Being an admiral on the Godwin convoy was considered the easiest job in the Kingdom. Free from the demands of war, they only had to transport essential goods and cargo from the south to the west and prepare them for delivery to the front lines. Despite the initial quick progress of the invasion, six months in, deeper marches faced greater resistance and longer waits for supplies.
This was why being an admiral seemed like the easiest job. They didn't have to fight in the war or tend to the fields, just make the same mundane journey across the ocean each week. Admiral Manson agreed. His job was boring but important, without all the added risk. He believed this trip would be the same: arriving at the southern port, picking up the delivery, and heading back west.
But then he saw it. In the distance, a great armada of ships approached the coast, flying unfamiliar banners. His heart raced, but he quickly steeled himself. He was a seasoned sailor, accustomed to riding through storms. Panic was not an option.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, he knew a sacrifice had to be made. If the armada was not an invading force, it would be a miracle. He quickly wrote a warning note to Alfred and sent it via carrier pigeon. He instructed his fastest ship to deliver the message, knowing Alfred's army would not receive the supplies this time. Dealing with the impending threat took priority.
Helga, Erik, and the other leaders of the Great Adventure saw the massive ships in the distance, dwarfing their own. Their people had become desperate, doubting Erik's tales of the northern lands. But their faith held them together, and they were rewarded for it.
They saw fertile fields in the distance, but five towering ships blocked their path. Each leader felt a sense of fear looking at these behemoths, marveling at how something so large could float on water.
Despite their fear, they knew they had to get past these ships to reach the land. Erik addressed his people, "MY PEOPLE! TODAY WE MAKE HISTORY! TODAY WE PROVE THAT WE ARE THE HEROES OF THE NEW ERA! DO NOT FEAR THOSE THAT BLOCK OUR WAY! FOR WE HAVE THE BLESSINGS OF THE GODS!" His words echoed over the water, igniting their spirits. Warriors sharpened their weapons and prepared for the coming assault.
Manson watched as the ships approached. The chanting was alien to him, but he saw them quickly surrounding his position. His archers drew their arrows but did not fire. If he could resolve this peacefully, he would try. Standing at the bow, he called out, "I AM ADMIRAL MANSON! WHO AMONG YOU MAY I TALK WITH?" His words fell on deaf ears as thousands of warriors eyed his ships.
Erik and the other leaders recognized that Manson was trying to communicate. They pulled aside to discuss their strategy. "The man speaks a foreign tongue. We can't understand him. I say we kill them and move on," Frode said, rubbing his axe.
Halfdan nodded, but Erik and Knut were more cautious. "We don't know what awaits us on land. If they have these ships blocking us, imagine their forces on land," Erik warned.
"If they have an army, we have one too. Don't tell me you're a coward, Erik," Halfdan mocked. Erik, towering over him, responded with a fierce glare. "If you want to fight, I will," Halfdan challenged, hand on his weapon.
"Stop it," Knut intervened. "We don't have time for infighting. Erik is right, but so is Frode. We should do both: one of us tries to talk, and if it fails, we attack."
They agreed and decided by coin flip that Erik would go. Helga insisted on accompanying him, despite Erik's objections. They set out alone, their warriors watching closely.
Manson, observing the disagreement among the leaders, saw this as an opportunity. They weren't a united front invading. He lowered a ladder for Erik and Helga, who boarded the ship. They looked around, noting the lightly armoured men. Erik realized this was likely a coincidence, not an interception. Looking to the distant shore he also knew that it meant a weak resistance.
A table was set up on the deck. Manson introduced himself again, gesturing to convey his meaning. He wasn't stupid enough to take two warriors into his private quarters alone. Erik pointed to himself and said, "Erik," then to his daughter, "Helga." Manson smiled, understanding their names and knowing communication was possible.
"Why are you here?" Manson asked, pointing at Erik and then at the table.
Erik and Helga were confused. "What do you think he's saying?" Erik asked. Helga shrugged. She didn't care to talk and didn't understand her father's roundabout way of going about this.
Manson repeated the question. Erik, interpreting his gestures, pointed to his fleet and then to the shore. "We wish to go there," he said, smiling. Manson understood, frowning and shaking his head.
Helga, seeing this, smiled. Being denied was a declaration of war. In a swift motion, she drew her axe and split Manson's head. "IT'S WAR!" She shouted, igniting a frenzy among their warriors who began scaling the ships.
Kicking the table over to block arrow fire, she and Erik took cover. "Why did you do that?" Erik reprimanded her. The archers soon shifted focus to the scaling warriors, lightning the pressure.
"The leader said no. We would have fought anyway. Might as well speed things up," Helga chuckled. She felt arrows hitting the table. Realizing they couldn't stay, she tapped Erik's arm. "Good luck," she said with a cheeky smile before rolling to the side. The archers tried to hit her, but she quickly took cover behind a beam. Counting the number of shots she, ran for the side of the ship, jumping off its side and laughing on the way down.