Astrid stared at Brandr, her eyes blazing with fury. "You knew? You let Sigrida join Helga's decoy fleet and you didn’t warn her?"

  Brandr met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "She chose this, Astrid. This is what she wanted."

  "And you just let her go?" Astrid rounded on Erik. "How could you allow this?"

  "She'll be in danger!" Astrid's voice cracked.

  "We're all sailing into danger, Astrid," Erik patiently reminded her.

  "But she..." Astrid sputtered, her anger faltering. "Does she even know what she's facing?"

  Brandr shifted uncomfortably at her words. When a crew member called for his attention, he quietly excused himself.

  Hilde stepped forward, touching Astrid's arm. "She knows. Just as you knew the risks when you first fled Skogstrand."

  "The choice was hers to make," Hervor added. "Would you take that from her?"

  Astrid's sighed as the real reason for her anger surfaced. She and Sigrida had faced every challenge together since childhood. Now, with battle looming, they would face their greatest test apart.

  "Helga's crew is as skilled as any," Erik assured her. "Sigrida will have good warriors at her side."

  "No fleet has ever outraced or outmaneuvered Helga's ships in the northern waters," Hervor declared with authority. "They'll move like water through the reefs."

  "What an adventure that will be," Hilde sighed wistfully. Then, brightening, she gestured to the drakkar's deck beneath their feet. "But what of our role? What does Magnus plan for us?"

  Erik continued explaining the plan, his voice low and intent. "Helga's fleet of karves will lure Gunnar's ships onto the reefs. Her skeids will follow at a distance - the karves are nimble but lack numbers, so the skeids will reinforce them. Once Gunnar's fleet is dealt with, they'll turn back to aid Skogstrand." He looked at Hilde. "As for us, we face our own challenge. Even with Helga's trap weakening their fleet, Gunnar still outnumbers us at sea."

  "Then how can we hope to win?" Hilde asked, leaning forward with concern.

  Erik smiled lightly. "Magnus spread rumors through the spy network. Let Gunnar believe Magnus would split his fleet - half attacking from the north, half from the south, while Helga's ships land warriors through a hidden cove."

  "So Gunnar will divide his patrol ships to guard all three approaches," Hervor said, her eyes brightening with understanding.

  "But in truth, Magnus and Brandr's combined fleet will strike the harbor directly," Erik added. "While Gunnar's ships waste time patrolling empty waters, we'll have overwhelming numbers at Skogstrand."

  "But will Gunnar keep ships anchored at Skogstrand as well?" Astrid asked, her brow furrowed.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "He has several drakkars stationed offshore," Erik confirmed. "That's why Magnus and Helga will engage them together. With their combined strength, they'll outnumber and destroy Gunnar's sea forces."

  "And trap them," Hilde added, excitement lighting her face as she worked it through. "Those ships won't be able to aid their warriors in the harbor."

  "Or escape to warn the patrols in the north and south," Hervor finished, a fierce grin spreading across her face.

  Astrid's eyes lit up as she grasped the full strategy, appreciating Erik's trust in sharing these details. Silently, she hoped the gods would watch over Helga's fleet as they navigated the treacherous reefs.

  The strengthening wind carried the scent of rain. Somewhere in the mountains above Skogstrand, her father and his warriors waited, watching these same skies. "What of my father's forces?" Astrid asked. "Will he and his warriors join the fight?"

  "Your father's warriors are already hidden in the mountain," Erik said. "When Magnus's fleet engages the harbor defenses, they'll shoot from the cliffs with fire arrows, forcing Gunnar's men in Skogstrand to divide their attention."

  "And the longhouse?" Astrid asked, thinking of its strong walls. "Has Gunnar added to its defenses?"

  "The rest of Torbjorn's forces will ensure Gunnar's warriors in the longhouse cannot aid the harbor defense," Erik said simply.

  Astrid's fingers found her hammer amulet as she thought of Gunnar's men occupying her childhood home. Silently, she prayed her father would reclaim what was his.

  "If Gunnar falls for Magnus's deception," Hilde said eagerly, "we'll outnumber him at every turn."

  "Timing is critical," Erik said, his expression grave. "We must gain the advantage before Gunnar's patrol ships realize they've been deceived and race back to Skogstrand. If the reefs don't trap enough ships, if our deception is discovered too soon..." He shook his head. "Victory is far from certain."

  Astrid nodded, absorbing the gravity of the situation. As she pondered the intricacies of the plan, a question nagged at her. "But Erik," she said slowly, her brow furrowing, "my father exiled you after we returned. His last words were in anger. How could you two have come up with this plan?"

  Erik gave her a rueful half-smile. "It wasn't your father who made these plans, Astrid. Your father cast me out, refused to speak with me." His expression softened. "But Asbjorn followed me to Gorm's cabin that night. When everyone else turned their backs, your brother still trusted me." Erik paused. "He knew where my heart lay, even if I was exiled."

  Astrid blinked in surprise, not having considered her brother's role or his continued faith in Erik.

  "Asbjorn still believed I would keep you and your clan safe," Erik continued, a flicker of sadness crossing his features. "So, we came up with a plan that I could take to Magnus." His eyes met Astrid's, a mix of determination and resignation in his gaze.

  "Of course you would," Astrid whispered, reaching for his hand. "You always have."

  Erik held her close, gently caressing her cheek. In his steady embrace, Astrid found a peace she'd never expected during exile. They'd lost their homes, their families, their place in the world - yet somehow they'd found something truer. As Erik tilted her chin up for a kiss, she realized that despite everything taken from them, they'd built something no one could steal. She sighed against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  Suddenly, loud smooching sounds erupted beside them. Hervor had pressed herself against a wooden beam, eyes squeezed shut and lips puckered like a fish. "Ohhh Erik," she swooned dramatically, "I wuv you so much, my snuggly wuggly!"

  Hilde staggered across the deck, clutching her heart. "Kiss me, you big handsome bear!"

  The warriors manning the oars burst into laughter, some nearly losing their rhythm. Astrid and Erik broke apart, grinning as they steadied themselves against the ship's rail.

  "Rest while you can," Erik said softly, giving her one last kiss. "I need to speak with Brandr."

  "Come on," Hilde called to Astrid. "Liv and Lina need feeding before we settle in."

  As Erik headed toward the stern, Astrid watched him conferring with Brandr by the tiller. Her brother had been right to trust Erik - his loyalty to Skogstrand ran as deep as the sea beneath them. Tomorrow they would prove worthy of that faith, defending their home together.