The air in the hall grew heavy as King Æthelwulf's words faded. With an impatient flick of his hand, he signaled to his guards — the three Viking envoys were to be executed.
Steel flashed; cold and merciless. Yet Gunnar, commander of Ragnar's royal guard, stood tall before the naked blades. His gaze did not waver.
"Kill me if you must," he said, voice booming across the chamber. "But remember this — for every one of us you slay, a hundred of your captured nobles and priests will hang in return. Three lives for a hundred. My forefathers would call that a bargain well struck!"
The guards hesitated, waiting for their king's word. Before Æthelwulf could reply, one of his ealdormen leaned close and whispered urgently into his ear.
