Assassin's Creed Valhalla - 30: The tale of Thegn Oswald - Kingmaker

I awoke in the morning and met with Reda, his little birds were around the different little towns and he impressed me with how connected he was, how all the little ones had the contracts and opal at hand yet were left unharmed. I wanted to ask more and when he gave me a fine, heavy shield, he gave me a look that invited conversation but at a later date that made me hold my tongue. The attack was still fresh on the minds of the villagers. Those from Clan Raven were no strangers to such a life, but our newcomers were shaken. Luckily Holger and Alvis helped ease their worries, and seeing the raiders vigilantly patrol the area bought some measuer of ease. I headed to the map room and found Randvi and Ceolbert poring through our options. With Soma's Summer Army and the Ragnarssons by our side, the other regions have taken notice and more alliances opened up. We would have to deal with the attackers last night, and our scouts reported to us about East Anglia. Halfdan Ragnnarson had tasked a steward, Finnr in crowning a Saxon king to unite Danes and Saxons under a banner. A noble approach that mirrored what Ubba was trying with Mercia. There was a Dane invader named Rued who was the one who sent the attackers to our shore. Ridding the land of Rued's clan would put a definitive end to any raids on Ravensthorpe, and perhaps gain us a new ally. I set out to Northwic to find Finnr. The town was peaceable, with Danes and Saxons living side by side. Tensions were obvious, with the Saxons blaming the Danes for the attack, and the Danes who were victims as well finding little to no support at their new home. I suspect the constant attacks from Rued's men kept everyone tentative, and stopped them from biting out each others' throats. I had a flyting battle with Chadwick the gossip who had heard rumours disparaging my name. I beat him soundly and he was wise to change his tune. My mood soured when I thought that Dag was the one behind it, but I stayed the course. After taking on some locals for a drinking competition to set my reputation in stone, I found Finnr drunk and asleep in the longhouse. The throne was riddled with arrows and the steward of East Anglia was a sorry sight. The throne was riddled with arrows, and the bloodstains were untouched, as Saxons gathered around it as if it were a holy site. It was chaos in the longhouse and Finnr was fine with it. I had second thoughts about an alliance, but I had travelled far. I told him of my intentions and about Rued's clan. Halfdan wanted to unite Saxons and Danes through marriage. The next king in line was a softspoken man named Oswald. He was riding to Elmenham to petition for peace and help, and I would be able to catch him. That was as much as Finnr would do for me that day and he went back to sleep, telling me he'd catch up with us later. Leaving the lout alone, I went back to the throne, what was so special about those arrows? I plucked a few only to be stopped by a devout Saxon. She wanted the arrows, and I sold what I had in my quiver for a decent amount of silver. A steward that hardly knows what time it is, and a people with more silver than sense, and squabbles between Saxons and Danes left uncontrolled by an ineffectual king. My stomach sank as I sought out Oswald. I found him mediating a heated argument between Saxons and Danes about the attacks. Small of stature, meek of voice, though his message rang clear, he disarmed the situation and resolved it without bloodshed. Commendable. Introducing myself, we rode together as we spoke. His bride-to-be was a Danish woman named Valdis, and Oswald hadn't been approved in the eyes of her brothers. Our conversation was cut short when we saw signs of a recent battle by Beteleah's farm. Rued's men were behind this. I told Oswald to stand behind and I gutted every single one of them. I showed them as much mercy as they showed the farmers. I went back to Oswald to let him know the way was clear. Seeing me at work, he invited me to dinner, hoping that my presence could sway the minds of her betrothed and her brothers to bless their union. He would need their strength and numbers in arms to rid the land of Rued. This would be the second time I'd be helping a king, hoping he'd stay true to his word for an alliance, and this time with Oswald it would be a lot more tricky. I followed him to Elmenham, if nothing else, at least the food at dinner would prove to be pleasant.