As soon as he landed, he encountered an adventure. Rurik could understand that the people of Melalen regarded the tall and burly Arik as the "real Rurik", because this was worthy of belief.
But as a real Rurik, being treated as a girl is really ridiculous.
“Am I being treated as a girl again? Damn it, is it just that I like to wash my face with soap, take care of my hair, and pay attention to hygiene, that counts as a girl? I don’t believe that there are girls in this era. Pay attention to hygiene."
Rurik didn't know whether he should reveal his identity immediately, and he also intended to continue to see his cousin's reaction on the spot and the actions of the Melalen messenger.
It is understandable that Rurik and Carlotta are misunderstood. Carlotta is a real girl, but her noble status and responsibilities force her to become a female warrior before becoming the independent leader of Ostara.
She is dressed very similarly to Rurik, and has a short sword hanging from her waist. It is entirely because Rurik prefers simple ponytails. Now the Carlotta sisters mainly use the simple technique to tie themselves into golden ponytails. The only difference here from Rurik is that their headbands are made of colored glass beads, while Rurik is just a simple hemp rope.
Gould saw the clues and cursed the courier's stupidity in his heart. Then he took over from Aric, who was laughing wildly, and it was obvious that he was deliberately mocking the people of Melalen, and explained to the courier: " Anyway, we are already here! What the leader needs to see most now is Rurik, who is destined to inherit the position of leader of Rus. He has brought specialties from Rus to the leader and his sincerity in purchasing a large amount of food."
Gould understands the ways of the world best. His fat figure and meatball-like head make it impossible for the private soldiers who are always on guard to really be wary of him.
Gould stretched out his big chubby hand and took the initiative to cover the courier's right hand. A strange cool feeling came over his palm. The courier suddenly lowered his head and saw the gap between the two shaking hands. The corner of a gold coin.
The messenger immediately changed his mind: "Oh, it would be an unexpected surprise if the daughter of the leader of Ross also came to meet me. My master would be very satisfied. I hope that Melalen will be strong under the rule of our great leader. , I can also surprise you."
Aric's laughter finally stopped. Not only was Rurik not angry at his cousin's attempt to impersonate him, he even got some information unexpectedly.
I am afraid that what the messenger said at the beginning was not a lie. The leader of the alliance, Olegin, was very resistant to women appearing at the meeting.
"It seems that Gould was right. It is already very difficult for him to recognize Carlotta as the female leader of the Ostara tribe." Rurik was a little worried. After all, he landed ashore. Among the more than ten people, Carlotta was the only woman, or rather a girl.
Her landing was certainly not just for fun. Rurik added another purpose during this trip, which was to force Olegin to recognize Carlotta's status.
If that person doesn’tWhat to do if you admit it?
What else can be done? Business goes on as usual, and the foreigners don't admit it, at least I will always admit it. This is not just due to politics and alliance morality, but because Carlotta is already a family member.
Set foot on the Melalen Market again and walk on the familiar road. Rurik was not as strange as the messenger hoped.
Yes, until now, the messengers still thought that Arik was the real Rurik.
They hope that guests can be amazed by the prosperity of the market, but Kawei already knows the market quite well, so how can he be surprised again? Since this trip was to see the leader of the alliance, he had always harbored disdain and disdain in his heart.
The messenger tried his best to introduce the market, but all he received were perfunctory responses from the Russian people. As for Gould, who was accompanying him, he glanced at the stalls a few times, and with the instinct of a businessman, he realized that those goods were profitable.
"Could it be that the markets of the Russians are also very prosperous? Yes, they can spend a lot of silver coins to buy wheat, and their clothes are rich and gorgeous..." The messenger chose to shut up, and he felt more and more like he was showing off. So embarrassing.
Rurik and Arik had no intention of paying attention to what the market vendors were selling. Since they knew the path to the leader's mansion, they didn't actually need any guide.
They continued to push the messenger forward, and their deftness was surprising, but did not arouse suspicion.
After a while, a tall and thick wooden wall appeared in front of the Rurik brothers for the second time.
"Everyone, please wait here with your gifts."
After the messenger finished speaking, he led the two of them into the door held by private soldiers to inform the guests of their appointment. fact.
After a while, the messenger put on a serious face and conveyed the master's will: "Russians, the great leader allows you to enter this sacred realm. Now, come in with your gifts. "After speaking, he turned around again and walked towards the wooden wall without knowing what he was doing.
Aric looked at the man's back with disdain and muttered secretly: "It's just a dog. Can a dog that is the leader of the alliance be nobled by us?"
Rurik gently said He took his cousin's hand and signaled in a low voice: "We will see him later and we need to identify ourselves. If you have to, don't speak."
Aric bared his teeth and said, "Are you afraid that I will cut him off?" His head? I’m not stupid. ”
What is the leader’s home like?
The building wrapped in wooden walls finally lost its mystery, but Rurik had no idea about it. According to Gould's error, although Olegin had the noble status of leader of the alliance, the location of his residence was far inferior to the new residence of the leader of Rus.
Originally Rurik felt that Gould was flattering when he said this, but now looking at the so-called mansion of the alliance leader, why does it feel like a "doghouse"?
Anyway, it was an almost purely wooden building. Rurik could see at a glance that even if he was the leader of a dignified tribal alliance, his sleeping place would still be covered with leather on the sand. I'm afraid theyBefore knowing the concept of "bed", I would not have thought of how stupid it is to sleep on the ground all year round.
A large wooden house with a sharp angle and a gabled roof made of wooden planks and tiles looks like what the leader calls the meeting hall.
Rurik couldn't help but raise his head and look at the top of the roof. He was a little surprised. The overall height of the house was not as high as the wooden wall. Is he really so full that he built a steeple? Rurik kind of hoped that a mast would be erected on the top of it and a small flag symbolizing the power of the ally would be hung.
On the contrary, there are some cloths hanging under the eaves, with some complicated patterns sewn on them. They are consistent with the patterns of some small flags hanging on the streets of the market. They must be the totems of the leader's family, or the entire family. The symbol of the Malaren people.
Rurik knows one thing, that is, the entire tribal alliance does not have a flag representing the alliance.
Based on the information I have obtained so far and my analysis, the so-called alliance is really just a group of leaders of several tribes living near the Svealan Plain. They gather together to elect a "boss" and make a verbal agreement. A pledge of non-aggression, that's basically what the alliance is. The alliance is not an imaginary community that exists objectively, but an alliance between leaders.
Regarding the previous incident, Rurik deliberately expelled the Uppsala children through the Melalen people, and even refused to save the Ostara people who fled last year. He came to the simple conclusion Conclusion - Ordinary people in Mellaren are not very interested in the Alliance.
While Rurik was looking around, the messenger continued to signal to Arik: "I will go and make a final report to the leader of the alliance. All of you, just stand here and don't move around. Remember, Don't move!"
As if being threatened, Arik was very unhappy. From the corner of his eyes, he looked at the private soldiers wearing leather armor who were obviously deliberately arranged, and the murderous intention in his heart never let go.
After a while, the stern-faced messenger came back.
Arik also put on a bad face: "Did the leader say something?"
"The leader allows you to have an audience, and together with..." the messenger looked again Look at the two short "girls", "The leader said that since they are the two beautiful daughters of leader Ross, he is willing to meet them."
Daughters? Rurik wished he could grow a beard that could be braided right now, criticizing the messenger's blindness in a baritone voice.
After thinking for a while, he still remained calm.
The messenger also put forward extremely critical conditions for the audience: "Three of you can meet the leader, and the rest are not worthy. Also, you must remove your swords. The leader only allows you to wear a knife for cutting barbecue." Knife."
Gould was shocked and hurriedly asked: "What? Olegin doesn't even want to see me?"
The messenger said sharply: "Businessman, pay attention to you." This is a meeting only for the tribe, and you have no right to participate."
Gould was speechless. As long as he was forced to stay outdoors, he knew that he could not do it when something happened. When peace is old, one can only hope that the unruly OleDon't cause any trouble
"You! Is he trying to humiliate us?!" Arik scolded sharply, and coincidentally he saw the look of Rurik's envoy from the corner of his eye, and even Gould eyes.
The messenger didn’t want to go into details: These are the rules for meeting the leader of the alliance. Entry is prohibited unless the weapon is removed.
At this moment, Arik completely regarded the leader as a coward.
Rurik felt that the alliance leader's approach was very correct. If there was really a leader who coveted power, he could draw a sharp blade to assassinate him during the meeting. The leader of the alliance refused to allow big businessmen to participate in inter-tribal discussions, but Rurik admired him for being a bit forward-thinking.
Aric reluctantly removed his swords and handed them over to the trustworthy Jevro who had to stay outdoors, as did Rurik and Carlotta.
At the same time, the alliance leader Olegin and his only son Karl also put on their most gorgeous clothes and sat cross-legged in the slightly dim camp full of oil lamps. On the leather mat, waiting for the Russians to come to see him. Even though it was not Otto who came, it was still a meeting that broke the deadlock!
Olegin is looking forward to reaching a planned and very critical deal with the visiting legendary Rurik in a very short period of time. It is best to bring it with his own power. With his strong prestige, before delivering the wheat to them, he first got the huge sum of 50,000 silver coins.
"Okay, Russians, please go in." After saying that, the messenger stood at the door of the chamber without moving a step.
Arik looked at this person, and then at the deep house. Standing at the door, he could vaguely see that there was a large space inside, but he could not see where the leader of the alliance was.
He walked boldly into it, followed closely by Rurik and Carlotta.
Aric deliberately held his head high and kicked his chest when walking, in order to make a noise and scare the other party.
Finally, two figures appeared under the dim oil lamp. They were also wearing furry clothes. A closer look revealed that they must be expensive ferret fur coats and hats.
There are only two people sitting in the huge meeting hall. One of them must be the leader himself, right? Rurik firmly believed in his conjecture. As for the other seemingly tall man, he must be a powerful figure in the Melalen tribe who does not show his face easily.
Rurik no longer needed to hide behind his cousin. He pulled the timid Carlotta and forced the girl to hold her head up bravely. As a leader, he must have the aura of a leader.
"Remember, you are a leader, and I am also a leader. Although Olegin is the leader of the alliance, you are as noble as him."
Rurik encouraged Carlotta in a low voice, This is also said to myself.
Rurik’s original intention was to maintain an indispensable courtesy when facing the alliance leader, but his cousin despised the arrogant leader from the bottom of his heart.
"You? Are you Rurik?" It was obvious that the man was very angry, and his domineering spirit was about to overflow. Olekin raised his chest and spoke in a low voice. Conscious sense of oppressionStrong words: "Kneel down now and salute your leader!"
But Arik was indifferent. Instead, he had a cold face, his eyes were like sharp knives, and he was filled with contempt. He stared at Olegin's face with a threatening look.
The distance is already very close. Even if the person wears a hat, Arik can still recognize him.
At this moment, the whole scene fell into an awkward silence.
Olegin could not imagine that all the leaders he had met had bowed their heads because of the strong power of his Melalen tribe. Why did a stupid young man from Ross come here, and this guy was just pretending to be here? stupid? Do you want to discuss business with this kind of person?
A bolder guy suddenly stood up!
Olegin’s only son Karl stood up. He was ten years older than Arik. According to the inherent tradition of this region, strictly speaking, the two of them were basically one generation apart. He was similar in height and build to Arik. Seeing that his beard was not long enough, and recalling the legend about "Rurik", he stretched out his right arm very rudely and pointed at Arik's nose arrogantly: "To you The leader of the alliance salutes! Rurik! This is a must for you Russians!”
Arik turned his head and glared at Karl, his eyes wide and scary: “Who are you? ? Dare you talk to me like this? You know, those who dare to point their fingers at me will not only have their heads chopped off by me, but their skulls will also be used as drinking bowls. Do you think you are powerful?"
"You!" Karl was so angry that he unconsciously took two steps back due to the murderous look in his eyes. When he reacted, he realized that he had shamefully shown his timidity.
For thirty-one years, Karl, who had a high self-esteem, marveled at how timid he could be. How could he swallow this bad breath when he was sad and angry? Never mind "Rurik of Rus"! Karl just wanted to stab this damn guy with a sword, but he was also asked by his father to remove the weapon he was carrying.
"Damn it, I have never shown cowardice, why today... I want to kill you." The remorseful Karl was so angry that he really didn't know what to say. He could only suppress his thoughts in his heart. Revenge must be avenged, but not now.