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 at the banquet in Fornburg
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[]
The deaths of Eivor's parents
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 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 in Fornburg, 872
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 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 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[]
Sigurd Styrbjornson'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[]
The argument at the docks
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 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[]
Kjotve's death
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[]
Eivor meeting Harek Gand
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 with Sigurd at Alrekstad
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 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[]
Sigurd's meeting at the hall
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 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 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.
Rowan and Yanli
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 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 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 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 meeting with Jarlskona Soma
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.
Jarlskona Soma and Eivor
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 and Galinn
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 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
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 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.
Birna joining Eivor's crew
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[]
Reda and his apprentice at Ravensthorpe
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 talking with Hytham
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 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 riding to Tamworth
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 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 sailing up the River Tame
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.
Eivor in the Ragnarrssons' tent
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 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 and the others riding to 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."
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.
Eivor at the war camp outside Tamworth
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 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 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 and Ivar in 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 meeting Sigurd at 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 interrogating Aethelswith
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 kidnapping Burgred
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[]
Eivor drinking with Ivar in Tamworth
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 standing over a wounded Leofrith
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 returning to Repton
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 reporting on Leicestershire to Randvi
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.
Eivor giving a speech in Ravensthorpe
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[]
The aftermath of the battle
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 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[]
The children pointing Eivor to the well
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 and Chewy
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 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 sailing down the River Deod
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[]
Eivor meeting Finnr
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.
Eivor meeting with Oswald at Elmenham
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.
Valdis talking with Eivor
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 watching Oswald work
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."
Oswald, Eivor, and Finnr at the docks
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.
Oswald arguing with Broder
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 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[]
The group 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 holding Oswald over the edge
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[]
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 riding into Thetford
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 sounding the horn at King's Bury
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 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 giving the pre-battle speech
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 confronting a defeated Rued
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[]
Oswald and Valdis' wedding
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.
Oswald confronting Rued
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.
Eivor talking to Finnr at the party
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 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 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[]
Eivor and Randvi at the Besuncen Tor
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.
Eivor kissing Randvi
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.
Eivor comforting Tove
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 carrying Randvi off for love
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 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 meeting with Sigurd in 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[]
The 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 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 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.
Eivor and Sigurd arguing at the 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 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[]
Eivor arguing with Sigurd and Basim
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 meeting with Fulke at Eatun Barn
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.
Eivor and Fulke on the cliff near Eatun
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.
Eadwyn being led away
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[]
Eivor reporting on Oxfordshire
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[]
Randvi telling Eivor about 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.
Eivor sailing up the River Ver
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 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 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 debriefing Erke and Stowe
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 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 investigating under London Bridge
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 talking with Asvor Haddottir
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.
St. Paul's Cathedral on fire
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.
The trio regrouping outside St. Paul's
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 observing London from Westminster
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[]
Eivor updating Hytham
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.
Randvi and Eivor talking about Vinland
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 speaking with Nessa at the docks
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[]
Eivor on his 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 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[]
Eivor meeting with 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 talking with Eivor about trading
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[]
Eivor killing Gorm Kjotvesson
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 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 telling his story
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 leaving Vinland
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 and Bjorn drinking their brews
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 and Bjorn kneeling over Njal
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 holding Nali
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.
Eivor drinking with Stækar Hreinsson
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 talking with Cynedeall Seal
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 talking to Asta
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 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[]
A defeated Goneril
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 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.
Uhtred at the dung-smelling house
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 "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 reuniting with Soma
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 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.
Eivor meeting Hallbera Thorkelldottir
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 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[]
Eivor meeting Hogg the Burly
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 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 looking out over Kent
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[]
Randvi telling Eivor about 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 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 riding through Quatford
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 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 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[]
Ivar and Eivor scouting out 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.
Eivor talking with Ivar at Wesberie
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.
Deorlaf joining the trio at the pond
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 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[]
Ceolbert dying of his wounds
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[]
Eivor meditating near 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.
Ivar as "the Dragon"
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.
Ivar dying
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 reporting to Randvi
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[]
Eivor pleding to 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 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."
Eivor meeting Abbot Cynebert
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 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.
Eivor talking with Bregowine Trumhering
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 talking with Gowan the Bard
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 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 blockade chain falling
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.
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 releasing Geadric from his oath
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 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 investigating the sanctum
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 returning to Randvi
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.
Dag challenging Eivor
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 sitting by Dag's grave
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[]
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 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 waking from his dream
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 talking with Alvis
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 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 sailing down the River Thames
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 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 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 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 reading his new letters
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 talking with Tarben ("Guthban")
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 confronting Wilf
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[]
Eivor 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 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 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.
Aethelfrid Tyler confronting Eivor
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 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[]
Hunwald and Eivor confronting Herefrith
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.
Eivor talking with Sister Hildeburg
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 at Bolingbroke Castle
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 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 reporting Hundbeorht's death
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.
Aelfgar and Eivor leaving the town hall
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 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 rescuing Osgar Mulliner
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 and Hunwald drinking
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.
The trio at Grimsby
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 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 introducing Eivor to Grim
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.
Eivor and Aelfgar inspecting the damage
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 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 talking with Hunwald at Ancaster
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[]
Hunwald embracing Eivor
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[]
Randvi telling Eivor about 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 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 meeting Birstan in Epping Forest
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.
Birstan holding court
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 returning to Estrid
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 meeting Estrid in the marketplace
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.
Saxon soldiers storming the brothel
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 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 delivering his findings to Rollo
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.
Gerhild's body
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 at Port Walton
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 talking with Eluric
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 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.
Birstan surprising Alfida
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, Estrid, and Rollo at Wulfaswich
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.
Eivor talking with Estrid at Wulfaswic
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 and Birstan hunting boars
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.
Alfilda arguing with Eluric
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[]
Swanburrow talking with Eivor
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.
Eivor hosting a feast
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 and Randvi talking about 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[]
Erke and Stowe meeting Eivor in Croydon
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 meeting Guthrum
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 and Rollo plundering Chichester
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 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[]
Guthrum leaving the camp at Donnington
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.
The allies planning their next moves
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.
Eivor catching up with Soma
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 and Ubbe at Guildford
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.
A silo burning in Guildford
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 and Basim at Briggworth
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 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 leaving a burning Crawley
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.
Stowe and Erke leaving the camp
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, 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 yelling at Fulke
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.
Eivor facing Fulke in the crypt
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.
Fulke's death
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's men cheering him
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[]
Eivor reporting on Sussex
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[]
Randvi and Eivor talking about York
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."
Eivor talking with Rima
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 killing a bandit in 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.
Havelok's body
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[]
Eivor sailing 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.
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 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.
