Chapter 634 Surrender

The huge sled team ran wildly on the ice, and Rurik was also amazed by the hugeness of this hill lake.

Although it is April, the breath of spring seems to have no chance here. The ice layer of Lake Torna is still very thick, the lakeside is also covered with thick white snow, and there are white rime everywhere.

Of course everyone hopes to find a way out of the mountains on the day they arrive at the lake, but the lake is too long.

It took them almost a day to find another frozen stream, but just under the ice, the stream was trickling.

People were forced to camp in the pine forest to rest, and the excitement during the day had been consumed too much by the ice and snow. They had no regrets, because the direct path to Balmok was right in front of them.

At night, the clear air seemed to be dazzled by the brilliance of stars, and green lasers of elusive shapes flashed frequently and changed rapidly.

The Balmok people have long been tired of seeing such a magnificent scenery. They naturally describe it as a parade of Valkyries, which is probably nothing more than that.

Looking at the Russians, because of the "ascension" of the old priest Vilia to the Valkyrie, people are increasingly looking forward to seeing the magnificent aurora, because it is a memory of the noble deceased, and even the entire past time.

On a new day, the sun shines on this white world, and the golden light forces everyone to put on their sunglasses.

Rurik stood on his house sled, raised his right arm and roared: "The last journey is now, let's keep going!"

His roar was almost blocked by The wind covered up the noise, and everyone immediately cheered up when they saw their leader being so excited.

Compared with climbing up the mountain, going down the mountain is fast and convenient, especially during this period of thick snow.

The reindeer herds were driven by whips, and the sleigh team moved forward quickly. On the downhill slope, numerous sled tracks converged to form a compacted ice road.

At first, the Balmok loggers who noticed the abnormal noise paused their work vigilantly. When the bearded guy and his young son carrying a rattan basket noticed the oncoming team It's too late.

They ran away instinctively, and suddenly they heard a thick male voice calling: "Don't be afraid, we are also Balmoks!"

The roar was from Rurik. The Balmok mercenary stopped this misunderstanding with a roar.

The logging father and son were surprised. They saw a flag hanging on a large sled carrying a shack. It was clearly the flag of the Russians.

The father and son were still in shock when Rurik walked out holding Nolen's hand.

Nolen, she gently took off her warm white velvet hat with a smile on her face.

The Balmok tribe has a large population. In addition to recognizing the faces of some family leaders, Nolen is naturally face-blind to ordinary people.

However, the biological father who was promoted to king has already made himself a countess, and the father and son in front of him are his subjects.

Nolan took a deep breath, raised his delicate chin and said proudly: "Ordinary people! I! Noren Magnodot is your new leader! Now, I'm back in Balmok. ”

It’s Nolen! Magnute’s beautiful little daughter!

This is the first time that the logging father and son saw the old leader Magnute’s baby daughter so close. , many people originally thought it was arrogant to name their daughter after a goddess, but now they see the strange person's true appearance, which is exactly like the image of the goddess in everyone's mind.

Norun's clothes are white, like the color of pure snow. The golden hair and fair face exuded peace, and the glass and amber pendants on the clothes showed what nobility is.

The scene was a bit weird after all. Nolen took another deep breath and imitated her. He looked like a father reaching out and commanding: "Ordinary people, give me a warrior salute! "

No, Rurik saw the logging father and son put their axes on the ground and knelt down on one knee in a warrior salute.

"Here it is. So far. Rurik clapped his hands vigorously: "I am Rurik!" Rurik, Duke of Rus, I came as promised last year, although it was a little late. ”

With such words, the somewhat confused woodcutter father and his son all woke up.

The old guy with a big beard had a happy face, and compared to Nuo Nuo Lun was the leader, and everyone who decided to stay preferred to be ruled by Rurik of Rus

“It turned out to be Lord Rurik. Wow! What a strong team. ”

The man’s bold culture intrigued Rurik, and he asked: “It must be not far to where you live?” "

"After passing this forest, you will see everything. "said the woodcutter.

"Okay. "Rurik threw a silver coin casually, waved his hand, and ordered the following teams to move on.

This pine forest is not large in size. After everyone left the forest, the whole world suddenly became clear.

p>

Rurik saw the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean. It was wonderful to see the ocean from this higher altitude. And under the hills was the huge Narvik Bay, with large and small canyons as far as the eye could see. There are also various houses in the bay. If you ask yourself, the Balmok people's hometown does have more room for development than the fjord of Roseburg. For example, many of the flat lands near the coast are actually good places for grazing.

Unfortunately, the sea is obviously swollen, but the coast is still covered with ice and snow.

The North Atlantic Warm Current is well-deserved, but it is just that it is in the Little Ice Age, and it cannot keep the whole of April. The Bay of Narvik is thawing.

It is for this reason that Rurik is not worried about returning to Ironburg at the earliest in mid-May. After all, even if the sea thaws, the sea will be full of floating water. Ice, and land, especially the vast land in the north, will have to wait until the summer solstice for the ice and snow to completely melt.

This is because the new settlements of the Russians such as Ironburg and Fiskburg are completely frozen. In the sense of being in the Arctic Circle

Theoretically, this is true, but Rurik does not dare to delay in Balmok.between.

The arrival of the Ross sled team was unexpected by the Balmok people, but when they arrived successfully, the people who stayed behind were mobilized on the spot. The good news spread quickly, and a large number of people rowed boats and rushed to the gathering place of the sled team.

It was almost evening. Because the Ross sled team was too obvious, many people in Balmok had already noticed this situation and were already gathering spontaneously.

Nolen got off the sled lightly and stepped on the thick snow-covered land of his hometown again.

The assembly point was deliberately chosen by Rurik near the old leader’s mansion. From now on, the ownership rights of Magnute’s old mansion will be officially transferred to Nolen.

Thousands of Balmoks gathered with smiles and chattered around Rurik. They seemed to have ten thousand words that they couldn't finish.

When a group of short black-haired Tavastian women got off the sleigh one after another, the people's surprise instantly turned into murmurs.

Everyone soon realized that this was the so-called trophy, and it was the woman who was to be returned to the Balmok people.

Rurik’s mercenaries banged their shields for a while before the noisy crowd gradually quieted down.

He stood on a high place, shouted at the top of his lungs, and announced his major decision very straightforwardly and simply.

"I am Rurik of Rus! I am the husband of Countess Nolen of Balmok! I am the supporter you can rely on! Now I declare that the Principality of Rus has the right to manage the entire Narvik In the fjord, all the Balmoks who are unwilling to leave must respect the rule of me and Nolen!"

A few very key messages were announced by Rurik almost at the top of his throat. In fact, these were The people of Balmok were not only mentally prepared for the matter, but also discussed it in the past six months.

Originally Rurik was worried that someone would jump out to object, but he found that people were just whispering to each other, trying to figure out the situation as if there was no objection at all.

At that moment, a middle-aged man came out.

"It's you, Chief Bryngod!" Nolen asked with a hint of excitement and surprise, "Looking at your face, do you plan to stay here?"

"You You guessed it. Nolen, I knew about you last year." The middle-aged man named Bryn Goethe glanced at Nolen and said a few words, then turned his whole face to Rurik: "Ross. Lord Duke, I solemnly declare on behalf of my family that I will not leave. I support your rule, but I insist on this girl Nolen being our leader unless you and her can give birth to a boy. This boy will be recognized by everyone. ”

Rurik’s expectation that this person could say this was completely within his expectations.

Speaking of this Bryn Goethe, Rurik used his brain and he did remember that this family sent troops to participate in the expedition to Britain last year.

"I remember a warrior named Bjorn Bringoldson. I believe that is your son." Rurik pointed casually and asked.

"That's my second son, but he can't inherit the family business. I don't think this fjord is a bad place. My second son wants to go on an expedition. He and the people who are determined to immigrate are already in Britain, and I I will take the remaining members of my family to recognize your rule."

Things went much smoother than I thought! Rurik is very happy that what he preached to them last year was really the most correct measure.

It was already evening, and the sunset should have made people lazy, but what Rurik saw was everyone's enthusiasm.

Rurik continued: "If you are loyal to me, then you should know that the result of loyalty is that you will become a member of the Rus. You will also be forever separated from the Balmoks. The Kingdom of York established by Britain."

The old Bryn Goethe looked indifferent and said bluntly: "There are many people like me."

After a while, there were a few more. Famous old soldiers with beards stood up. They reported that their families were actually some large local families with a prosperous population.

After all, everyone has his own ambitions, and the Narvik Fjord is not really useless because of its rich fishery resources. These people who stayed behind were not really afraid of the unexpected world in the fjord and refused to leave. They were more likely to dislike Britain, or they simply had an inconvenient and direct objection to old Magnute holding the position of leader. Opinion.

Rurik, Duke of Rus, was young, brave, brave, and always victorious. Such a promising hero was most sought after by everyone.

No one was really obsessed with the concept of "Balmok". The old guys who stood up represented their own families and knelt down on one knee in public to salute Rurik as a warrior.

The radical people also announced: "A winter of thinking is over. Now my family has figured it out. Please treat us as Rus people in the future. We only recognize Rick as our leader." ”

Because the Balmoks are not a nation at all. Going back to their roots, the ancestors of Rus and Balmoks all immigrated to Scandinavia from Jutland at the same time. Ya, the separation time between the two parties was not long, so that the language is the same.

Rurik got off the sled excitedly and personally helped the group of old guys who expressed their surrender.

As a new arrival, he never expected that he had just arrived at the core settlement of the Balmok people and received support as soon as he got off the sled.

Such a favorable situation is at hand. No matter what their purpose is in announcing to join Ross, they are indeed asking to join. As the Duke of Ross, naturally they cannot break the hearts of these admirers.

Although things were developing too fast, Rurik could not care about his own rest. He met all the dignitaries who stayed behind in the leader's chamber as the supreme leader of Balmok. Once again reiterate Rose's attitude, and even follow-up arrangements and so on.

This is no longer a public announcement at dusk, but for the left-behind elites, Rurik held a meeting related to the future of the entire fjord left-behind people.discussion.

At the beginning, the meeting was lively and lively, with all the participants declaring their determination to join Rus and their loyalty to Lord Rurik.

After some polite words, Rurik also listed the goods he had brought in front of everyone. He was so surprised that he poked his head when he smelled them, looking greedy as he wanted to steal the goods.

"They are all yours. Now I would like to know, it seems that Magnute's fleet has not arrived yet. Who among you can know when they will arrive?"

That Bryn Goethe said bluntly: "Perhaps only God knows when they will arrive. My lord, the women you sent are destined to be transported to Britain. We cannot get them, but the young people we are determined to stay behind also want to get their wives. You said last year Yes, even if I work as a mercenary for you, I will have a chance to get a wife. You...will keep your promise."

Rurik was stunned for a moment, thinking about the direct words of these guys, asking for a woman. There's nothing subtle about it.

He ignored Nolen's presence and said with an old man's face, "Of course! It is my responsibility to arrange wives for my brothers who are loyal to me."

"Really? It's better to be serious and tell I, Bryn Goethe, how many men can your family provide, whether they are married or not, including young men who can take up arms?"

"This..." Bryn Goethe. Instinctively, he pinched his fingers and said, "There are at least twenty people. There are also some other people who are willing to stand up in the name of my family."

Rurik's silly smile has turned into He is serious and his face changes so quickly that it is unpredictable. "Are there fifty people?"

"Probably there are."

"So, what do you think if I let most of them go to Ross?"

"If they are all mercenaries for you, I have no idea. I am an old father, and old fathers cannot restrain their ambitious sons. For example... I heard that the old Duke of Ross has already I bravely transferred my power to you. You are indeed a hero."

Rurik shook his head, then stood up and paced in front of everyone: "I don't want to listen to flattery anymore, and neither do I. Say nothing else. To tell you the truth, I will attack the enemies in the far east in the summer. I am afraid they are dangerous enemies. If I defeat them, I will receive great honors and rich spoils. My visit this time is not just with Nolen. Declare yourself as your ruler together! As a ruler, I will naturally bring you wealth together. You are all noble people. Please tell me, how many men can you give?"

They looked at each other. , couldn't help but start discussing in a low voice, entirely because this question was so sudden and even abrupt.

Rurik deliberately waited for a while and clapped his hands again: "It's not difficult to organize five hundred warriors, right? It would be great if you could organize a thousand people!"

"Please let us think about it." Bryn Goethe said cautiously.

Rurik waved his hand: "I will give you time. I know that some of you are going to Britain, and you will have to evacuate soon. These Tavastian women are left to you. They It belongs to you. As for me, my men and I will camp and rest here. I hope I can see an assembled team tomorrow."