More than a hundred women kidnapped from Britain were all packed into the cabin. Together with Rurik's operational guards, as well as a large amount of salt and captured ironware, the Avora was actually overcrowded.
The return journey was by no means a smooth triumph. No one was worried about the obstruction of Danish forces. It was precisely the fact that there were too many people on the ship and men and women mixed together that was the biggest trouble.
If there hadn't been an order first, Rurik had no doubt that in the quiet night, the mercenaries in the cabin would definitely take action against these women.
At least Rurik didn't have to worry about food and fresh water. The existing reserves were enough for the crew to consume for a month.
But the cabin was soon filled with a foul stench.
There was really no way around it, because the ship was facing a small late autumn storm.
The sea breeze wasn't deadly, but the waves did get rough. Rurik noticed the accompanying large group of immigrants in long boats. They had already approached the shore one after another, and were led by the sailing ship Balmok into a small bay to take shelter from the wind.
The Aurora ignored these obstructions and kept bouncing up and down among the waves, once again causing the seasick women to vomit and have diarrhea.
It wasn't just them, because it was really too cold outside, and dense snow fell on the world under the haze. Such days lasted for just one day, and the Aurora actually moved forward in the wind and snow.
Even if the cabin smells bad, it's better than shivering with cold on the deck. The deck was already very dangerous. The sailors on duty also had hemp ropes tied around their waists, wore deerskin cloaks and wolfskin hats, and carefully controlled the triangular sail.
Rurik had no choice but to stay in the captain's cabin below the bow deck. This is a relatively spacious existence, with only him and Mary in the room.
In any era of sailing, the captain had access to the best rooms on the ship.
There's nothing luxurious about the captain's cabin of the Aurora. It's just decorated with some leather to make it comfortable to lie down and rest. The climate suddenly changed and the indoor temperature dropped very low.
"How long are we going to float like this?" Mary, who was suffering from seasickness and cold, muttered to herself.
"There are at least two weeks left," Rurik said casually.
"Rose...so far away?"
"It's not only remote, but also cold. But don't worry, the greatness there is beyond your imagination. Even in the world of ice and snow, there is ultimate warmth."
"Is that... still the land blessed by the Lord? Do you live at the end of the world?"
Rurik stared at Mary's face and hesitated for a moment: "If...if there is a greatest god, Rose will be protected by him. Do you still have nostalgia for Mercia?"
"No!" She forced herself to cheer up, "I'm just... worried about the future."
"Don't be surprised, Rus is not a place ruled by the Lord you believe in." Rurik also cheered up, beat his chest, and introduced: "In the Viking world, heroic men have many wives and concubines, just like Odin has Many Valkyries. Among my wives, you are the second in age, but your status is not really noble."
"Yes..." She lowered her head silently, "Because, my identity..."
"No. You are still a noble of Mercia. You have lost your dignity, and only I can give you dignity again. After returning to Ross, you cannot feel that you are different, let alone betray me and find another man. You can only be loyal I am alone, otherwise..."
"Yes. If you betray me, I will die. I understand." As she spoke, she began to slowly pull off her leather jacket in the dim light. "There is no one else here, so you can treat me as a servant. If it were you, I would Give everything to you."
Looking at her trembling eyes again, Rurik let out a long sigh. This woman does understand the value of mother and son, but that's all for later.
"You are very weak, please continue to rest. The Mercian court etiquette you have learned is very useful. When you return to Rus, they will accept you."
Mary's words were really euphemistic. She actually felt that she was going to take this boat to another world.
Is not it? A brand new world is what the priests call the home of the Vikings, a terrifying hell. Viking men could have many wives and concubines, what could be more terrifying than that?
But he is a filthy person, and his so-called father and brother are actually sanctimonious hypocrites.
The cold outdoors was almost freezing to the point of cracking her bones. If she didn't want to avoid making the room stink, she wouldn't be willing to go out with the filth in the pottery and dump it.
In the hazy and snowy world, Rurik was in a bad mood, and Mary was being devastated both physically and mentally.
All the passengers on the Aurora were depressed, hoping that the snowstorm would end soon.
The wind and snow were a blessing. The north wind gave the ship strong power, and she had successfully sailed into the broad Denmark Strait.
The wind and snow lasted for seven days. When the cold north wind finally blew away the warmth and the warm and moist air that filled the sea turned into snow, the sun finally came out lazily.
It's already October, and as the saying goes, it's snowing and cold. Even though the sun is shining high and the air is clear, no one dares to say it's warm.
The waves finally became calm, and 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?
No! They, especially the Drogba tribe, have declined in strength.
Before the storm, they saw a mighty fleet passing through the offshore waters of Jutland. They saw the white flag with blue stripes flying on the mast, and all the fishing boats that had suffered heavy losses fled.
Then came the snow and wind again, and the narrow sea suddenly became rough. The Danes, who have harvested their oats, adhere to tradition. The first snowfall of this winter comes earlier than expected, which is a declaration to all Danish lords: Even if everyone is fighting for power and profit during the warm period, now everyone can spend the winter in peace.
The Avora was still in uninhabited territory. She quickly passed through the Oresund Strait, and the sea ahead suddenly opened up.
The waves were calm, and the sails of the big ship were swollen by the wind. Those women stood in Class A to get some fresh air, but their clothes were too thin, and they had to retreat to the smelly cabin to get some fresh air.
Rurik held Mary's shoulders while they both changed into furry winter clothes.
This really touched Mary, she knew he cared about her.
But the sea ahead is shocking!
Mary couldn't help but shiver, not because of the cold, but because she had never seen the sea properly in Tamworth, Mercia, which was essentially a landlocked area for more than ten years.
It was cold and empty, but I was so small, and this big ship also seemed extremely small.
A group of people quickly saw the new land. You must know that they have not made any landing and rest since they set off from Narvik Port.
Time is running out, the water is bitingly cold, and it's almost a step away from freezing.
The Aurora sailed in the eastern waters of Öland, which was the fastest route to the north after bypassing the island of Burgundy.
She was turning sideways against the wind, running wildly toward the northeast, which would pass directly through the east coast of Gotland, just like a sword piercing the Tombstone Island Fortress in the Åland Islands!
The island of Oland is getting 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 lives that they had seen such a vast body of water, and the fear in their hearts could not be described in words.
Fortunately, they were now under firm control. They saw that the Russians not only did not panic, but as time went on, their fighting spirit seemed to be getting higher and higher.
In fact, that was also the forced cheering up of the Russian people.
It was a sunny day and the wind was cold and biting.
Rurik stood on the bow deck, facing the brothers on the lower deck and shouted sternly: "We are finally back! I know you are extremely tired, and the fresh water on the ship is also consumed! If you wait a few more days, we are now sailing at high speed. ! I dare say that if we sail all night, I will arrive at Tombstone Island in five days. We will have a good rest on the island! You will take hot baths, eat greasy barbecue, and eat wheat constantly. We will Rest for at least two days!"
This was the best thing everyone hoped for. People started cheering, and then yelled crazily. Even the people hanging on the mast with a rope ladder raised their right fists and cheered.
Soon, the news was also informed to the women in the cabin through Princess Mary.
This group of women are almost all Mercians. Because they were deliberately selected by Magnute, they are not much older than Mary.
They learned that their future would be to serve as servants of the so-called Ross nobles, and for those lucky enough to be the maids of Queen Mary. They were promised a good future. As long as they worked well, they would be able to get food, clothing and housing.
The uneasiness that permeated the ship disappeared, and as Rurik expected, the ship successfully drifted to Tombstone Island.
But what was very obvious was that Rurik saw fine ice floes starting to float on the sea surface, and the world around him was always white.
The snowfall that started at the end of September was described as a heavy snowfall in the area around Roseburg. The world was indeed beautiful covered in silver, but what Rurik saw was the risk of the ocean - the Gulf of Bothnia was rapidly freezing. !
The situation shouldn't be too bad.
The return of the Avora did not surprise the people of Tombstone Island. In fact, the large fleet escorted by Arik passed here recently.
A batch of goods was unloaded, and the people of Tombstone Island shared the war dividends of Ross's army! Of course, the left-behind people here did not take it for free shamelessly. For example, they bought wheat according to the guide price set by the Duke of Ross, which was one silver coin for ten pounds of wheat.
The Russians and Slavic immigrants who settled here bought what they needed.
In fact, they got a big benefit. The so-called wheat harvest in Lake Malaren this year was not good. In addition, Gould of Ross was ordered to purchase wheat on a large scale. The tribes around Lake Malaren were no longer able to trade much wheat.
Even if there is, the price is very high.
So when the fleet transporting trophies escorted by Arik returned, the Merlaren merchants who intended to stay on Tombstone Island for the winter, or simply received money from King Bjorn of Sweden and were ordered to monitor Tombstone Island, were all shocked by the Russians. Seized.
Arik lacked composure the most. He carelessly promoted the great victory of Rurik, Duke of Rus's expedition, and even boasted that the Russian 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 of them, making the visiting merchants jealous.
Who could question the capture of the Russians? There was a real detail. After the Ross fleet left, they quickly rowed back to the Birka Market on Lake Mälaren and reported to King Bjorn.
On a cold afternoon, the Phantom of the Aurora arrived at the Tombstone Island Fortress.
Many people saw her from a distance, and the identity flying on the mast proved their identity.
On the ship, the tired people cheered, knowing that everyone would be blessed with a perfect rest tonight.
Everything went according to plan. The ship entered the archipelago and then entered the sheltered bay on Tombstone Island.
The remaining islanders gathered together, and they saw Lord Rurik's fluttering golden ponytail, and a whole row of uniformly dressed mercenaries standing around Class A.
People cheered as they disembarked along the plank.
Soon, new discussions began as a group of women they had never seen before shuffled cautiously down.
They all wear headscarves and cloth clothing, and their styles are completely different from the Russians or Slavs on the island.
I'm afraid this is the new slave that your Excellency kidnapped from the British Island...
Rurik had a distinguished status, and his landing immediately attracted crowds of people to watch. Men and women spontaneously took out food and water. This is the so-called basket of food and pots of pulp to welcome the king's master.
But Rurik paid, and he did pay some remuneration, and he purchased fresh meat and fresh yellow carrots from the people, as well as delicious meals and wine reserved for tomorrow.
Many people are sincerely willing to contribute to the Son of God, but money still has to be given. Rurik immediately took out a sum of money, and everyone praised the generosity of the Lord.
There are still a large number of vacant buildings on Tombstone Island, which were used to provide military accommodation when the area was used as a gathering place for the army.
The house housed the landed mercenaries, sailors, and even the one hundred and twenty women.
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 almost all comes from the barbecued seal. This rather greasy barbecue is sprinkled with a lot of salt. The saltiness is really salty. For those whose bodies are extremely deficient in salt and oil, it is an extreme delicacy.
The wild mercenaries feasted, and the women began to chew the oily meat. Barbecued meat can only be regarded as a hard dish, and the staple food is a stew of wheat and vegetables.
After the meal, the mercenaries began to wash off the dirt on their bodies, and then got into the sauna room filled with righteousness. When they came out, everyone had put on new clothes. As for the old clothes, they are all left to the locals for cleaning.
Now that he was back home, he sat in his palace on Tombstone Island, minding his own business and eating a delicious meal on a low table.
Princess Mary was also sitting here. After landing on the island, she changed into a Slavic-style patterned plaid gown and prepared a leather jacket.
The leading figures on the island were also sitting in the house, and were ordered to report recent events to Rurik...
"Aric's fleet has returned, and Gould's fleet purchasing supplies has also returned. My father's Eastern Sorgon team just returned a few days ago. Old Eric, who arranged to go to Hedebe in Denmark, has also returned. What a series good news."
Rurik was in a happy mood and threw a few silver coins to the report.
After reporting the report, he happily accepted the money and asked briefly with a smile: "Sir, 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. You don't have to worry about it."
"Okay..." Maybe there is something hidden here, and the knowledgeable reporter chose to remain silent.
"Please retreat. Tell the others that I will rest here for two days, and I will return on the third day."
"But sir, the sea water is freezing. Brothers who fish say that the northern seas have frozen."
"It doesn't matter. Mere ice floes can't stop my ship. My people are too tired. They are almost driven crazy after a month of sailing."
The messenger smiled: "I understand, I will entertain them."
The messenger withdrew, Rurik's joy still showed on his face.
He glanced at Mary from the side and realized that the girl was still looking 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 Ross, as my woman, you need to learn this." After that, he handed the chopsticks, which were actually two freshly cut wooden sticks, to Mary.
The two parties already have an extremely close relationship, and Mary has no inhibitions about it.
Although she suddenly became ridiculous when playing with chopsticks, Rurik noticed her concentration.
"It seems that there are no tableware in the palace of Mercia." Rurik joked casually.
"Yes. We all use our hands, only we use a spoon to drink soup. Sometimes men use knives to cut meat."
"Not elegant enough. In Ross we have spoons, knives, forks and these two little sticks. Women, especially, can't reach out to grab food."
"I want to learn." She said with a shy look on her face.
"Yes. You still have a lot to learn. For example, you have to go to a special place to use the toilet, and you must wash your hands afterwards. Eat quickly, because I will soak in hot water and feel comfortable later. You also come together."
"Soak in hot water? Baptism?!" She probed her head warily.
"No, just taking a bath. This is a Roman enjoyment! Woman, you and I are speaking Roman Latin now, what's wrong with adding some Roman enjoyment."
"That's...okay. I feel a little weird."
"This is how we live. In battle we are fiercer than bears, but in peacetime we know how to live."
"That's...ok."
After a while, Rurik soaked in hot water and washed himself clean with the special soap full of floral fragrance.
Then, Princess Mary also came for the cleanest wash in my life. She blamed herself for being unclean, so she had no inhibitions about being rubbed on her back by Rurik. Yes, why be taboo? Only this Viking nobleman sees herself as a real woman.
She had no chance in Mercia, and now, when she found that her skin could be rubbed with a lot of mud grooves, she simply called herself unclean.
Rurik did not give her a chance to rest, so he closed her eyes and began frantically scrubbing her short brown hair. Rurik's movements were indeed a bit violent, but he was actually afraid that there were flea eggs mixed in her body.
After feeling comfortable, Rurik went back to the steam room and enjoyed a serious Finnish sauna. However, this extreme "post-war rest" came to an end as Mary steamed directly into coma.
Mary fell asleep and woke up the next morning. She felt that everything was a dream. She patted her face and realized that this was reality and that she was already in the new world. She couldn't help but smile knowingly when she saw the clothes she had just obtained neatly folded aside. She quickly changed her clothes, held her nose straight and sniffed, looking for the scent of wheat, and then approached the noisy restaurant of the Duke of Ross' palace.
It was also here that Rurik was already feasting on his elite guards, as well as the Rus' and Slavic elites who stayed on Tombstone Island.
There is indeed a Slavic population here, numbering more than 200 people. They all came from Novgorod and built a traditional farm here. However, the soil and climate of this archipelago were not suitable for growing wheat. In addition to diligently growing carrots and onions, they became fishermen, just like the real Russians. Fishing for a living. They are already calling themselves Rus.
Seeing that Mary Shanshan was late, this woman was also pulled over.
A large oak cup was placed in front of him with a clatter. Then he looked at the people here and entered the barbarian colosseum on his own.
Just as she was at a loss and trembling, a red-faced strong man with a sinister face shouted rudely in Norse: "Women of Mercia, you must understand our rules if you join us. Drink!"
Mary was really a little scared, but Rurik also urged unusually with a hint of drunkenness.
Helpless, Mary touched the wine glass with both hands and drank the glass of craft ale.
And the majority of soldiers collectively began to slap the table and applaud.
Messy? This lunch was really chaotic, but also very lively.
Two roasted sheep were brought in, and the soldiers carried steel swords to cut the meat one by one and put it on the dinner plate. After a while, a new oak barrel full of ale was brought in (purchased from the guest wine merchant in Mälaren). The barbecue seems to be just a side dish, including the cooked wheat as a topping. The main purpose of today's feast is to enjoy the feast.
Poor Mary, she had just woken up. She was very drunk 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 resting.
It was rare for Rurik to get drunk for once, but fortunately, his body quickly recovered from the hangover.
This pure Viking revelry is accompanied by the pleasure of overeating and drinking, and the fun continues into the night. The islanders piled huge mountains of firewood and lit a torch as fierce as a lighthouse. This was their praise for Rurik, Duke of Rus.
