Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 236 Lisbon

Near the port, a small rowing boat stopped Hergi's flagship. The port staff climbed onto the deck of the "two-masted giant ship" by rope and asked the guests about their identity and purpose.

"I am the Lord Minister of the Navy of the Kingdom of Britain, and I have been ordered to open up trade routes. This is His Majesty's letter of credence."

Hergi produced a parchment scroll sealed with sealing wax. The harbor officer took it and returned to shore in a small boat to deliver the message.

During the wait, dinghys occasionally passed by the sea near the flagship, and the sailors lazily lay on the gunwales, enjoying the sunshine and the gentle sea breeze.

Judging from its size, the two-masted sailing ship is nearly thirty meters long, attracting the attention of many locals, especially the giant crossbows on the bow and stern decks, which demonstrate great intimidation to the outside world.

An hour later, the port officer returned to the deck. "Sir," he said, "the governor has granted you permission to enter the port, but you must unload the parts of this giant crossbow during the stay."

"clear."

Hergi instructed the crew to do so, and under the guidance of the port officials, the ship slowly anchored at the Lisbon dock.

Currently, most of Iberia is under the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate. Due to frequent local rebellions, the Lisbon garrison is heavily guarded, with a large number of soldiers stationed behind the battlements, watching these unfamiliar guests warily.

"Watch your temper, don't embarrass me!"

After giving a few words of advice, Hergi walked down the pier. In front of him were more than two hundred armored soldiers, led by a plump middle-aged nobleman.

The man was dressed in a long, loose white robe that reached his ankles, with intricate patterns embroidered on the lapels and hem. He wore a brocade belt around his waist, from which hung a scimitar and a spice pouch.

In comparison, Helgi's attire was rather shabby; his entire outfit was worth less than the Damascus scimitar at his opponent's waist.

Looking at the tall, strong, and cold-faced one-eyed man, the Moorish nobleman spoke first, "Two years ago, many merchants came to me to complain that Aslaqi had raised taxes without cause, causing more than twenty people to go bankrupt. What explanation does your country have for this?"

After hearing the translator's account, Helgi calmly replied, "King Sigurd has passed away, Aslachi died at the hands of rioters, and Princess Enya was abducted by West Francia. The rule of the old royal family has ended. The past is none of our business. The one in power now is Vig-Tynburg."

"The Serpent of the North?"

The Moorish nobleman had heard of the name and then inquired about Gunnar and Ivar. After listening to the guest for about ten minutes, he gazed at the sea and sighed deeply, "The change of dynasty is so cruel."

With the collapse of the old monarchy and the disappearance of previous disputes, the nobles, who claimed to be the governors of Lisbon, allowed British merchant ships to sell goods, provided that a high tax was paid.

Hearing the prices and tax rates of various commodities from the translator, Hergi secretly calculated that the profits from selling furs, amber, and whale oil were higher than those from selling ordinary textiles. He should sell dyed cloth or high-end printed cloth with intricate patterns.

"Thank you for your kindness."

After reaching an agreement, Hergi arranged for the sailors to trade goods at the open-air market on the riverbank. The market offered a wide variety of goods, including spices, sugar, olive oil, dates, and cotton fabrics. If the proceeds were used to purchase more goods, they could make a substantial profit upon returning home.

After a busy afternoon, Helgi was invited to a banquet at the hilltop castle.

Following the governor’s servants, he left the chaotic riverside docks and entered the higher-lying Alfama district.

The buildings here are painted white, and the narrow streets and alleys crisscross like a maze. Some courtyards have orange trees planted in front of them, their lush branches laden with many unripe fruits, which immediately caught Helgi's eye. "What's this?"

The servant explained, "These oranges are not ready to eat yet; they will ripen in a while."

From Helgi's perspective, the higher the elevation, the more respectable the buildings along the way, with streets paved with cobblestones and fountains in some areas.

“It truly is a city built on a hill,” he remarked.

"It's not just one hill; Lisbon is built on seven hills."

Seven hills? Hergi recalled Vigé's description of Rome, which also seemed to be a city of seven hills.

Does the number "seven" have a special meaning?
Before he knew it, the castle was almost within reach. Helgi cleared his mind of all distractions and carefully observed the sturdy and luxurious fortress.

This place was originally a camp left by the Roman legions, which was converted into a stone fortress by the Moors. The outer perimeter consisted of soldiers' barracks, warehouses and stables, while the innermost part was the governor's residence.

"Sir, we are here."

After walking for a while, a square courtyard came into view. The walls were also painted white, and the ground was paved with geometric patterned glazed tiles. There was an octagonal fountain in the center of the courtyard, and citrus trees and roses were planted in the corners.

Upon entering the main hall of the mansion, one finds soft and luxurious Persian carpets laid out, with a faint fragrance lingering in the air. In the most prominent position stands a colorful porcelain vase, its colors soft and its texture delicate. On either side are wooden lattice screens with wool tapestries hanging for shade.

"This is porcelain, a luxury item from the Far East."

Noticing the guest's surprise, the governor gently tapped the surface of the vase, producing a crisp tapping sound. "The Tang Empire is in turmoil, and the prices of porcelain and silk have skyrocketed. This thing costs the equivalent of twenty warhorses—alas, it's far too expensive!"

The rest of the banquet was boring. Helgi was very annoyed by the governor's boasting, but he couldn't show it. He endured it until the end of the banquet and then politely said goodbye to his host.

After spending five days in Lisbon, Hergi took stock of his supplies in preparation for his return journey. Bathed in the warm sunshine, he suddenly felt a sense of loss and sadness.

In Northern Europe and Britain, overcast and rainy weather is common, especially during the long autumn and winter seasons, when the sky is always gray and gloomy, making people feel inexplicably depressed.

In Lisbon, sunshine is not a scarce resource, but rather a part of daily life, just like air and water. Feeling the clear blue sky can greatly alleviate one's worries.

"Boss, what are you thinking about? Reluctant to leave?" The first mate noticed Helgi's worry. "The environment in the south is indeed quite nice. If you're willing to take a little risk, perhaps..."

Hergi interrupted the first mate, "You want to betray us and join the Moorish nobles?"

"No, absolutely not. I've heard that there's an archipelago in the southern waters of Iberia that's sunny and uninhabited. Why don't we take over that territory?"

Hergi walked into the captain's cabin with a gloomy face, spread out the nautical chart, and wrote a line of small characters in the southwest of Iberia and the due west of the Sahara Desert: "Island suspected to exist."

After weighing his options for a long time, he returned to the deck and looked at the first mate with a cold face. "The route is unknown. I cannot risk the kingdom's fleet."

(End of this chapter)