Eivor:Journals. He seemed at war with his own thoughts.
Eivor soon found and read a letter on a bookshelf.
Eivor:This letter is addressed to Charles, and tells on the attack of Melun. It was to be sent this night to a brothel in the tavern. The king must be there now!
Eivor soon found a symbol near an open book, unknown it is the symbol of Bellatores Dei.
Eivor:This is a strange symbol. It must have some meaning.
On another desk, Eivor found an incomplete letter.
I am unhappy to report that despite my most careful subtlety, the king remains resistant. The blame for this can be placed entirely on the queen. Her presence alone is enough to end any conversation. What little headway we make is undone as soon as he consults with her. Charles is altogether too weak minded to move beyond her influence without our intervention.
I believe our only recourse is to remove her. The king will then be laid open to our counsel. It will not be an easy task, but not more difficult than our recent success. A queen is not greater than a pontif.
I have taken the liberty of sending a small scara of our most faithful brothers to intercept the-
Eivor speaking to the tavernkeeper
Leaving Sainte-Geneviève Church, Eivor traveled back to the Boatmen Baths Tavern and spoke with the regular barkeep.
Eivor:Tavernkeep! I'm looking for some ... company.
French Woman 1:Northerner! A strapping youth like you has appetites of equal measure I'm sure, and any other time I'd be happy to help.
Eivor:Why not now?
French Woman 1:It's locked off. A special visitor, you understand. You'll have to try your luck with the amateurs here.
Eivor:Is any visitor really so important that you would refuse honest custom?
French Woman 1:That's a reasonable question, one which I can't answer for the sake of my head. Which is an answer of sorts, if you think on it.
Eivor:I would really like to change your mind.
French Woman 1:If your ... need is that great, you can try talking to the door guard. He's at the bottom of the stairs.
Eivor:Perhaps silver will help?
French Woman 1:You know, it just might. You're not going to get in the front door, but as with most things in Paris, there's another way.
Eivor:Go on.
French Woman 1:That big tree outside the front door might be worth your attention. You didn't hear anything from me, though.
Eivor:My thanks.
Eivor left the barkeep to find her way inside the hidden brothel.
Eivor went downstairs and saw the locked door on the left.
Eivor:That door is reinforced.
Eivor talked with the guard there.
French Soldier 1:Who are you?
Eivor:Bishop Engelwin sent me with word for the king.
French Soldier 1:Did he now? And did he happen to send you with the watchword?
Eivor:I have an urgent message for the king. If he does not receive it, I will be sure to tell the bishop why, and who.
French Soldier 1:You are one of his Northern spies, I suppose. I heard there was trouble. Alright, stand back.
The guard opened the door.
Eivor:I only want to visit your establishment, and see if Frankish women are as beguiling as I have been told.
French Soldier 1:Keep your pants on, Northerner. I told you, no one gets in tonight without the watchword.
Eivor:The bishop gave no watchword, there was no time.
French Soldier 1:You think I'm stupid as a pig's ass, don't you? Get lost. Next time, I'll break your head for you!
Eivor:There must be another way inside.
Eivor may talk to the guard again.
Eivor used the hidden entrance under a big tree. Breaking in, Eivor broke a false floor, climbed down, and slid under a small opening.
Eivor:A hidden entrance. Where does it lead?
Eivor:Now to find the king.
Eivor looked around and found a note on top of a barrel.
Discretion and Our Guests
Ladies,
Business has picked up with the threat of Northern raiders just outside the city. We've been busy, but that's no reason to start calling our guests by their true names. They demand discretion, and it's your job to give it them. Regular guests have given us the names they prefer to be called, and they're writ down here. Keep them in your memory.
Bastien Fantome P Adalbert Goll Bal Ebels Furderic
There's one name missing from this list and you all know who that is. Him you are to call by the name "Liutward", except when in chambers. Then you call him by his real name, and you answer only to "Richardis".
− Germain
Eivor looked around the brothel and heard voices behind a door.
Charles:Yes, my holy queen. You are sinner and saint. My confessor and my lover. How I admire and desire you.
Eivor entered in the room. Surveying, Charles was in the company of many women, while the room was filled with dead chickens and a live pig. On the bed, Charles was being comforted by a woman as he noticed Eivor at the door.
Charles meeting Eivor for the first time
Charles:Are you real? What are you, another diable (devil)?
Eivor:Not an enemy, not yet. I am Eivor, of the Raven Clan in England.
Charles:Flesh and blood. A Northerner by the look of you. Why do you disturb me? Where are my guards?
Eivor:Your guards are not coming. Your bishop will not be joining us either.
Eivor threw Engelwin's crest at Charles' bed.
Charles:Engelwin? You've done me a favor, Northerner, though you don't know it. That bishop was an unholy annoyance. What is it you want?
Eivor:Your soldiers strike at Norse village. Their attacks grow more common by the day. You make war against us, without cause.
Charles:Without cause! This is my land, a kingdom established by God! You are invaders and devils, a scourge I am called to cleanse. My cause is God himself!
Eivor:Francia may be your land, but England is not.
Charles:Ah, the real reason for your intrusion, diable (devil). You are not concerned with war or justice. You want me to spare your people.
Eivor:I want to prevent your armies marching on my land.
Eivor:You claim your cause is in the name of your god. We claim it by our own strength. Either way, those claims end in this land.
Charles:I begin to understand you, diable (devil). You don't care for Francia. You want clemency for England and for yourself.
Eivor:I want you to stay in your own land.
Eivor:War is uncertain, and dangerous. Often it begins in one place, only to end unfavorably in another.
Charles:War is war. But you mean England. O yes, I understand you, diable (devil). You came to plead for your own neck.
Eivor:I came to make an agreement to save many necks, perhaps even your own.
Charles:You murder your way into another land, and you think to stop me driving you back out with negotiation? I am a king. You are a godless invader. Who are you to parley with me?
Eivor:I am one who might have killed you already, yet you live.
A quick pause as King Charles talked to himself.
Charles:Perhaps this is opportune. What do you think? Could it work? It might work. There is something I require. If you accomplish it, I will be more open to consider your ... proposal.
Eivor:A deal within a deal. How like a king. What is the task?
Charles:My queen, Richardis, has been taken. I want her returned to me.
Eivor:I assume I must first find her.
Charles:My spies tell me she was taken by those belonging to a zealous faction within the Church. I know nothing more.
Eivor:You do not seem overly troubled by her absence.
Charles:Marriage for kings is more often a matter of politics than of the heart. In any case, I doubt she is in danger. And you can be certain I want her safe return.
Eivor:If I do this, you will agree to leave England in peace.
Charles:Peace! That is a strange word in the mouth of an invader. But again you presume too much. Do this and you will have earned a place at the negotiation table, nothing more.
Eivor:When we next meet, it will be with your queen to discuss your ambitions for England.
Charles:As you say, diable (devil). God will make it so. Now, you must excuse me...
Eivor left as Charles was left with three women to comfort him on the bed. Eivor traveled to Melun to meet with Toka. As she neared the longhouse, Eivor heard a small conversation.
Norse Man 1:It is not right. They dishonored our brothers.
Norse Woman 1:Sigfred will make sure the Franks answer for it.
Eivor returning with news for both Sigfred and Toka
Eivor entered the longhouse and met with both Sigfred and Toka.
Sigfred:Wolf-Kissed. You were gone overlong. We'd had trouble.
Eivor:Engelwin is dead, though there is a sickness in these Franks I do not understand.
Sigfred:That is very good. It is as I told you. You see now why it is pointless to try to deal with them?
Eivor:Yet I must. Information with him led me to their king. Charles and I have reached the beginnings of an agreement.
Sigfred:You met with their king! Do you make yourself my enemy now? Toka failed to bring me any but you, and now you defy me!
Eivor:I had to act or miss the opportunity. I did not mean to defy you.
Sigfred:Yet you have, and while you did we were attacked and took losses you might have helped prevent.
Eivor:I told you what I came here to do. You're not my jarl, Sigfred. I do not need your permission to act.
Sigfred:Be careful how you speak, Wolf-Kissed. This is my clan. While you were away making agreements, we were attacked.
Eivor:You said there was trouble.
Sigfred:There was another attack, and we found our missing watch. Curse those raven-starvers. I will gut every one of them! You might have helped prevent this.
Eivor:Why? What has happened?
Sigfred directing Toka to take Eivor with her
Sigfred:You will see what it is you are eager to make peace with. Toka will show you. I have our revenge to plan.
Eivor left with Toka.
Toka:Come with me, Wolf-Kissed. You remember our missing watch? While you and Sigfred went after Engelwin, I searched for them. But they were gone. After this second attack, we found them.
Eivor:What do you mean? Where were they?
Toka:Come and see.
Eivor with Toka in the morgue
They arrived at the morgue, where Pierre was standing over mangled remains.
Eivor:These wounds were not made by sword, or by animals.
Toka:It is the Franks. You said yourself, there is a sickness in them. There is no honor in what they do. These were my friends!
Pierre:I have seen this before. People disappear sometimes. When they return, they are like this.
Eivor:Toka, I need your help. Charles asked me to find his queen. If I can, I might stop this sickness reaching England.
Pierre giving the queen's location to Eivor
Pierre:The queen was at Evreux yesterday, in the company of priests. You will find her there.
Eivor and Toka looked at each other, amazed at Pierre's discovery.
Pierre:You think all I do is drink wine and bed handsome men and beautiful women? Merde! (Shit!) I have eyes all over Francia, and they see many things. Some of those things I must attend to, now. When you have the time, Eivor, come and see me. I have more work for you.
Pierre left the morgue.
Toka:Sigfred is right, Wolf-Kissed. Even with this proof of the Franks' cowardice before you, you still want to bargain with them. I will not go against my uncle. I am sorry. I cannot help you in this.
Eivor:You're right. Your duty is to your own clan, Toka. My duty is to mine. It is why I came to Francia. I will go to Evreux alone.
Toka:When you are done in Evreux, meet us at our forward camp, west of Paris. We have a siege to prepare.
Eivor left as Toka stayed with the bodies.
Eivor:To keep Charles' armies from England, I must find his queen. She was seen with priests at Evreux. That is where I must go.
Eivor located clues in Engelwin's chamber for the whereabouts of King Charles. After meeting him in a secret brothel beneath the Boatmen Baths Tavern, Eivor made a deal with Charles to locate his queen Richardis in exchange for a meeting to negotiate peace for her clan. She was given the Queen's location in Evreux by the Frankish informant, Pierre.
