The fleet hit the shore. Erik bent down, grabbing a handful of sand and letting it fall through his fingers. Unlike the rough sand of his homeland, this was soft. His thoughts drifted to the massive amount of grain on the ships they had captured, and he couldn't imagine what awaited them inland.
Once everyone had landed, they marched up the beach onto the land. The endless emerald field and gentle breeze brought some to tears as they realized they had completed the Great Adventure. Some basked in the breeze while others picked up the soil and smelled it, savouring an earthy scent they only experienced for a few months each year.
Erik watched his people enjoying the new land but knew this wasn't where they needed to be. Although the grain they captured was substantial, it still wasn't enough to send back home. Erik and the other leaders gathered to discuss their next steps.
"We must stick together. To splinter is suicide," Erik said, adopting a commanding tone, which earned him scowls from the others.
Halfdan laughed. "Where do you get this from? Those 'warriors' on the boat?" He walked closer to Erik. Despite their initial camaraderie before the Adventure, old feuds were hard to erase. "Just admit it, Erik. You're a coward with less balls than your daughter." Frode laughed at Halfdan's comment. Erik gripped his weapon, stepping closer to Halfdan, glaring down at him.
"One more word, and I will skin you," Erik growled. Halfdan looked into Erik's fiery eyes and gave a cold smile.
"Then stop trying to take charge." Halfdan pushed Erik away and took a step back. "We have four armies here. I vote we split in two, one marches east, the other west." Frode and Knut nodded in agreement. Erik sighed but agreed begrudgingly. "Frode and I will head east, back towards where that boat went. You guys head west."
Without complaint, the armies split. Erik and Knut watched with cold eyes as the forces separated. "They are too bloodthirsty," Knut said. Although he didn't mind a physical path, he recognized the need for caution in new lands.
"Halfdan underestimates the challenge. He sees sailors and thinks they are warriors. We don't know how many kings this land has. If one can build ships like that, who knows what awaits us?" Erik replied.
"Our ancestors spoke of a land of witches and dragons. Even if a fraction of that is true, we must be careful, even with the Gods' blessings," Knut added with nostalgia in his voice. Erik nodded. They turned to their army, contemplating their next move. Knut proposed, "We need to head inland, walk a few miles, then head west. Find a settlement, river or road." Erik agreed. It was new territory; exploration was their best option.
Meanwhile, Alfred sat outside the latest obstacle in his path: another key fort he needed to control the southern highway. His forces had nearly taken the entire east, south of the Great Lake, but they were spread thin. He was lucky the main Safrid army was preoccupied, but the few reinforcements that had arrived turned relatively easy sieges into tedious waits.
He respected the Southern defence commander's strategy of wasting his time. Watching the trebuchets fire, explosions rang out as boulders shattered the walls. His army waited for the breach. Archers fired down, but most were ineffective, easily shielded against.
After several more shots, a large crack appeared in the wall, signalling its imminent collapse. Alfred sighed as the wall finally fell after days of bombardment. His army steadily marched towards the opening, led by William. The light forces holding the fort were easily overwhelmed by Alfred's nearly ten-thousand-strong horde. Alfred made his way over, watching William bring the fort's commander and throw him at his feet.
"Find out who he is. If he's worth anything, keep him for ransom; if not, hold him until it's safe to release him," Alfred ordered, a command he had given countless times. A soldier took the commander away, and Alfred and William headed to the commander's office. "How much longer until we control the entire west?" Alfred asked, closing the door behind them.
"A month if the weather stays good," William replied, rummaging through the commander's drawer and lighting a pipe. "But we're losing more men trying to hold land than in battle. Nearly a thousand just to guard our rear."
It was one of the major flaws he had found with this new system. The lack of numbers made it hard to keep control of their land. "With your go-ahead, I'd like to bring an extra thousand men. Take them off the East and bring them here." Exhaling some smoke he looked at Alfred, giving his suggestion.
"No. We can't give Snowid a chance to attack," Alfred replied. "Once we reach the Great Lake, we'll march west. Nasr will have to meet us. Charles will break off with his men, march a few miles away, and when Nasr engages, he'll circle behind and attack. Hopefully, we can end the war in one battle, but I doubt it."
It was a rough plan, but William saw its potential. Although they lost men with each siege, it secured a stable supply line. They didn't have to raid villages for food, easing future takeovers. "Okay," William agreed, savouring another puff from his pipe. "Any news from the capital?"
"Nothing significant, only a squabble between kids and some bad parenting. Neither Catherine nor Abu has reported any delays either," Alfred smiled, thinking of the capital. "Oh, and Anton gifted Edward a black gem, so that issue is finally resolved."
"It's good to hear. No one will question the Crown Prince's legitimacy now," William nodded. He noticed Alfred's sombre expression.
Alfred finally spoke, "When I talked to Ivan, he brought up something I've been trying to ignore. What if my son can't have children? He's my heir, the future of the Kingdom."
William had thought about this too. Edward's potential sterility was a concern they had all avoided. "You have three options, my King," William said seriously. "One: let things play out and hope for the best. Two: have a second child to be Edward's heir. Three: have another child and remove Edward's claim to the throne."
Alfred knew these were real choices. He thought about Isra. Although she said she wanted more children, Edward's birth had left a scar and he didn't know if that sentiment still existed. "Two of these options depend on Isra," Alfred said.
William hesitated but spoke, "Not necessarily." He knew the state of the Queen when it came to having more children and it was his main worry. He knew it was not something to blame her for but the Knigdom's survival was of greater importance to him.
It caught Alfred off guard. He looked at William initially confused but quickly stood up in shock that he would even suggest something like that. Walking around the room he looked at the man, his finger bouncing whilst pointing at him, "So either I place my son on the throne and potentially destroy my bloodline. Or I take a second wife and destroy my family. Or are you suggesting I turn up to the palace with a bastard?" A laugh of self-mocking echoed in the room.
William's head sunk under the venom and mockery in Alfred's voice at the suggestion. He knew it was the young man just venting about the entire ordeal, but he still felt it was the best course of action if Isra never came around. Alfred looked at the old man, scoffing, and leaving the room.