Vikings: Nordic women

Chapter 33 The Secret of the Viking Warrior
"Ma'am, is there really no hope for Ralph?" Robert finally couldn't help but speak, with a tremor in his voice, "I mean, does he have to leave?"

Ouni stopped suddenly and lowered her head, as if trying to suppress her sadness: "Yes, he must leave. He can't control his destructive emotions - anger. Once he loses self-control, he will go crazy and do impulsive things."

Robert was silent, as if thinking about something.

"I will give him a chance to stay alive in the territory, provided that he does not choose to escape. If he chooses to escape, he will be deprived of his rights to be protected by the law, and anyone who encounters him in the future can kill him!"

That night, Ouni had a long talk with the high priest by the campfire.

……

The next day, the Yar throne was placed outside the lord's hall. Eunice and Harold, who was like a mascot, sat on it. She looked down at the crowd gathered below with a sharp gaze.

Standing around were members of the Huskalz Knights, as well as the Woden priests and the high priests, their expressions serious and the atmosphere solemn.

"Bring it up!" Robert ordered loudly.

Ralph was tied up with his hands and pushed by the soldiers to come before the crowd. As soon as he appeared, the angry victims' families threw rotten leaves and stones at him, and even the warriors who were responsible for escorting him were not spared.

Ralph did not run away, and this was not his substitute. This made Ouni somewhat relieved. If the other party really took the opportunity to escape, she would issue a hunting order and all the people would despise him.

Because it is an act of cowardice, which in Scandinavian culture is more shameful than an act of treason.

There is no place for cowards to survive here. Being called a coward is the most vicious insult in the eyes of all Norsemen!
The severity of this is comparable to the situation in later generations where Chinese people were mistaken for Japanese when going abroad. It is absolutely intolerable.

"kill him!"

"Kill the coward!"

The angry shouts of the crowd were getting louder and louder. Seeing this, Ou Ni slowly raised her hand and signaled everyone to be quiet.

Although her movements were gentle, her face showed a majesty that was hard to ignore. The crowd gradually quieted down and waited for her decision.

Ouni looked directly at Ralph in the field and spoke clearly to ensure that everyone could hear: "Ralph, if you have any excuses, say it now. This is your last chance!"

Ralph took a deep breath, his voice filled with relief. "I admit that I conspired to kill two Jarls and more than a hundred soldiers. But I did it all to protect our territory. I overheard Ludwig plotting against the leader's wife. He contacted other territories and planned to attack the town of Skjervik!"

He looked around and shouted to the crowd, trying to make sure everyone could hear him.

Ouni's expression did not fluctuate at all. She asked calmly, "Do you have any evidence?"

Ralph was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "No."

Ouni's face was expressionless, her voice was cold: "So, you killed two Yaers and more than a hundred warriors without any substantial evidence?"

Ralph didn't evade, he nodded, with a decisive look in his eyes: "Yes, I did."

"Now, vote to decide Ralph's fate. Those who agree to execute him, please raise your right hand." O'Neal sat up straight, supporting her left elbow on her knee, and scanned the crowd with her eyes.

Almost everyone in the crowd raised their right hands without hesitation. Ouni nodded and said firmly, "According to the voting results, I declare that Ralph, the captain of the left team of Huscarz, will be sentenced to death and executed immediately."

The executioner walked towards Ralph with a two-handed axe in hand, ready to behead him like he had done to Madame Yar's old maid.

"High Priest, it's your turn." Ouni turned around and said to the High Priest, "I agree to our agreement!"

"Wait a moment!" The high priest suddenly stood up and said in a loud voice, "Woden has a divine decree to announce!"

The executioner stopped immediately, Ralph turned his head to look at the high priest in confusion, and everyone looked at him.

"In the name of Worden, I absolve Ralph of his sins!" the high priest announced.

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd instantly boiled over, and almost everyone looked at the high priest in disbelief.

"Impossible!" someone yelled, "This is unfair!"

The high priest stood up and opened his arms. The cloth curtain under the antler headdress blocked his eyes: "Woden was attracted by Ralph's fighting ability. His behavior of killing two Yars and more than a hundred soldiers with only fifty riders attracted the attention of Woden and the Valkyrie!
Woden needs a new group of warriors, whom he calls bear warriors. They will receive Woden's protection and power!" The high priest changed the subject, lowered his arms, and said in a serious tone: "But this is unfair to the families of the deceased, so I decided to allow the families of the deceased to take public revenge!"

Upon hearing this, the boiling crowd calmed down instantly. In fact, in their view, this was basically equivalent to execution, but it was more "honorable" than beheading.

No difference!
Ouni clapped her hands gently: "Bring him up!"

Jurgen was brought to the center of the venue by the warriors, his eyes full of anger, staring straight at Ralph.

"Ralph! Ralph! You killed my brother! You will pay the price!" He began to struggle, trying to break free from the warrior's restraints.

"Be quiet and listen to me!" Eunice pointed at him. "Jurgen, you violated military law and detained the chief military officer without authorization. But considering that there were reasons, I decided to pardon your crime. In addition, I allow you and the families of other victims to publicly avenge Ralph."

"Thank you, madam!" Jurgen bowed to Eunice. "That's fair!"

He turned to the crowd. "Anyone want to join me in public revenge? Stand up!"

Four men stepped out, all men, all riders from Huscarz, men who had found the bodies of their loved ones on the battlefield.

Then, three more women stood up. They were all from the territories ruled by Ludwig and Frederick.

The high priest then spoke: "According to the traditional duel method, you can take revenge on Ralph. This is also the will of Worden. However, since Ralph will be granted the power of Worden, I allow you to launch a revenge attack on him together, no matter how many people there are. If he can survive, it means that he has passed Worden's selection!"

The crowd was in an uproar, with excitement on their faces. Ouni's idea was clear: only one of the murderer and the victim's family could survive!

Since the problem cannot be solved, then the person who raised the problem should be solved. Whether Ralph wins or loses, he will gain people's respect.

"Ralph, I allow you to choose the weapon you need from anyone present, but you are not allowed to wear armor," said O'Neal.

Ralph looked around and finally shook his head. He walked to Ouni and knelt on one knee: "Ma'am, I ask to use your father's weapon, the hand axe."

"Go get it from my room," Ouni instructed Hina.

Soon, Sheena came hurriedly holding an axe in both hands. O'Neal pointed to the axe with exquisite anti-slip patterns, and Ralph immediately grasped it tightly.

"I also need a shield and some javelins!" added Ralph.

"Give it to him!" Ouni pointed her finger at him and ordered, "But you are not allowed to use javelins!"

Ralph was stunned.

Ouni turned her gaze to the other members of Huscarz who had stood up to seek public revenge against Ralph. "You may also choose your own weapons, and you are allowed to wear armor. When you are ready, you will duel."

She was not biased towards Jurgen and the others, but in the eyes of others, it seemed that way. Fighting heavy armor with no armor was a joke. Ralph was doomed.

This plan was actually proposed by Robert. He believed that when Ralph was attacked by a group of people, his advantage should be magnified - that is, the mobility of Jurgen and others should be reduced, so that Ralph could avoid being surrounded by two or three people by running faster.

The people began to spontaneously form a siege and restriction circle, and those who chose to take revenge openly entered the circle one after another.

At this time, Xina came forward with a bowl of pale yellow liquid and handed it to Ralph.

"Drink this bowl of nightshade (henbane) water, and you will gain the power bestowed by Woden!" said the high priest, pointing to the bowl of water.

Ralph drank it all in one gulp. His face quickly turned red and his chest rose and fell violently, which was a sign that the potion was beginning to take effect.

O'Neal walked forward, raised her hand, and slapped Ralph hard in the face.

As insulting slaps fell one after another, Ralph's face became redder and redder, saliva flowed from his mouth, and he began to roar wildly in anger.

"Roar, roar, roar..." Ralph began to go crazy. He bit the shield in his hands, his eyes were bloodshot, and he roared, trying his best to suppress his anger and maintain his remaining sanity so as not to hurt Ounnie.

"Go! Prove your strength and courage to Woden, kill them! Don't let me down!" Ouni pointed to the stunned Jurgen and others who had selected shields and weapons in the field.

(End of this chapter)