Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 250 The Thames
May.

At dawn, taking advantage of the high tide on the Thames, a two-masted sailing ship sailed into the estuary. Bjorn handed the helm to the first mate and leaned over the gunwale to watch the scenery on both banks.

The river is wide, and the banks are covered with muddy beaches overgrown with reeds, where flocks of wild ducks, herons, and seagulls can be seen foraging nearby.

"Looking back, it feels like a dream."

Five years have passed since Bjorn last visited, when his father (Ragnar) was lying in a coma in his hospital bed, and the Prime Minister and Queen borrowed eight hundred pounds from him for emergency use.

Soon, the kingdom's situation took a sharp turn for the worse. First, there was the suspicious succession ceremony, in which the young Sigurd unexpectedly became the new king. Later, Asuraki suddenly launched a rebellion, killing Queen Sora, causing the royal authority to decline rapidly and leading to a bloody and brutal civil war.
As time passed, the terrain on both sides gradually rose, with dense oak forests dominating the highlands, and farmland and pastures scattered in the lower areas. Wheat fields rippled with golden waves, and sheep dotted the grasslands.

After some time, the river narrowed ahead, and a stone fortress stood on each of the north and south banks. Sensing that the sailboat was about to pass, the fortresses began to throw stones.

This section of the river is about 600 meters wide. Large catapults and crossbows can bombard enemy ships 300 meters away. They can be fired simultaneously from the north and south, which is just enough to block the river.

Seeing the splashing water not far from the side of the ship, Bjorn was forced to anchor and wait for a small boat to approach. Soon, a sergeant climbed up the deck by rope and asked who the newcomer was.

"I am Bjorn, here to trade in Rendinium. What's the matter?"

Upon learning that the bearded, burly man before him was a legendary navigator, the officer was filled with respect and explained the king's decree to him.

"Recently, Flanders merchants have instigated a domestic rebellion, and His Majesty has issued letters of marque, allowing privateers to plunder Flanders, which has led to both sides sending privateers to each other. Overall, we have the upper hand, but the other side is occasionally able to retaliate by sending ships to harass the British coast."

Therefore, His Majesty decreed that every ocean-going vessel entering the Thames must anchor at the Kenway Island fortress at the river mouth, have its identity verified, and receive a flag to hoist on its mast.

At the sergeant's request, the sailboat proceeded to the north shore to dock, where personnel and shipboard weapons were registered, and a gray flag with red stripes was received before continuing its journey.

Further upstream, scattered villages appear along the riverbanks. The most prominent buildings are usually the black spires or bell towers of temples, which are the landmarks of every Viking village. The villages are surrounded by fields enclosed by wooden fences. Fishing boats and small oars are moored at the docks, loaded with agricultural products for transport to Landeneum, or unloading goods such as salt, ironware, and cloth brought from Landeneum.

Occasionally, one can still see the residences of barons and knights, some of which are wooden fortresses, and others are small towers built of stone.

In the afternoon, as the sailboat drew closer to Rendiniome, the number of vessels on the Thames increased significantly: fishing boats, passenger ferries, flat-bottomed cargo boats, and massive ocean-going ships. Dyehouses and tanneries lined the banks, their wastewater flowing into the river and emitting a strong, pungent odor.

A stone bridge spans the river ahead, crowded with people. The water below flows swiftly, and some ships heading upstream need to unload their masts or wait for the wooden bridge deck in the middle of the stone bridge to be raised.

Bjorn had no intention of going upstream, and instead maneuvered his sailboat to dock at the nearest pier on the north bank.

Not long after, two customs employees boarded the ship to register the goods. After they finished, they stamped the goods with lead seals, which reminded Björn of the customs in Constantinople.

It took Bjorn more than ten minutes to complete the formalities. Amidst many expectant gazes, he instructed the first mate to distribute the wages, and the crew immediately scattered, rushing towards the nearest tavern.

Suppressing his restlessness, he headed towards the shipyard. The streets along the way were wide and clean, with drainage ditches on both sides. Occasionally, he could see public baths, hospitals, arenas, and theaters—all of these public facilities were stone buildings, similar to Roman architecture. Bjorn was not surprised by this; he and Vig had known each other for nearly twenty years and were well aware of each other's character and aesthetic style.

Before he knew it, he had arrived in the southwest district, a place far from the hustle and bustle of the market, where large areas of school buildings and playgrounds were located. Walking along the street, the first places he saw were the Royal Court School and the southern branch of Tyneburg School. He observed them for a moment through the gates; the students were no more than fifteen years old.

Next came the Army School and the University of Rendeneum, the former covering a vast area, from which the sharp whistles of bronze whistles and the high-pitched neighing of horses could be heard from time to time.

The school gate was crowded with carriages. Through the wall, a strange-looking stone building was under construction on the top of a low hill. Out of curiosity, Bjorn asked one of the carriage drivers.

"What are they doing? Building a palace?"

The coachman put down his beer jug, hiccuping as he replied, "The observatory is used for observing the stars at night and calculating the calendar. It's said to have cost a lot of money. His Majesty even specially invited several Arab scholars from Iberia to refer to the design of the local observatory."

Where did Vig get so much money?

With questions in mind, Bjorn arrived at the southwest corner of the city, where the nautical school and the Londinium shipyard were located, and a two-masted sailing ship was about to be launched.

Upon closer inspection, her structure differs slightly from that of older ships, with a slanted triangular sail added between the foremast and the bow to further enhance speed and headwind performance.

How much does this ship cost?

Faced with this burly, bearded man who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, the shipwright replied impatiently, "This is a warship, made of the finest oak. Its hull design is superior to that of current two-masted merchant ships. Its purpose is solely for ocean voyages, and it is not for sale."

Despite being scolded by the shipwright, Bjorn still refused to give up the new warship. He hurried to the new royal palace in the west of the city and requested an audience with the king.

Following the guards, he passed through the moat and city gates, bypassed the main hall which was under construction, and then entered a modest residence, where he met Vig himself in the office on the second floor.

"Long time no see, Bjorn, what would you like to drink?"

Seeing that the other party did not speak, Vig poured two glasses of pale yellow whiskey. "How does it taste compared to mid-to-high-end alcoholic beverages like wine and mead?"

"It's quite strong, and it has a peculiar aroma." Under the influence of alcohol, the initial awkwardness between the two gradually dissipated, and after a brief chat, Bjorn explained his purpose:
“In the past two years, I have tried to continue exploring westward, but after sailing a certain distance, I am always pushed back by the waves. I need a more robust boat with better headwind performance.”

Waves?

Vigé suspected that the ocean currents were the cause, and he agreed to sell a warship while suggesting that Björn's sailors undergo short-term training in Londinium to adapt to the new ship's performance.

(End of this chapter)