Over the following week, cavalry engagements broke out repeatedly across the plains east of Saint-Malo.
Overall, Frankish scouts proved stronger in close combat.
Their horses were taller, more powerful, and capable of carrying heavier loads. The scouts themselves were equipped with longswords, maces, shields, and similar gear.
The ranger cavalry, by contrast, rode smaller steppe horses with lower carrying capacity. They carried only cavalry sabers and bows. Their light brigandine armor weighed just twelve jin (about 6 kg), offering less protection than the chainmail worn by Frankish scouts and making them poorly suited for melee combat.
However, the rangers possessed superior mobility.
Steppe horses tolerated heat and cold, survived on rough forage, and could remain operational in the wilderness for two days and nights—or even longer.
Frankish warhorses were comparatively delicate, with shorter endurance, making their scouting efficiency noticeably inferior.
By late August, Vig had gathered rough intelligence on the enemy force:
Fifteen thousand troops under the command of Count William of Orléans—the younger brother of Queen Ermentrude.
William's army had established camp thirty kilometers away and showed no courage to advance further, apparently waiting for reinforcements.
"That's all?"
Vig stopped hesitating.
He ordered the engineers to ignite the tunnels beneath the walls.
Soon afterward, five breaches opened in Saint-Malo's eastern wall.
Viking soldiers stormed into the city and eliminated all resistance within half a day.
Upon hearing that Saint-Malo had fallen, the Count of Orléans withdrew eastward along his original route.
Vig made no attempt to pursue.
Instead, he ordered repairs to the city defenses and expansion of the harbor facilities in preparation for future reinforcements.
September arrived.
Vig received reports that the Frankish coalition had assembled more than seventy thousand field troops.
Charles the Bald, the three kings of Middle Francia, and the three kings of East Francia jointly issued a declaration:
They called upon all Franks to unite.
Any noble who killed the Serpent of the North would be qualified to claim the title of King of Britain.
Rumor held that this reward had received official approval from the Church.
Vig had anticipated this long before the war began.
His reaction remained calm.
"So this is the medieval version of an anti-Britain coalition?
"Fine.
"I'll tear through the encirclement and wipe out every threat in one stroke."
September 8th.
The final wave of reinforcements arrived at Saint-Malo.
After three months of transport operations, Vig had finally moved fifty thousand troops into Frankish territory.
That night, he summoned his commanders and once again emphasized the war's objective.
"This war is different from the previous two Viking–West Frankish wars.
"We're not here to plunder.
"My annual income already exceeds Charles the Bald's. I have no reason to rob him.
"My only goal is to settle this rivalry once and for all and prevent endless conflict in the future."
At present, the Frankish main force remained near Paris.
Enemy movement was slow.
The distance from Paris to Rennes was roughly four hundred kilometers.
At their marching speed, it would take at least twenty days.
Vig intended to exploit this valuable window.
He led the main army south to attack the Nantes region below Rennes, continuing to gather food and horses while forcing the Franks to come out and fight.
In truth, even if Vig remained inactive, Charles the Bald would eventually have to attack.
If he delayed any longer, maintaining such a massive army would bankrupt him.
October 5th.
Autumn winds began to rise.
The Frankish army entered Le Mans.
Three days later, they reached Laval—only sixty kilometers from Rennes.
Vig left one garrison regiment to defend Nantes and led the main force back toward Rennes, where the two sides faced one another from afar.
After a month of constant movement, Viking troops had suffered severe fatigue.
Vig had no intention of forcing a decisive battle immediately.
He planned to stall and restore his army's combat readiness.
The stalemate lasted five days.
Then Vig received two reports:
A supply convoy traveling from Saint-Malo to Rennes had been attacked.
Large concentrations of cavalry had appeared outside Nantes.
At present, there were only three ports capable of receiving large fleets:
Saint-Malo in the north.
Brest in the west.
Nantes in the south.
The Franks were attacking from both north and south at once.
They appeared to be attempting to sever Viking supply lines.
At that moment, Vig felt as though he stood inside a fog.
He sent out large numbers of ranger cavalry and mountain infantry.
By piecing together their reports, he attempted to determine the location of the Frankish main force.
Two days later, he reached a conclusion:
The enemy's main army was likely in the northeast.
They might attack Saint-Malo and then continue westward, severing Rennes from Brest.
There was another possibility—
The enemy intended to lure him out and then launch an ambush, recreating the Frankish surprise attack from the Battle of Auxerre against Ragnar.
"Heh.
"So Charles the Bald is trying complicated maneuvers now.
"After all these wars, he must have become quite confident in his own command ability."
Excluding local garrisons, Vig could deploy forty-three thousand troops:
Including 2,800 heavy cavalry and more than 1,000 ranger cavalry.
He paced repeatedly around the map table in the center of the hall.
Eventually, he issued the following orders:
"Send word.
"Shrike's force will march north to Lot Village twenty miles away.
"Assign him an additional eight hundred heavy cavalry.
"If they encounter a small enemy force, destroy it on the spot and let nobody escape.
"Afterward, his two mountain infantry battalions will move into the forests near Saint-Malo and eliminate enemy scouting parties.
"The Fifth Garrison Regiment will defend Bull Run Bridge in the north.
"If attacked, hold for half a day before withdrawing.
"The 13th and 14th Infantry Regiments of Utgard's force will remain at Baron Pass's estate.
"If the forces at Bull Run Bridge retreat, nearby ranger cavalry will cover them.
"The infantry stays in the rear and must not move without orders."
Vig intended to position an ambush in the north.
If the enemy crossed Bull Run River westward, Utgard would recapture the bridge afterward and trap them in place.
After receiving orders, all units departed the city in orderly fashion and moved toward their assigned positions.
Vig remained inside the duke's manor hall, silently staring at the map table.
The next day passed quietly in the north.
Instead, news arrived from the southern front—
The Frankish army had intensified its assault on Nantes and was attempting to retake the city.
Nantes bordered the Loire River and possessed newly built stone walls.
During earlier fighting, the Vikings had opened three breaches using tunnel warfare.
After capturing Nantes, they had hastily erected wooden palisades over those gaps.
Unfortunately, the defensive value was far inferior.
The city was held by the Second Garrison Regiment:
One thousand troops under Lennard's command.
Vig had already warned him—
If the city fell, there was no need to die defending it.
Withdraw to the harbor and escape by ship.
At dawn on the third day, Vig was awakened from sleep.
His first thought was:
"Nantes has fallen already? That fast?"
Leif spoke excitedly:
"It has nothing to do with Nantes.
"It's the northern front.
"Scouts from the Fifth Garrison Regiment report several thousand Frankish troops approaching and request further orders."
The Fifth Garrison Regiment had eight hundred men.
If they held Bull Run Bridge, nearby reinforcements could probably arrive in time.
But Vig had no intention of making them stand to the death.
"Send messengers to notify Rikard.
"Hold until noon, then withdraw.
"At that point, Utgard's ranger battalion will cover the retreat and prevent Frankish cavalry from running them down."
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