The question hung in the salty air.
Ethelwulf kept his polite smile, though his sharp eyes darted toward the Viking standing next to him.
He was curious to see how Hakon would handle a southern King's fragile ego.
"Are you kidding me right now?!" Hakon roared, ignoring royal etiquette as he slapped his hand against his knee.
King Salomon flinched... he was a highly respected monarch who had humiliated the Frankish Empire, and this giant northern brute was laughing directly in his face.
"I am serious." Salomon hissed.
After hearing such words, Hakon finally stopped laughing. The amused expression vanished from his scarred face.
He took a slow step forward. "You want to talk about ruling?" Hakon asked.
Hakon slowly raised his arm, pointing a finger at the ironclads floating in the river.
"It is your choice, King Salomon," Hakon stated firmly, "If you are so incredibly terrified of losing your little royal pride... you can stop all this right now. Today."
