The strength of the Norman army encamped outside the city of York made the people at the head of the city feel terrified. Walsioff, Earl of Northampton, helped Edgar, who was recovering from his injuries, to the city, and the prince only glanced at it, and then turned to Ulf and asked, "The enemy has not directly attacked the city?" ”

The Danish guard immediately replied, "Not yet, my lord." ”

Edgar then asked who was currently leading the defenders of York Castle, and when he learned that it was Hughard Barn, the Earl of Benicia, the prince nodded, and this Seon had come to Lincoln with the Danes to help, and now the Danes were gone, and his army was still defending the fortified castle. At this time, the Earl of Northampton suddenly spoke: "Why doesn't the enemy attack us?" ”

Edgar's eyes were fixed on the other side, as if he could see through the conqueror's intentions: "They want to divide their forces and plunder, burn and destroy all the villages and towns around us, and wait until they exterminate the last cattle and horses of the northerners, and then come and besiege us." ”

This terrible speculation shook everyone present, and if this hypothesis was true, King William's method was really astonishing, and if this method was followed, even if York was still alive, the north would surely starve to death next year. When the cold wind blew, everyone was awe-inspiring, and some even had the idea of surrendering. Edgar is still wondering how to stop the "Northern Purge" from happening. At this time, a banner on the city was blown down by gusts of wind, looking at this ominous scene, he suddenly thought of something, and muttered to himself: "That's right...... Alençon, this is his greatest weakness, the most painful wound. ”

So the prince gave a quick order to the Dane Ulf, and left the wall with all the nobles.

The Normans soon noticed the movement at the head of the city, and someone began to inform the king. Soon King William, dressed in iron, walked out of the tent with the Earl of Mortan and looked carelessly at the walls of York, and then never took his eyes off the thing on the tree: a long pole of brass, and near the top was a huge iron ring, on which hung a hide of an animal, and at the top of the ring was a stag with long horns and forks, symbolizing royal power. An unquenchable fire poured out from the bottom of his heart, the king's face turned pale, and in an instant, all the tyranny and all the evil thoughts that had accumulated the deepest were pouring into his mind at the same time, and he seemed to return to the situation of that isolated and helpless youth, those precarious bloody years, and the resentment that always haunted his chest, all because of the nickname that gave him countless nightmares: William "the mongrel".

In the midst of the king's monstrous rage, Robert, Earl of Mortan, heard his next order, and although he tried his best to suppress it, his voice was still extremely terrifying: "Let everyone return at once, and attack York with all your strength from this day onwards, and not a single one of the rebels in it, including that bare-chested little bastard, shall be spared!" ”

Faced with the king who could break out at any time, the Count of Mortan did not dare to object, so he had to follow the other party's wishes and personally pass the order.

After the Earl had departed, King William took off his ring and gave it to Robert of Beaumont, who was a squire: "Take someone back to London and tell the Queen to fetch our crown and scepter from Westminster, and that we will wear the crown of England in York City at Christmas!" ”

After the Normans' siege horns sounded, Edgar breathed a sigh of relief, and with this way, the whole of Deira was temporarily safe, and the next step was to hold off the enemy at York. After arranging the defense, he inquired about the burial of the lord of Arnkhtir and all the soldiers who had died in battle, and then sent for the bishop of Durham to come and discuss.

There were still a number of Danes in the city, who also began to join the defense, most of them using bows and spears, and in addition to the usual hunting short bows, there were also a dozen people with Viking longbows and heavy arrows, and these former Viking warriors took out their precious chain mail and iron helmets, and came to the church in York with the others. After meeting Prince Edgar, Bishop Æthelwyn appointed Governor Osbert to assemble the Danes here, and the northern warriors were ready to join the war.

The English, who were at Durham, had learned of the defeat at the front and immediately sent the news to Bebanburg. The Locians continued to return north to their homeland, and for them, this year's fighting was over. The Bishop of York, who had received the report of defeat, immediately forced himself from his sickbed, and he had to try to rescue the Northumbrians of York. The old bishop, not wanting to alarm the prince's mother, did not send to the monastery, but informed the two princesses of the news. Margaret had been reading a Gospel, a treasure that had belonged to Lady Æthelfrid, of Mercia, but upon hearing the sad news, she felt like she had been kicked by a horse, and immediately put down her delicate pocket gospel. She took the letter from Durham from the bishop's hand and held it up to the candlestick and read it carefully, not sparing a word.

"Your Excellency, what do you think we can do to help my brother?" Margaret raised her eyelashes, the braids under her turban drooped, and Christina, who was already in tears, turned back to Mama Hildegard's arms.

Bishop York replied as calmly as possible: "I will leave at once to meet the King of Alba and ask him for assistance." ”

Princess Margaret's eyes lit up, as if she saw a glimmer of hope, but she remembered something: "Will King Malcolm go to York, hasn't his messenger just left?" ”

The bishop replied in a firm voice: "I will do my best to persuade the king, this is the last hope." ”

Since winter is not conducive to navigation, the bishop decided to travel lightly by land, and before setting out, a voice suddenly came from the direction of the hall behind him: "Your Excellency, let me go with you." ”

Bishop Aldred turned slowly, only to see Margaret in a squirrel fur coat appear in front of him, and to his astonishment, the bishop could not say a word. The vice-demistress of Hildegard, who had chased to the neighborhood, also heard it, and she could not help but make a cross, and saw Princess Margaret's clothes dragging in the snow, and almost shouted again.

"I am the royal family of England, and my younger brother is fighting on the front line, although I can't wield a sword myself, but at this time I have to take my own responsibility." The princess's face was a little pale from the cold, but she resolutely addressed the bishop.

Bishop York, who felt a little weakened, finally nodded: "All right, kid. ”

At this moment, there was a silver bell of carriages and horses outside, and Margaret immediately held Bishop York and walked out, behind them, the female vice-dean was still making a cross: "God save us." ”