Legends Never Die: To be King (ch. 175) (Patreon)

“Is that Stockholm, father?” Magnus questioned as the harbor of Haldur's seat of power came into view, the morning fog lifting like a curtain at our approach. My son stood next to me, leaning on the railing and taking note of everything he saw. “There are more ships than I expected.” 

“This is the first marriage of this kind,” I ventured, seeing the heraldry flying on flags from various longships in the harbor. “Until this point, the marriages have been internal to solidify their power. Kings marry their children to Jarls and Thegns. Now, kingdoms are binding themselves together.” 

“That's good, isn't it?” Magnus questioned, hearing something that lurked in my tone. “I know you worry that the empire isn't one united whole yet.” 

It was less that I worried and more I knew it wasn't. It would take generations for the idea of a unified Scandinavia to settle. The first generation had grown to men with the idea, and it was only when they were old men with grandchildren and great-grandchildren that the foundations  were settled. “It is the start of something. Like all starts, the destination is distant and there is no promise what path it will yet take.” 

The worst case scenario was the blocs within my kingdom became the cracks on the foundation which would see my empire partitioned. Sweden, Sami, and Finland one day splitting off or declaring a rebellion. That was something I didn't expect to face in my lifetime, but it was a very real possibility in my successors. My empire would face two challenging tests to see if it was something that could endure for centuries. 

Charlemagne was the first. 

My death would be the second. 

“Then… shouldn't I already be betrothed?" Magnus questioned with a touch of uncertainty. “So they can bind themselves to our family?” 

To that, I chuckled. “That is one approach. There is merit to being the first one to lay the groundwork. To let our dynasty become the glue to hold the kingdoms together.” 

“But?” Magnus prompted expectantly, so I gave him a glance. His expression pinched a bit at that but he had his answer after a moment of thought. “Sometimes it's better to make the second move. It lets you see what your opponent does.” 

“There are always going to be natural partners within the empire, but there is no way to tell until someone makes the first move. Haldur was once a jarl for Hoffer. Their nations border one another, divided by mountains with Norway offering access to the North Sea. However, he instead went inward to Finland. Finland still hopes to eventually absorb the Biarmia tribe and expand east. It allows them to squeeze Sami between them.” I elaborated on his understanding. 

He offered a small nod. “Seeing their strategy allows you to break their strategy,” Magnus ventured. “How?” 

“Marriges. Trade. Tax breaks,” I answered simply enough. Promoting Sami to be a peer instead of a lesser partner by encouraging migration. Arranging marriages to fracture the partnership by making them compete instead of work together. Something that would most certainly chafe. 

There were few methods of finalizing an alliance like marriage. It was perhaps the ultimate declaration of mutual benefit and intent. However, Haldur only had two sons: Harald and Erik. It wasn't something he could use endlessly, not any more than I could. To that end, Ihala only had one daughter to speak of compared to his three sons. 

“There is one other issue with making our blood the bedrock of the empire. When everyone has an alliance with each other, then no one has an alliance. They will act. They will make us choose sides. And in such a situation, we would be forced to break our word. Thus weakening it,” I continued. At that, Magnus nodded his head, showing that he understood. In good time too as the ship was sailing into harbor and I saw the crowd to greet us. 

Haldur, of course, was at the forefront with his family. He was joined by Ihala and his family, including the bride to be. Beyond them, there were various nobles -- primarily Swedish and Finnish, who had made the journey to Stockholm. My flagship deftly slid into port, and I stepped off with those who attended the trip with me. 

Magnus, Scáthach, and Aífe. My daughters followed in step with their brother, and as much as they fought like cats and dogs, they were of a similar mind when they saw the various nobles who looked upon them and saw one thing -- power. A means to marry into my family. 

“Brother,” Haldur greeted me with a warmth that seemed out of place. At least until I recalled where we were. Performative affection for the crowd did seem much more like him. “Its good to see you again and welcome to my home. You as well, my nephew and nieces.” 

“Thank you for the welcome, brother. Stockholm has changed a great deal since I was last here,” I observed. The town was strategically located, and like all the others, it was initially a fortification. A launch point into Finland while a secondary army swept over the Sami. It was no shining jewel compared to Mikligard, but the fort had become a city. 

Happiness: 83%

Quality of Life: 6.5/10

Population: 28,300

Population Growth: +2.2% increase per year

Wealth: 12,854

Security: 95% per pop

Education: 29% per pop

Religion: 97% Norse Paganism, 1% Norse Christianity, 2% Judaism 

It was developing nicely under his rule. Faster than I expected, but that was less a problem and more an opportunity. Especially since he hadn't deviated from the planned population expansions so the city wouldn't become a disorganized mess. 

“And do not worry. Halfdan and Mother are on their way,” I assured him, making the practiced smile become a touch more genuine. 

“I heard she was in Lithuania. And we have another nephew,” Haldur replied, clapping me on the shoulder. Mother traveled whenever she learned she was due for another grandchild. “Selvieg and Helga are traveling from Norway with their brood. It'll be a proper family reunion.” 

It was. The family was growing but it was also dispersed across Scandinavia. Halfdan had three children thus far -- two boys and a girl. My sisters had two each, Helga with two boys while Selvieg had a boy and a girl. It made me think of Arne, the oldest of my nephews back at the capital, and how he was looking to get married as well. Soon he would have children, as would Ragnar…

“It won't be long before we're grandfathers,” I pointed out, earning a laugh.

“I never thought I would live to see the day,” Haldur agreed whole heartedly. Then he took a step back to usher me forward, so the others could greet us in turn. I patted Harald on the shoulder, the young man standing a bit taller as I did before greeting King Ihala and his daughter, Aurora. 

“Alvaldr,” Ihala greeted me with a bow of his head. “Allow me to present my daughter, Aurora.” 

Aurora was a young girl around fifteen years of age who dropped into a practiced courtesy. Blonde, blue eyes, and the face of a girl who would grow into a beautiful woman. “Alvaldr,” she greeted me, keeping her nervousness at bay but there was a faint quiver in her voice. 

“We're glad to have you in the family,” I assured her. Then to her father, “You as well, King Ihala.” From my expanded vision I saw Haldur let out a small breath of relief. Followed by a tightening of his expression when he saw Ihala preen at the words. 

“We are honored,” Ihala reiterated with another bow of his head. Deeper, this time. 

It was a subtle thing, but it was a reminder that I was the head of our family. Aurora wasn't marrying Haldur's son and heir. She was marrying my nephew. In the days to follow, that would be a subtle but oh so very important distinction. 

With the most important introductions done, we left the docks behind to make our way to Haldur's palace. It had changed the most over the years -- even if the layout remained mostly unchanged, the wood and concrete fort was replaced by one of carved granite. It was expanded beyond what the fort had been with an extra floor added. 

A feast was laid out for our arrival beyond the quality one would expect for such an occasion. A public display of wealth and power, I knew. So all the kings and visiting nobles would see Haldur's power. 

It was a costly display, however. Particularly when the wedding feast would last for seven days after the wedding itself. It was a necessary expense. Even if I knew it would chafe at Haldur fiercely. That wasn't any true concern of mine for the moment. Instead, when the feast began, I joined the festivities, allowing others to make their way to me. It was telling who did. And why. 

King Ihala was the first to approach, joined by a few of his nobles, alongside Haldur with a few of his. Their intent was obvious even before they uttered the first word, but they took a winding path to arrive at the point. Meanwhile, Magnus did what he was instructed to do -- while Thusnelda had yet to arrive, there were a number of noble scions worth forming a relationship with. 

Scáthach and Aífe, predictably, made themselves scarce.

“The petty kingdoms to the east have begun to consolidate,” Ihala made an idle observation that was more important than the words implied. “Particularly the Biarmia tribe that serves as my border to the northeast.” 

“They absorbed the lesser tribes,” Haldur noted with a nod. “It's the same for the Polish, is it not?” He asked, directing the remark to me. As if he didn't have the answer. 

I knew what they wanted to know without having to ask. Since my empire was founded, we consolidated our people and borders. The authority they wielded was new over tribes that had been their rivals for generations. Displacing tribes helped, but just as I had consolidated power over my empire, they did so over their kingdoms. Now, in the wake of the Great Raid, they sought to expand. 

Only to discover the avenues of expansion were being cut off. I had taken another page out of Roman policy. Some of the tribes were granted a special title: ‘Friend of the Alvaldr.’ It came with some benefits, allowing the ease of trade between our nations. And in exchange for not taking hostile actions against us, we would not take hostile actions against them. 

None had yet tested the consequences of making me a liar, but they were correct in their assumption that they would be severe. 

The various tribes we supported, of course, benefited from the arrangement more than us. While we didn't aid them in their endeavors outright, with ease of trade, they became more wealthy than their neighbors. With more wealth, they could purchase higher quality weapons or hire mercenaries to act on their behalf. Over a decade, my wives as I had cultivated the disorganized tribes outside of our borders into more cohesive petty kingdoms. 

They weren't powerful, by any means. Just larger. More organized. And paid tribute for the pleasure of being a friend.

“That was the intention,” I admitted. There was no point in hiding it. I couldn't when their rise to power was because of a title called ‘Friend of the Alvaldr.’ “The Romans learned the hard way the cost of keeping Germania a collection of small tribes. They destabilized them to keep their borders secure, but in doing so, made themselves a natural enemy. Larger but friendlier petty kingdoms are more pragmatic. Particularly if they one day decide to bend the knee.” 

It wasn't what they wanted to hear. The exact opposite, really. Yet, the words weren't a surprise to either them. It couldn't be. It was merely a confirmation of what they suspected and feared to be true. 

“Would they?” Ihala questioned, a slight tilt of his head. I could see him doing a cold calculation in the back of his mind. The Biarmia tribe to the North East of Finland, hugging its border, had all but sealed them in. What he wanted, I knew, was to conquer them, absorb the people, then continue to conquer the east. At least until he reached a point where the Khazars became a very real danger. 

“Anything is possible," I replied with a touch of a smile. “They would need to be structured so they would be compatible with the broader empire. Something not easily done, I would imagine.” 

Ihala had the exact idea I hoped he would have. I could see it spark to life behind his eyes. He might have already had it at some point as a back up plan. If I would not allow my ‘Friends’ to be conquered, then the alternative was to influence them. Have them marry into his nobility and support rulers who were amenable to our way of doing things. 

All in the hopes of functionally turning the Biarmia and the territory they controlled into a vassal kingdom when they were eventually recognized. A kingdom that could expand freely to the East on their behalf with their own funding and support. The Biarmia, in particular, I was not worried about. The land grew far more sparsely populated the further east one went. The Biarmia could grow ten times over, but it would still possess only half the population Finland does. 

What would concern me down the line was something the Biarmia eventually receiving a vote with the Council of Kings. Effectively giving Finland two votes was a risk, especially given the emerging power blocs. If my successors failed to drive a wedge in the power bloc, then Finland could be inspired to form its own power bloc. Thus dividing the votes and its influence. 

More immediately, the light remark was going to set things into motion for the other petty kingdoms that gathered along my border. Novgorod would look up to Biarmia and have the same idea that Ihala had just now. Saxony and Pomerania would look to the Polish tribe. Lithuania and Estonia to the Magyars or the Rus. 

It was a divide in what would naturally be power blocs, making them compete for influence over the petty kingdoms outside our border. It was a subtle thing. A ripple that would one day become a wave years down the line. And, in the moment that ripple went out, there was only one man who saw it happen. 

Haldur met my gaze at that moment. He could reveal the plan, of course. It wouldn’t necessarily stop it, but it could shape the wave as it arrived. But I knew my brother. While he might struggle with being cast in my shadow, I knew he was loyal to the family, and it was our family who benefited from his silence. So, he would be silent. 

That, and because being the only one aware of the incoming wave meant he was alone in his preparations. 

“Hm. They would be wise to bend the knee sooner rather than later,” Haldur replied. “Their pride would cost them much in the long run.” 

Ihala nodded in agreement. “It is only natural. To think a decade ago, we would have been satisfied with a dirt floor and a hall made of wood.” He said with a cutting smile, earning a laugh from Haldur. I smiled along for the sake of it. “You have brought us to a new age. At the point of a sword, admittedly, but the results speak for themselves.” 

He inclined his head to me. “I would have thought you would desire your collection of kings to grow.” It would seem the conversation wasn’t quite done. Testing to see how dedicated I was to the notion of peace with our neighbors. 

“I wouldn’t say no to a few more,” I replied with a small laugh. “However, there are more… worthwhile kings to the west than the east. They, I would wish to add to my collection first.”

“Your son being one of them,” Ihala noted. “The kingdom of Alba. From what my men tell me, I would have thought you would have granted him Wessex. The kingdom of the channel seems perfectly poised to take advantage of the flow of trade between us and the Abbasids.”

To that, I could only nod. “That would have been my wish as well,” I admitted. If Ragnar wasn’t going to be my heir, then I would have wanted him to claim Wessex. It would always be the most powerful of the petty kingdoms of the isles. It had the best farmland, the trade ports, and it was where the bulk of the population was. “But my son… Ah, I suppose I can’t truly complain about his lust for adventure.”

“No. You can’t,” Haldur agreed, clapping me on the shoulder with a laugh. “But I’ll take that remark to mean you don’t intend to let Ecbert bend the knee?” 

I held genuine respect for Ecbert. He impressed me during the raid, and all I heard about him since then solidified that opinion. When placed in an impossible situation, forced between two giants, he managed to carve out a niche for himself to maintain Wessex’s independence. Even now, with the arrival of spring, I was certain he was preparing for the inevitable battle for Britannia. 

I knew, with little doubt, he would be willing to bend the knee. Ecbert was an exceedingly practical man. If he couldn’t have his independence, he would angle to gain as long of a leash as he possibly could. However… I didn’t want my vassals to have a long leash. 

“No,” I admitted as much. “The channel is simply too important to be held by anyone without my absolute trust.” There was the greed I expected. The kings and their nobles before me understood what I didn’t say perfectly. There were so very few who could boast to have my absolute trust, and most of them were my family. 

I could see them going through the list of candidates in their minds, settling on the most likely few. Ragnar would take the Alba crown, but Magnus was another possibility. My other sons. Then there were my nephews to consider -- Arne was another possibility in their minds. As were the sons of my brothers and sisters. 

We all wore smiles on our faces, standing in my brother's hall…

And the wedding was the furthest thing from our minds.