Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 196 The Last Edict
Sora hurriedly changed her clothes and followed her personal maid to Ragnar's room. The area outside the door was crowded with people, including servants, court guards, young attendants like Alfred, and cabinet members who had rushed over upon hearing the news, such as Aslachi, Sigurd, and Enya.

Among all the people in the audience, only the fourth prince, Uber, was missing.

Sora knew something was wrong, so she quickly went to her brother Horst, the Sheriff of London and Foreign Secretary. "Quick, call him back right now!"

"Understood," Horst said solemnly, and ordered his servants to leave the palace to find the person.

A few minutes later, an elderly shaman left the room, his voice solemn and slow: "The gods are calling Ragnar's name in Valhalla. He cannot stay in the mortal world for long. Please hurry."

Before he could finish speaking, Aslachi led Sigurd and Enya into the room, followed by Prime Minister Goodwin, the new Lord of the Sea Theowough, and the Grand Steward Parfis, leaving only Sora and Horst outside the door.

"Where on earth is this useless thing hanging around?"

Horst gripped his sister's wrist and whispered in her ear, "Don't get excited, let's go inside first. I'm the Sheriff of Rendynew, at least the city's garrison is under my control."

Sora took a deep breath and walked straight to the edge of her husband's bed. Looking at his withered face and white hair, she couldn't help but shed tears.

Ignoring the concerned looks of his two wives, Ragnar gripped Goodwin's wrist tightly and said haltingly:
"Ivar, Ireland. Bjorn didn't get a knighthood back then and has always resented me. He deliberately went to the Mediterranean and the North Sea. I'm sorry for him, Hafdan, being impulsive. I wrote to him and let him...ha...ha."

Hearing her husband's faint breathing, the two queens were extremely anxious. After a moment of hesitation, Asura pulled Sigurd to the edge of the bed. "This is your most beloved youngest son. What will he get?"

Ragnar stretched out his right hand with all his might, stroked his young son's cheek, and uttered his last words with difficulty, "The temple of the royal estate."

Having said that, his right hand reached for the Damascus steel sword "Royal Power," and the moment it touched the hilt, his entire body suddenly relaxed. According to Viking tradition, one would always be holding a weapon when dying.

After several months in a coma, Ragnar Rothbroek, the most renowned ruler of Viking society, died in Landineum.

Before they could grieve, the two queens asked Prime Minister Goodwin, "What is the temple on the royal estate?"

Goodwin's face was filled with sorrow. "Before the expedition, His Majesty left behind a decree, which is enshrined in the temple of the royal estate. I don't know the specific contents, but it should be his arrangement for his five sons."

edict?

Sora's eyes suddenly sharpened. Her gaze met Horst's for a moment, and Horst, realizing his sister's intention, nodded emphatically and rushed out of the room as fast as he could.

Outside the palace gates, he happened to bump into Wu Bo, who was reeking of alcohol. Wu Bo, completely unaware of what had happened, greeted his uncle with a silly grin.

Suppressing his anger, Horst grabbed a handful of snow and smeared it on his nephew's cheek. "His Majesty has passed away. Go find your mother immediately!"

After saying that, Horst mounted his horse and rode away through the swirling snow.

At the same time, in Ragnar's bedroom.

Horst's sudden departure did not surprise anyone; the remaining people watched Prime Minister Goodwin, awaiting his reply.

“I will go find the will myself, and the rest of you will stay in the room in case the situation gets out of control.”

No one objected. Goodwin strode out of the room, and as the door closed, Parfais winked at a servant outside.

Then, the servant quietly left the crowded area outside and went to the square, where he saw Uber sitting blankly on the stone steps, his black coat covered with a light layer of snow. He did not disturb the prince's thoughts, but left the palace through a side door, jogged along the street, and then slipped into a narrow alleyway, finding a spacious courtyard.

A group of slovenly Danish raiders lived in the courtyard. These men, enamored with the prosperity of Lundium, refused to leave and were secretly bribed by Paffees to be kept there for any eventuality.

"Swarin, my master has a favor to ask of you."

The servant looked at the leader in the crowd and quickly explained the situation, which made the leader's voice tremble with fear, "His Majesty is dead? This is too sudden."

"His Majesty's soul has gone to Valhalla, but our lives must go on. The steward and Queen Aslachi need your help. Once it is done, titles, silver, and fine wine will be yours."

After persuading the raiders, the servants led them swiftly away from the North Gate, where they found forty horses and a large quantity of weapons in a courtyard on the outskirts of the city. "Those who can ride, come with me first; the rest of you stay in the courtyard."

Time was of the essence, so the servants led the cavalry at breakneck speed. When they arrived at the royal manor, they saw more than fifty riders gathered outside the gate. Some were armored soldiers of the city defense force, while others were ordinary civilians, who seemed to be Horst's servants or mercenaries.

The sheriff led a large group of unidentified riders closer. The manor guards instinctively sensed the danger and huddled inside the walls, too afraid to open the gate.

"Luckily we made it in time." The servant sighed and led the horse team around to the side and back of the manor, where they found a cave hidden by bushes.

"Wait here and do not disturb anyone. Do not rush into the courtyard unless you hear my whistle."

After saying this, the servant crawled through the cave alone and ran all the way into the temple, where he found a dusty wooden box behind the statue of Odin.

"found it."

Using a piece of wire to open the copper lock, the servant quickly read through the edict inside, his expression solemn, mixed with a hint of fear and astonishment.

"Is this His Majesty's plan? Although it defies common sense, it has some feasibility. What a pity."

After saying this, he put the imperial edict into his bosom and took out another pre-written edict and put it into the wooden box. At this moment, the noise at the gate became more and more intense, and even a loud banging was heard.

"They've gone mad, they've all gone mad." After tidying up, the servants left the temple and returned to the outside of the manor along the same route.

"How is the situation?" the raiders asked with concern.

The servant forced a wry smile. "The will states that the fifth prince, Sigurd, will inherit the throne. All our efforts have been in vain. But don't worry, as long as you keep this a secret, the Queen and the Grand Eunuch will surely reward you."

At this moment, Goodwin arrived at the royal estate with more than twenty guards, ordered the guards to open the gates, and entered the estate under Horst's anxious gaze.

Five minutes later, Goodwin left the manor clutching a wooden box. Horst hurriedly asked, "What does it say? Who will inherit the throne?"

Goodwin did not respond, and struggled to climb onto the horse's back. He was not good at riding, but the situation was urgent, so he had no choice but to ride at full speed toward Rendynew.

A flicker of anxiety crossed Horst's eyes. "Follow them!"

(End of this chapter)