Chapter 268: Confrontation in the Strait of Oresund
Chapter 268: Confrontation in the Strait of Oresund
In the Oresund Strait, a group of over 400 Drakkars and assorted ships were gathered.
All of them belonged to the many kingdoms and tribes that joined the call of the survivors who attacked the strange fleet.
Although Queen Malene wanted to take part, most of her army had been ordered to burn and sack the capital of the empire with Sigurd Ring as the leader of the expedition.
An ambitious man who gained the trust of the queen after the departure of Anders, so she only supported with militias in fishing and merchandise boats.
Although they might seem like many ships, they were only those that remained in all the tribes and kingdoms, since most of their warriors and ships were raiding the coasts and towns of the Franco empire.
When Oleg’s ship arrived near the Oresund Strait, a bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he saw the number of ships.
Gauiter, who was next to him, took out the crucifix from his neck and gave him a kiss “Today will be a beautiful day if we can survive. You think there are more ships waiting for us.”
Oleg shook his head as he pointed to the small fishing boats “If they are using fishing boats it is because they have no more boats to attack.
We have to aim the ballistas and Greek fire at the Drakkars as they are the most dangerous ships.
Also, under no circumstances do we have to stop. For our fortune, it seems that they did not gather enough warriors.
This could be because they are attacking the Frank empire or they did not arrive in time for battle.
Whatever the case, it is better this way, since I thought that we would have to face a real sea of ships.
It will be difficult to get out of this situation alive, but it will not be impossible for the crew to prepare with shields to protect the ballista operators.
I also need crew members ready to reload the Greek fire barrels, as I am sure we will use all the Greek fire we have.
Gautier, if I die in this battle, you must know that I want my body to be burned. It is a way to honor my memory.
To be buried I do not consider worthy if I had to die in this battle. “
Gautier looked at Oleg with a smile “Since you wish we will do it that way if you die, but you have to get us out of this place alive.
The last thing I want is to die in these lands, abandoned by the hands of God and any sign of civilization. “
One monk who was looking at everything wrote on a papyrus a chronicle of the events in order to keep the record of the trip.
Although he did not have that responsibility, he wanted to do it that way because he considered people should know what is in the northern land of the pagans.
When the main ship got close enough, all the enemy ships started charging at the 20 ships.
To do this, they first let the fishing and cargo boats that had archers and some militiamen with javelins approach.
All the crew who were in charge of the ballistas waited for them to get close enough to shoot their stones at the pagans.
On the other hand, the archers of the boat shot their arrows to try to kill as many enemies as possible.
When the first arrow was fired and it fell on the head of a militiaman who only had a leather cap protecting his head.
The greatest naval battle in Viking history began.
The stones came out of the ballistas, destroying the small boats that got too close, while the arrows flew from one side to the other.
Causing the cloud-darkened sky to turn darker.
Oleg, who was holding the Greek fire launcher, started firing the flammable substance when the Viking ships got close enough.
The fire then burned the boats and the militiamen who fell into the water to die while they burned without being able to do anything.
All the crew of the Drakkars when they saw how the dragon on the prow of that ship launched its fire, so they shouted with pride.
They did this to feel safe, as they would go hunting for the dragon in order to prove his worth.
The other ships when they saw how the horde of Viking Drakkars began to approach increased the rate of fire of the ballistas.
The stones kept destroying small boats or killing militiamen or Vikings who were unlucky enough to be nearby.
The missionary Demetrius, who was watching the carnage at sea, did his best to get closer to one ballista so that he could better describe the scene.
‘The fire in the water would not stop burning, and the charred or dismembered corpses floated in the black and red water.
Occasionally a surviving Viking or militiaman floated in the water for a few moments, but the boats of his companions approaching with speed.
They ended up destroying their bodies, causing the ships to be stained with pieces of bones and guts.
Some other times, the situations were much worse because the fire in the water burned the boats.
So it was impossible for the crew to jump into the water so they had to stay in their boats while they died being burned.
It was unprecedented destruction, although this only got worse when the Drakkars began to approach.
None of them seemed to have learned from their companions or from the other ships, so they stayed together in an attempt to create a great platform.
But this was counterproductive for them, because the ballistas were able to shoot stones at the Drakkars in front.
Causing the Drakkars that were behind to collide with the sinking ships, although this was only the beginning.
When the first Drakkars were near, the Greek fire began to be launched, creating a veritable massacre that can only be compared to the Muslim fleet being destroyed off Constantinople. ‘
Demetrius could only pray when he heard the death cries of all those Vikings, which only increased.
When the other Roman ships were placed in a row where they let the Greek fire unleash on all the Viking ships.
In just 3 hours, the battle came to an end. All the Viking fleets were destroyed, leaving only a few survivors.
Who did the best they could to be able to swim to the coast, on land all the spectators of the naval battle decided to let the small fleet of gods advance.
Even the skalds who were looking at everything took up their flutes and at that moment they began to create the story of the ships of the god Odin.
In that heroic song the god came down to earth personally to carry the souls of the warriors in his enormous ships, that had dragons to protect them.
On the ships, the situation was not good at all because they suffered some casualties and the ammunition was reduced if they had to face another fleet of that size.
They would run out of weapons so they could destroy the enemies.
Oleg, who had his face covered in soot, sat on the boat and tried to relax as he had seen first hand the death it had brought.
‘Those warriors died in the most glorious way possible. It is the best way to die to climb the Valhalla for them.
It’s a shame that I now believe in Almighty God, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling some jealousy towards them. ‘
Gauiter, who had a wound on his arm, walked over to Oleg and handed him a canteen of water.
“Since we have defeated the enemy fleet, how long will we have to continue sailing to reach our destination.”
Oleg, who was cooling his throat with the cold water, looked up at the sky “We should arrive in 4 days if we are sporadically attacked.
But if they do not attack us, I am sure that we will reach our destination in two days. Once we arrive, we will have to ask in the villages on the coast.
They should know where to find Jarl Eero’s tribe and where the tribe is. We can find Kassia.
As to whether she is alive or dead will only depend on the will of God and the perseverance of Kassia.
Whatever the result we are close to being able to achieve our goal, after this we can return home to live our lives. “
Gautier simply glanced at one of the many priests who were healing the crew and motioned for him to come closer to heal his hand.
Because he was feeling the pain that rusty iron arrow had left him.
While this was happening in the siege camp, the thousands of captives worked tirelessly on the construction of the siege towers.
And in the assembly of the onagers that would be used to enter the walls of Parisii.
Sigurd Ring, who was supervising everything, ordered his Godis to prepare enough berserker drink as they would give the slaves those drinks.
So that they could fight in the front line against the defenders of the city walls. It was a plan that he came up with to reduce the deaths of his own warriors.