Chapter 25

"That man... Ragnar, was it? [...] He does not realize that every chick must one day leave the nest. He does his baby bird no favors. It seems you have many tasks ahead... for the sake of this "plan" you follow. First, the bird must fly on his own wings..."

- Gratianus

Bluff (ハッタリ, Hattari) is the 25th chapter in the series.

Overview
The Welsh archers shoot down Askeladd's horse. Askeladd starts to speak to the Brycheiniog envoy, Asser, who is surprised a Dane would speak the language of Wales. Askeladd and Bjorn both deduce that the archers' display was a show of strength to show they wouldn't be intimidated and to gain the upper hand in parlay, rather than the prelude to a battle. Askeladd tells Canute to say something fierce to them to scare them into letting them pass, but Canute hides behind Ragnar. Askeladd is displeased and asks Ragnar how Canute intends to take King Sweyn's place if hides in his shell and cannot perform his duty. Ragnar angrily tells Askeladd to mind his place and says staying silent and going unnoticed was how Canute survived the treacherous royal family. Askeladd tells Gratianus he will tell Asser of their plan. Gratianus accompanies him. He notes that Ragnar does Canute no favours and that Askeladd has many tasks ahead for the sake of the plan he follows, the first being that Canute must fly on his own wings. Askeladd gravely says he is aware.

Summary
The Welsh archers loose arrows into Askeladd's horse; Askeladd hops off and out of harm's way. Askeladd's men are startled to find themselves surrounded and ask Ear why he didn't notice them earlier. Ear replies that he couldn't have heard their footsteps, since it's an ambush and they weren't walking. Askeladd tells his men to settled down and to not fire back. Thorfinn and Ragnar raise their shields; Ragnar grumbles, believing he was right about the dangers of marching on Welsh lands. Askeladd greets the envoy of Brycheiniog down the road, noting his greeting was rather bracing. The envoy, who is reached by some of his armed men, is surprised a Dane would speak the language of Wales, as he'd heard Danish beasts had no use for language. Gratianus tells the envoy, Asser, to withdraw his men, since causing trouble with the Danes would not be favourable to Wales. Asser replies that he respects Gratianus and his concern for the future of Wales, but that they have different opinions on the matter, since he seems to be banking on forging a pact with a barbarian Danish prince who would not understand the Welsh ways. Askeladd's men, who do not speak Welsh, wonder what they're talking about and if there's going to be a battle. Bjorn, despite not understanding Welsh either, says there will not be a battle, since the archers would have hit someone with their first wave of arrows rather than just the horse if they intended to kill them. He deduces it was a show of military might to give them an advantage in the parlay.

Asser says that Wales has watched the Danes and England make war for a decade, with the Danes signing three truces with England and breaking every one of them. He states that their kingdom will not repeat England's mistakes and will take Canute as a shield, since even King Sweyn surely wouldn't want to lose his heir. Gratianus apologizes to Askeladd for the situation. Askeladd tells him not to worry, as it's an act to see if they can be intimidated, and says he sympathises with them. Gratianus asks Askeladd if he intends to tell them of their plan. Askeladd says that he could, but that he'll play along if they want a farce. He brings forth Canute, introduces him grandly, and says the prince will now speak to them. He tells Canute to say something fierce, anything at all, and that he'll interpret; that any expression of displeasure will scare the envoy into letting them pass. Visibly rattled, Canute again hides behind Ragnar, shaking, to Thorfinn's surprise and Askeladd's displeasure. Ragnar starts to ask to speak in Canute's place, since the prince has always been reluctant to speak in front of an audience, but Askeladd declines, saying the men are all there for the prince's sake and that the prince, youth aside, is a royal and a leader who has a duty to perform. Ragnar replies that Canute has a gentle soul and dislikes needless bloodshed, and Askeladd says that's exactly why he needs to calm them down before things take a violent turn. He asks Ragnar if Canute thinks he can take King Sweyn's place by hiding in his shell like a clam. Ragnar, angry, tells Askeladd to be silent and tells him he knows nothing of Canute. He tells him the royal family is a treacherous nest of vipers and asks if he has any idea how hard it was for a sickly boy like Canute to survive. He says the only reason Canute is still alive is because he learned to stifle his breath and his thoughts to escape notice, though all it got him was glory-seekers like Askeladd taking advantage of him. Ragnar tells Askeladd to mind his place and that however Canute chooses to act is above the reproach of the likes of him. Asser asks what they are arguing about in Danish and what Prince Canute has to say for himself. Askeladd says that the prince is displeased and that he will speak in his stead in a moment. Turning to Gratianus, he tells him he will tell them of their plan. Gratianus says he will join him. Askeladd tells his men to stay put while he goes to speak to the envoy. To Ragnar's shock, he asks Ragnar to forgive his impropriety and says he overstepped his bounds in his concern for the prince's wellbeing. Canute comes out from hiding behind Ragnar, relieved he did not have to speak. Thorfinn looks down at him and says it's pathetic, asking Canute if he's really his age. Canute casts his eyes down in shame. Askeladd and Gratianus start walking towards Asser and his men. Gratianus tells Askeladd that Ragnar does not realize that every chick must one day leave the nest, and that he is doing Canute no favours. He notes that many tasks need to be done for the sake of Askeladd's plan, the first one being that the bird must fly on his own wings. Askeladd gravely says that he is aware.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Canute
 * Ragnar
 * Askeladd
 * Ear
 * Thorfinn
 * Asser
 * Gratianus
 * Bjorn