There are adventures just after landing. Rurik can understand that the people of Melalen regard the tall and burly Arik as the "real Rurik", because this is worthy of belief.
But as a real Rurik, being treated as a girl is really ridiculous.
"Am I being treated as a girl again? Damn it, is it just that I like to wash my face with soap and style my hair, and as long as I pay attention to hygiene, I am a girl? I don't believe that girls in this era have a sense of hygiene."
Rurik didn't know whether he should reveal his identity immediately. He also intended to continue to see his cousin's reaction on the spot and the actions of the Melalen messenger.
Rurik and Carlotta can be forgiven for causing misunderstanding. Carlotta is a real girl, but her noble status and responsibilities force her to become a female warrior before she can become the independent leader of Ostara.
She was dressed very similarly to Rurik, and she also had a short sword hanging from her waist. It is entirely because Rurik prefers simple ponytails. Now the Carlotta sisters mainly use the simple technique to tie themselves into golden ponytails. The only difference here from Rurik is that their headbands are made of colored glass beads, while Rurik is just a simple hemp rope.
Gould saw the clues. He cursed the courier's stupidity in his heart. Then he took over from Aric, who was laughing wildly, and it was obvious that he was deliberately mocking the Melalen people. He explained to the courier: "Anyway, we are already here! The leader of the alliance is now The most important thing to see is Rurik, who is destined to inherit the position of leader of Rus. He has brought Rus’s specialties to the alliance leader and his sincerity in purchasing large amounts of grain.”
Gould knew how to deal with the world best. His fat figure and meatball-like head made it impossible for the private soldiers who were always on guard to really be wary of him.
Gould stretched out his big chubby hand and took the initiative to cover the courier's right hand. A strange cool feeling came over his palm. The courier suddenly lowered his head and saw the corner of a gold coin exposed in the gap between the two people's handshakes.
The messenger immediately changed his mind: "Oh, it would be an unexpected surprise if the daughter of the leader of Ross also came to meet me. My master would be very satisfied. I hope that the powerful Melalen under the rule of our great leader can also surprise you. "
Arik's laughter finally stopped. Not only was Rurik not angry at his cousin's attempt to impersonate him, he even got some information unexpectedly.
I'm afraid what the messenger said at the beginning was not a lie. The leader of the alliance, Olegin, was very resistant to women appearing at the meeting.
"It seems that Gould was right. It is already very difficult for him to recognize Carlotta as the female leader of the Ostara tribe." Rurik was a little worried. After all, among the more than ten people who landed, only There was Carlotta, a woman, or rather a girl.
Her landing was certainly not just for fun. This trip to Rurik added another purpose, which was to force Olegin to recognize Carlotta's status.
What if the person doesn’t admit it?
What else can be done? Business goes on as usual, and the foreigners don't admit it, at least they will always admit it. This is not just due to politics and alliance morality, but because Carlotta is already a family member.
Setting foot on the Mellaren Market again and walking on the familiar road, Rurik was not as strange as the messenger hoped.
Yes, until now, the messengers still thought that Arik was the real Rurik.
They hope that guests can be amazed by the prosperity of the market, but Kawei already knows the market quite well, so how can he be surprised again? Since this trip was to see the leader of the alliance, he had always harbored disdain and disdain in his heart.
The messenger tried his best to introduce the market, but all he received were perfunctory responses from the Russian people. As for Gould, who was accompanying him, he glanced at the stalls a few times, and with the instinct of a businessman, he realized that those goods were profitable.
"Could it be that the markets of the Russians are also very prosperous? Yes, they can spend a lot of silver coins to buy wheat, and their clothes are rich and gorgeous..." The messenger chose to shut up. He increasingly felt that his showoff was too embarrassing.
Rurik and Arik had no intention of paying attention to what the market vendors were selling. Since they knew the path to the leader's mansion, they didn't actually need any guide.
They continued to push the messenger forward, and their deftness was surprising, but did not arouse suspicion.
After a while, a tall and thick wooden wall appeared in front of the Rurik brothers for the second time.
"Everyone, please wait here with your gifts."
After the messenger finished speaking, he led the two of them into the gate held by private soldiers to inform the guests of the fact that they had attended the appointment.
After a while, the messenger put on a serious face and conveyed the master's will: "Russians, the great leader allows you to enter this sacred territory. Now, come in with your gifts." After speaking, he continued He turned around and walked towards the wooden wall.
Arik looked at the man's back with disdain and muttered secretly: "It's just a dog. Can a dog that is the leader of the alliance be nobled by us?"
Rurik gently pulled his cousin's hand and signaled in a low voice: "We will see him later and we have to identify ourselves. If you have to, don't speak."
Arik bared his teeth, "Are you afraid that I'll chop off his head? I'm not stupid. Okay, I understand."
What is the leader's home like?
The building wrapped in wooden walls finally lost its mystery, but Rurik had no idea about it. According to Gould's error, although Olegin had the noble status of leader of the alliance, the location of his residence was far inferior to the new residence of the leader of Rus.
Rurik originally thought that Gould was flattering when he said this, but now looking at the so-called mansion of the alliance leader, why does it feel like a "doghouse"?
Anyway, it was an almost pure wooden building. Rurik could see at a glance that even the leader of the dignified tribal alliance still had leather on the sand where he slept. I am afraid that before they knew the concept of "bed", they would not have thought of how stupid it was to sleep on the ground all year round.
A large wooden house with a sharp angle and a gabled roof made of wooden planks and tiles seemed to be what the leader called a meeting hall.
Rurik couldn't help but raise his head and look at the top of the roof. He was a little surprised. The overall height of the house was not as high as the wooden wall. Is he really so full that he built a steeple? Rurik somewhat hoped that a mast would be erected on the top of it and a small flag symbolizing the power of the alliance would be hung.
On the contrary, there are some cloths hanging under the eaves, with some complicated patterns sewn on them. They are consistent with the patterns of some small flags hanging on the streets of the market. They must be the totem of the leader's family, or the symbol of the entire Melalen people.
Rurik knew one thing, that is, the entire tribal alliance did not have a flag representing the alliance.
Based on the information I have obtained so far and my analysis, the so-called alliance is really just a group of leaders of several tribes living near the Svealan Plain. They gather together to elect a "boss" and verbally agree on a non-aggression oath. The alliance is basically like this. The alliance is not an objectively existing imaginary community, but an alliance between leaders.
Regarding the previous events, Rurik deliberately expelled the Uppsala children through the Melalen people, and even refused to save the Ostara people who fled last year. He came to a simple conclusion-ordinary Merlar The people of Lun are not very interested in the alliance.
While Rurik was looking around, the messenger continued to signal to Arik: "I'm going to make a final report to the leader of the alliance. All of you, just stand here and don't move around. Remember, don't move around!"
As if he was threatened, Arik was very unhappy. From the corner of his eyes, he looked at the private soldiers wearing leather armor who were obviously deliberately arranged, and the murderous intention in his heart never let go.
After a while, the stern-faced messenger came back.
Arik also put on a bad face: "Did the leader say something?"
"The leader of the alliance allows you to meet, and together with..." the messenger looked at the two short "girls" again, "the leader said that since they are the two beautiful daughters of leader Ross, he is willing to meet them."
daughter? Rurik wished he could grow a beard that could be braided right now, criticizing the messenger's blindness in a baritone voice.
After thinking about it, he still remained calm.
The messenger also put forward extremely critical conditions for the audience: "Three of you can meet the leader, but the rest are not worthy. Also, you must remove your swords. The leader only allows you to wear a knife for cutting barbecue."
Gould was shocked and hurriedly heard the news: "What? Olegin doesn't even want to see me?"
The messenger sternly said: "Businessman, pay attention to your wording. This is a meeting only for the tribe, and you have no right to participate."
Gould was speechless. As long as he was forced to stay outdoors, he knew that he would not be able to make peace when some troubles occurred. He could only hope that the unruly Olek would not cause any trouble.
"You! Does he want to humiliate us?!" Arik snapped, and coincidentally, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the eyes of Rurik's envoy, and even Gould's eyes.
The messenger didn't want to go into details: These are the rules for meeting the leader of the alliance. Entry is prohibited unless the weapon is removed.
At this moment, Arik completely regarded the leader as a coward.
Rurik felt that the alliance leader's approach was very correct. If there was really a leader who coveted power, he could draw a sharp blade to assassinate him during the meeting. The leader of the alliance refused to allow big businessmen to participate in inter-tribal discussions, but Rurik admired this man for being a bit forward-thinking.
Arik reluctantly removed his swords and handed them over to the trustworthy Jevro who had to stay outdoors, as did Rurik and Carlotta.
At the same time, the alliance leader Olegin and his only son Karl also put on their most gorgeous clothes and sat in the slightly dim camp full of oil lamps. They sat cross-legged on thick leather cushions, waiting for Ross. People come to see you. Even though it was not Otto who came, it was still a meeting that broke the deadlock!
Olegin looked forward to reaching a planned and very critical deal with the visiting legendary Rurik in a very short period of time. It would be best if he could use the strong prestige brought by his power to deliver it to In front of Maizi, they first got the huge sum of 50,000 silver coins.
"Okay, Russians, please go in." After saying that, the messenger stood at the door of the chamber without moving a step.
Arik looked at this person, and then looked at the deep house. Standing at the door, he could vaguely see that there was a large space inside, but he could not see where the leader of the alliance was.
He walked boldly into it, followed closely by Rurik and Carlotta.
Arik deliberately held his head high and kicked his chest deliberately when walking, in order to make some noise to scare the other party.
Finally, two figures appeared under the dim oil lamp. They were also wearing furry clothes. A closer look revealed that they must be expensive ferret fur coats and hats.
There are only two people sitting in the huge meeting hall. One of them must be the leader himself, right? Rurik firmly believed in his conjecture. As for the other seemingly tall man, he must be a powerful figure in the Melalen tribe who does not show his face easily.
Rurik no longer needed to hide behind his cousin. He pulled the timid Carlotta and forced the girl to hold her head up bravely. As a leader, he must have the aura of a leader.
"Remember, you are a leader, and I am also a leader. Although Olegin is the leader of the alliance, you are as noble as him."
Rurik encouraged Carlotta in a low voice, but the words were also meant for himself.
Rurik's original intention was to maintain an indispensable courtesy when facing the leader of the alliance, but his cousin despised the arrogant leader from the bottom of his heart.
"You? Are you Rurik?" The person who saw it was very angry, and the aura of the king was about to overflow. Olekin raised his chest, and in a low voice, he said something that felt very oppressive. : "Kneel down now and salute your leader!"
But Arik was indifferent. Instead, he put on a cold face, his eyes were like sharp knives, and stared at Olegin's face with contempt and menace.
The distance was so close that even though the man was wearing a hat, Arik could still recognize him.
At this moment, the whole scene fell into an awkward silence.
Olegin could not have imagined that all the leaders he had met had bowed their heads because of the strong power of his Melalen tribe. Why did a stupid young man from Ross come here, and this guy was just pretending to be stupid here? Do you want to discuss business with this kind of person?
A bolder guy suddenly stood up!
Olegin's only son Karl stood up. He was ten years older than Arik. According to the inherent tradition of this region, strictly speaking, they were basically one generation apart. He was similar in height and build to Arik. Seeing that his beard was not long enough, and recalling the legend about "Rurik", he stretched out his right arm very rudely and pointed at Arik's nose arrogantly: "To you The leader of the alliance salutes! Rurik! This is a must-have etiquette for you Russians!"
Arik was indifferent. Instead, he turned his head and glared at Karl. His angry look was very scary: "Who are you? How dare you talk to me like this? You must know that those who dare to point fingers at me on the battlefield will not only have their heads chopped off by me. I still use my skull as a drinking bowl. Do you think you are very powerful?"
"You!" Karl was so angry that he unconsciously took two steps back due to the murderous look in his eyes. When he reacted, he realized that he had shamefully shown his timidity.
For thirty-one years, Karl, who had high self-esteem, marveled at how timid he could be. How could he swallow this bad breath when he was sad and angry? Never mind "Rurik of Rus"! Karl just wanted to stab this damn guy with a sword, but he was also asked by his father to remove the weapon he was carrying.
"Damn it, I've never shown cowardice, why today...I want to kill you." The remorseful Karl was so angry that he really didn't know what to say. He could only suppress his thoughts in his heart. Revenge must be avenged, but not now.
