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The longships faded into the horizon, but Freya's mind stayed on the encounter. Erik's calm manner, Sigefrid's barely-contained anger—something about them troubled her. They weren't just raiders; they were playing a bigger, more dangerous game.
Freya sheathed her sword and turned to Bjorn. "We'll need scouts to follow them. Quiet ones, who can report back without being seen."
Bjorn's jaw tightened. "You don't believe them?"
"I don't trust anyone who smiles while holding a sword," Freya said, her voice firm. "We need to know if they're telling the truth about Eoferwic. If they plan to take it, we'll be stuck between their ambitions and any allies they bring."
Bjorn nodded. "I'll send Thorir and his men. They're the best at moving through the woods unseen."
"Good. Make sure they stay far enough away. If Sigefrid senses them, they won't live to tell us what they find."
Bjorn gave her a grim nod and headed toward the village. Freya turned back to the shore, her mind racing. Eoferwic was one of the biggest towns in Northumbria, its strategic importance well known. If the Danes wanted to control it, they wouldn't stop there. From Eoferwic, they could raid deeper into English lands or gain power, creating a stronghold that would be hard to remove.
Freya clenched her fists. The idea of letting the Danes slip away without a fight hurt her pride, but her father had taught her patience. Battles weren't always won by the strongest, but by the one who struck at the right moment.
She walked back toward the village, her boots crunching on the gravel. The wind still bit at her skin, but she was too deep in thought to notice. As she neared the outskirts, she saw Hilda, one of the village elders, standing by the longhouse with a group of others, all murmuring nervously. Hilda's sharp eyes met Freya's.
"Did they leave without a fight?" Hilda asked, her tone doubtful.
"For now," Freya said. "But they're heading for Eoferwic. They say they aren't interested in our village."
Hilda frowned. "Do you believe them?"
Freya paused, then shook her head. "No. But I think they have bigger plans. For now, we're not their target. We need to be careful but not provoke them."
One of the men in the group, Ulf, a large farmer, stepped forward. "We can't let them march north unchecked. If they take Eoferwic, they'll come back stronger, with more men, more ships. Then they'll come for us!"
Freya crossed her arms, her expression serious. "If we try to stop them now, they'll destroy us. We don't have the numbers or the strength to fight them head-on. But if we gather allies and prepare, we might stand a chance when the time comes."
