Rise of Rurik - Chapter 618

[Chapter 619 The Joy of Tombstone Island Fortress]

More than a hundred women captured from Britain were all stuffed into the cabin, plus Rurik’s management guards, as well as a large amount of salt and captured ironware, the Aurora was actually overcrowded .

The return trip was by no means a smooth triumph, and no one was worried about the obstruction of the Danish forces. It was precisely because there were too many people in the boat and the mix of men and women was the biggest trouble.

If it wasn’t for the order, Rurik would have doubted that in the quiet night, the mercenaries in the cabin would definitely attack these women.

At least Rurik didn’t worry about food and fresh water, the existing reserves were enough for the crew to consume for a month.

But the cabin was soon enveloped by a foul smell.

There was no way it could be done, because the big ship was facing a small late autumn storm.

The wind wasn’t deadly, but the waves did get choppy.

Rurik noticed the large group of immigrants in long boats who were accompanying them. They had already approached the shore one after another, led by the sailboat Balmerk into a small bay for shelter.

The Aurora ignored such obstacles, as the ship heaved up and down among the waves, and the women who were seasick again vomited and vomited.

It wasn’t just them, because it was really too cold outside, and the world was covered with dense snow under the haze. This kind of day lasted for just one day, and the Aurora actually turned into advancing in the wind and snow.

Even the stench in the cabin was better than shivering on the deck.

The deck was already very dangerous, and the sailors on duty also wore hemp ropes around their waists, wore buckskin capes and wolf fur hats, and delicately manipulated the triangular sails.

Rurik had no choice but to stay in the captain’s cabin below the bow deck.

This is a relatively spacious existence, and there are only him and Mary in the room.

In any era of sailing, the captain has the best cabins on board.

The captain’s cabin of the Afulora is not luxurious at all, but it is decorated with some leather, so that it is not uncomfortable to lie down and rest.

The climate changed abruptly, and the indoor temperature also dropped very low.

“How long are we going to float like this?” Mary, slumped by seasickness and cold, murmured to herself.

“At least two more weeks.” Rurik said casually.

“Ross… so far away?”

“It’s not only far away, but also cold. But don’t worry, the greatness there is beyond your imagination. Even in the world of ice and snow, there is extreme warmth.”

“Is there… still a land blessed by the Lord? Could it be that you live at the end of the world?”

Rurik stared at Mary’s face, hesitating for a while: “If… if there is a greatest god, Rose will be protected by him. Do you still have nostalgia for Mercia?”

“No!” She forced herself up, “I’m just worried about the future…”

“Don’t be surprised, Ross is not ruled by the Lord you believe in.” Rurik also cheered up, beat his chest, and introduced: “In the world of Vikings, brave men have many wives and concubines, just like Odin has Many Valkyries. Among my wives and concubines, your age ranks second, but your status is not really noble.”

“Yes…” She lowered her head silently, “Because, my identity…”

“No. You are still a nobleman of Mercia. You have lost your dignity, and only I can recreate it for you. After returning to Ross, you must not feel that you are different, let alone turn away from me to find another man. You can only be loyal I am alone, otherwise…”

“Yes. If I betray, I will die. I understand.” As she spoke, she began to slowly pull off the leather jacket in the dim light, “There is no one else here, so you take me as a servant. If it were you, I would Give you everything.”

Looking at her trembling eyes again, Rurik let out a long sigh.

This woman really understands the truth that a mother is more valuable than a child, but that’s all for later.

“You are weak, continue to rest. The court etiquette of Mercia you have learned is very useful. When you return to Rose, they will accept you.”

Mary’s words were so euphemistic, she actually felt that she was going to another world on this boat.

Is not it?

A whole new world is what the priests call the Vikings’ hometown, a horrible hell.

Viking men can have many wives and concubines, is there anything more terrifying than this?

But he is a filthy person, and the so-called father and brother are actually sanctimonious hypocrites.

The cold outdoors almost cracked her bones, if she didn’t want to avoid making the room smelly, she would not be willing to go out and dump the filth from the Tao Weng.

Under the hazy and snowy world, Rurik is not in a good mood, and Mary’s body and mind are being devastated.

Passengers on the entire Aurora were depressed, hoping that the snowstorm would end soon.

The wind and snow had a positive effect. The north wind gave the ship strong power, and she had sailed smoothly into the Danish Strait in a broad sense.

The wind and snow lasted for seven days. After the cold north wind finally blew away the warmth and the warm and humid air permeating the sea area turned into snow, the sun finally came out lazily.

Time has entered October, as the so-called one snowfall and one cold, even if the sun is shining brightly and the air is clear, no one dares to say it is warm.

The sea waves finally became stable, but due to the wind and snow, the fishing boats in the entire Denmark Strait almost disappeared, even when the sun came out, there were no boats cruising.

Are they afraid of wind, waves and cold?

Do not!

They, especially the Drogba tribe, have declined in strength.

Before the snowstorm, they had seen a mighty fleet pass the Jutland peninsula coast, and saw the blue-and-white flag fluttering on the mast, and all the fishing boats that had suffered a lot escaped.

Then there was another snowstorm, and the narrow sea area was suddenly stormy.

The Danes who harvested the oats uphold the tradition. The first snow of this winter came earlier this year, which is to declare to all the Danish lords: Even if everyone is fighting for power and profit during the warm period, everyone can survive the winter with peace of mind.

The Aurora was still in the land of no one. She quickly passed the Øresund Strait, and the sea ahead suddenly opened up.

The sea was calm, and the sails of the big ship were blown inflated by the wind.

Those women stood in Class A to get some fresh air, but they all had too thin clothes, and they had to withdraw to the stinky cabin after a while.

Rurik held Marie’s shoulders, and both of them changed into furry winter clothes.

It really touched Mary, she knew he cared about her.

But the sea ahead is astonishing!

Mary shivered, not because of the cold, but because she had never seen the sea properly for more than a decade in Tamworth, Mercia, which was essentially inland.

It was cold and empty, but he was so small, and this big ship also seemed extremely small.

The people on the boat quickly saw the new land. You must know that they have not landed and rested since they set off from Narvik Port.

Time is running out, the sea is icy cold, and it is almost one step away from freezing.

The Aurora sailed in the eastern waters of Öland Island, which was the fastest route northward after bypassing Burgundy Island.

She is running sideways against the wind and heading northeast, which will directly pass the east coast of Gotland Island, like a sharp sword piercing into the fortress of Tombstone Island in the Åland Islands!

Oland Island has become farther and farther away, and all the sailors on the ship know that they are sailing on the most correct and fastest route.

But those women were full of uneasiness. It was the first time in their life that they had seen such a vast body of water, and the fear in their hearts was indescribable.

Fortunately, they are now under firm control. Instead of panicking, they saw that the Ross people seemed to be more motivated as time went on.

In fact, that was also a forced perk by the Ross people.

One fine day, the wind was cold and biting.

Rurik stood on the bow deck, facing the brothers on the lower deck and shouted sharply: “We are finally back! I know you are extremely tired, and the fresh water on the ship is also depleted! Endure it for a few days, we are now High speed sailing! Dare I say, we’re sailing through the night, and I’ll be at Tombstone in five days. We’ll be resting on the island! You’ll have hot baths, greasy barbecue, and non-stop wheat. We’ll Rest for at least two days!”

This was the best thing everyone had hoped for, and the people started cheering, then shouting wildly, and even those who were hanging from the mast with rope ladders raised their right fists and cheered.

Soon, the news was also informed to the women in the cabin through Queen Mary.

Almost all of these women were from Mercia, because they were deliberately selected by Magnut, and they were all not much older than Mary.

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They learned that their future is almost as servants of the so-called nobles of Rose, including the lucky ones who can be the maids of Queen Mary.

They were promised a not bad future, as long as they did good deeds, they could get food, clothing and housing.

The restlessness on board disappeared, and the big ship drifted smoothly to Tombstone Island as Rurik expected.

It was only very obvious that Rurik saw delicate ice floes floating on the surface of the sea, and the world around him was always white.

The exaggeration of the snowfall event that started at the end of September was a heavy snow in Roseburg’s hometown. The world is indeed beautiful in silver, but what Rurik saw was the risk of the ocean—the Gulf of Bothnia is freezing rapidly!

Things shouldn’t be too bad.

The return of the Afulora did not surprise the people of Tombstone Island. In fact, the large fleet escorted by Aric passed here recently.

A batch of cargo was unloaded, and the people of Tombstone Island shared the war dividends of the Ross army!

Of course, the left-behind people here are definitely not taking it for nothing. For example, wheat, they bought it according to the guide price set by the Duke of Ross, that is, ten pounds of wheat for one silver coin.

The Russians and Slavic immigrants who settled here bought a batch of what they needed.

In fact, they got a lot of benefits. The so-called Lake Mälaren harvest is not good this year. In addition, Gould of Ross was ordered to purchase wheat in large quantities.

Even if there is, the price is very high.

So when the fleet transporting the spoils escorted by Aric returns, the Mellaren businessman who intends to spend the winter on Tombstone Island, or simply accepts the Swedish King Bjorn’s money and orders to monitor Tombstone Island, all shocked Ross. person’s seizure.

Arik lacked composure the most. He boasted about the great victory of Rurik, the Duke of Ross, in his expedition, and even blatantly yelled that the Ross Army’s fleet was stuffed with two million pounds of wheat!

In fact, how can there be so many?

The people of the real Tombstone Island bought a lot, which made the merchants who lived here envious and jealous.

Who would question the capture of the Rus?

There is a real secret work. After the Ross fleet left, they hurriedly rowed back to the Birka market in Lake Mälaren to report to King Bjorn.

On a cold afternoon, the Phantom of the Aurora arrived at the fortress of Tombstone Island.

Many people saw her from a distance, and the identity flying on the mast proved her identity.

On board, the weary men cheered, knowing that tonight everyone would be well rested.

Everything went step by step, the big ship entered the archipelago, and then entered the sheltered harbor in Tombstone Island.

The left-behind islanders gathered together, and they saw Lord Rurik’s fluttering golden ponytail, and a row of uniformly dressed mercenaries standing around Squad A.

People were cheering as they watched them disembark along the planks.

Soon, the conversation was renewed, as a group of women they had never seen before shuffled cautiously down.

They all wore headscarves and cloth clothes, which were completely different from the Rus or Slavs on the island.

I’m afraid this is the new slave your lord took from that British island…

Rurik has a high status, and his landing immediately attracted crowds of onlookers. Men and women spontaneously took out food and water, which is the so-called “food pot and pulp” to welcome the king.

But Rurik paid, and he did pay some remuneration, so he purchased fresh meat and fresh yellow root carrots from the people, as well as pre-ordering delicious meals and wine for tomorrow.

Many people are sincerely willing to make sacrifices to the Son of God, and the money still needs to be given. Rurik immediately offered a sum of money, and everyone praised the generosity of the Lord.

There are still a large number of vacant houses on Tombstone Island, whose function is to provide accommodation for the army when the place is used as a staging area for the army.

The house housed the mercenaries, sailors, and even the one hundred and twenty women who landed.

That night, the island was filled with a strong smell of barbecue, and a large number of bonfires were lit on the shore to boil hot water in pottery urns.

The aroma is almost all from grilling seals. This kind of greasy barbecue is sprinkled with a lot of salt. The saltiness is really salty. For those who lack salt and oil in their bodies, it is an extreme delicacy.

The wild mercenaries feasted on it, and those women also started to chew on the oily meat.

Barbecue can only be regarded as a hard dish, and the staple food is a random stew of wheat and vegetables.

After the meal, the mercenaries began to wash off the dirt on the spot, and then went into the sauna room full of righteousness, and everyone changed into new clothes when they came out.

As for the old clothes, they were handed over to the locals for washing.

This is considered to be home, and he sat in his palace on Tombstone Island, eating the delicious meal on the low table to himself.

Princess Mary is also sitting here. After landing on the island, she changed into a Slavic-style checkered gown and prepared a leather jacket.

The prominent figures on the island also sat in the house, and were ordered to report recent events to Rurik…

“Aric’s fleet has returned, and Gould’s procurement fleet has also returned. My father’s Eastern Sorgon team just returned a few days ago. The old Eric who arranged to go to Hedeby, Denmark also returned. What a series of good information.”

Rurik was in a happy mood, and casually threw a few silver coins to the reporter.

The report happily collected the money, and then asked with a smile: “My lord, is the woman next to you your new wife and concubine?”

“Oh? That’s true, a woman of noble status, but she is my own woman. Don’t worry about it.”

“Okay…” Maybe there is something hidden here, and the tactful reporter chose to remain silent.

“You step back. Tell others, I will rest here for two days, and I will return on the third day.”

“But my lord, the sea water is freezing. Brothers who are fishing say that the northern seas have frozen.”

“It doesn’t matter. Mere ice floes won’t stop my ship. My men are too tired. A month’s voyage will drive everyone crazy.”

The messenger smiled: “I understand, I will entertain them.”

The messenger withdrew, Rurik’s joy still hung on his face.

He glanced at Mary from the side, and realized that the girl was still staring at her.

“what’s wrong with you?”

“You… use two sticks… your hands are really nimble.”

“Oh. It’s just a kind of tableware. You should learn it too. In Rose, as my woman, you need to learn this.” After finishing speaking, he handed the chopsticks, which were actually two freshly sharpened wooden sticks, to Mary.

The two parties already have an extremely close relationship, and Mary doesn’t shy away from it.

Although she made a fuss when she was fiddling with chopsticks, Rurik saw her concentration.

“It seems that there is no tableware in Mercia’s court.” Rurik joked casually.

“Yes. We all use our hands, only soup with a spoon. Sometimes men use knives to cut meat.”

“Inelegant. In Ross we have spoons, knives, forks and these two little sticks. Especially women, you can’t reach out and grab food.”

“I want to learn.” She was determined with a slightly shy face.

“Yes. You still have a lot to learn. For example, you have to go to a special place to go to the toilet, and you must wash your hands afterwards. Eat quickly, it means that I will soak in hot water to feel comfortable. You Come too.”

“Soaked in hot water? Baptism?!” She poked her head vigilantly.

“No, just taking a bath. This is the enjoyment of the Romans! Woman, you and I speak Roman Latin now, so what’s wrong with some Roman enjoyment?”

“It’s… well. I think it’s a little strange.”

“This is how we live. We are tougher than bears in battle, and we know how to live in peace.”

“It’s… alright.”

After a while, Rurik soaked in hot water and washed himself clean again with the special floral soap.

Then, Queen Mary also came for the cleanest washing that I can remember in my life.

She blamed herself for being unclean, so she didn’t have any taboos when Rurik rubbed her back.

Yes ah, why taboo?

Only this Viking nobleman sees himself as a real woman.

She had no chance in Mercia, and now, when she found that she could get muddy grooves on her skin, she simply called herself unclean.

Rurik didn’t give her a chance to rest, closed her eyes, and began to frantically scrub and wash her short brown hair after it was cut off.

Rurik’s actions were indeed a little violent, in fact, he was afraid that flea eggs might be mixed with her.

After soaking comfortably, Rurik placed himself in the steam room and enjoyed a serious Finnish sauna.

However, as Mary evaporated directly into a coma, this radical “post-war rest” came to an end.

Mary fell asleep this time, and it was already the next morning when she woke up.

She felt that everything was a dream, and she patted her face to realize that this was reality, and she was already in the new world.

Seeing the clothes she just got neatly folded aside, she couldn’t help but smile knowingly.

She quickly changed her clothes, sniffed with her nose straight, and approached the noisy dining room of the Duke of Ross’ Palace looking for the smell of wheat.

It was also here that Rurik was already feasting on his elite guards, as well as the Ross and Slavic elites who stayed on Tombstone Island.

There is indeed a Slavic population here, and the number exceeds two hundred.

They are all from Novgorod, where they established a traditional farm. However, the soil and climate of this archipelago are not suitable for growing wheat. In addition to hardworking carrots and onions, they turned into fishermen, just like the real Russians. Fish for a living.

They are already calling themselves Rus people.

Seeing that Mary Shanshan was late, this woman was also pulled over.

A large oak cup was placed in front of him with a snap, and then he looked at the people here, and entered the Colosseum of the barbarians by himself.

Just as she was trembling at a loss, a man with a fleshy face and a red face yelled rudely in Norse language: “Mersian woman, if you join us, you must understand our rules. Drink!”

Mary was really a little scared, but Rurik also urged abnormally with a hint of drunkenness.

Reluctantly, Mary touched the wine glass with both hands and drank the glass of craft ale all at once.

And the vast number of fighters collectively began to slap the table and applaud.

Mess?

It was a messy lunch, but also a lot of fun.

Two roasted sheep were brought in, and the soldiers carried steel swords to cut the meat one by one and placed them on the dinner plate. After a while, a new oak barrel full of ale was brought in (purchased from the wine merchant in Mälaren).

Barbecue seems to be just an appetizer, including cooked wheat as a topping.

The main purpose of today’s feast is to drink to one’s heart’s content.

Poor Mary, she just woke up, she was too weak to drink and it was the first time in her life that she drank alcohol. A large glass of ale made her drunk again, but she was dragged back to the dormitory to continue to rest.

It was also rare for Rurik to get drunk, but fortunately, this body soon recovered from the hangover.

This pure Viking revelry is accompanied by the pleasure of overeating, and the pleasure lasts well into the night.

The islanders piled up a huge mountain of firewood and lit a torch as fierce as a lighthouse. This is their praise to Rurik, Duke of Ross.

[End of this Chapter]