An hour later Fulton walked into the dining room as a servant gave a plate filled with smoked sliced pork, bread, and green beans. The servant also gave him a cup filled with water. "Are you hungry," King Edwin as he smoked sliced pork. "Yes I am," Fulton replied as he looked at the food. His mouth started to water as he looked at all the food. It's been four days since he last ate any food. "Sit down and eat," King Edwin said as he ate his smoked sliced pork. Fulton grunted in pain as he sat down in his chair. "How's your leg," King Edwin asked as he drank his cup of water. "It still hurts but it will heal," Fulton replied as the servant gave him a plate filled with food and a cup filled with water. "Why did the commander attack when I told him no such thing," King Edwin asked as he ate a piece of his bread. "Mother told him to," Fulton replied as he ate his smoked sliced pork.
"Why would she do that," King Edwin asked with anger in his voice and on his face. "I don't know father," Fulton lied as he ate his smoked sliced pork. King Edwin looked at his son with distrust by the way Fulton replied to him. Fulton's body tense up when he replied to King Edwin. He decided not to press for more information and focus on the viking issue. "The vikings should be here in a day or two," King Edwin said as he ate his green beans. "We should negotiate with them better this time. Since they have hostages and I want them to return safely to their families," King Edwin continued. "Mother is not going to be happy about this," Fulton said as he chuckled. "I don't care about how your mother is going to feel about this," King Edwin shouted as he stood up. Fulton and the servant jumped when King Edwin shouted. "This is your mother's fault that we're in this position with these vikings. Now we must make a deal that suits them more than us," King Edwin continued as he left the dining room.
Two days later King Hjalmar, Hertha, Stigr, Olin, and two other men arrived in King Edwin's castle. They were riding the horses they stole from the village. When they arrived in King Edwin's castle some of the people were horrified to see them again. Others were happy to hear of the viking's victory against the commander and how they knock him a peg or two. As King Hjalmar, Hertha, Stigr, Olin, and the two other men got off their horses a servant came up to them. "Welcome back King Hjalmar and your companions," The servant said with a polite smile. "Please follow me. The king is waiting for you," The servant continued as he walked away. The same stable boy took their horses to the stables. King Edwin and his family were waiting in the throne room for King Hjalmar and his companions. "You're really going through with this my love," Queen Ada asked with worry.
"Yes I am," King Edwin replied with a calm voice. "And this is all your fault. We could raise an army and destroy them in a few months," King Edwin continued as he looked at Queen Ada with anger but his voice was still calm. A few minutes later King Hjalmar and his companions arrived in the throne room . "Welcome back King Hjalmar," King Edwin said with a fake smile. "Thank you King Edwin," King Hjalmar said as he got closer to King Edwin. "Maybe this time we can come to a better deal," King Hjalmar continued as he was face to face with King Edwin. "Yes," King Edwin said with disappointment in his voice. "Shall we discuss this in the dining room," King Edwin asked. "Lead the way," King Hjalmar replied. When they entered the dining room food was on the table with wine and water. Lamb, peas, chicken, and mashed potatoes. They sat down at tabe, King Edwin prayed to their god Amos while the vikings ate and drank.
An hour later King Hjalmar stopped eating and drinking and he finally spoke to King Edwin. "Let's talk now King Edwin," King Hjalmar said as he drank his third cup of wine."I'm getting full and bored of just sitting in silence," King Hjalmar continued. "Ok," King Edwin said as he stopped eating his last piece of lamb. 'You've won the three battles including when you conquer Earmon. We tried to come up with a deal and it did not end well. Now let's do a deal that really benefits the both of us. What do you want," King Edwin continued. "The three thousand pound of gold and silver we asked before," King Hjalmar said. "We also want the right to own Earmon. So our farmers can come here and farm," King Hjalmar continued. "Your raiders will go elsewhere," King Edwin asked. "Yes we will," King Hjalmar said. "And give us back the commander and other hostages," King Edwin asked.
"Yes we will give you back the hostages," King Hjalmar replied. King Edwin felt relieved and glad when King Hjalmar agreed to his terms of the deal. "As long as you agree to not attack my people in Earmon every again," King Hjalmar continued as he finished his third cup of wine. "I agree with this deal," King Edwin said with a smile. "Give me an hour and i'll give you a document giving you the legal right to Earmon," King Edwin continued as he got up. "Ok we'll be here waiting," King Hjalmar said with a smile. King Edwin and his family left the dining room while King Hjalmar and his companions stayed behind. Queen Ada was upset at King Edwin for agreeing to make a deal with the vikings. She walked inside King Edwin's bedroom as he writing on a piece of paper as his desk. "You're really giving those savages the legal right to own Earmon," Queen Ada asked as she sat down in a chair near the desk.
"Yes I am," King Edwin replied as he continued to write. "Thanks to my lovely wife," King Edwin continued with a sarcastic tone in his voice. "You don't have to do this my love," Queen Ada said as her body and mind was filled with guilt. "You can still raise an army and destroy them," Queen Ada continued. "No, i'm going to keep my agreement to this deal and hope King Hjalmar keeps his promise," King Edwin said as he finished writing on this piece of paper. "And what if they don't keep their promise," Queen Ada asked as guilt was replaced with worry. "Go please. I have enough on my mind," King Edwin replied as he wrapped up the paper. Queen Ada left the bedroom as King Edwin was adding his family segil. Which was a man holding two spears with a golden crown on his head.
An hour later King Edwin walked into the dining room as Hertha and Stigr were finishing the jug water after drinking half the jug of wine. "Welcome back King Edwin," Hertha said as she drank her fourth cup of water. "Here you go," King Edwin said as he handed King Hjalmar the document. "You now have the legal right to own Earmon. And the gold and silver is being delivered to Earmon," King Edwin continued as King Hjalmar took the document out of his hand. "Thank you for this," King Hjalmar said as he opened the document. "We would hold up our end of the deal and find somewhere to raid. Let's go back," King Hjalmar continued as he headed out the door. As King Hjalmar and his men left the door Hertha stayed behind for a while. "Forgive me for saying this but you are a blind man," Hertha said with a humongous smile on her face. "What do you mean," King Edwin asked with confusion in his voice. "The only reason the commander did what he did because of your wife's influence," Hertha replied. "If you look at them together you can see that they're lovers," Hertha continued as she walked out the door.
