You make way for Kattegat to fight alongside the Sons of Ragnar as they plan to avenge their late father's death.
You are known amongst your people as a fierce warrior and great beauty. Having fought for your earldom since your father's death, you...
As you approach the Great Hall's entrance, you hear the brothers arguing amongst themselves. You are the last to join and the only female Earl present. Albeit slightly late, you approach the large table covered in maps, small wooden markers, and flags representing different Earldoms, with no amount of haste. With this, you command the rooms attention. The Kings, Earls and brothers turn to look at you. You also notice King Harald Finehair standing alongside his brother Halfdan. They smile in your direction. You had fought alongside them before. They were truly great warriors and they respected you in the same way.
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"Earl Sigrid...how nice of you to join us...at last." you hear a coarse voice speak.
You scan the room and find Ivar sitting near the head of the table alongside his brothers, staring at you with a sacrastic expression plastered on his face. You can hear Frigg grunt in annoyance a few paces behind you and Siv lets out a small chuckle.
"My apologies Princes." you nod in the direction of the Sons of Ragnar, ignoring Ivar as your gaze wanders across the other four brothers.
"Please...Earl Sigrid" Björn gestures for you to stand closer to the head of the table with him and his brothers to grant a better view of the plans spread across the oak table.
You follow and stand in between Hvitserk and Sigurd. Ubbe and Ivar are sat directly opposite and Björn stands at the table's edge commanding attention from the leaders as he continues to speak of his plans.
After a significant amount of time standing at the table you grow bored. Not because you find the topic of discussion to be tiresome, but because of the lack of creativity brought to the table by the brothers and other leaders. You had stayed silent through much of the conversation, agreeing and nodding your head as Björn, Hvitserk, Sigurd, and Ubbe have looked to you occasionally for recognition. But you decide to interrupt.
"May I speak?" you question, leaning forward and placing your hands on the table in front of you.
"Of course." Ubbe nods.
"Is there a reason for the attack to be held so close to the gates of the Northumbrian stronghold?" you circle the area in question with you finger as you speak out.
"We do not want them to be able to have access to the lands around the castle, for they know it far better than we can ever hope to" Ubbe responds.
"We do not want to be outflanked" Hvitserk adds.
"Naturally...but have we considered positioning our army behind a gradual slope in the land...here and meeting their army in the open marsh land...here, not far from the stronghold?" you point again to the map. "They will not be able to see the scale of our army before it is too late for them to retreat. Let us not forget that once the battle in Northumbria is won and King Ælle dealt with. We must move to Wessex, the larger our army the greater our chances of victory." you look around the table at the individuals now captivated by your speech. King Harald and Halfan look to each other as if they expected you to show the Sons of Ragnar up.
