Eivor:You should be glad, Odo. Charles is gone. He'll not bother you any more.
Odo:Maybe. But I won't stand by idly and watch his kingdom crumble any further. At least we can drink to Charles being ... subdued.
Count Odo raises a drink alongside Toka and Eivor
Odo picked up a bottle of wine and served himself, Eivor, and Toka a goblet each. All joined together as Odo took the first drink. Eivor took the next drink as Toka took her time and decided to drink as well. Odo soon nodded to Eivor.
Eivor:Let us go! We have work to do.
Odo and his men left the longhouse. Toka pondered of the next steps.
Toka:What do you think he will do?
Eivor:Odo will look for Charles. And if he can, he will kill him. But Odo's anger could be his undoing.
Eivor:Odo will focus on rebuilding Paris. I just hope he does not grow bitter in the doing.
Eivor:I do not know what he will do now.
Toka:I will have Pierre's eyes on him for some seasons to come.
Eivor:A wise step.
Toka walked to her chair.
Toka:Can Richardis really keep Charles from returning to an active kingship?
Eivor:That is the wager I have made. And the lives of my clan depend on it.
Toka:They can depend on more than that. You still have me.
Eivor nodded and smiled.
Toka:I will be sure to send word should Charles slither out of whatever pit Richardis has put him in.
Eivor:Richardis yet lives. Charles does not.
Odo:And when Francia's nobles back me to be their next king, you can count on a pact of friendship between us, Eivor the Wise.
Eivor nodded in agreement.
Odo:That makes today a day for celebration!
Odo's men cheered as Odo prepared three goblets of wine for himself, Eivor, and Toka. Eivor and Odo picked up their drinks as Toka hesitated. Toka finally picked up her drink as Eivor shrugged happily towards Toka.
Toka:Skal!
Eivor:Skal!
Odo:Santé! (Cheers!)
All three drank their wine.
Eivor extends her hand to Count Odo
Odo:It has been curious to know you, Eivor. You are as enigmatic as any Northerner I have met. Here's hoping there are more like you.
Eivor nodded kindly.
Odo:I must go now and attend the throne. I wish you a safe journey back to England.
Eivor held out her hand to Odo, who shook it gladly.
Eivor:Your greatest challenges lie before you, Count Odo. I hope you have the strength.
Odo:As do I.
Odo signaled his men and left alongside with his soldiers.
Toka:Is it wise to put our trust in him?
Eivor:You can bargain with him, Toka. I know it will be strange to ally with someone Sigfred hated so. But he will keep his word and—
Toka:I know, I know. Leaders drink the wine and so on.
Eivor:You were listening.
Eivor:You should not trust Odo, or any other leader in these lands. Not fully. Odo's duty is to his people.
Toka:As is mine.
Eivor:And as long as your ambitions do not cross his, there can be a reprieve from the bloodshed.
Eivor:The future is a mystery. Whether Odo will even attain his ambition is unclear.
Toka:Then ... how am I to proceed?
Eivor:I cannot tell you that. You are the leader of your people now. Your instinct will determine their future.
Toka:I have much to consider.
Eivor:Stay true to your honor and bring glory to your people. If you do that, you cannot fail.
Toka:I will send word should the Franks grow an appetite for England again.
Eivor:To your relations with Odo, consider returning to him the lands that Charles pledged to Sigfred.
Toka:No. Those lands are compensation for the hardship he has caused us. Odo kept Paris. That is enough.
Eivor:And now I must think of my own people, whom I have been away from for too long.
Toka went and hugged Eivor, who reciprocated the hug.
Toka:Before you go, have this. It was my father, Sinric's. The second-best leader and teacher I have known.
Toka handing Eivor a token as a sign of alliance
Toka handed Eivor a token of alliance, owned by her past father.
Eivor:It has been my honor.
Toka:I hope to lead as well as you do, Eivor. If ever you hunger for more Frankish cheese, I will be happy to share.
Eivor:Farewell, Toka.
Eivor grasped Toka's shoulder fondly and departed from the longhouse. Toka sat down at the high chair and looked at her goblet. Before she left, Eivor looked back at Toka. Both nodded to each other before Eivor completely left. Sýnin flew above Melun as it signified Eivor's adventure in Francia has ended.
Outcome
Eivor garnered alliances with both Toka and Count Odo as she left for home.
Gallery
Eivor entering the longhouse, finding Toka and Odo at odds
