Chapter 40: Unauthorized Action, Armed Conflict

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…

Outside the lord’s hall, Robert snatched his hand back after hearing Ralph’s plan, his face filled with shock. “Have you gone mad? Assassinating a jarl is an unforgivable crime! She’ll be consumed by rage!”

There was a crazed light in Ralph’s eyes as he fixed Robert with an intense stare. “Do not forget that we once swore before the gods that we would protect her forever, even at the cost of our lives. If you refuse to help me, I would rather act alone. I would rather strangle a threat at the first sign of its emergence than allow anyone to endanger our families. The domain has only just begun to prosper, and I cannot let anyone destroy everything we have worked for. Robert, I need you. Though we disagree, you must help me.”

Indecision filled Robert’s face. He remained silent for a moment, then shook his head and turned away. “No. I cannot disobey her orders.”

Deep disappointment flickered in Ralph’s eyes. He watched Robert’s retreating back, then followed for several steps, anger creeping into his voice. “Coward! I thought your words in the hall meant you were prepared to do exactly that.”

Robert stopped and turned around, glaring viciously at Ralph. “I can pretend I never heard what you just said. But I will not join you in this madness. All you will do is make everything worse!”

Ralph stared at Robert’s departing figure until it vanished from sight. Slowly, he raised his head and gazed at the vast sky before lowering his eyes to his own hands.

He clenched both fists, determination blazing in his eyes. “My soul will one day return to Hel, but before that happens, I will eliminate every potential threat for you! All of this is because your mercy spared me from famine.”

Ralph turned and broke into a hurried jog. He soon found his lieutenant and ordered, “Assemble the left company of the huscarls at once!”

The lieutenant stared at him in confusion. “My lord, has something happened?”

Ralph hesitated for a moment as he looked at the man’s face. In the end, he lied. “The lady is holding a feast tonight. I am concerned that the domain may be left vulnerable, so you will have to work twice as hard.”

Forgive me for deceiving you. I will bear all the blame alone.

Ralph smiled at him.

“Yes, my lord. We shall obey your will!” The lieutenant solemnly struck his left breast with his fist, then turned and shouted, “Lazy bears, get out here! Lord Ralph has ordered everyone to assemble!”

A wave of groans immediately rose from the barracks. After a few grumbles, the bleary-eyed soldiers of the knightly order emerged beneath Ralph’s gentle gaze.

They had been under tremendous training pressure lately, undergoing rigorous archery practice every day. Even so, they responded swiftly to Ralph’s command, for they cherished this life—suffering together and laughing together.

…

Night fell. Within the lord’s hall, Ouni distributed the spoils among everyone who had taken part in the campaign.

Apart from the food that had to be set aside, every valuable item taken in the plunder was divided equally among all the participants. Even those who had remained behind to guard the domain received a share. This generous gesture won widespread praise from the people.

“Robert, where is Ralph? Hasn’t he come?” While distributing the spoils, Ouni noticed that Ralph and the members of the left huscarl company were absent. She looked around, searching for a glimpse of him.

For some reason, she felt as though she were about to lose something. A heavy unease clogged her heart.

Robert hesitated. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his eyes darted away. “Ralph said he was worried that enemies might launch a surprise attack during the feast tonight, so he took some men out to reinforce the watch.”

Ouni was somewhat surprised. When had Ralph become so diligent? The domain’s defenses were certainly not to be neglected, but was this not a little too cautious?

She shook her head and decided not to think about it any further. That boy acted on every passing idea; how could she possibly keep up with his strange way of thinking?

Ouni counted out the shares belonging to Ralph and his men according to their numbers and handed them to Robert, instructing him to pass them on to Ralph.

“Of course, my lady!” Robert replied. He lowered his head, looking as though he wanted to say something, but in the end he withdrew.

The assembled lords all expressed their thanks to Ouni. Satisfied smiles spread across every face, including those of the two lords who had previously voiced their opposition.

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“My lady, shall we return to our domain first?” Ludwig took hold of Frederick and seized the opportunity to bid Ouni farewell.

Ouni frowned, but eventually nodded in agreement. She watched as the two men led their forces away.

“Ludwig, why are you in such a hurry? I haven’t had enough to drink yet!” Frederick complained loudly, a smile still hanging on his face. The two men mingled with the Viking warriors and gradually disappeared into the shadows of the narrow lanes.

Under cover of night, Ludwig and Frederick spoke in low voices, their words thick with tension and unease.

“This place is too dangerous. Think about it, Robert Jarl—we could be killed by her at any moment. That woman must be under Loki’s control!” Ludwig said nervously.

Frederick jumped in fright. He hurriedly clapped a hand over Ludwig’s mouth and glanced around to make sure no one else had heard them. “Have you lost your mind? You’re cursing Lady Jarl? If you want to die, do not drag me down with you!”

Ludwig’s expression hardened, but he immediately broke into loud laughter in an attempt to ease the atmosphere. Lowering his voice, he said, “Relax. These are all my trusted men. Didn’t you notice the looks in the eyes of some of her followers? If we do not leave now, I fear both you and I will die here!”

Frederick’s face went pale, as though he had thought of something as well. “Then what do you intend to do?”

“I secretly contacted the other domains some time ago… A woman actually thinks she can rule everything?” Greed and calculation gleamed in Ludwig’s eyes.

While the two men were speaking in secret, they failed to notice a short warrior quietly slip away from the group. He lowered his helmet, and his figure soon vanished into the darkness.

At the same time, Ralph rode his warhorse toward the outskirts of the domain at full speed. As he passed through the gate, the guards stopped him.

“Lord Ralph?”

“Stand aside. I’m going out!” Ralph gritted his teeth and spoke with a fierce smile.

“Yes, my lord!” the guard called to his men. “Open the gate!”

Not long after Ralph departed, Ludwig and Frederick arrived in haste as well. After exchanging a few words with the guards and brushing past their questions, they led their troops out of the town. In the darkness, their figures soon disappeared along the distant road.

…

Across the vast plain, Ralph gripped the reins, his palms soaked with sweat. His gaze was fierce as he lightly stroked the horse lance in his hand, fashioned from a short sword and layered bamboo. A small pennant was wrapped around the bamboo shaft.

Behind him stood fifty knights, fully armed and ready. Each carried two bows. Strapped to their backs were horse lances with white-ash cores, along with one light bow and one longbow. A studded mace hung at each horse’s side, together with a bundle of javelins.

“My lord, weren’t we going to train?” asked Jorgen, Ralph’s lieutenant, in confusion. Ralph had remained silent ever since they left, and the silence made Jorgen uneasy.

“Jorgen?” Ralph called.

“My lord?” Jorgen answered.

“Do you remember our military code?” Ralph asked.

“Of course, my lord. We are forever loyal to the Mist Maiden. Her enemies are our enemies, and her interests are our greatest interests! We do not ask how many enemies there are. We ask only where they are!” Jorgen replied firmly.

At that moment, an urgent report came from ahead. “My lord! Someone is coming!”

In the distance, torchlight shimmered through the darkness. A force was advancing toward them.

“The time has come to test your loyalty! These men are the enemy. Kill them all! Jorgen—Mangudai!” Ralph swiftly drew his longbow and pulled an arrow from behind the saddle, preparing for battle.

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“Mangudai” was a classic tactic of the Mongol cavalry. Its essence lay in using the advantages of mounted archery and speed: feigning defeat to lure the enemy into pursuit, then repeatedly turning to fire arrows while retreating, striking the enemy and throwing them into confusion. The heart of the tactic was speed, surprise, and continuous ranged attacks, leaving the enemy unable to retaliate until their forces finally collapsed.

“Yes, my lord!” Jorgen answered.

Everyone swiftly drew their longbows, nocked arrows, and drew the strings taut. The sound of straining bowstrings echoed across the night sky.

As the infantry drew closer, a signal arrow tore through the darkness with a sharp whistle. A moment later, a storm of arrows swept toward them.

“What was that sound?” Ludwig, riding among the troops, looked around in confusion and raised a hand as he tried to locate its source.

“What sound?” Frederick swayed drunkenly in the saddle, clearly unaware that danger was closing in.

Just then, Ludwig felt something whistle between his fingers. Before he could react, the arrow had already pierced Frederick’s neck.

Frederick gave a muffled groan. His body swayed once before he toppled from his horse.

At the same time, seven or eight soldiers were struck by arrows and fell to the ground, crying out in agony.

“The enemy!” Sweat broke out across Ludwig’s body as he shouted in terror.

Suddenly, the horse beneath him dipped. It had been struck by an arrow as well, and in its panic it threw him from the saddle.

Seeing their lord fall, the soldiers reacted swiftly. They formed a shield wall around Ludwig, concentrating their defenses toward Ralph and his men.

“Split up!” Ralph charged forward on horseback, waving the pennant tied to his horse lance. His voice rang out across the night. His cavalry rapidly divided into two groups, one led by his lieutenant Jorgen, positioning themselves on either side of the Viking warriors.

The arrows descended like messengers of death, striking down several warriors. The rest were quickly blocked by raised shields.

The wounded warriors tore the arrows from their bodies and rose to their feet, eyes burning red, joining the shield wall.

“The enemy is on the left!”

“They’re on the right too!”

The Viking warriors were surrounded and attacked from both sides. Arrows hammered against their shields, and from time to time one slipped through a gap in their defenses to wound a man.

“Who are you? Who wants me dead?” Trapped in the very center, Ludwig roared at Ralph and the others, fury twisting his face.

Ralph and his men moved like hunters in the night, constantly circling in search of advantageous positions. Whenever they found one, they halted and calmly fired arrows into Ludwig’s shield formation.

“Slow the pace. Conserve the arrows!” Ralph ordered coolly.

They needed to prolong the battle as much as possible, wearing down the enemy’s morale and supplies.

“My lord, the torches! The torches have given away our position!” one of his men warned.

The flames stood out sharply against the darkness, making them obvious targets.

“Throw away the torches and retreat slowly! We will be safe once we reach the woods!” Ludwig made his decision quickly.

His soldiers cast aside their torches. Their shield wall began to inch through the darkness, searching for a safe route of retreat.

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