Flanders, Calais Port

After finalizing their new plan, Eric and Robert set out the next day.

They were leading cavalry, and not a large number at that, so their pace was quite fast. It took them just over two days to reach Calais Port.

They would soon set sail from here, heading to Kattevad Port with the Flanders fleet.

Eric was standing by the harbor. The sea wind was fierce, making his ears ring, and carried an especially heavy, fishy smell.

"The gods have blessed us. Our timing is perfect. The wind is about to shift to the southeast."

Leif walked toward Eric from the shore, wiping his wet hands on his chest before pulling a nautical chart from his pocket.

It was the one Eric had given him.

Leif had a keen sense for the sea winds; he had successfully sailed from Greenland to Norway with just a single longship.

Hessin was now learning from him. After all, the young man had only sailed twice, but he was indeed an excellent Shipwright.

"This is a natural harbor. If we set sail from here, we can use the southeast wind to reach Kattevad in three—no, maybe two days."

Leif said.

Just then, another voice came from behind him. It was Hessin.

"Priest, I’ve finished checking our Dragon Ship. The hull is in perfect condition. I also made a few small modifications—I added a deck and enlarged the sail.

Once we set sail and the southeast wind picks up, our speed will leave them far behind. Even if we hit a storm, the hull will hold up for a long time.

If the English fleet attacks, we can make them eat our wake. And the Guard has been teaching me how to use an axe recently. Maybe I’ll get to chop down a lot of Normans."

Hessin gripped his axe with both hands and swung it around a few times, looking very excited.

"’The Guard’?"

Eric had picked up on the unfamiliar term.

"That’s Master Leif. He used to be the King of Norway’s Guard. He’s incredible! A few days ago, when the Warband guys were bored and chatting at night, someone recognized him. Now everyone calls him that."

Eric looked at Leif, who was standing beside him silently studying the nautical chart, his expression unchanging, as if Hessin wasn’t talking about him at all.

As usual, he spoke after about a minute.

"The new King of Norway only likes to hear himself talk, so I left Norway. Then again, what king doesn’t these days? Anyway, that’s my story. Nothing interesting about it. You, on the other hand... when are you planning on taking off that robe?"

With that, Leif grabbed Hessin and dragged him away, saying he wanted to have him practice his recent lessons before they set sail.

A few minutes later, Eric heard Hessin’s pained shouts from his diligent training.

Not long after the farce ended, a long horn blast echoed from the port. As the horn sounded, people began to board the ships one after another.

Eric boarded a ship as well—the Dragon Ship he had swiped from the Vikings.

After all, this ship had been baptized by storm, and he trusted it more.

A short while later, Robert appeared. But instead of heading for his own fleet, he walked straight toward Eric’s ship and stepped onto the Dragon Ship.

"Aren’t you going to lead your fleet?"

"What reason does a Norman have to refuse a ship like this? Besides, I don’t know much about sailing. I’ll just let Arno take command."

Robert immediately lay down, a comfortable expression spreading across his face.

Then he sat up again and clapped Eric on the shoulder.

"Besides, I grew up on stories of my ancestor, Rollo the ’Walker.’ I absolutely loved his ship when I was a kid, but sadly, it’s too old to sail now. I’ve always wanted to buy a Viking Longship, but I could never find one that suited my taste.

I feel like the design of this one is just right. A friend once promised to give me one, but that was a long time ago. We’re not in touch anymore. It’s a real shame. I should have set out with you back then; we could have swiped a whole bunch of them."

Robert said enthusiastically.

"Forget it. That was no pleasant affair. By the way, didn’t you say your mother was coming to see you off? How come I don’t see her?"

"Huh? How could that be?"

Robert looked a little surprised, but then he seemed to remember something.

"Oh, I think I get it. My mother said that when she was making her rounds earlier, she saw a Priest standing there, completely still. When she walked up to him, he looked down his nose at her. She said it was incredibly disrespectful, and she was furious. She told me to find out who he was.

That wasn’t you, was it?" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"How could it be? I don’t remember anyone..."

Before Eric could finish, Robert suddenly shot to his feet and waved toward the shore.

"Mother, wait for my return!"

Eric quickly stood up as well, but though he looked all around, he couldn’t see any sign of Her Majesty the Queen.

All he saw was what looked like a small child in the distance.

’Whose kid is that?’

Even by the time Robert sat back down, Eric still hadn’t spotted her.

Eric could only sit back down resentfully.

Then the horn blew again. All the ships at sea raised their sails and began their voyage.

The ship hadn’t been far from shore for long when a chattering sound came from the other end of the vessel.

"Let me tell you, those villagers were nasty. I was riding my horse just fine, and then suddenly I fell to the ground! What did I do wrong? It was a blatant sneak attack..."

"I went to Iberia when I was young, and I even saw the Heretics there. They have three hands and four eyes! They don’t eat bread, they only gnaw on wood..."

"I, Robert Belem, am a true warrior! I’m the martial champion of Bayeux! Don’t look at my height—a two-hundred-kilogram strongman from Brittany couldn’t even bend one of my fingers..."

"..."

However, this chattering didn’t come from a group of people, but from a single person.

The man babbled on endlessly, leaving those around him completely dumbfounded.

"Belem?"

"Brother Eric, long time no see!"

Belem acted as if he had just noticed Eric, grabbing his hand with a look of surprise.

A perfect picture of a long-awaited reunion.

If not for the large crowd around them, you’d think he was about to burst into tears.

"What are you doing here?"

"I don’t know! I’m trying to figure that out myself," Belem said, grabbing his hair with an innocent look on his face.