Vikings: Lords of the Ice Sea

Chapter 76 Expectation
The two armies disengaged, and the Vikings returned to Rutworth Castle, where they held their position. On the other side, the Wessex army withdrew fifteen miles south and encamped at a large estate.

Although they failed to defeat the Vikings in one fell swoop, the Frankish knights' success in breaking through two lines greatly boosted the morale of the army.

With only four hundred cavalrymen, they repeatedly routed thousands of Vikings, and after being surrounded by a superior enemy force, they fought their way out after a bloody battle. To celebrate this rare and great victory, Ethelwaugh ordered a banquet to be held for these foreign knights.

During the banquet, gazing at the young knights below, the old king was deeply moved:
Viking longships were not suitable for carrying horses, meaning that raiding could only be carried out by light infantry, and they were powerless to resist large-scale shock cavalry. Unfortunately, the Angles had long lacked stirrups, so they could only fight the enemy to the death with their infantry in formation.

Times have changed. With the introduction of stirrups and high-quality warhorses to Britain, the pirates' once-proud infantry advantage has been greatly diminished, and the decades-long plundering frenzy finally has a chance to end.

At this point, the Sheriff of Oxford inquired about the subsequent battle plan. The old king slowly replied:
“Cavalry. Now I understand that the key to war lies in cavalry. After yesterday’s battle, we have more than two hundred riders left, but only eighty horses available for battle. I have decided to rest here and wait for enough horses to be sent from the rear before we fight Ragnar again.”

"Your Majesty is wise."

The crowd cheered loudly and continued to enjoy the delicious food on the long table. Although he was on the front lines, the palace steward still managed to requisition livestock from nearby residents to ensure a sufficient supply of beef and mutton. The atmosphere at the banquet was lively, except for one person who was sullen.

After hesitating for a long time, the man approached Ethelwoff and asked, "Your Majesty, regarding my previous proposal?"

After repeating it twice, the old king recovered and replied in a slightly stiff tone, "Lord Theowuff, I have been considering your request, there is no need to remind me all the time."

After leaving Nottingham, Theowough led more than a thousand refugees south to make a living. He managed to establish himself and then learned that Esserwolf was about to attack the Vikings, so he came to seek an opportunity.

In his view, the Mercian royal family had fallen, and the two remaining collateral branches were dissolute and infamous, unworthy of inheriting the Mercian crown. Coincidentally, his wife was related to the royal family, so he decided that she should become queen, and he should become king, with the two of them ruling Mercia jointly.

Ten days ago, Theowough informed Wessex of the plan, but received an ambiguous response.

Five days ago, Theowough asked again, and the old king said he was considering it and asked him to wait patiently.

As the matter dragged on until today, his unease grew. Rejected once again, he reluctantly went for a walk, considering whether to offer more gifts to his close advisors.

Passing by a barn, Theowough overheard people talking about his name and crept closer to eavesdrop.

Inside were several drunken palace guards who had stolen a small barrel of ale from the kitchen and were hiding here chatting and slacking off.

"Hiccup, Theowuff is a complete fool, actually deceiving himself into becoming the King of Mercia. His Majesty has spent a fortune on the northern expedition, is it all for the sake of justice?"

“That’s right. Once we drive the Vikings away, His Majesty will personally assume the title of King of Mercia, and we’ll be granted estates throughout the lands. After all that hard work, we should all get some reward.”

Theowuf grew increasingly furious as time went on. From the drunken guards' idle chatter, he learned that Ethelwoff was trying to win over the church and powerful nobles in various regions, persuading them to support him in the Council of Wise Men.

As for the bargaining chips, they are naturally those unclaimed territories.

In the Battle of Tamworth, many nobles and gentry were killed. Esselwaffe planned to donate these lands to the church or bestow them upon powerful nobles.

Chester, Worcester, Cambridge.
As the drunkard rambled on, Theowough even heard the word "Nottingham".

What's going on? I'm not dead yet, and they're going to give away my territory?

A gentle breeze swept by, and his anger vanished, replaced by boundless fear. Yes, he had lost his territory, left with only a hundred or so relatively loyal soldiers and a thousand or so pitiful refugees. Had he not revealed his ambition to become king, perhaps Ethelwaugh would have granted him a fiefdom—provided he received the support of the Council of Wise Men.

However, ever since Theowough openly declared his intention to become king, his status has shifted from a potential ally to a rival, and he has become a thorn in the side, subject to suppression and exclusion.

No, it's more than that.

Theowl shuddered as he recalled the way Esserwolf had looked at him, much like how villagers would regard a poultry waiting to be slaughtered.

"No, how could he do this to me?"

Theowough left the barn shivering and returned to his room, where he struggled all night before finally making up his mind.
The next morning, he found the palace steward and gave him his wife's last dowry item—a gold necklace.

The steward deftly pocketed the necklace, then pulled Theowuff aside to a corner. "Sir, what are your orders?"

"Uh, about my wife's claim to the throne?"

Before the other party could finish speaking, the steward smiled reassuringly, "His Majesty is considering it and is committed to creating a safer and more stable future for your country. Among the many candidates, he certainly favors you the most."

"Really? Thank you so much."

Theowl turned and left, realizing that the steward's words were full of perfunctory excuses and prevarications, and at that moment, the last glimmer of hope in his heart vanished.

That night, Theowuff changed into civilian clothes and fled from some corner of the manor. He had no intention of regrouping with his men—they were of little use. Escaping the manor, he traveled north through the night, arriving at the outer camp of Latworth the following evening.

Facing the Viking sentries' arrows, he raised his hands and repeatedly chanted "Vigg".

The sentry, who didn't understand Anglo-Saxon, led the suspicious young man to the castle, knowing he had ten ways to kill him if the fellow was up to no good.

In the hall, the nobles were having dinner. Hearing that an Anglo-Saxon was looking for him, Vig rose from his seat and found an old acquaintance standing outside the door.

"Lord Theowough? Is there anything I can help you with?"

"surrender."

"Why now?" Vig's vigilance was at its highest.

Initially, the man held out in Nottingham for three months, still refusing to pledge allegiance to Ragnar, and instead led his followers south. He found it hard to imagine that such a person would willingly join the Viking army.

“I intend to succeed as King of Mercia, but I have been suspected by Ethelwoff, who also wants to wear the crown. Alas, I fear I will be assassinated, so I have come to seek your help.”

Judging that Theowough's words were at least three-tenths credible, Vig had his guards search him and then brought him before Ragnar.

(End of this chapter)