the saltern camp and killing several guards before looting its treasures. He discovered a note identifying "the Sickle" as Heika of Friesland, who could be found at the bakery in Colchester market. After making his getaway, Eivor rode to Colchester and found Heika under guard in the maretplace. Eivor got into a fight with the guards, allowing Heika to run away from the bakery. Eivor chased her outside of the city walls, where she stumbled on the dirt road; Eivor hacked her down with his axe and stabbed her with his hidden blade. Heika askedf Eivor if he slaved for the Hidden Ones, but Eivor said that he slaved for no one,but that he was scrubbing England clean of its filth for the safety of his people. Heika sarcastically asked Eivor to hear "the excuses of a mind enslaved," and she laughed before dying of her wounds.

Hunting the Zealots[]

Eivor then rode past the Basildon (Belesduna) bandit camp to hunt down Essex's zealot. He found Heike Raven-Banquet just west of Basildon, and he cut her down with his great axe after a short roadside fight in the Epping Forest. In his dying moments, Heike told Eivor, "In the Kingdom of Frisia, we honor your type, pagan. We strive as you strive to achieve the perfection of the Ancient Ones." When Eivor asked, "Pagan?", Raven-Banquet said, "to be pagan is perfect." Heike then died, and Eivor took his medallion, as well as an ancient artifact representing the chariot of Morgan Mwynfawr.

Next, Eivor headed to Canterbury, Kent to settle an old score with Woden Pagan-Hole. He intercepted him on the road out of Tonbridge monastery, and he cut down Woden after a short fight and then stabbed him with his hidden blade. Eivor told Woden, "No more winters for you," and Woden said that it was better to die than face his lords; he expressed his hope that his Maegester Magnus would forgive him, as he had looked to him for guidance and order for so long. Eivor said that, if his honor was slow, a true lord could not forgive him. Woden said that he would turn his gaze to Woden, Tiw, and Funor, and would continue to turn until he found forgiveness. Eivor said to the dead Woden, "You will spin and drill yourself to an endless bottom." On Woden's body, Eivor found a tablet representing the halter of Clydno Eiddyn.

Eivor then rode to the Medway Megaliths, where he found a letter from Brendan of Clonferth relating how thhe Jutes had taken him to the stones to decipher another mystery of the Nephilim. Eivor paced around the stones until he saw the markings line up to form "888" as Brendan had written, and he sat to meditate after feeling a strange force emitting from the stones.

Eivor then traveled to the village of Wycham in the Fens, aiming to deal with the roaming zealot Eorforwine. However, he found a Norse warrior with an axe in his head complaining about migraines, theorizing that it was a hangover. Eivor then approached the stranger, "Axehead", who said that he had an itch or cut that would not go away, and asked Eivor if he noticed anything on his head. Eivor nervously said that the man had a battle scar, and the man smiled and said that it must have been from his most recent battle, and that the other man got the worst of it. Eivor, still nervous, said, "Worse than...I suppose it's possible, yes. If he is headless."

Eivor removing the axe from a shocked 's head — Eivor removing the axe from a shocked Axehead's head

The man then said that his arms were numb from battle, and asked Eivor if his wound needed any dressing, and if it was a serious wound. Eivor - not willing to kill the man - said he felt it was a small wound, a twig stuck near the brow for a warrior as great as Axehead. Axehead thanked Eivor for telling him and for his "keen eye on discerning a fellow great warrior." Eivor said that he could take the twig off if Axehead liked, and Axehead said, "Of course. When you have a moment, just brush it off." Axehead then offered to take Eivor to a great mead hall nearby to reflect on their greatest exploits, and he also started to tell Eivor of how his wife had once joined him in a shieldwall while nude. Axehead's story then trailed off, and Eivor then assured Axehead, "All your enemies have been slain. Now, you rejoice," and he plucked the axe out of the man's head and let him die in peace.

Eivor cointinued with his quest to take down Eorforwine, riding down the road from Duroliponte and intercepting Eorforwine on the Roman road just west of Utbech. They proceeded to engage in a hard-fought duel, with Eorforwine throwing poison bombs, using her heavy shield with maximum efficiency, and occasionally drinking tonic to recover from her wounds. Eivor was nearly slain, but he ultimately managed to cut her down. Eorforwine then attempted to finish reciting a charm she had never finished, and she then died of her wounds.

Lost Glory[]

Weeping for Northumbria[]

Eivor then decided to travel to Jorvik to heed Halfdan's summons. There, he reached the royal hall, only to find a saddened Moira standing next to an empty throne. Eivor asked if something had happened, and Moira told him to weep for Northumbria, as Halfdan's heart was broken, and he was a mere shadow of himself. He had become paranoid and depressed because of Faravid's death and the absence of his brothers, so Eivor asked where he could find the king. Moira said that Halfdan was wandering the fields of Pickering with his beloved Beonton, and Eivor thankd her and rode down the road to Scarborough to meet with the king.

Reunion with Halfdan[]

Eivor found Halfdan sitting on a porch, brooding by himself. Eivor told Halfdan that he was taking him back to Jorvik, as kings were not allowed to sulk, and men died to sit Halfdan on the throne. Halfdan suddenly asked if his brother Ivar died well, and Eivor said that he died fighting. Halfdan then told Eivor that he had slain his brother and never said a word, keeping it from him. Eivor said that it was no secret, and began to ask if Ubbe had told Halfdan. Halfdan interrupted to tell Eivor to leave him, but Eivor said that he would not leave without Halfdan. Halfdan then said that he had mislaid his hammer, saying that Beonton might have run off with it, but, after much stammering, he told Eivor that he was not well. Eivor proposed that, if he found and retrieved the hammer, Halfdan would come back with him. Halfdan told Eivor that he was headed to Scarborough, and he told Eivor that, if Eivor found his hammer, he would be at Scarborough.

Eivor talking with Halfdan at Scarborough

Eivor found Beonton protecting the hammer from three wolves in the Dalby Forest, so Eivor killed the wolves and retrieved the hammer before riding to meet "Halfdrunk". Eivor found Halfdan sitting on the cliffside in front of the scarborough lighthouse, and he reminded Halfdan that the hammer was not to be thrown. Halfdan then retrieved his hammer, and shared how his father Ragnarr had gifted it to him at the age of fourteen after taking it off a Finnish chief. Eivor said that Ragnarr Lodbrok was a great king, but Halfdan then lamented that a Finnish arrow had killed his mother, the shieldmaiden Lagertha, causing his father to kill all fourteen of her murderers. Halfdan again lamented how that had been years ago in the east, while, in the west, his father was dead, a pile of bones in a pit of snakes. Eivor then consoled Halfdan by saying that they were still talking of his father's life and deeds. Halfdan then asked how his brother died, and Eivor lied, saying, "With his hand on his axe, awaiting the maidens of the battle-slain." Halfdan took comfort in this untruth, saying that Ivar now drank at his father's side, awaiting the war at the end of days. Shortly after, Beonton ran up to his master, cheering Halfdan up. Eivor said that, "A dog always forgives. But he needs you home. All of Northumbria does." Halfdan then asked one last thing of Eivor: to light the beacon for all to see and let it burn. Eivor agreed, and, by he time he had climbed down, Halfdan and Beonton had returned to Jorvik.

Nottinghamshire[]

Pledging to Nottinghamshire[]

By the time Eivor returned to Ravensthorpe a few weeks later, it was Yuletide (December 876), so he decided to host a feast at the longhouse. The people of Ravensthorpe rejoiced over bread, soup, stewed meats, and other hot foods, as well as with beverages. After the feast was done, Eivor decided to meet with Randvi in the map room to discuss their next move. Randvi told Eivor that she had received a summons from Eivor's old friend Vili Hemmingsson in Nottinghamshire, and Eivor cheerfully remarked how he had not heard Vili's name in around ten years. He asked how Vili was, and Randvi seemed that Vili was doing well, as he had invited Eivor to a feast in honor of his father, Hemming Jarl; she also remarked that Hemming would make a formidable ally.

Arrival in Nottingham[]

Eivor travelled to Nottingham by way of Repton, finding that Saxon and Dane were living in peace in the small village. As he entered the cave where the longhouse was located, he heard people happily announce his arrival, and Eivor soon came across Hemming's emissary, Eivor's old acquaintance and friend Trygve. After a warm reunion, Eivor asked where Vili was, so Trygve told him that he stood in Vili's place, as Hemming and Vili went to Ulkerthorpe (Oakerthorpe, Derbyshire) to stave off a Pictish invasion. Trygve said that the Danes had laid a long siege, and Hemming looked to finish the job. Eivor said that he had not fought beside Vili and his father since they were young, but offered his blade if they needed it. Trygve then warned Eivor that, in spite of the war-cries, Hemming was more frail than when Eivor last saw him. Trygve offered to lead Eivor to Vili and Hemming, saying that, while the swiftest path was by river, the local waters were hostile to Norsemen. Trygve suggested that Eivor brought good luck with him, so they could guide the "sail-steeds" downstream. Eivor said that he was ready for whatever danger awaited, and he told Trygve to prepare his convoy before leaving together.

Siege of Ulkerthorpe[]

Eivor led his longship up the River Dove (Dubras), escorting the two small supply boats. They fought off several Pictish ambushes along the way, with Eivor shooting arrows at the Pictish raiders or occasionally swimming ashore to deal with them. After arriving, Trygve told Eivor that he had been ordered off to Stoneburgh, but he told Eivor that he could find Vili and Hemming Jarl at the siege camp at Oakerthorpe. Eivor rode through Sherwood Forest to the Tip of the Spear camp, where the warrior Hrodgeir Otkelsson warmly greeted Eivor, having not seen him in ten years. Eivor hailed him and then headed to meet with Hemming. Hemming told Eivor that his heart sang at his arrival, and Eivor said the same back to Hemming, but their warm reunion was interrupted when a warrior reported movement on the city's walls.

Hemming told Eivor that they would have to assault the fortress before the weather changes; Eiovor told Hemming that his whole clan could be there if Hemming called on them, but Hemming assured Eivor that the Picts were flies for the swatting, and that Trygve would be at Stoneburgh should any Picts try to escape. Hemming then addressed his men, saying, "You have known me as your Jarl for an age. And I have known and loved all you since you were babes. An easy burden to bear." Vili then stepped next to Eivor, joking, "Let's hope you fight better than you age, old friend." Eivor joked that, since Vili had not slurred, he must have mislaid his ale. Hemming then continued his speech to his men, saying that they were not fighting for him nor each other that day, but for their children, so that they might grow and be good and just like their fathers. Vili then annonced to his men that Trygve and Eivor had brought them arrows and oil to bring "fire-light" to the Picts and feed their traps. Vili then promised that the first warrior to signal from the top of the fortress tower with the Pictish warchief's weapon in his hand would drink Vili's mead for a month. Vili then playfully challenged Eivor to see who could get to the top of the tower first, with the Pict chief being the prize.

Eivor showing off 's spear — Eivor showing off Gede's spear

Eivor participated in the storming of the fortress, killing several Pictish warriors before climbing the tower and beheading the Pictish chieftain Gede with his own spear. Once the battle was done, Eivor showed off Gede's spear from the top of the tower, but he was shocked to see a wounded Hemming staggering up to him.

Hemming said that there was more blood than wound, and, after he and Eivor praised his warriors' loyalty to him, Hemming said that his men loved his son all the more, but Vili lacked the trust of the other thegns, and Hemming said that he was running out of time to persuade them. Eivor deduced that Hemming really was sick, and Hemming said that Eivor, unlike his son, accepted it; his son thought his father immortal only because he did nto want what his father would eventually give him. Eivor then asked if it was Vili who sent him, or Hemming himself. Hemming said that he thought Eivor would come faster if it was Vili's name he heard first, and that he needed Eivor's wisdom and discretion. He said that there would be a thing soon, in which the nobles would name a new jarl, and Hemming was torn. Hemming said that his son was reluctant because he had a warrior's heart, and he said that others would name Trygve, a fine man with a mind for leadership, but with a tattered lineage, and with less boldness. Eivor said that he had known Vili since they were small, and that he was bold and courageous, which would motivate his warriors. Hemming commended Eivor's clear sight and sharp mind, and he told Eivor to ride with Vili for Kinder Downfall and talk like old friends made new.

Riding with Vili[]

Eivor then met with Vili at the entrance of the fort, and Vili told him to come with him to the falls, which he described as Freyja's gift. Eivor joked that, if he did not faint at the sight of them, Vili had oversold the view. Along the way, they reminisced about the past and their childhoods as budding warriors, and, when Vili came past a tower that reminded him of the broken wall on the way to his uncle's back in Norway, Eivor climbed the tower and took in the view of the countryside and the Pennines.

Eivor and Vili talking with a rescued man from Stoneburg

The two of them continued to ride and laugh until they saw smoke rising from Stoneburgh, and Vili reminded Eivor that Trygve had been sent there. They rode into the town and found Trygve, who said that he had come too late to stop it, and that the Picts had set fire and ran to spite the Norse. He then urged Eivor to help rescue the villagers, and Eivor and Vili both went into several burning homes to rescue injured locals. After they came back with their rescuees, Trygve said that they could not continue to endanger themselves, as they had people to lead and a future to consider. Eivor agreed, saying that Vili could not continue putting himself at risk as the future Jarl; Vili responded by saying that his only jobs were to fight or feast. Trygve marvelled at how he had to deal with "the mind of a troll in the body of an Aesir." When Vili and Eivor again caught up about their past, Trygve said that it was no time for lightness, as they had wounded to care for. Vili said that he would let Trygve handle it, as he did not wish to be seen as a savior adn healer all in one evening. Vili said that the waters at Kinder Downfall would soothe his wounds, and that, if his father needed him, he would be there. Eivor attempted to stop Vili from leaving, but Trygve stopped Eivor and asked if Hemming had confided in Eivor about his health. Eivor said that he had, and Hemming had told him that Vili wasn't taking it well. He then volunteered to find Vili at the falls.

Vili and Eivor meeting at the Kinder Downfall

Eivor found Vili singing to himself in a large cave at the falls, and they then caught up and had a heart-to-heart about Hemming's state, with Eivor disapproving of Vili's comparison of his father to being "as carved up as a goat on a spit." Eivor then told Vili that he had to face the fact that his father was dying, but Vili again veered off into side-conversation, saying that the novelty of the "soggy North" had worn on him, as it was too warm for winter and too cold for summer. He then said that he heard Mercia was more temperate with dense forests, bright colors, and thriving streams, and he asked Eivor if that was true. Eivor said that Vili was defying a long tradition by trying to leave his lands, and he said that he had his own reasons for seeing Vili made jarl, saying that his clan wanted friends in England, and Vili was among his very best. Vili told Eivor that he did not need Vili in that seat to secure an alliance, as he and Sigurd were beloved in Hellirborg. Eivor then said that Vili should get his house in order since his father was dying, but Vili said that it was not his house, but the clan's house, and that the clan would decide what happened next.Eivor told Vili that he had a chance to end on good terms with his father, a chance he himself never had; he warned Vili not to squander it.

Hemming's passing[]

Just then, Hundolfr Thorvidsson called Vili, telling him to come quickly, as his father did not have long. Eivor and Vili rode to Hemthorpe and went to the longhouse to be at Hemming's side, and Hemming commented how the sight of Eivor and Vili together recalled days long past and made him feel young again. Eivor told Hemming to hold onto that feeling and take it with him to the hall of the slain, and Hemming told Eivor that he had become a great warrior and a leader, worth song and verse. Eivor said that he had many good teachers, and Hemming was chief among them. Hemming begged Eivor not to let his lessons die, and urged him to pass them on. Vili assured his father that the seer was on he rway with remedies, cures, and charms, but, in his last breaths, Hemming said how proud he was of what his son had become, and what he would be. After Hemming breathed his last, Eivor said that he would send for his clan for the funeral, and he told Trygve to call on the nobles of the shire.

Funeral preparations[]

Eivor then rode up to Odin's Rest for the funeral of Hemming, and he met with Trygve and his clanswoman Sunniva, who arrived bearing gifts to Hemming. Trygve said that the pyre's construction was underway and all of the guests were lodged and welcomed, and he told Eivor that they could begin shortly. Eivor commended Trygve for handling the preparations well, and Trygve said that he owed everything to Hemming Jarl. Trygve then said that the Althing had to be held when the week was out and the funeral was done. He said that Vili would then be named jarl, if he was sober after a week of drinking and weeping. Vili then arrived and commended Trygve for his preparations, and Trygve said how Odin's Rest was Hemming's favorite spot in the shire. Trygve then went back to the town to keep watch over the town, Vili went off to retrieve a gift for his father, and Sunniva then asked Eivor about the troubled look on his face. Eivor told Sunniva that Hemming had asked him to help oversee the succession; Sunniva suggested that Eivor speak with the volva to ease his thoughts.

Pacifying Hemthorpe[]

Eivor first met with Trygve, who was stressed out by the number of drunks and fighters who were already troubling the town before the funeral could even begin. He came across the bisexual flyter Stigr the Amorous, who flirted with Eivor before challenging him to a flyting match. After Eivor won, Stigr suggested that they go somewhere, suggesting they have sex, but Eivor said that it was only a flyt and had a humiliated Stigr hand over his winnings. Eivor then broke up a fight between Geirhild Sigmundottir and the Anglo-Saxon Anlaf Palmer over Anlaf anointing Hemming's body with holy water, saying that Hemming would not cry over rain, nor should she. When Geirhild said that Anlaf had defiled the body (and Anlaf said that he was ensuring that Hemming's "immortal soul" would go to Heaven, as he loved Hemming), Eivor said that Hemming would laugh at such a notion. He then went to help Gjaflaug Thorvidottir rescue her funeral gift from her burning home, and Eivor found that the voda she was mentioning was a most potent drink distilled by the Rus from Kiev (vodka). Finally, he saved the warrior Thorgils Olvirsson from a flock of angry chickens.

Visions of Hemming[]

Eivor then went to speak with the seer Hlif Gudlaugdottir and ask for her counsel about Hemming's succession, but she told him that she had to slaughter many sheep at the bottom of the Sleeping Jotun before the pyre was lit. They led the sheep to the sacrificial site, and, there, she asked Eivor about what he really wanted. Eivor said that he did not know whether Vili or Trygve would be the better jarl, so Hlif told Eivor to ascend the Sleeping Jotun, consume its waters, and meditate. Eivor did so, and, that night, he had a vision of Hemming Jarl, who had not yet gone to the hall of champions, as he had not yet been carried there by the wood smoke. Eivor then admitted that he was struggling with Hemming's task of choosing a jarl, as one man was beloved but did not want the task, and the other was fit for the task but not favored. Hemming said that, as he could not give Eivor any counsel on that matter in life, so too was he rendered silent in death. Eivor said that the task should not be his, as Hemming was the chief; Hemming responded by saying that Sigurd was Eivor's chief, but that did not quench Eivor's appetite for glory, as he coveted Sigurd's place upon the high seat of his clan. Eivro said that he did not seek to replace Sigurd, as his fate was already woven long ago. Hemming said that Eivor still foresaw his fate and would welcome it, so Eivor asked if he should renounce his fate and abandon the path to glory he walked. Hemming said no, but that Eivor should die in defense of it. The two proceeded to fight, and Eivor defeated Hemming after a short fight. Eivor said that Hemming had pushed him and that he had never intended for the fight to happen, but Hemming thanked Eivor for giving him the great battle-death he sought in life. Just then, Hemming said that the All-Father was welcoming him to his hall, and he said that he must follow. As he walked away, Hemming assured Eivor, "The choice you make will be the right one."

Adorning the Adorned[]

Eivor then met with Vili as he inspected Sunniva's present, an impressive shield crafted by Gunnar. Eivor decided that it needed a touch of grandeur that would be personal for Hemming: a sigil, a mark to adorn the front. Eivor asked if there was a craftsman in the village, but Vili said that he knew a master craftsman in exile who lived in a cave northeast of Hemthorpe. Eivor went to the isolated cave and met with the hermit, and, after stacking stones to form a cairn to prove that his heart was steady like Hemming's once was, Eivor convinced the hermit to engrave the Web of Wyrd on the shield. The hermit, Erwald Parson, herealed that Hemming had saved his life by persuading him to go into exile in the cave rather than let the villagers blind him after he was (in his opinion, wrongly) accused of murder. Eivor then thanked the hermit for his help, and the hermit then asked if Vili was to become Jarl. Eivor said that the council would choose, but the hermit said that fate would choose.

Saving Trygve[]

Vili and Eivor seeing off a reassured Trygve

Eivor then returned to Sunniva, and Eivor asked Sunniva out of curiosity if they had a place at their settlement for Vili, who expressed a desire to live and work with the Raven Clan. Sunniva asked if it was not the case that Vili would be Jarl by the end of that day, and Eivor responded by saying that there were some who wanted Trygve to lead. Sunniva responded by saying that Trygve had no intention to lead, as he felt duty bound to follow his master into death. They then overheard Vili and Trygve arguing, with Vili saying that the flames of the pyre would burn for his father alone, and that the shire needed Trygve alive. Vili asked Eivor to intercede, and Eivor agreed that it would be a grave decision for Trygve to sacrifice himself, as the shire would be diminished without him. Trygve said that he had nothing left in life, but Vili said that his father always looked to Trygve for guidance, and he would need his own advisor. Eivor asked Trygve if he had only sworn to serve Hemming until death, or to serve his legacy in life; a tearful Trygve acknowledged that Eivor had more wisdom than he could have guessed, and he thanked Eivor for his guidance.

Reminiscing with Vili[]

That night, Sunniva woke a napping Eivor to report that Picts were spotted moments ago, lurking in the thicket, and that Vili had given chase. Eivor had Sunniva lead him to the mine where the Picts were hiding, and Eivor helped Vili to eradicate the Picts as Sunniva returned to Hemthorpe to ready the other Raven Clan warriors if they were needed for battle. Eivor helped Vili escape after killing the Picts, and they reached a hovel with a campfire, where they reminisced about their earlier battles, including on the island north of Stavanger, where Kjotve had trained his berserkers. After a few laughs, Vili asked if Eivor was happy to have heard from him, and Eivor said that he wondered if Vili had taken after his father and assumed the jarldom when he first received the letter. Vili said that he would rather take after a troll and leave his clan to Eivor, but Eivor said that he could not do that. Vili expressed to Eivor how he was not like his father, as he simply wanted to roam. Eivor then slapped Vili, telling him that he had friends, Trygve, himself, and his clan, telling him that he could not roam forever, that he was surrounded by those who loved him, and that it would not change unless Vili pushed it all away. The two then sat by the fire, and Vili said that he wondered all the adventures they could have had if they had not been separated by the North Sea all that time, and even wondered what they could have been to each other. Eivor, sensing that Vili was flirting with him, said that he never dwelled on their past that way, as it slowed him down to a crawl, and he was not made for crawling. The two then went to sleep, and, early next morning, they both headed to Hemming's funeral.

Hemming's funeral[]

At the funeral, Eivor saw a large gathering of both Danes and Norse who had come to pay their respects to Hemming. He met with Halfdan's gift-bearer Gerrid Steinbitrdottir and then with Halfdan himself, as well as with Hjorr (Ljufvina had to stay in Jorvik to continue her husband's duties). Eivor then stepped up to the funeral ship and placed his gited shield onto the ship before Vili invited Eivor to stand at his side as he delivered a speech commemorating his father and his friends, saying that his father's greatness was reflected in all those who celebratd his life on that day. He then lit the pyre after the seer handed him the torch, and, after Vili walked away, Eivor told Sunniva to ready the longhouse for the althing.

Althing at Hemthorpe[]

Eivor and Vili eyeing the throne at the althing — Eivor and Vili eyeing the throne at the *althing*

When the althing met, Eivor spoke with Vili at the entrance. Vili said that he now stood side by side with Trygve, and the only thing in between him and the jarldom was Vili. He then asked what Eivor saw in him, and Eivor said, "Drunk as you are, I see before me a man full of passion, vigor, and a love for his people. I see a jarl." He told Vili that his burden would eventually be easier to bear, and he told him to take his father's seat and make it his own. Vili confidently nodded his head and said that he would.

Eivor told Vili to let the others now, so Vili went to his father's throne and announced, "People of Hemthorpe, of Ulkerthorpe, of Snotingham. Today, I pledge myself. As my father was, I shall be your jarl." As Vili continued to speak, a happy Trygve nodded to Eivor, and Vili said that, with Trygve at his side, and with the people, they would have glory. As Trygve stepped away from the stage, Eivor joked that he had already learned that people preferred shorter speeches to longer ones. Vili then pointed out that his father never swore a formal oath to the Raven Clan, as there was no need, for the Raven Clan was family. However, he asked Eivor if he would accept a swearing of friendship between his clan and the Raven Clan, and Eivor accepted. He told Vili to call on him whenever he needed, and Vili joked that he would do so often. With Vili installed as Jarl, Eivor decided to report back to Randvi.

Reporting on Snotinghamscire[]

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where he told Randvi that, while Hemming had passed away, Vili had become the new Jarl and sworn to them. He then decided to check his letters, finding a letter from Stowe and Erke inviting him to the unveiling of "New Lunden". Eivor then read another letter from Tewdwr, inviting him to try the first cider of Ealdorman Tewdwr. Finally, he found a letter from Vili thankking him for helping him say goodbye to his father and helping him to find a place in the world, and gifting him his father's old battleaxe. Eivor then went to Gunnar to upgrade the axe, and, with that done, he decided to speak with Randvi about Winchester.

Winchester[]

Pledging to Winchester[]

Eivor talked to Randvi about Winchester, saying that Hytham received another letter from "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ" which asked him to come to Winchester. Randvi correctly guessed that he was offering up more targets, and Eivor asked Randvi if she thought it could be a trap. Randvi said that, as a West Saxon stronghold, Winchester would be a rather unwelcome place for him, but said that there was nothing Eivor could not handle. She warned him that, if he went, not to go boldly. Eivor agreed, and he told Randvi that he was supposed to meet a man in white at a house of God and repeat a phrase to him. Randvi guessed that it was from the Bible, and she wished Eivor good luck.

Arrival in Winchester[]

Eivor travelled into Hampshire by way of Sussex, and he viewed the countryside from a large rock overlooking Farnham and other parts of Hampshire and Sussex. He then climbed the walls of Winchester after reaching the city and went to the Nun's Minster for his first overview of the city. Eivor was unimpressed with the seat of Alfred's power, mumbling that he had already stepped in hog feces. He went to Nun's Minster and then to Old Minster, observing the city and surrounding countryside from both spires. Eivor then went into the church and met with Father Sigebeald, who was initially clueless as to why a Dane would walk into a house of God. Eivor said that he had come to see the priest, and not Christ, and he then repeated the phrase, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame. But with the lowly cometh wisdom." Eivor told the priest that he knew those words adn why he spoke them, and, while Sigebeald said that he did know, he was not yet satisfied that Eivor was the one for the task ahead. Sigebeald then quoted how Jesus said to Thomas, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," and he told Eivor to speak the deeds of Christ in order; only then would Eivor cometh unto his Lord. Eivor asked why the priest would deny the pleadings of a pagan who wanted to know God, asking the Father to take him as he was so he could do his lord's bidding. The priest accepted that he saw no chance that the Lord's words would save Eivor's soul, so he took Eivor to an upstairs room for an unknown purpose.

Meeting Alfred[]

After Sigebeald left, Eivor heard an unknown voice reciting a quote from the Bible, and Eivor asked if all priests in Winchester had the same skills with drama. Upon walking around the bookshelf, he discovered that the speaker was King Alfred the Great, and Eivor warned Alfred that he was risking his life. Alfred said that he had come to speak on equal terms, and asked if the Danish laws of hospitality did not apply to Wessex. Eivor accused Alfred of gifting his jarl to Fulke, but Alfred said that Fulke was an enemy of Wessex, and that it seemed that someone had removed her threat from his lands. Eivor told Alfred that, if he did not know already, he was the one who had killed Fulkle. Alfred said that he was impressed, and that it had dealt quite a blow to the Order. Eivor then asked how much Alfred knew of the order, so Alfred showed him a letter from the "Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ", warning him of a plot against his life. Eivor read the letter, identifying his targets as "the Gallows", "the Quill", and "the Seax". Alfred said that the late Bishop Ealhferth was dead, and he said that he must have been "the Seax", so far as he could tell.

Eivor talking with Alfred about the Order

Eivor then asked Alfred why he should trust Eivor after facing the Danes many times before and being defeated or cheated on many occasions. Alfred said that he had informants in London and York who reported that men and women of some influence were murdered in those places in odly specific circumstances. Alfred said that, when he received a letter from the "Poor Fellow-Soldier", it did not take him long to work out why. Eivor said that he should let the Order kill Alfred, as it would hasten the Danish conquest of his lands, but Alfred said that, even if Eivor took out the organs of state, the cancer would remain. Eivor then told Eivor to promise him a reward he could sing about: a healthy king's weight in silver. Alfred sighed and reluctantly agreed, telling Eivor that he could take as much as he could carry. Alfred then told Eivor that, that morning, his reeve Goodwin was not at his post. Eivor asked if Alfred trusted Godwin, and Alfred said that Goodwin was following the clues given in the letter when he disappeared. Alfred told Eivor that he could likely find Goodwin at his house by the west gate, but, as Eivor left, Alfred warned Eivor to compose himself while he was his guest, telling him that his city was not a battlefield. Eivor tauntingly assured Alfred, "Not yet, great king. But the day will come."

Rescuing Goodwin[]

Eivor then headed to Goodwin's house, assassinating the soldiers guarding it. He found a note from "the Gallows" to Goodwin by the fireplace, warning Goodwin to cease his "snooping", or else he would be locked up in the Winchester Garrison where even his "feeble king" would be unable to save him. He also found broken bowls and scattered food, deducing that Goodwin had been forcibly taken too the garrison. As he left, Eivor found the Quill's manifesto, opposing Alfred's plans to have priests tutor the city's children. Eivor then headed to the garrison, stealthily infiltrating the fortress, killing several guards, freeeing the prisoners, hearing from the burly Viking warrior Arngrim Grjotgardsson that Reeve Selwyn had falsely accused him of stealing apples, hence his prison sentence. Eivor said that he was not looking for Selwyn, but goodwin, and Arngrim was shocked that Alfred's own man was imprisoned. Eivor then headed to the stone fortress within the garrison walls, where he found a letter revealing that "the Gallows" was having people locked up for crimes as petty as theft or mud-slinging. Eivor found Goodwin in a cell, freeing him and telling him that Alfred hadd sent him. Goodwin deduced that Alfred had contacted Eivor for help against the Order, and he told him that he had compiled research which had been confiscated. Eivor headed upstairs and retrieved the rsearch, which noted that all four of Goodwin's informants had been imprisoned or murdered while investigating the Gallows. At the end of the note, Goodwin deduced that the Gallows must be another reeve.

Eivor meeting with Goodwin outside of the Winchester Garrison

Eivor then rejoined Goodwin outside the garrison walls, and Goodwin said that he was grateful for Eivor's help. Eivor then handed Goodwin his research and said that it was a brazen move to arrest Alfred's favorite reeve. Goodwin asked for his rescuer's name, and he told Goodwin that he was "Eivor of the Raven Clan", or the "Scourge of Mercia", if his real name did not rattle some recognition. Goodwin told Eivor that, once the three heretics of the Order were burned at the stake, he would invite Eivor to have a drink with him as they shared their common dislike of Mercians. Eivor then told Goodwin that Alfred had concluded that the late Bishop Ealhferth was "the Seax", and Goodwin lamented that half of Winchester mourned "that nun-groper". He also showed him the Quill's "Dispuation of Tutelage" manifesto, and Goodwin promised to look into it more. Eivor then asked Goodwin about "the Gallows", and Goodwin said that he was sure that "the Gallows" was another reeve, as only a reeve could be in a poisition to arbitrate as "the Gallows" did. Eivor asked if the name "Selwyn" meant anything to Goodwin, as he judged and executed many for little more than stealing ale and bread. Goodwin realized that Selwyn must be the man, as Selwyn had sinners executed in the square, and was known for his brutality. Goodwin asked Eivor to eliminate him, so Eivor decided to head to the square to investigate.

The Gallows[]

Along the way, he found a man, Cedric, yelling at Aethelfrid the Jeweler to hand over Alfred's jewel. Eivor crept into Aethelfrid's house and asked him about the commotion, and, while Aethelfrid was initially hostile towards Eivor, Eivor threatened to kill him if he continued to berate him. Aethelfrid then explained that he had been commissioned to make a jewel for Alfred, but its production cost him twice what he had agreed upon with the King. Eivor told Aethelfrid that, if the jewel belonged to Alfred, he would be wise to deliver it for the agreed price. Aethelfrid decided to hand it over, saying that, although his wife might wish to become a widow, he said that it was not worth his hide. Eivor then went outside and told Cedric that he had his jewel; Cedric said that, while he had not asked for Eivor's help, he was grateful, and told Eivor that it was a very valuable jewel made with filigreed gold, with a rock crystal center and enameled plaque. As he continued to describe thje jewel, Cedric suddenly realized that Eivor might mean to keep it, but Eivor - partly because of his wish to fight the stereotype of the Norse, and partly because of his kindness - told Cedric that he could have it, although he instructed Cedric to tell Alfred that his jewels, his treasures, his city, and his crown would soon be Eivor's. Cedric was shocked and protested against Eivor's demand, and he gave Eivor his payment for his help and suggested that they both forget they ever had their conversation.

The crowd watching the start of the execution

Eivor then travelled down a well next to Goodwin's house and found the entrance to the Hidden Ones' old Venta Belgarum Bureau, blowing open the sealed-off walls and entering the bureau. He found a Codex page, a letter from Acolytus Beatha detailing how the pagan Belgae warriors had been killing several Roman Christians, causing high tensions between the two peoples, and contracting a Hidden Ones affiliate to seek Constantine the Great's help in pacifying the region. Afterwards, Eivor travelled to the market, where he found a man and a woman about to be executed on a platform, with a large crowd attending.

Selwyn then came out, saying that the prisoners did not live by Alfred's laws, but above them, and he revealed that the male prisoner, Hubert, had "spoke false" of Bishop Ealhfrith. When Hubert's wife Adney Marshall said that Ealhfrith was no man of God, and would burn for his sins, Selwyn struck her, called her a "baying shrew", and asked if there was not a man in the crowd who had not "supped rancid mead from her cup." Sigelac Finhurst then stepped forward and asked Selwyn when his work would be done, sarcastically asking if it would be when all of Winchester had fallen to his "justice". Selwyn then had Sigelac arrested, and he had his guards behead Hubert.

As Selwyn went on to monologue by asking if crime was to be tolerated, and who was to deal with it, Eivor crept up behind the execution platform. He climbed up an old Roman pillar and stood on top of it before overlooking the stage below; he then proceeded to jump down on Hubert and stab him with his hidden blade with fatal timing. A dying Hubert asked the "perverter of justice" who dared to execute the king's noose, and Eivor responded by saying that it was not in Alfred's name that Selwyn carried out his work, saying that he was the Order's executioner. selwyn taunted Eivor, saying that he saw through the veil, but did not see clearly. He said that Alfred's laws were "a slave's fever-dream", as he offered "sh*t-soaked beggars a seat at his table. Where the meek devour the strong." Selwyn then asked Eivor, "Who best to judge the fate of the wretched many, if not the strong and worthy few?" Eivor then left Selwyn to die of his wounds, and he decided to meet with Goodwin to see what he had found on "the Quill."

The Quill[]

Eivor then returned to the church to meet with Goodwin, instead finding Alfred taking with a young girl and asking her if her instructor, Magister Bata, was a good teacher. She said that Magister Bata was "a horse's dangles", and she ran out. Eivor then walked in and found Alfred and Goodwin, and Alfred sternly warned Eivor, saying that he had plunged his city into chaos, and that he had hoped Eivor would use the lessons of his "subtler gods". Eivor said that he had no subtle gods, and Goodwin then suggested that they could allow cautious revelry since "the Gallows" was dead. Eivor told Alfred that he had only done what he and Alfred had agreed to, and he suggested that, if Alfred's crown weighed heavy, he would gladly take it from him. Alfred then apologized for his outburst.

Eivor then asked about "the Quill", and Alfred told him that the decay of learning in Wessex had been gentle, as they enjoyed the office of wise men, but neglected the study of wisdom. Eivor then asked if Goodwin had discovered more from the writings he had found, and Goodwin revealed that "the Quill" was calling the children of Winchester to arms. Goodwin lamented the large number of children scurrying the streets, "feral and untutored", and Eivor decided to talk to some and see where they led him. Goodwin told Eivor to find him at the alehoouse when Eivor was done, and he asked him not to scare any of the children. Eivor joked that, "We Norse are the monsters of your Saxon mother's bedtime tales."

The Saxon girl from earlier then emerged from a hiding spot and told Eivor that she had seen him punish "the bad reeve, Selwyn" in the square. Eivor asked if she knew him, and she said that Selwyn had "hurt" her mother "to death" and then taken her good luck charm; she then asked if Eivor had found it, a little carved tree. Eivor gave her 115 peningas, telling her that it might keep her off the streets and out of trouble. He told her to run off, saying that she would lead him to "the Quill"; the carved tree was on an Order medallion. Eivor followed the girl to the market, where he found the young girl Aelwyn and a male friend running from the soldiers after settinng a fire. Eivor found Aelwyn on the other side of the church, where she was rejoined by her male friend Wigbert, who was chased by a female Saxon soldier and a male colleague. Eivor warned them to leave if they wanted to keep their insides inside, and they agreed, being easily intimidated by Eivor. Aelwyn then asked Eivor why he was following her, and he said that he wanted her, a "little worker bee", to lead him to her boss, "the Quill". Aelwyn joked that Eivor's question showed what he knew, and she corrected him by revealing that the two "meatmops" Eivor had scared away were the Quill's enforcers. Aelwyn then revealed to Eivor that the Quill and his men came from the sewers like rats, and Eivor deduced that "the Quill" was Hilda.

Eivor then headed into the sewers, entering a great room where Aelwyn chanted that she had fooled the "dimwit Dane", saying that he might never have gessed that "the Quill" was a woman. Hilda commended Aelwyn, saying that few had the wit that they possessed, despite being seen as "the weaker sex". Eivor retorted that Hilda was "a brood mare who preys on innocents," and criticized her for bragging of strength. Hilda then called on her guards to defend their mistress, but Eivor climbed the wall atop which Hilda was standing, cut her down after three axe blows, and then killed her bodyguards before finishing her off with his hidden blade. In her last words, Hilda insisted that she was only educating the children, making them into adults by the time they were seven, and that she was giving young girls a path to enlightenment. She then criticized Alfred's "slave-faith" and asked what Eivor would sacrifice for infinite knowledge, but Eivor said that he would not sacrifice children's innocence.

The Seax[]

Eivor then met up with Goodwin at the alehouse, where Goodwin merrily decided to toast Ealdorbana, which meant "life-destroyer" in Saxon. After a friendly exchange of poetry, Eivor said that he could use someone like Goodwin in his settlement "with ink on his fingers and a sense of honor." Goodwin said that he would love to devote himself to the study and practice of law, saying that there was a wearineess in war he wished he could shake off. Eivor then asked if Goodwin was sure that "the Seax" was dead; Goodwin said that Ealhferth was dead, so the Seax must be dead, but Eivor expressed his doubts, as there was too much theater in Winchester such as "overwrought prayers and wailing women." Goodwin told Eivor that he was in luck, as Ealhferth's funeral was that same day.

Eivor then went to Saint Peter's Church to attend the funeral and ask around. He came across the pacing Brihthere Berthelming, and he asked him if he was Ealhferth's family; Brihthere said that he was there to make sure that Ealhferth was dead, as he had bedded Brihthere's wife. Eivor then approached the wrapped-up body, and a woman told him that the smell of burning flesh was ahaunting the graveyard. Eivor noticed that only the face had been burned, and that the corpse's build awas slight and frail, while Goodwin had said that Ealhferth was a brute. He then spoke to the grieving Harriet, who told Eivor that she was praying for her deceased colleague, but Eivor told her that Ealhferth might still live. Harriet was confused, mentioning that Ealhferth had said that something was for the good of all, but she then switched back and told Eivor that she was a loyal sister, and said that Ealhferth was truly dead. Harriet then called for help from the guards, but Eivor killed all three of them and confronted Harriet, asking where "the Seax" was. She said that he was dead, but would come back in flesh at the witan, and Alfred would be king no more. Eivor asked if she meaned to kill the king, but Harriet said that they did not intend regicide; instead, Alfred would step aside in favor of Ealhferth, "risen and reesplendent as the Lord." Eivor called her a damned fool, as she had given up her brother's plot.

Eivor went on to infiltrate the Witan Hall, where he saw Alfred speaking about the importance of the next bishop's qulities, such as an emphasis on education. Just then, Ealhferth emerged in battle armor and turned Alfred's own guards on him and Goodwin, so Eivor leapt down from the beams on which he was perched and proceeded to help fight off the rogue West saxons. He proceeded to duel Ealhferth on the floor of the chamber, and, after cutting him down, Eivor stabbed him with his hidden blade. A dying Ealhferth quipped, "How sweet is the shepherd's pipe when he calls the lambs to slaughter." He then told Eivor that he had been born to Christians in the northern wilds, and that his mother had always assured him that God was watching over him, until the Danes came and slit her throat for a copper ring. He then ridiculed God for not having the stars send down their spears to stop the Danes, but Eivor said that it might have been that Alfred's God was testing Ealhferth, a test which Ealhferth had failed. Ealhferth said that "Alfred's God" was weak, chaining everyone to his service "from our first breath to our death rattle." He then warned Eivor that the Order would become far worse with his death, and Eivor took a key from him on his passing. Goodwin then decided to take Alfred to the Old Minster, where Eivor could meet them once the situation had settled.

Harriet then rushed in and found her brother's body, weeping over it and asking why Eivor had killed him. Eivor said that her brother had abhorred their God, and then asked her about the key. Upon seeing it, Harriet said that, while Eivor had treated her with kidnness, the Order's machinations had killed her brother. She then told Eivor to investigate the ruins beneath the bishop's house, where he might find answers. Along the way there, he came across Brother Asser obsessively reading a script onto which a ray of light had fallen, and another monk told Asser to stop praying and shower already. Asser insisted that God was leading him to the script, so Eivor left the church, moved some boxes in front of the window and moved others to create new rays of light, leading Asser to another text. Asser, believing it a sign from God that he could now throw off his shackles, decided to devote himself to creating an account of "the utmost grace, exhaustive, immortalizing the great acts of the prodigal Alfred." Eivor then whispered to himself, "So I have set him on a path to glorify Alfred? That pompous Saxon? I hope his writing reeks as much as he does."

Eivor then travelled to the city's southeastern corner, where he came across both the Bishop's residence and the Temple of Mithras. There, he used the key to enter a subterranean entrance, and he found a letter from "the Instrument" (Fulke) saying how Alfred was "a withered sprig from his father's trunk", and how a "Poor Soldier" had colluded with the King to take down the Order's branches in London and York. She also instructed the recipient of the letter to burn the King to ash before he could reach the Order's roots. He also found a letter from "the Father" dated to 870, ordering the Order to eliminate the Danes, and mentioning that the embattled sects in Francia and Irelandstood ready for the English Order's "glorious return". Eivor concluded that Harriet had lied to him, as there was nothing there of the Order, and he decided to return to Alfred for his reward. Back at the church, however, he found it teeming with guards, and Alfred waiting for him at the altar.

After a tense and confused reunion, Eivor asked for his reward. Alfred told Eivor tnot to mistake necessity for kindness, and he then had Goodwin bring Eivor his reward. Goodwin presented a cross, saying "Here is the only silver fit for one of your dragon-boats. A reminder of Christ's sacrifice and our charity." Alfred then told Eivor that he could now choose between living in Winchester as a Christian, or dying a pagan in a blood-soaked field. Eivor said that he chose neither, so Alfred told Goodwin that Goodwin had been wrong: Eivor could never be saved. Alfred had the guards leave, and he followed them. Goodwin sternly warned Eivor that he should have accepted the offer, pointing a knife at Eivor, but Eivor aid that he did not want to. Eivor, now alone in the church, heard alarm bells ringing as the city was placed on high alert and soldiers were sent to attack him on sight. He escaped the city's walls and travelled back to Ravensthorpe to let Randvi know about the developments.

Eivor then returned to Randvi and updated her on the situation, telling her that the Order in winchester had been eliminated, and that he was no longer welcome in the city. He also told her that their contact was none other than Alfred, who had faced a plot against his life and decided to fight back. Randvi was impressed, saying that the line between friend and foe was ever porous. They then marked Winchester was complete, and Randvi told Eivor that he should speak to Sigurd, who was agitated and wanted to speak with Eivor.

Hordafylke[]

Return to Norway[]

When Eivor met with Sigurd in his bedroom, Eivor told him that the time had come to actualize his destiny and achieve his eternal glory. Eivor asked what Sigurd meant, and he told Eivor that he sought to return to Norway and find Valhalla. Eivor said that he would not kill Sigurd if that was what Sigurd was suggesting, but Sigurd said that it would be nothing of the sort; he was not talking about death, but eternal life and glory. Eivor said that he would need to talk with Randvi before heading off to Norway, so Sigurd told Eivor that he would be waiting for him at the docks, and told Eivor not to be too long.

Eivor and Sigurd spent the next several weeks of mid-877 AD sailing back to Norway. Upon sighting Hordaland, Sigurd and Eivor remarked how unfamiliar Norway seemed to them, and Eivvor said that a few years spent abroad in England had changed him more than his entire lifetime spent in Norway. Sigurd then lamented that every peak and fjord was owned by Kinh Harald, and Eivor regretted that Styrbjorn was now Harald's servant. Sigurd insulted his father, saying that he had occasionally wished him harm, and, when Eivor told Sigurd to take it easy on the old man, Sigurd said that he wanted his father to taste the same foul taste he had experienced since Styrbjorn's submission to Harald, and wanted to make him feel how much glory he had missed out on by refusing to go to England instead.

Reunion with Styrbjorn[]

Sigurd and Eivor reuniting with Styrbjorn at the mead hall

Sigurd and Eivor then arrived at the docks of Alrekstad, Harald's capital, where Sigurd had heard that Styrbjorn spent his days in the mead halls and his nights sleeping on a wooden plank. They overheard local villagers gossiping about the miserable man in the hall, and, when the two brothers entered, they found Styrbjorn passed out, by himself on a table. Eivor suggested that they should leave, but Sigurd woke his father by calling for him. Styrbjorn was happy to see his sons, but both of them refused his embrace, and, when Styrbjorn realized that Sigurd had been wounded, Sigurd dismissed his missing arm and said that he felt better than he looked. Styrbjorn then decided to offer a toast to his returning sons, but Sigurd said that they were not there to make merry or drink, but to say farewell to Styrbjorn before Sigurd would meet with the gods. He then thanked his father for his "colossal failure", his submission to Harald, saying that it was only through such an error that he was even able to discover his true purpose in the first place.

Styrbjorn telling Eivor to watch over his son

Wehn Styrbjorn attempted to convince Sigurd that he had no other option but to peacefully submit to Harald, as his was the last kingdom to resist Harald's advance, Sigurd began to choke his father in a fit of rage, but Eivor convinced Sigurd to take it easy and let his father go. Sigurd then stormed out, and Eivor wished Styrbjorn peace in the life he chose. Styrbjorn asked Eivor to take care of Sigurd and lead him away from the edge of the abyss; Eivor said that Sigurd was his brother and not a dog, and he bade farewell to Styrbjorn and told him to serve his king with honor.

At the docks, Sigurd confided in Eivor about his visions, which he said led him to the gate to Valhalla, and he estimated that it would be located in the far north of Hordaland. There, he said that he had been welcomed into the afterlife by the gods as a friend and brother, and said that he felt that he belonged there. Eivor then told Sigurd that he had once had his own visions regarding the afterlife, including Fenrir and a man, but, before he could say that the man had one arm, Sigurd grew intrigued, as Eivor had looked at his arm. Eivor told Sigurd that the prophecy had mentioned a betrayal, but he could not say anything more; he then reassured Sigurd of his loyalty, and Sigurd agreed that Eivor was as stalwart as a stone pillar. They then proceeded to sail to the northernmost fjord of Hordaland to seek out the fabled entrance to Valhalla.

Entering Valhalla[]

Eivor and Sigurd at the cave — Eivor and Sigurd at the Goinnhellir cave

Sigurd and Eivor braved a snowy breeze which temporarily blinded their longship as it sailed up the fjjord, and they beached the longship on the shore before the two of them headed inland alone. They trudged through the snowy hills amid an intense storm, and they eventually reached the Goinnhellir cave, which Sigurd recognized as the sacred cave from his visions. He then took Eivor to an extraordinary vault door which Eivor envisioned had once had the Saga Stone implanted at the top, and Sigurd repeated an alien phrase which sounded like a mixture of Nordic and Slavic languages, causing the vault to open. He then guided Eivor to a platform, where he repeated another phrase which led to the platform descending. Eivor was shocked that Sigurd's visions were true, and they later saw a representation of Yggddrasil as they descended. Sigurd then led Eivor to the tree, telling him that the platform beneath its branches was the gateway to Valhalla. He and Eivor then headed to the platform and were each grabbed by branches, whose snares drew them into their own visions of Valhalla.

Eivor woke up in Odin's mead hall in Valhalla, and he was amazed to see scores of warriors celebrating and cheering on the "Havi" as he came out to join them. He then came across Sigurd and a woman he recognized as Svala, Valka's mother. Sigurd introduced the woman as Freyja and invited Eivor to drink with them, and Svala called Sigurd "Tyr"; Eivor also noticed that Sigurd's arm had grown back, and that he was in a merry mood. The brief reunion was interrupted when war horns sounded, and Eivor and Sigurd went to join the Norse warriors in charging into battle with random foes, hacking and slashing their way through. Sigurd decided to playfully challenge Eivor to a duel to have the fight they were never able to have, and, after a short fight, Eivor lopped off sigurd's arm. Sigurd assured him that nothing was permanent in Valhalla, and, shortly after, Eivor fell asleep and woke up in a repeat of the first day. Day after day, he and Sigurd continually engaged in meaningless slaugher, and Sigurd continued to lose his arm each time. Eivor briefly thought that he had seen his father, despite knowing that his father had died a coward, and he expressed his dismay when he found that the man was not his father.

Eivor meeting with Sigurd and Svala in Valhalla

The next morning, Sigurd told Eivor that he ahd a visitor, and Eivor was shocked to see his father. However, he treated the man with hostility, saying that he had died a coward, and he threw a knife into his face and killed him. Sigurd asked why Eivor had lost the joy of life, and Eivor said that the man Sigurd had brought to him was not his father, as his father had died a coward. Sigurd told Eivor that he was in charge in Valhalla, and that he could bring anyone he wanted into Valhalla. Eivor said that, by Odin's law, his father would not be allowed into Valhalla, and he did not want his father to be in Valhalla if he did not belong there. Not long after, Eivor decided to speak with Svala, as he had grown suspicious and determined that their experience in Valhalla was a lie. Svala said that their experience in Valhalla was better than the real world, and she showed Eivor that all of his friends were there for him, with all of the people of Ravensthorpe being projected at a nearby dining table. However, Eivor said that they weren't real, and they all disappeared. Eivor then went to Sigurd and convinced him to join him in leaving, saying that, while Sigurd had a reputation to protect in the real world, he had no reputation in Valhalla, and said that they would someday go to Valhalla due to their real feats. However, Odin told Eivor that he would keep him from leaving, and Eivor passed out.

Leaving Valhalla[]

Odin proceeded to walk Eivor past a series of projections of Eivor's deeds, explaining that he was worthy of being in Valhalla now. However, Eivor continued to deny Odin, insisting on returning to real life. This led to a fight with Odin, but Eivor dropped his axe rather than fight, angering Odin. Sigurd then held open the door for Eivor to escape, so Eivor ran to the door. Odin repeatedly bashed Eivor with energy waves and then asked him what more he could want when he could have power, wisdom, and glory; Eivor responded, "everything else," and he walked out of the door as Odin agonizingly flew backwards and back into the nether.

When Eivor awoke, he was startled to not see Sigurd next to him, and he instead found Basim chuckling and holding Sigurd at knifepoint. Eivor asked what Basim was doing, and Basim said that he was going to avenge the loss of his son and his entire family. Sigurd said that Basim had goen insnae and asked Eivor to stop him, and Eivor and Basim fought in a drawn-out battle in which Basim, maniacally laughing, expressed his desire for Eivor to suffer. He then outran Eivor after dropping a smoke bomb and attempted to kill Sigurd, but Eivor threw his axe at Basim's blade to deflect it, and he proceeded to wrestle with Basim and connect him to one of Yggdrasil's branches and force him back intto the simulation, atlhough Basim was able to stab Eivor in the chest with his hidden blade in the process, injuring Eivor. With Basim suspended in darkness, Eivor and Sigurd then took a moment to catch up.

Sigurd and Eivor then took a moment to recover from the shock of what had just happened, and, after a moment, Eivor said that they should go back home. Sigurd then said that he no longer felt like England was his home, and declared his intent to stay in Norway. He then revealed that he knew about Eivor and Randvi's affair, claiming that they had trysted to spite him, and he also brought up the time when Eivor had fought with him and punched Basim during the confrontation with Eadwyn over the Saga Stone, saying that he would not follow a leader such as Eivor into Valhalla. Thirdly, he recalled the time that Eivor had openly defied his judgment, but Eivor said that he still believed that Sigurd's judgment was wrong. However, he enocuraged Sigurd to come back home, saying that the home that they made was still Sigurd's home. Sigurd was touched by Eivor's renewed kindness, saying that he had initially seen Eivor as cold-hearted since his return from captivity, but realized that Eivor was speaking warm words. Sigurd agreed to return with the condition that he become Eivor's counselor, and Eivor said that he would not agree to anything less. The two brothers, having resolved their disputes, sailed back home, and Eivor told Sigurd the truth: that he had been destined to betray him, but Sigurd said that their fates were woven long ago, and that there was no point getting angry over them.

Sigurd and Eivor returned home with their longship crew a few weeks later, and they were warmly greeted by Tove before entering the longhouse. There, Randvi greeted them and thanked the gods for their safe return, and she was soon joined by the townspeople. Sigurd invited Eivor to sit on the throne, and Randvi told Eivor - now the jarl - to address his people. Eivor initially started to go into poetic verse, but he stopped himself and told the people that they were less his people than he was theirs, asking them to keep him accountable. Bragi then broke into song, and the whole of Ravensthorpe began to sing in Eivor's honor, with Sigurd smiling for his brother, who was now his successor.

Finishing the Order[]

The next morning, Sigurd let Eivor know that he and Randvi had amicably ended their marriage, as, while they deeply adored each other, their marriage was not based in love, and they could not reconcile their differences. Before speaking to Randvi about dealing with Hampshire, where Eivor had previously hypothesized that Alfred was going to be driven into the sea by Guthrum's army, Eivor decided to better prepare himself by finishing off the Order and improving his skills. He firrst rode to Sussex, where he infiltrated the Embert Blockade outpost and discovered a note identifying Beneseck of Bath as a member of the Order of the Ancients and locating him at Brimcliff Monastery.

The Oil[]

Eivor then decided to ride into Hampshire, first stopping at the cave of Wocig, where he retrieved a tablet depicting the coat of Padarn Beisrudd. Afterwards, he rode to Henge Farm to find a clue as to the identity of "the Oil", the other outstanding member of the Wardens of Faith. He found a merchant's note which said that he was planning to gift his brother's pig farm at Reading to "the Oil", and, before riding to Reading, he visited Stonehenge and solved the puzzle left by the strange markings on the stones, meditating at a spot from which he could feel a surge of powerful energy. Eivor assembled his raiding party and launched a raid on Reading, overcoming tough resistance and sacking the monastery. While there, he discovered another note which identified the priest Yohanes Loukas as "the Oil".

As Loukas was in Farnham, Eivor decided to focus on eliminating him first. He found Loukas guarded by four men beneath a ruined Roman arch, so Eivor climbed to the top of the arch and shot an arrow at an explosive oil jar next to the men, mortally wounding Loukas and killing three of his guards; Eivor killed the fourth guard with three arrows. He then jumped down and stabbed Loukas with his hidden blade. a dying Loukas lamented how he loved his family, but, when Eivor asked about all of the families he and the Order had harmed, Loukas berated Eivor, a Dane, for talking about the value of families. He then died of his wounds, and Eivor decided to move on to his next target, Beneseck.

The Bell[]

Eivor then travelled to Croydon and rode to the shore at Brimcliff, where he summoned his longship with his war horn. Together, the Vikings fought their way through the monastery's cavern defenses, up the slope, and into the courtyard, where they dispatched the guards and looted all of the monastery's treasures. Eivor later found Beneseck after he had been cut down by another Viking warrior, and he stabbed him with his hidden blade. Beneseck bragged about how he had given some of his money to the poor, saying that he had made good out of evil, and that the lives lost were worth the charity. Eivor had no words for Beneseck, who died unrepentant. Eivor was then able to corroborate the clues obtained from his last two kills and identify the Maegester of the Wardens of Faith as Sister Blaeswith, a trusted confidante of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Rake[]

Eivor then travelled to Canterbury, where he sought to put an end to the last Order member apart from the Grand Maegester himself. He found Sister Blaeswith, "the Rake", at the ruined Saint Martin's Church, which was obscured by fog. He killed a few of her guards by shooting the link holding up a large bundle of cargo, crushing her guards to death. He then snuck up on her from behind and stabbed her with his hidden blade. Blaeswith told Eivor that she had managed to hide her heresy from the Archbishop and her parishioners for so long, all while giving off an image of piety; she then said that she preferred worshipping the old gods to the Archbishop's God. She finally said that, when the Archbishop discovered her heresy, she was forced to silence him. Eivor taunted her, saying that the silence had come for her, and she died in the mud as Eivor took her medallion.

Treasure hunting[]

Eivor then decided to hunt down the treasures of Britain and visit several megaliths to decipher their mysteries. He visited Cedd's Stone first, donating 200 coins as an offering. However, he felt a few more coins go missing, and he followed green footprints to a treehouse in thte woods. There, he found a Norse boy and girl, who then invited him to join them up th ladder and in their fantastical "St. Martin's Land". There, they explained that they had to steal in order to survive, eating what little food they could find. The girl then gave Eivor his money back, apologizing for stealing. Eivor, in an act of kindness, decided to give them 65 coins to buy what they needed, and, while the girl said that she didn't feel that she deserved the coin, Eivor said that they did not deserve to live like that. As a token of his appreciation, the boy decided to give Eivor a necklace which conferred honorary club membership to him, and he told Eivor to come back any time he wanted to.

Eivor went on to ride past the East Cape Peak and visit Seahenge, solving the puzzle there as well. He then rode inland and found Grime's Graves, where he found a tablet resembling Rhydderch Hael's white sword-hilt. He continued on to Colchester, Essex, finding an old wine cellar hidden within a cave system and recovering another tablet, this one featuring the horn of Bran Galed from the North (retrieving it after flooding a grated hole with wine to allow for the tablet to float within his reaches). Eivor's third hunt took him to the Cave of Trials in Kent, where he - although not without difficulty - acquired several keys after impressive feats, made his way through several puzzles, and looted a nickel ingot chest and found a tablet resembling the chesssboard of Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio. Finally, he visited the Santlache Mine and recovered a tablet resembling the cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant after swimming underwater for quite some time to retrieve it.

Before continuing on with his quest, Eivor set an ambush for the Order zealot Hrothgar Rat-Lord on a country lane in Sussex, easily cutting him down before stabbing him with his hidden blade. He first noticed another strangely marked artifact on the zealot's body, and Hrothgar then said that he had once known a man who had cleaned all the rats in London, earning their love, but he lamented that rats had freedom at the price of living in feces. Eivor looked at the retrieved artifact, which depicted the knife of Llawfrodedd Farchog.

Eivor then travelled into Hampshire to continue his hunt. He found the Red Lichen Cavern just east of Winchester's city walls, and he read a note from "Saint Haedde's Cult" describing how the brothers had taken up arms against the invading Danes. While there, he found "The Mantle of Arthur of Cornwall". He also visited Egbert's Stone in Hampshire, where he ate fly agaric mushrooms and was forced to fight off three Jotuns and a wild boar in a hallucination. He then travelled north to Nottinghamshire, where he visited the Deoraby Spar Cavern. there, he found a note from a group seeking to honor its Roman ancestors as the Picts and Danes fought fiercely in their lands. Eivor found a tablet representing the whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd, and, aiming to complete the collection, he travelled too Winchester to seek out the last stone.

While riding through the Hampshire countryside, he came across the zealot Bercthun War-Hedge and ambushed him on the road outside of Chippenham. Eivor shot Bercthun full of arrows, dodged his explosive satchels, and cut him down, and he proceeded to stab him with his hidden blade to make sure of his death.Bercthun told Eivor that, while the Roman God hated war-sweat, he and the Ancient Ones loved it. Eivor taunted him, saying that it was the last battle-milk from his brow he would ever taste, and Bercthun told Eivor to choke on his bones. Eivor then rode south, past Wishtman's Wood and the Dartmoor bandit camp, and into the town of Wareham, which served as an army garrison. He used its church as a viewpoint for the rest of southern Hampshire, completing his knowledge of the countryside.

Eivor then rode north to investigate Myrddin's Cave, having heard of Merlin from the Britons' mythology. There, he found a closed vault of the Ancient Ones, and he asked himself if Sigurd had known about it; he decided to find another way in. After navigating his way throiugh colossal chambers, he found thirteen pillars, putting his eleven stones into them, completing the collection (two had already been in place). This then enabled him to draw the sword from the stone in the center of the temple, and he realized that it was King Arthur's sword, Excalibur. He went to London to buy materials from the merchant Wolstan Ordlafing, but even the materials he bought were not enough to upgrade Excalibur, which was still weaker than his best axe.

Two More Zealots[]

Eivor and raiding — Eivor and Finnr raiding Wenloch

Eivor then travelled to Repton, and he sailed down the River Trent to attack Wenloch Abbey in Nottinghamshire. They attacked the monastery and entered its catacombs, where they looted its well-guarded treasures and killed its Northumbrian defenders. He then came across Cola Cniht-Scribe as he rode towards the bridge over the Rover Soar to Sudwella in Leicestershire. Eivor easily hacked Cola down after ambushing him, and a dying Cola said that nobody would remember their fight, nor their names. Eivor asked if Cola had any regrets, and Cola said that his only regret was losing to whatever Eivor was, saying that he reeked of fading glory. Eivor then rode on to Boston and to a Mercian tower at the tip of Lincolnshire's peninsula, observing the surrounding countryside of East Lindsey and overlooking the Wash.

Eivor then decided to return to Gloucestershire to visit the Rollendritch megaliths and solve the puzzle there. He found a source of powerful energy after viewing an alignment of inscriptions which formed a pagan symbol. He then travelled north to Shropshire, riding past the Uriconium ruins and ambushing the zealot Wealdmaer Geld-Remover. He cut Wealdmaer down, and Wealdmaer said that he ha dserved the "true gods" Hretha, Eostre, and Saetere, and he asaid that to be killed by Eivor held honor, and that killing held all glory.

Further adventures[]

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where he got a haircut and returned his hair to its natural blonde color. He also greeted Gunnar, who told Eivor that he always thought he would be a good jarl. Eivor then spoke with Hytham at the bureau, and Hytham asked Eivor about Basim, as Basim had told him that he was headed to Norway. Eivor told Hytham that, while it would be hard to hear, Basim had attacked him and Sigurd in Norway as vengeance for some transgression of theirs, imaginary or real. Hytham asked if Eivor had slain Basim himself, but Eivor said that he and Sigurd had done so together. Hytham interrupted Eivor and said that he did not understand, as Basim loved Eivor and Sigurd, but Eivor said that he did not understand it himself, ans dait that they could perhaps one day talk about it again in more clarity; until then, Eivor said, he was sorry. He then told Hytham that he had cleared Winchester of the Order, although doing so meant working with Alfred. Hytham deduced that the "Poor Fellow-Soldier" was toying with Eivor by leading him to the King of Wessex, saying that it was strange.

Eivor then left Ravensthorpe, and he tracked down the Order zealot Horsa Frown-Hoard halfway between Perie and the Besuncen Tor in Oxfordshire. He cut Horsa down after a short duel on the shady country lane, and Eivor said that Horsa would be forgotten. Horsa told Eivor that he had left silver in the mouth of his home, and he asked Eivor to see that the money was spent well and frivolously. Eivor then took his medallion, and he sought to track down the last Zealot. Along the way, he stopped by the two bandit camps at Linford and killed all of the brigands and looted their treasures.

Eivor bringing Dandelion Puff back to her owner

While riding to Buckingham, Eivor came across a burning home, and a woman asked Eivor to see if her dog "Dandelion Puff" - who had accidentally started the fire and had not yet left the house - was okay. Eivor broke into the burning house and found out that "Dandelion Puff" was not a dog, but a fox; he then found an exit and brought Dandedlion Puff back to her owner. The woman was happy to see her pet again, but she told Eivor that she would soon die (as she was coughing from too much smoke inhalation), and she asked Eivor to take care of her "doggie-woggie". Eivor told her that Dandelion was no dog, but a fox, and the woman laughed at how foolish she had been, reasoning that there must have been a reason why Dandelion Puff loved the woods so much. She then bade farewell to her pet before dying, and Eivor invited Dandelion Puff to stay with him at his settlement.

Eivor then came across a locked, remote house south of Evesham Abbey, and he found a note from a local farmer which supported the person inside's decision to seclude themself, promising them carrots for sustenance. Eivor managed to break the lock on the door wiuth an arrow, head downthe stairs, and find a woman, Anchoress Eadburga, praying over a coffin. Eivor asked why she had locked herself into the building by herself, and she said that she was an anchoress who had voluntarily segregated herself from the rest of the world as penance. She said that she had finally found peace in the world through her years of isolation, but Eivor tried to persuade her to leave, saying that she could not find peace if she was separated from the world. Eadburga decided to walk outside to feel the grass under her feet and smell fresh air again, and she told Eivor that she had taken refuge in the basement since her father died, the pestilence came, and the Great Heathen Army invaded; she had not been outside in years. She was ecstatic to experience the real world again, and, feeling the Earth's beauty renew her, she prayed, "We are of Thy world, my Lord, and thereof, we are grateful. Leaves fall, turn to dust, and from dust, trees of green arise."

Eivor consoling at his farm — Eivor consoling Sten at his farm

After retrieving a Roman artifact from a ruined tower under guard by Mercian soldiers, Eivor came across the Viking warrior Sten, who was lighting the funeral pyre for the last of his warriors, and had just received news that his entire family (including his wife and daughter) had died of the plague back in Norway. He then asked Eivor to give him leave to weep, suggesting that Eivor should command him to weep in order to make him feel better about showing emotion. Eivor authoritatively commanded Sten to weep, and, while he initially held back the tears, he ultimately broke down and wailed.

Eivor then decided to visit London and confront Maximilian, Octavian's rival, who had stolen his legionary statue. He found Maximilian in front of his shop, and he demanded that he hand over Octavian's statuette. Maximilian guessed that Eivor was referring to "Osbert", and he said that Osbert could not have his "greasy pedestrian fingers on something so exquisite." Eivor gave Maximilian 130 silver pieces in exchange for the statue, and he proceeded to retrieve it.

Eivor then proceeded to loot several of London's treasures and kill several bandits before discovering the Londinium Bureau. While there, he discovered a note from Magister Vitus ordering the local Hidden Ones to relocate to their Cologne bureau; he also found a note detailing a failed plot by Acolyte Caius to assassinate Hadrian at the villa southeast of the colisseum before he could make war on the Picts. After looting the treasures left behind there, he returned to Ravensthorpe, where he gave the legionary statue to a grateful Octavian; he alsoi handed over five other Roman artifacts to him.

Eivor standing over the slain Gemad-Wulf

Aiming to hone his skills even further, Eivor travelled to Caistor Lupus in Lincolnshire, where he took on the legendary Gemad-Wulf, which was said to have been terrorizing the locals to avenge the Romans' martyring of Simon the Zealot, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, in Lincolnshire. Eivor fought against the Gemad-Wulf and his pack in an intense battle, but Eivor ultimately slew all of them, proving his mettle and saving the local villagers from the mythical beast. He then found a sleeping Norse man, Bjarte, beside a note asking a passer-by to take him back to his wife in Grimsby if they had not killed him and robbed him, so Eivor took him back to his wife's house after mounting him on the back of his horse. His wife thanked Eivor for his help, and Eivor said that Bjarte's note might not save him from wolves or roaming bandits next time; the wife promised to belt her husband when he woke again. Eivor then headed to the other end of town and picked up a scroll containing part of the Rigsogur epic poem, adding it to his collection. He also visited Brictuia Cherrier's shop for crafting materials.

Visiting old friends[]

Eivor then decided to visit Bishop Deorlaf in Quatford, first losing a drinking contest and 100 peningas to a Mercian soldier before finding Deorlaf at the church, supervising choir practice. Eivor jokingly asked if his God had large enough ears to hear the song, and Derolaf said that he did. He also said that, since the death of Rhodri, the shire had lived in peace, and they celebrated the peace with both music and prayer. Eivor asked if Deorlaf did not fear a reprisal from the Britons, but Deorlaf revealed that Angharad had divided her kingdom among her sons. The eldest, Anarawd ap Rhodri, busied himself by squabbling with the others. Eivor asked what would happen if Anarawd united the clans under his rule, and Deorlaf asked that they pray that such a day might never come. Deorlaf also told Eivor that he had received word from Ceolwulf that he had interred Ceolbert in Tamworth, and Deorlaf said that Ceolbert deserved a visit. Before Eivor bade Deorlaf farewell, Deorlaf gave Eivor Ceolbert's coat brooch, saying that he was certain Ceolbert would have wanted Eivor to have it; he then told Eivor to go with God.

Eivor then travelled to Tamworth, where he paid his respects to Ceolbert at his tomb in a small chapel. He told Ceolbert that he was with his God, and that he had come to mourn a fine young man. He then went to King Ceolwulf in the great hall, and Ceolwulf said that he was wondering if Eivor would ever come again, and that it was great to see Eivor. Eivor said that he wanted to visit and see how Ceolwulf was doing, and, while Ceolwulf said that was kind of Eivor, he said that he felt somewhat lost, as, without Ceolbert, the world seemed to seemed to have lost a shade of color. Eivor told Ceolwulf that he knew something of the feeling, as he had lost his father, mother, and his entire clan. Ceolwulf told Eivor that Ceolbert had respected him, and opine d that, were it not for Eivor, Ceolbert might just be as Eivor had found him: "a naive boy, devoid of experience." Eivor said that Ceolbert was not naive, but that he simply saw the good in people and wanted to draw it out. Ceolwulf agreed that Ceolbert did so, and he wished that God bless Eivor and said that, whatever remained of his son in that world, he believed it traveled with Eivor.

Eivor then decided to travel to Lincoln to visit Hunwald, and he first met with Acha at the hostel, where she snarled that Eivor had elected a "man-child" to lead Lincoln, saying "God preserve us all". He then went to the Witan hall, where he spoke with Grim. Grim said that he did not envy the position Eivor had been put in: to choose the fate and bruise the ego of not one but three men. Grim said that Danes should not be spending their precious days like that, but Eivor said that he was not above unpleasant work, as he did what was needed for his settlement and is people. Grim said that Eivor was better than most, and he wished him good fortune in the times ahead. Raeganhere also wished Eivor well, but Hunwald was too focused on his scroll-reading at his desk to notice that Eivor had arrived, so Eivor decided to return to Ravensthorpe.

Hampshire[]

Eivor decided that he was sufficiently prepared to risk a venture into Hampshire, the last Saxon stronghold. Randvi warned him that King Alfred was preparing for war, Hampshire was heavily guarded, and Eivor would meet tremendous resistance if he wished to attack Alfred. Eivor said that Alfred would as well, and he asked Randvi if Guthrum was there with his army. Randvi said that he was, and that he and Ubbe had gathered a sizeable force and intended to attack Alfred soon. She said that, if Eivor supported their assault, England would fall to the Danes and become "a pagan land where a multitude of gods may freely roam." Eivor decided to pledge, and he told Randvi that he would go to Hampshire and speak with Guthrum, and had her send word to Ravensthorpe's allies to gather on the Thames, just outside the shire. As Eivor left, Valka warned him against going, saying that the signs and portents shouted and wailed that Eivor's leaving would be Ravensthorpe's doom. She warned Eivor that, while he might win the upcoming battle, he would lose the war, his foe would be his master, and his hope would be his grief. Eivor thanked Valka for her concern, but he insisted that the yarns of fate were too frayted for him to follow. Eivor said that he owed the fight to his friends and allies, and that he would see it through; Valka, resigned, told Eivor to go with great care, but know that the home he would leave would not be the home he would return to.

Burning of Wareham[]

Eivor and Soma heading to the church at Wareham

Eivor then travelled to Wareham, where he met with Soma; the two gave each other a brief and warm welcome. Eivor asked about the uneasy peace and if any blood had been spilt, and Soma told him that Wareham had fallen without a fight, and that King Alfred had come to talk about peace terms with Guthrum, suggesting that Alfred must be on the back foot. She then led Eivor to the church to join the meeting, and Eivor warned Soma that Alfred spoke with Loki's tongue. Soma told Eivor that Guthrum was not a babe at teat, but Eivor told her that neither was Alfred, and that Alfred likely sought to press his advantage by negotiating. Soma told Eivor that he should stand by Guthrum and help show the Danes' strength, assuring him that "the king of hayseeds" would soon be humbled.

Eivor joining the peace talks at Wareham

Eivor found Alfred and Goodwin arguing with Guthrum, who sought to renege on earlier terms by demanding the throne of Wessex. Goodwin assured Guthrum that Wessex already had a king, and said that Guthrum's desire for the West Saxon crown was a fever dream. Eivor interrupted by saying that Guthrum did not negotiate with oath-breakers, "men whose words are only shadows of their thoughts." Goodwin greeted Eivor as "our blunted tool", and Alfred then resumed his conversation with Guthrum, saying that he had already given Guthrum a Danegeld to leave Wareham; Guthrum had also sworn an oath upon the cross and his pagan hammer. Goodwin then added that, whenever the Danes returned home, the Saxons would release their prisoners. Guthrum called Goodwin a "handmaid" and threatened to feed his tongue to Eivor's raven if he spoke again, but Goodwin joked that it was a fair trade, as the Saxons already had Guthrum's "c*ck". Eivor calmed the two men and said that Guthrum would abide by the agreed-upon terms, and Goodwin delivered a treasure chest to the Danes and told them that they had one day to leave Wareham, or else the West Saxons would return with force. Alfred also said that, if the Danes doubted his conviction, the River Avon near Uffington ran red with the blood of their countrymen. Alfred then revelaed that the Danes had cried the name of their leader, "Ubbe", when he fell, shocking Guthrum and Eivor. Alfred then told the Danes that, as they had taken his silver, he expected their honor, and he said that he would await the arrival of news of the Danes' retreat at Chippenham. Alfred and Goodwin then left, and Guthrum panicked about Ubbe's death; Soma then came in and said that, if the news spread around the camp, not one Saxon woul be left alive. Eivor said that Alfred was likely lying, and he said that Alfred had betrayed his oath to him at Winchester, deciding that the betrayer should be betrayed. The Danes then proceeded to burn Wareham to the ground and kill the Saxon soldiers left there, making a statement of defiance against Alfred.

The Danes then fought their way through the forest and to a campsite at some Roman ruins, where Guthrum and Eivor discussed strategy. Eivor said that Guthrum's fury would not be enough to overwhelm Alfred, and that he would need to find a weakness. Guthrum noted that Alfred would be at Chippenham, which he called "a squat hovel of sheep and peasants", and explained that Alfred would be there to warm his heals for the Saxons' holiday feast, Christmas. Eivor told Guthrum that he had called upon his allies to join him in the final fight, and asked guthrum if Chippenham was the final prize. Guthrum said that it was, but he needed his men for the coming fight as well, and he asked Eivor if he could help free the hostages Alfred had taken. He then told Eivor that they were being held at the Hamtun Blockade (Southampton), and Eivor agreed to help. He then told Soma to ride north to the Thames and lead his allies south, as they should have been gathered by then. Guthrum told Eivor that he had once called him "Raven-Feeder", and said that, at Portchester, Eivor was as hot-headed as Thor, but he commended Eivor for becoming a true leader.

Preparing for battle[]

Eivor talking with outside — Eivor talking with Guthrum outside Southampton

Eivor and Guthrum then went to the blockade, where Eivor called in his longship crew; they overwhelmed the small garrison and freed the Danish prisoners. Eivor then spoke with Guthrum at a safe distance from the fort, and Guthrum again commended Eivor's leadership schools, was updated about Sigurd,and, when Guthrum asked if all of their efforts and sacrifices would be worth it, Eivor said that they had to believe that their way of life would survive, as, while their fates were woven, their deeds forged their destinies. They then decided to ready themselves for the final battle, and Guthrum told Eivor to meet him at the forward camp outside of Chippenham.

There, Eivor reunited with several old allies. He was surprised to see Geadric again after Kent, and Geadric said that he had chosen his side, as he "would sooner bed a hog" than allow Alfred to pillage the land that he loved. Eivor said that Guthrum would trample Alfred's ambitions like weeds in the dirt, and that Mercia might rise further yet. Geadric joked that he might one day become King of England as "Geadric the Drunken Ass". Eivor then talked to Vili, and joked that, if Vili had told any of his secrets to his new Saxon friends, something might happen to him in the coming battle. Hunwald laughed at the "fiendish ribaldry" between the two, saying that they laughed in the face of death. Eluric, who had returned from hsi vagrancy, told Eivor that he would do his mother and his lord proud that day, confessing that he had not been the best of sons. Eivor then talked with an uneasy Deorlaf, who said that he had reluctantly heeded Eivor's call; he did not like the idea of attacking a Christian feast with an army of raiders, and he said that, as innocents would die for Eivor's ambitions, he would have to turn back to Mercia and repent after one last fight by Eivor's side. Eivor said that, as long as they remained friends, Deorlaf's oath was fulfilled.

Eivor talking with Tewdwr before the battle

Eivor was surprised to see Tewdwr sharpening his sword, and Tewdwr said that Alfred had no love for pagans; Eivor said that Tewdwr had changed much from being the God-whipped boy he first met. Tewdwr thanked Eivor for helping him change, and Eivor said that he would be taught another lesson, the power of Norse bands. Eivor then walked over to Hjorr and Ljufvina, having overheard Hjorr express his hope that Eivor could release them from their oath after the battle so that they could return to their warm hearth. Hjorr said that he had come south to ensure that Ljufvina was safe, but Eivor said that, in Sussex, Ljufvina had single-handedly taken Portchester, and Ljufvina said that Eivor had never seen a woman with less of a need for a guardian. Eivor also soke with Finnr, and he asked how he felt about attacking the Christians on their holiday; Finnr said that it lowered the mood, as he had learned some of the Christ-Lord's teachings, including that he taught peace while the pagan gods delighted in battle. Eivor told Finnr to let the gods' delight be theirsr, then, as Eivor said that they had many battles to wage before the end. Finnr said that he would be beside Eivor for them all, his axe ready and his heart stout. Finally, Eivor spoke with Erke, Broder, and Stowe, and he expressed his surprise that Erke and Stowe came despite having their debt forgiven. Erke explained that London was quiet, and Stowe felt "the sharp stab of conscience." Stowe said that he could not let Eivor down, as that was not what an honorable man would do, and he said that he was there for Eivor, despite his reservattions. Eivor also expressed his surprise at seeing Broder, but Broder said that he had seen his brother off to Valhalla with grave-goods, and he said that he was done with sorrow and was "bloody angry".

Eivor then went up the hill to meet with Guthrum and Soma, and Guthrum told Soma that a few survivors from the Battle of Cynwit had made their way to the Danish camp and confirmed that Ubbe had been slain, the last vestige of Ragnarr's legacy. Eivor then joined their conversation, remarking with wonder how his allies from all over England had come to join him. Soma said that she never thought it possible that Eivor could rally Saxons and Norse under his black-feathered banner, and Guthrum explained that they had seen the tyranny of the "elf-king" Alfred, who would "crush them all under heel, and plug their hearts with his god." Guthrum told Eivor that their feast day was in a few nights, but the Saxons had already begun their revelry, and Guthrum suggested that they attack immediately. Soma said that such a decision would be unwise, as soldiers paced the paths of the village, and Eivor decided to attack on the night of the feast, under cover of darkness. Soma said that Ubbe will not have died in vain, and Guthrum told Eivor that they awaited his instructions. Eivor decided that they should start planning their approach, but he told them that, whatever happened, Alfred was his.

Eivor, Guthrum, and Soma planning the battle

Soma suggested that Eivor's "young Saxons" could be his eyes to the west to keep watch rather than risk death, and Guthrum then said that his scouts had reported the arrival of a few nobles for the festivities. Eivor said that, if they captured the thegns, they would be no danger once he confronted Alfred. Guthrum also suggested that they could persuade them to support a new king of Wessex, and he said that he would subdue the lords. Eivor told Guthrum to take Deorlaf and Tewdwr with him, as they could be useful in convincing the thegns. Eivor then told Broder to take Erke and Stowe and capture the garrison and make quick work of any Saxons who crossed into the village. Broder laughed and said that he would gladly do so.

Battle of Chippenham[]

At nightfall, Eivor gave a speech to his friends and allies, promising them victory in the coming battle. He urged them, "Be ravening wolves and croaking ravens. Stand firm, your axe-arm strong, and together we will win this final battle." They then set about their tasks, and, as the other groups burned the village and attacked the guards, Eivor, Soma, and Ljufvina entered the great hall to look for Alfred. Instead, they found Goodwin, who asked Eivor if he thought that Alfred would turn his back on the Danes when Eivor's knife was smeared with the blood of Wareham. Eivor told Goodwin to stand aside, as he was looking for Alfred. Goodwin told Eivor that Alfred was long gone, and that his Christian feast was "a cup of honey-wine to trap some wasps". Eivor then asked where Alfred was, and Goodwin said that Alfred was calling all of his allies to his side, all of those who wished to see Wessex under one God. Goodwin told Eivor that he could not win England with his "sorry crew of deluded farmers and godless fools," but Eivor responded that he would not leave them to die as he scurried through the cornhusks like a rat. Goodwin rebuked Eivor, saying that he had no understanding of duty, and that Alfred's vision for England and the world was worth the cost of his life. Eivor invited Goodwin to sing his tuneless hymns, and Goodwin then challenged the "Raven-Feeder" to fight.

Eivor defeated Goodwin after a short fight, and, while Goodwin expressed his willingness to die so that Alfred may live, Eivor told Goodwin that Alfred had used him to serve as an obstacle in the Danes' path. Goodwin then told Eivor to kill him, as it made no odds, telling Eivor that he was no closer to his king or to his throne. Goodwin then told Eivor that England would never be his home, and that, "You will not subdue her with vicious force, or win her with cocksure words. We Saxons will always stand firm. Shoulder-by-shoulder against thieves and tyrants, whose envious eyes fall upon England." Eivor decided to use Goodwin as Goodwin had used him, saying that he would lead the Danes to his sparrow-king. Goodwin said, "That, I cannot allow," and he proceeded to slit his own throat to avoid falling into Danish captivity.

Upon exiting the hal, Eivor found his warriors being overwhelmed, and he told Soma to fall back. However, she was run through by a Saxon soldier, and, while she killed the attacker, she fell to her knees and shouted, "For glory!" before another Saxon stabbed her through her back, impaling her and killing her. Eivor screamed in anger, and he killed all of her attackers before checking to see how his other allies were faring. He helped Guthrum capture the last thegn (who had barricaded himself in the other room of the thegns' hall), and he then ran further into the burning village.

There, Eivor found Hunwald and Eluric wounded, and Eivor carried Hunwald to the safety of a nearby hut; Hunwald thanked Eluric for being his most steadfast protector. Eivor told the dying Hunwald that he had survived the "battle of Botolphston", and told him not to let his new scratch best him. However, Hunwald said that he was cold, and asked if winter had already come. Eivor told him that he would warm himself with dancing and ale, but Hunwald said he might be embraced at his father's breast, and asked if his father would be proud of him. Eivor said, "He will pull you to his breast, sob bright words of welcome...and tell you no man ever had a worthier son." Hunwald then told Eivor, "I am glad to have known you, Eivor. My truest..."; he then died in Eivor's arms. Eluric volunteered to stay by his friend's side, and a sobbing Eivor headed out of the hut to check in on Broder, who was attempting to take the garrison. He blew open the gate after infiltrating it from the inside, helping Broder, Erke, and Stowe to secure it.

The Aftermath[]

Eivor talking with after the — Eivor talking with Broder after the Battle of Chippenham

Eivor then headed to regroup with the others, and he helped to fight off the last of the West Saxons. Guthrum then boasted that the city was theirs, and that Wessex would follow, but Eivor approached him and told him that they were not without losses, some of them grave. Guthrum said that the West Saxon king had fled, his "patsy" struck down, and defeat rang loud in the Saxons' ears, and Guthrum bragged that he would be their lord before the spring came. Eivor again interrupted Guthrum, telling him that Soma was gone. Guthrum was shocked to hear this, but he quickly said that she had gone to the endless feast, and that she was better for it. Eivor decided to speak to the others, and Broder told him that, in the thick of the battle, he had a vision oof Brothir fighting beside him, and Eivor promised him that there would be more battles; Brodder said that Eivor would find him there, Brothir at his side, until the Valkyries claimed him.

Eivor then went to talk with Ljufvina, and he was saddened to find that Hjorr's body lay next to Hunwald and Soma. Ljufvina quieted Eivor, saying that there was nothing that words could do, and she told the gods that she was thankful for each moment with her husband; she also lamented that the days would be cold thereafter, all color dimmed. Eivor then went to Eluric, complimenting his bravery in his first battle, but Eluric said that he did not want any of the glory the Danes sought, as he felt that he could have been the one to die instead of Hunwald, with the light dimming from his eyes. Eivor told Eluric that he would never be the same, but stronger for it; Eluric said that he had wasted so much time in pouting like a child, and he said that he would do so no more. Eivor and Vili briefly talked about the battle, and their desire to fight more in the future.

Eivor talking with Stowe after the battle

Eivor then thanked Stowe for his help, but Stowe said that he was unsure if it was the right choice, and said that he was glad that it was done. Eivor assured Stowe that, if Alfred had his way, there would be no friendship between Norse and Saxon, and told Stowe to be proud that he had fought for peace. Stowe said that he wished he could, but said that, in time, he perhaps would be. Stowe then said that Stowe's support for Eivor had taxed him hard, and then said that he would take him back to London and see if he could find some comfrt there. Eivor said that Erke was Stowe's comfort, not the city they watched, and he told Erke that Stowe was in good hands. Eivor finally talked with Tewdwr, who said that, while he had been bruised, he had taken God into his heart, and God had watched over his "sorry bones". Tewdwr said that those who fell sat beside God now, and, when Eivor asked what of his heathen friends, Tewdwr said that he used to believe in damnation for all who turned from God's light, but said that there was a wondrous communion in friendship honored. Eivor asked if this was the case, even when Jesus preached peace, and Tewdwr said that they would do that, Christians and pagans, side-by-side and never persec uted. Eivor said that Tewdwr's Christ would smile at that, and Tewdwr said that Eivor's Freyja would too.

Eivor presiding over the funerals at Chippenham

Eivor then went to speak with Guthrum again, and they agreed to honor the dead. Eivor grew cynical during the ceremony; when Guthrum asked Eivor to do the honors of lighting their pyres, Eivor said that nothing awaited them: they lived, they died, and their bodies would return to cinders, with their saga ending there. Guthrum asked Eivor not to tell the others that, and Eivor instead gave brief eulogies for his fallen friends as they were sent to the afterlife.

Leaving Guthrum[]

Eivor talking with Guthrum in front of the cross

The next day, Eivor bade farewell to his friends. He then walked into the church and found Guthrum staring at the cross, and Guthrum asked if, when the reeve died, if he died believing that he would go to his God. Eivor said that the reeve was strangely peaceful in the end, as if death meant nothing. Guthrum lamented how, while the Danes stumbled through their years, ravenous, grasping, spilling blood, and stealing gold, it was never enough. Guthrum concluded that life was never enough, and he asked Eivor if it would soothe him to know that there was something beyond life; not war and valor, but quiet and peace. Eivor said that he thought the afterlife was only a reflection of men's regrets during their lives, and he said that all hee wished for at the moment was to live among the riends he had made, as he believed that was all that counted. Guthrum also described how Alfred had made him swear fealty upon the cross of God's son, and noted how Alfred had held such faith in "a plain, unadorned thing." Eivor said that it had burned between his fingers as if he had pulled it from fire, but he said that the strange and powerful feeling was gone in an instant. Eivor asked what Guthrum would do next, and Guthrum said that he would do whatever he had to do, as he said that England was his final home, and he would do whatever it would take to remain.

Reporting on Hampshire[]

Swanburrow grieving over Hunwald's death

Eivor then decided to return to Ravensthorpe to tell Swanburrow about Hunwald's fate, believing it better that he tell her than someone else. When he approached her at the odcks and told her that he had to say something, Swanburrow immediately knew what he was about to say, stood up, and began to grieve for her lost love. Eivor told Swanburrow that Hunwald had fought bravely and turned the tide to secure victory, saying that he died a hero and would be so remembered. Swanburrow told Eivor that Hunwald would have fainted to hear such praise from Eivor's lips, and she thanked Eivor for his encouragement. Eivor then said that Hunwald walked among warriors now, and Swanburrow said that he was a lucky man, and agreed that he was in Valhalla. Eivor said that he knew that words were a poor salve for a wounded heart, so he left Swanburrow to grieve. He also assured Swanburrow that the Raven Clan was there for her, always, should she need them.

Eivor then headed into the long house to report to Randvi, saying that Hampshire had fallen and, with it, the Kingdom of Wessex, but that the cost was great, and maybe too great for all the Danes had gained. Randvi told Eivor to rest, as he had earned it, but Eivor said that it was on the backs of so many, and time would tell if it was worth it. England had pacified all of England, but he had not yet seen all the wonders of the world, and he decided to keep his saga going by upgrading his settlement, hunting the remaining Order of the Ancients, and completing any outstanding tasks in England and Norway.

End of the Order[]

The Last Zealot[]

Eivor first travelled to Crowland, Lincolnshire, and he rode north to confront the last zealot, Osgar Sword-Cloven, on the road southwest of Whisby. He killed Osgar's four Mercian bodyguards before cutting Osgar down and stabbing him with his hidden blade. Osgar went on to say, "Offa betrayed us all in Deira. Now we crawl about for the scraps. Whatever crumbs you leave behind after your raids." Eivor deduced that Osgar wished he were a raider or drengr, and Osgar said that he did. Eivor then said, farvell, Sword-Cloven, and he took his medallion.

Wedding at Ravensthorpe[]

Eivor then returned to Ravensthorpe, where Gunnar called Eivor over and nervously asked if he could marry him and Brigid. Eivor told Gunnar that to see him happy was such a pleasure, and that he would be honored to marry them. When Eivor asked if he needed to send out any invites abroad, Gunnar said that the Raven Clan was all the family he needed. He also said that Brigid said that she was better off in Ravensthoprpe than with all those she called kin back in Gloucester. Eivor said that they need not bother with tradition, and that, if Gunnar had his bride and blade, he would see them wed. That same day, they married on a cliffside, with the two of them exchanging rings and Gunnar gifting Brigid a swrod; Gunnar was highly emotional and incredibly happy to have such a "perfect woman" as his wife, and the people celebrated when they kissed. Randvi then notioned for Eivor to join her by a tree as the others drank, and, along the way, Hytham told Eivor to come talk to him about a strange letter he had received.

Eivor then talked to Randvi about their joy for Gunnar and Brigid, Randvi then told Eivor that she had received premonitions about their victories in war and diplomacy, and she also said that, from the day they set out from Norway, she always knew that he would make a fitter leader than Sigurd. Eivor told Randvi that he was honored that she had faith and confidence in him, and credited her with many of the succcesses. Randvi then told Eivor that Sigurd and her were severing the bonds of their marriage, and she said that even Sigurd knew that her heart was Eivor's. Eivor said that all Sigurd wanted was far, far away, but all that he wanted was right there. They then kissed, and Randvi suggested that they return to the wedding in case Brigid made another speech. Eivor laughed and said that he did not understand a word she said since they left Gloucestershire, but Randvi said that she thought that Brigid spoke beautifully, with poetry. Eivor asked if Randvi was kidding, but she shook her head, smiling, and they went back to the wedding.

Eivor then talked with Sigurd, telling him how he had a strange feeling that, while weddings usually signified a beginning, it felt like something was coming to an end. Sigurd said that Gunnar's wedding was the first happy union in their home, but, as they had matured into something greater, it was both a beginning and an end. Eivor then gave Brigid a formal welcome to the clan, and, while he could not understand her response, he said that it was wonderful to have her. Eivor also spoke to Alvis, saying that he was surprised that he did not serenade the bride and groom, and Alvis joked that all he could come up with were insults and jibes, so he would save them for another time. Finally, Eivor spoke with Reda and asked him if he would like to settle in Ravensthorpe, but Reda said that he was always wandering and never settling, but that, maybe one day he would settle down. Eivor then returned to the hall to rest, and, after spending the day with Randvi, he decided to speak with Hytham.

Athelney[]

Hytham waited for Eivor otuside of the great hall and told him that the letter requested Eivor's presence in the southwest at the village of Athelney. Eivor asked if there was anything strange about getting a letter, but Hytham said that he found the sender strange: "A Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ". Hytham said that, for a short time, he hoped that it might be Basim feeding them the targets, as he seemed the most likely man for a time. Eivor said that there was only one way to discover the truth, and he thanked Hytham and told him that he would take care of it. Eivor then read the letter, telling him that the Order was all but destroyed, but that one heathen yet remained, the Grand Maegester.

Eivor then travelled to Hampshire and rode into the marshlands of Somerset before reaching the isolated village of Athelney. There, he searched around for the "Poor Fellow-Soldier", but he instead bumped into a local, Gaerwulf Spencer, who asked who Eivor was looking for. Eivor admitted that he was unsure, and Gaerwulf joked that that was the reason Eivor had not found them yet. He then invited Eivor to pass his time in the town, and Eivor sat against a tree and rested for a while.

Hours later, Eivor woke to the sound of a woman instructing a man how to make oat cakes, and he recognized the man as Alfred; he also realized that Alfred was the "Poor Fellow-Soldier of Christ". When the woman left, Eivor poked fun at Alfred's downgraded occupation, and Alfred explained that, in recognition of the family's hospitality, he helped them with their daily chores. When Eivor asked how the family was able to give a king orders, he realized that the family might not have known, and Alfred said that it was a truth best left untold. He then invited Eivor to walk with him, and, during the walk, he said that Eivor looked well. Eivor said that he was doing well now that the wars were done and his settlement was thriving, but Alfred cautioned him that, while the fighting had stopped, men were still plotting from mead halls and bedrooms. Eivor then complimented Alfred's look, again subtly poking fun at his servile appearance, but Alfred said that he had found a certain peace and quiet living the life of a commoner in the marshes.

Eivor then asked Alfred about the reasons for his aid, and Alfred told Eivor that the Order had tried to kill him, so he helped Eivor with his efforts to hunt them down. Eivor grew suspicious of how Alfred - a man who had once claimed to have known nothing about the Order - knew so much about the Order's activities across England. Eivor then insisted that Alfred tell him the name of the Grand Maegester, the very reason Eivor had come all that way. Alfred told Eivor that he could tell his shadowy friends that their work was done, and he handed over his own Order medallion, revealing himself to be the Grand Maegester. Eivor was shocked, and Alfred revealed that he had inherited the title from his brother and father, despite his hatred for the Order's heretical views and hermetic ways. He revealed that he and Goodwin had worked to destroy the Order from within before the Danes arrived and complicated his plans, upon which he was forced to recruit Eivor as his secret weapon against the cult.

Alfred then thanked Eivor for saving England, and he said that the Order's destruction might make room for the birth of a new one, one focused on bettering man's conditions and harmonizing man with the universal order. Eivor suggested that such an order could be headed by a "Poor Fellow-Soldier", and Alfred thanked Eivor again and decided to gift him the key to his study at the Old Minster in Winchester to help Eivor find the answers he deserved. Their conversation was interrupted by Alfred's hostess angrily calling for him, as he had let his oat cakes burn during his conversation with Eivor. Alfred told Eivor that he was unsure if they would ever meet again, but said that he hoped that they would, perhaps as lord to lord.

Answers[]

Eivor visiting Ubbe's final resting place

During his ride to Winchester, Eivor chanced upon the site of Ubbe's death in the Battle of Cynwit, and he found that Ubbe had been impaled by several spears, confirming Alfred's earlier claim of Ubbe's death. Eivor stopped to pay his respects, praying that Ubbe would join his brothers in the afterlife. He then continued on to Winchester, where he visited the Old Minster and entered Alfred's study. There, he found several letters which revealed the true extent of Alfred's plans to dedstroy the Order. One of the letters, from Goodwin, dated back to 874 and mentioned the arrival of Sigurd and Eivor in Leicestershire to aid the sons of Ragnarr Lodbrok in their war in Mercia. Goodwin suggested making contact with them through their Hidden Ones associate Hytham, using the "Poor Fellow-Soldier" name to reach out. In addition, it detailed how Alfred had also sent letters to luminaries in London and York to warn them of the Order, while also contacting Eivor with the goal of having him expedite the Order's eradication. Eivor then read another letter detailing Alfred's sorrow at coming to realize that Charlemagne may have been corrupted by the Order and murdered Alcuin of York; his ironic gratitude for the Danish invasion, which killed Aella of Northumbria and thus let the leadership of the Order fall to him instead; and his distaste with the Order's hermetic ways and its heretical views. Impressed with Alfred's knowledge, Eivor left the study and decided to return to Ravensthorpe.

Eivor meeting with Hytham at Ravensthorpe

Eivor then gave Hytham the last of the Order medallions, noting that Alfred's was among them, and also revealing that Alfred was both Grand Maegester and the "Poor Fellow-Soldier". Hytham asked why the Grand Maegester would turn on his own Order, so Eivor explained that Alfred's devout religiousity and his views on the need for a universal order brought him into conflict with his own Order. Hytham said that, now that the Order was reduced to scraps, Eivor should join the Hidden Ones, but Eivor said that they did not fight for the same cause, as he wanted his deeds and glory to be widely known, while the Hidden Ones worked in secrecy. Hytham suggested that he could give Eivor a new perspective by educating him in the creed and letting him think about it; Eivor said that he would be willing to hear Hytham's perspective, but he felt that a life without glory was not one for him. He then assured Hytham that he would gladly give his life for his friends and those who returned his friendship, Hytham included, and Hytham said that he understood Eivor very well. Eivor proceeded to invest his looted supplies into the cattle and grain farms of the settlement, upgrading them to their limits. He could not upgrade the fowler's farm due to a lack of resources, so he planned to return to southwest Hampshire to attack Ringwood monastery, the last untouched monastery in England.

Yuletide of 878[]

Before doing so, however, Eivor decided to join his fellow villagers in celebrating Yuletide, as the January snow had set in and the people of Ravensthorpe prepared to celebrate their midwinter holiday. Eivor was greeted by Norvid, who expressed his excitement at being able to drink, fight, and compete in hopes of ba bounteous harvest. Norvid explained that he and Sunniva had set up the Yuletide decorations with the help of a few "revelers", and he said that Sunniva would be manning the fist-fight tournament. He also gifted Eivor a few hhomemade "Yuletide tokens" which he could use at his shoop during the festival, and told Eivor that he should get the mead hall and brewery ready for the festival. Eivor then visited the brewery, where the Black Norseman Alwin told Eivor that Tekla had gone on an errand and left her apprentice Ake in charge, resulting in the brewery being trashed. Alwin told Eivor to find Ake, as he was too drunk to do so himself.

River raids[]

Eivor and his people enjoyed the Yuletide celebrations of 878, as well as the Ostara (Easter) holiday in the spring. In the summer of 878, Eivor heard that a group of new arrivals had reached the old docks near Ravensthorpe, so Eivor went out to greet them. He was introduced to the Black Viking Vagn by Sunniva, and Sunniva told Eivor that Vagn was a celebrated raider. Eivor told Vagn that he would be welcome in the settlement without a need for precious metals, instead asking him for hard work and loyalty. Vagn returned Eivor's greeting and promised him that there was more in his venture than precious metals, saying that he and his men knew secret routes of England's coasts where he would find a wealth of resources for Ravensthorpe. Eivor asked why Vagn was so eager to share his spoils, and Vagn responded that, "When the table is laden with too great a feast, you gather your friends 'round to enjoy. We seek friends and feasting." Vagn persuaded Eivor to join him on a raid on the River Exe as soon as Vagn and his crew repaired their ship.

Eivor proceeded to have a "river raid dock" built to house Vagn and his river raiders, and he met with Vagn and Sunniva at the dock once it was finished. Vagn praised the dock as one worthy of his longship, and he told Eivor to talk to him whenever he was ready to leave. Eivor told him that he was ready to leave, and Vagn told Eivor that they would use his own crew for the first outing, as Vagn thought it easier that way for him to show Eivor what lay along the riverbank. He also told Eivor that, later, he was welcome to send his own jomsviking along the paths they traveled, as his could use the rest.

The longship set sail from Ravensthorpe and eventually arrived at the River Exe in Devon, where Vagn told Eivor that the river did not appear on many maps, few knew how to navigate it, and the Jomsvikingr had been learning its currents. Vagn also said that the river had been an old smuggling route for Roman traders, and that a female friend of his had said that the river was useful in hiding the traders' tracks. The longship came ashore at Keats Farm, and the Vikings sacked the village with little resistance, killing just one West Saxon soldier. The Vikings then sailed further up the Exe and sacked a small military camp, overcoming slightly more resistance. Upon returning to the ship, Eivor brought up to Vagn that it was unusual that Vagn didn't fight alongside his men, and Vagn admitted that he was more of a captain, accepting the humorous situation of himself being "a raider who doesn't raid."

The Vikings proceeded to raid Twynam Farm and then another small camp, after which Vagn said that he was ready to return to Ravensthorpe. However, Eivor intended to press on and continue pillaging, so he sailed to the eastern fortification and attacked the fort with his 8 raiders. There, they overcame the garrison, set fire to several huts, and stole large quantities of tungsten ingot and foreign supplies. With this loot in store, Eivor decided to follow Vagn's advice and return to Ravensthorpe, as the fires from his raids were attracting more Anglo-Saxon attention.