Faravid:Yet still floating! Tell me, how did my old friend like his goblet gift.
Eivor:There were other things on his mind. Your man Ulf, for instance. He died protecting the spoils he stole from Halfdan.
Faravid frowned hearing of Ulf's fate.
Faravid:Ulf! Poor Ulf. I told him to mind your tongue, but he wags it like a slobbering dog.
Eivor:He gave your goblet little more than a second glance. He rants and broods in his high tower.
Eivor:Was Halfdan always so easily riled?
Faravid:No. Riches and glory have shaped him into something new. He's not the same man he used to be.
Eivor:The songs of skalds and the glint of silver can turn even the best of us.
Faravid:He was a fierce man in days past, but he has lost the bite he once had. He's too careful. He ruminates and hesitates.
Eivor changed the subject to the camp ruins.
Eivor:A jarl is owed the spoils of war, to spend as he sees fit. So it has always been.
Faravid:That may be so, but Halfdan hoards our wealth for himself, sharing neither gold nor glory.
Eivor changed the subject to the camp ruins.
Eivor changed the subject to the camp ruins.
Eivor:What is this place? I expected an army, ready for warcraft.
Faravid looked at the camp wistfully.
Faravid:This was our first camp in Northumbria. I came here with Halfdan and his brothers, Ubba and Ivarr. We besieged Jorvik and put King Ælla in the cold ground. Those were good days, now too far gone.
Eivor:What is all this?
Faravid challenging Eivor to a race to Jorvik
Faravid:My share of the treasure we took from those distant days. I buried it here for a rainy day. This bag is heavy with silver. Enough to pay for an army. Come, race me to Jorvik, Eivor! Remind me of the glories long gone!
Eivor:You're too drunk to win a race.
Faravid:Then have a drink. Make it fair.
As Eivor made her decision, Faravid saddled up on his horse and taunted her.
Faravid:What's keeping you, friend Eivor? Waiting for spring?
Eivor racing with Faravid
Eivor took a drink and hopped on her horse. After a few seconds on their marks, they took off slurring at one another.
Faravid:Best not fall off your horse.
Eivor:See you in Jorvik.
Eivor ignored the open cask and hopped on her horse. After a few seconds on their marks, they took off.
Eivor:Your horse can smell the ale dripping from your mouth. You frighten her.
Faravid:It warms my heart that you're concerned, but Hulda and I can hold our drink.
They raced down the dirt roads until they reached the main paved road to Jorvik.
Faravid:I offered you enough mead to best me. No excuses!
Eivor:What are we doing in Jorvik? You haven't said.
Faravid informed Eivor of his plans
Faravid:Paying a visit to our kept King Ricsige, long may he reign. I haven't enough men to beat the Picts alone. But with Ricsige and his fyrd, we'll finish them off.
Eivor:You would bring a puppet king into this fight, but not your jarl?
Faravid:Shhh. Keep this to yourself. The streets have ears, the windows have eyes.
Eivor:I did not agree to this level of deception. You should have told me this before.
Faravid:Eivor, my friend. If I described my full strategy, we might never leave the campfire.
Eivor:I'd prefer the light of a fire to the darkness of your plans. Don't do it again.
Norse Man 1:I wish Yuletide happened every month... the daily slog kills me.
Norse Man 2:Not if it happens the way it did last time. Ugh.
They dismounted their horses and climbed the steps to the hall. Just outside, Faravid stopped Eivor before meeting with King Ricsige.
Faravid:Wait. A favor I must ask of you. Make no mention that Halfdan is ignorant of our plans. It's better this way.
Eivor:Are you mad? Ricsige answers to Halfdan. You put this man in grave danger if he defies his master's will.
Faravid:Ricsige cannot defy orders he has never heard, no? Trust me, I will take the blame should our plan fall apart.
Eivor and Faravid speaking to King Ricsige
Both warriors walked in and talked with King Ricsige.
Ricsige:Eivor the Wolf-Kissed. And Halfdan's cup bearer. What a curious surprise.
Eivor:I hope the day finds you and Jorvik well.
Eivor:Yes, we scrape by. With what little we still own. But this new war should make wealthy once again... until our tribute is taken.
Faravid:I smell the bile on your breath, king. Do not forget who is in charge here.
Ricsige:O, do remind me, Faravid. Yesterday, it was Halfdan. But today I hear whispers that you are leading the charge. I am confused.
Faravid:Yes, you answer to Halfdan. And now he orders one final strike on the Pict stronghold at Magnis.
Ricsige hearing of news to send aid to help Vikings attack Magnis Fortress
Ricsige:To make war with the North on such a scale will require a hefty amount of silver and a large force of men.
Faravid:My soldiers and silver are pledged already. I expect the same from you.
Eivor:I have given my aid as well. The battle must be decisive.
Ricsige:I see. And you have these orders from Halfdan in writing, yes? From the great man himself?
Eivor:Not with us, but you can rest assured that Halfdan has needs of you. He expects a swift victory.
Eivor:To be clear, King Ricsige... Halfdan knows nothing about this attack.
Ricsige:Nothing at all? That's unusual, Faravid.
Faravid:Eivor is mistaken, Lord King. I was given Halfdan's personal assurance that you would volunteer your troops. He expects as much. But Halfdan is ailing and tired. Let us not burden him with more worry, but please him with a swift victory.
Regardless, Ricsige refused.
Ricsige:I'm sorry, Faravid, but duty compels me to refuse. Without strict orders from Halfdan, I will not risk the lives of so many.
Faravid:You deny me?
Ricsige:I do. To gift you an army puts my wealth and reputation at risk. That's not what Halfdan wants. He needs a strong and loyal king.
Faravid:You presume to know what Halfdan wants?
Ricsige:Hearsay is not enough. For all I know, this is another of Halfdan's tests.
Faravid walked out as Eivor followed him.
Faravid:The greatest snake in Northumbria, that Saxon is. But we need his army to take Magnis.
Eivor:And we'll have it, if we falsify orders from Halfdan ourselves.
Faravid:You would do this? Draw up fake orders and pass them off as real?
Eivor:That's it. And I know just who to speak with. Hjorr of Jorvik. He'll know what we need.
Ricsige:Without Halfdan's formal approval, I cannot help. It's too great a risk. And, after all, he is my ally. You understand.
Faravid walked off, angry, as Eivor followed.
Faravid:I should break your arms for that! What were you doing?
Eivor:I saw no reason to hide the truth. Ricsige is a Saxon puppet. He has more to lose than you and I ever will.
Faravid:That serpent cannot be trusted, Eivor! If he tells Halfdan of our plan, our victory is at risk. Our victory is for Halfdan's own benefit. We will secure Northumbria for him, along with the gratitude of all its Saxon and Norse subjects.
Eivor:Fine. If we falsify orders from Halfdan, Ricsige will accept them. Hjorr of Jorvik could help.
Faravid:Good. Hjorr's favorite alehouse is nearby. Seek him there.
As Eivor turned to leave, she heard Faravid walk deeper into the hall while arguing with Ricsige.
Faravid:Picts rampaging through our lands, while the Saxons do nothing!
Ricsige:The Picts are an eternal problem, plotting beyond the wall, so I doubt—
Faravid:We conquered all of Northumbria! Never doubt a drunken Norseman.
EIvor caught sight of an angry Saxon confronting Hjorr
Eivor located the alehouse and Hjorr and within, surrounded by protestors and an angry Anglo-Saxon man. Ljufvina stood beside him.
Anglo-Saxon Man 2:Ale costs more than bread! Things were better under Audun.
Ljufvina:Hjorr, this crowd won't listen to reason.
Anglo-Saxon Man 3:Give us your coin, you bloody robbers!
Eivor:Hjorr... just where I hoped you would be.
Hjorr:Eivor, gods! You have come at the right moment.
Anglo-Saxon Man 2:Right then, what's this?
Eivor:Go home or get hurt. But you won't bother my friends.
Anglo-Saxon Man 2:I'll bother who I please, after I brick your face to the brains.
Eivor, Hjorr, and Ljufvina fist-fought against the man and his friends.
Eivor and her friends got the upper hand on the assailants and beat them unconscious. Eivor stood over them cracking her knuckles.
Ljufvina:Eivor, always the fighter.
Eivor smiled and nodded.
Despite being better fighters, the three were outnumbered and Eivor was knocked down. She slowly rose to her feet.
Ljufvina:Winter's chill slowing your bones?
Eivor rubbed her neck.
Hjorr:Thank you, Wolf-Kissed. Those men will wake up soon enough.
Ljufvina:With greater sense, I hope. What brings you back to Jorvik?
Eivor:Secret errands to Halfdan. I need an army of men to face the Picts in the North.
(Gave the stolen silver to fund the war)
Ljufvina:What happened to the silver you took from Audun? You could hire a band of sellswords with that much.
Eivor:It won't be enough. We need Ricsige's Saxons at our side. Any fewer would be a death sentence.
Hjorr:Has Halfdan planned an attack he cannot afford? That's not like him.
Eivor:To be clear, Faravid made this plan. Not Halfdan.
Ljufvina:Does Halfdan know of this plan or...
Eivor:He doesn't, but he's given me leave to act as I must, for reasons I cannot share.
Hjorr:Yes, we've heard the rumors. And all our messages have gone unanswered.
Eivor asking her friends to aid in forging a letter from Halfdan
Eivor:Can you aid with some trickery? Help me forge a set of orders from Halfdan himself. To force Ricsige's cooperation?
The married couple looked to one another and Ljufvina nodded at Hjorr, who nodded to Eivor.
Eivor:You'll be taking quite a risk. You have my thanks. We can meet outside the Royal Hall after you have the documents.
Ljufvina inviting Eivor for a drink
As Hjorr left, Ljufvina asked Eivor to have a drink.
Ljufvina:Eivor! Join me for a drink.
If she wanted, Eivor decided to drink with Ljufvina.
Eivor:You both seem to have settled well in this city.
Ljufvina:Yes, we do enjoy the comforts we have here. But I still think about Norway... the cold and the warmth.
Some time passed as the two reminisced. Eventually it came time for Eivor to take her leave and meet with Hjorr.
Ljufvina:Stay on the road safe, Eivor.
Eivor:I try to.
Eivor returned to the Royal Hall to meet with Hjorr. Inside, she heard more discontent at the state of Jorvik.
Anglo-Saxon Woman:Audun, we remain loyal. Things were better with you around.
On a table, she found a note detailing orders from Ricsige.
The King's Orders
By the order of King Ricsige, we are to move the men to Magnis as soon as preparations have been made. The council has made provisions for such a time, but what a strange time it is. We seem to be marching for war in winter. Has Halfdan gone mad?
Outside, she met with Hjorr to claim the forged orders.
Hjorr urging Eivor to be careful about the forged letter
Hjorr:Here, take this forgery and pray that King Ricsige sees nothing amiss. I trust you know what you are doing.
Eivor took the forgery and then nodded as they went inside to see King Ricsige. Faravid stood beside King Ricsige.
Eivor:Straight from Halfdan's hand, as you see.
Eivor gave the forgery to King Ricsige and he read it over.
Ricsige:Hm. Yes, yes. Well, if Halfdan's loyal mules have pledged to fight... Still, my help will come at a price.
Hjorr:I-if you're speaking of coin—
The forged letter being read by Ricsige
Faravid:I remind you that your soldiers are mine.
Ricsige:Halfdan's, my good man. Halfdan's soldiers, for these are Halfdan's orders. Correct?
He looked to Eivor, who crossed her arms.
Ricsige:But I jest, I jest.
Eivor:All is in order, then?
Ricsige:If Halfdan commands, I shall raise my fyrd. And you shall have your fighting army.
Faravid:Good. Get them marching at once. This must happen soon.
Ricsige:As soon as they are mustered, Lord Faravid. And no sooner.
King Ricsige asked to speak with Eivor
The council took leave of King Ricsige until the king asked for Eivor.
Ricsige:Eivor. A moment with you?
Faravid:I'll meet you at Stenwege.
Eivor spoke with King Ricsige.
Ricsige:Faravid is Halfdan's man. So are the Hemmings of Snotinghamscire, as are we here in Jorvik. But not you.
Eivor:I don't like talk that dances around thorns.
Ricsige:For whom are you fighting, truly?
Eivor:We all fight for Halfdan, and for Northumbria.
Ricsige:Loyal to the bone, aren't you?
Eivor:I fight for myself, and my people.
Ricsige:As any great leader must.
Eivor:I am on your council, Ricsige, King of Jorvik.
Ricsige:Quite the charmer, you are. But you jest. We all know in whom the true power lies.
Eivor:Why ask me of loyalty? What are you seeking?
Ricsige:An innocuous question. Loyalty is a word that slides off the lips like honey. Sweet to the taste, but never lingering. There are things simmering in Northumbria, hidden even from you. Take heed and have a care.
Eivor winced her eyes in suspicion then took her leave.
The name of the memory is a reference to a line in Duke Richard III's opening soliloquy "Now is the winter of our discontent" from William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The sentence in full is, "Now is the winter of our discontent / Made glorious summer by this sun of York".
The note detailing Ricsige's order to move the men to Magnis loads as soon as the memory begins, even though its content would only make sense after he agrees to march upon receiving Hjorr's forged orders. This is either premature on the game logic's part, or it is foreshadowing of the events of the next memory.
