Hey, you okay?
Who's that?
He's huge.
What do we do about our duel now?
What was that?
Duel?
Duel?!
I can't fall asleep like this!
What?! He's standing!
United Front
I can't believe he's still alive!
Looks like there's more fun to be had.
I'll give you time to patch yourself up.
Fuck off with that!
Come at me!
Aw, don't give me that. I mean, how will you fight like that?
Shut up!
Why don't you mind your own business?!
There, see?
Hey! Old man!
Stop!
Let him go.
Someone go fetch me a seat.
Let me see it.
Fuck off, baldy!
Fix yourself up, why don't you!
Just show it to me.
Get the fuck off me!
Calm down.
That's your biggest weakness. Cool off and use your head.
What do you think you must do in order to win?
I haven't had this much fun in ages, Thorfinn!
As I promised, I will tell you.
I will tell you about your father, Thors.
Beyond the night skies I'm trudging towards, a lone crow lies in wait
Cawing as if to hasten my gait
From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
Laughing in my face with glee
So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
Holding to the creed and blade to slay thee
Carry on the oath until my last scene
Higher than the sky and deeper than the sea
Keep your precious justice to yourself, bud
Use it till they're torn, become a pile of mud
I don't need their choice or voice to judge me
The one and only way I had and always seek
Anyone, everyone, I will crush 'em all
Enemies, let 'em see, now I see you fall
Kings and gods, change the odds
I'm the one who makes my final call
My scars, my past and even my solitude
I'll quell them all with just my feud
Keep your crown, I'll take you down
I'm the one who makes my final call
You know of the Jomsvikings, yes?
Thors and I were both captains of the band.
And Thors was mighty indeed.
An average warrior never sniffs a seat with the Jomsvikings.
He was given the epithet "Troll" by his peers.
Chief Sigvaldi was so smitten with him that he offered his daughter to Thors.
That was Helga, your mother.
So the head of Jom is my grandfather?
That's right.
He's also my brother.
Which means that makes me your great-uncle.
He's related to the captain? You're kidding!
Our last battle was at Hjörungavágr in Norway.
We were vanquished.
Thors fell into the water, and his body never surfaced.
I even shed tears for him.
I'd always wanted to beat him with my own hands.
Of course, Thors wasn't dead.
Jomsborg was the last place I saw him.
987 AD: JOMSBORG, HOME BASE OF JOMSVIKINGS
It was three months after his funeral.
He froze up and pissed himself on the spot!
Seriously?
The guards are leaving.
Come.
Hey!
What are you, sneak thieves?
Are you aware you're burgling the home of Thors, exalted officer of the company?
Thorkell.
I don't usually bother with rats sneaking around, but...
I've just recently lost a friend, see.
And I'm in not in the mood for nonsense.
Thors?
Is that— But you...
What the hell?!
Where have you been?!
We even gave you a proper funeral!
All right, all right.
Settle down, Thorkell!
I'm sorry for putting you through all of that.
Oh! If it isn't Helga!
What's gotten into you two, dressed like common peasants?
Um, listen, Uncle Thorkell—
I should've known!
A little dip in the sea could never kill you!
Excuse me, Uncle. We're—
Have you already spoken to my brother?
What, not yet?
Don't worry, I'll wake him up right now!
Thorkell.
Listen to me.
Of course!
Let's head inside. We've got some catching up to do.
What's wrong?
I'm not meeting the chief.
We're leaving here.
What for?
You can just go tomorrow!
Didn't you just get back?
I'm leaving...
this town and the Jomsvikings.
I want you to forget that you saw me tonight.
What? Is this a joke?
Just pretend that I'm dead.
Please, Thorkell.
I'm not seeing the point.
What are you talking about?
I've decided.
I will not fight again.
That's my point!
I don't get it!
Don't tell me you're afraid because you almost died.
Did you know my brother was considering you as his successor?
Forgive me.
You're tired, ain't ya?
Get some grub and call it a night.
I have finally learned.
I understand what it means to be a true warrior.
And that is why I can no longer be here.
You know our laws.
Defection without the chief's leave is punishable by death.
This is the capital of warriors.
You know nothing but battle.
Where else would you go?
Somewhere not here.
Thors.
Don't worry.
Just stand back.
Best of health, Thorkell.
Where's your sword?
Don't need it.
When I came to, Thors was long gone.
And after fifteen years, I learned that Thors was well and truly dead.
I had fifteen years to think about him.
And I realized that it wasn't a matter of life or death of the flesh.
What's important to a warrior is the soul and where it lies.
His soul had gone far away.
I still don't understand it.
I can't reach him.
Wherever it is, it's not here.
That must be where he finally became a true warrior.
Thorfinn.
What sort of life did he lead in Iceland?
Tell me of him.
Fat fucking chance.
I just told you what he was like!
Shut up! Like it matters.
You miserable skinflint! I bet it's not that you won't tell me, but that you can't!
I can see it in your eyes.
You're missing that odd spark he had in his.
What?!
You didn't learn a single thing from Thors and are embarrassed that someone's finally realized it!
Don't.
Let me go! Or I'll kill you first!
If you keep trying to fight in the same way, you'll lose.
There, see?
The outcome of your battle determines whether I live or die.
So listen to me.
I'll tell you exactly how to beat that monster.
Enough of the bullshit, old man.
If you know how to stop Thorkell, why don't you fight him yourself?
Combat is not the same as a game of hnefatafl, boy.
You don't just take down the king and get to walk away.
But this case is special.
He told us that he'd let us go if you manage to win.
The monster values his warrior's pride.
I don't see him breaking his vow.
Remember why you're fighting.
So you can beat me in a duel, right?
Just take my advice and use it to overcome him.
It's the only way we'll get out of this alive.
I just wanna see the captain fight.
When I die, I want the captain to do it.
I'd hold my head high in Valhalla.
He's just made of different stuff from the rest of us. My money's on him bein' an incarnation of Thor.
If he's Thor, what does that make Prince Canute? Freya?
A goddess?!
If it ain't Freya herself!
Take this!
Does it hurt, Thorfinn?
Are you going to surrender and lose your chance at Askeladd forever?
Hey!
No use trying to escape!
Stand and face your fate like a man!
What was that nonsense about?!
Fight with pride until the end!
Are you trying to tarnish Thors' name?!
Fuck!
Hold it in for now, Thorfinn.
Your only choice is to make him come to you.
Was it the Battle of Maldon?
That was a fierce and bloody clash.
He nearly maimed Thorkell, for one.
It was only a moment.
Just the briefest instant, but I saw it happen.
Thorkell the Invincible collapsing to his knees.
Well done.
You need to make him think you're out of ideas.
What's wrong, Thorfinn?
Tired of running?
What a disappointment.
I was expecting you to show me a bit more backbone.
Good positioning.
You're doing well, Thorfinn.
The end always comes swiftly.
Pathetic.
He ran away the whole time.
That's right, Thorkell.
Deliver the killing blow.
All we need...
is a single instant.
I saw his weakness...
Captain!
You idiot! You don't have a weapon!
To your right, Thorfinn!
Kill the boy!
Fuck!
Die, lad!
Stop, you fools!
You craven bastards...
How dare you shame me like this!
B-But boss!
How dare you dishonor my duel!
Asgeir...
What does a warrior's pride mean to you?
Curse me if you wish.
I'm going to kill the boy.
Kill me if you must!
But you need to live!
Who else among us can possibly lead this army of five hundred beasts?!
That is enough.
There will be no further combat.
Any who die in this battle are wasting their lives.
No...
They're... They're all dead!
Askeladd's entire band...?
Brother!
You're still alive!
Who are you, mister?
Brother?
It astonishes me how much killing you can undertake without growing weary of it.
No one has the right to interfere in a duel. Not even royalty.
Begone, little girl.
It doesn't seem to be much of a duel anymore.
If you are a leader of men, perhaps you should demonstrate pride and grace before your followers.
Shut the fuck up!
I know this shit already, you fucking brat!
Release Thorfinn.
I lost the duel.
No, you didn't! We interfered against your orders!
Shut your mouth, you clown!
I lost.
At least let me keep my damned dignity.
Asgeir...
Do as he says.
This sucks!
I've been alive for fifty years, and I've never had a day as bad as this!
Mead!
Hey, baldy!
Let's get out of here now!
If you want to leave, be my guest. I'm staying.
What?
Then what the hell did I go through all that for?!
Quit squalling and watch.
So? Why are you here, prince?
Just to come and judge our fight?
I desire a sled and food.
Also, Thorfinn and Askeladd are my subjects.
I will take them with me.
Are you dense?
What hunter releases his prey once it's jumped into his grasp?
You believe that I'll be your wild card when negotiating with King Sweyn.
Is that correct?
Yes, Your Highness.
You're my prey, my hostage, and my golden goose.
Give up on the prince already! Let's go!
Stay put and watch!
Step back, knave.
I'm going nowhere.
It hasn't taken long for you to speak like a king.
What happened?
I saw Ragnar's body in the village we passed through yesterday.
Thorkell.
I have no value as a hostage.
For my father...
My father does not love me.
My father will give the throne to my brother, Harald.
I am nothing more than a backup plan.
This, however, caused the vassals to fight amongst themselves
and the very balance of the realm has been endangered as a result.
My existence has become a source of lament for my father and the kingdom.
You're saying King Sweyn is hoping that I'll kill you?
Death in battle is a more proper means of dealing with me than assassination.
It would allow my father to avoid directly killing his own child.
Let's say I allow you to walk free. Where would you go?
To the army's headquarters in Gainsborough.
To fight my father.
And you think you'll win?
How very optimistic.
I will simply do what must be done.
And besides, I haven't much of a life to mourn.
I've seen countless men who claimed they were ready to give up their lives.
One little love tap was all it took for them to break down into tears and beg for their lives.
Are you one of them? Well?
I hate that look in his eyes.
I've seen it before.
What do you see with those eyes of yours?
What's goin' on? Why won't he say nothin'?
Listen up, boys.
Even I harbor one great regret in my life.
"Why didn't I follow Thors back then?"
If only I had gone with him,
I might have discovered the secret to being a true warrior.
Well, either way, I'm still fighting against Sweyn.
All right! That settles it!
You have my assistance in this fight.
I'm on your side.
I want to see what you do and what you become with my own eye.
And if I find it's unworthy of the example you've shown, I'll kill you on the spot.
Very well.
As of today, you are my thegn.
Then what does that make us?
Well, if the captain's going with him, then...
Oh, he's still here?
Your Highness Canute.
It was I who killed Lord Ragnar.
Strike me down.
However!
If you would grant this wicked man life,
then he shall see that it is spent
in loyal service to you.
Do Ragnar's share of the lifting.
That is your atonement.
As you command!
If you will follow, then do so.
We march to drag King Sweyn off his throne.
What's the big idea?
Don't copy me.
Copy you? I was in his service first.
Either way, we're partners now.
I already killed all your men, though.
Hope you don't mind. Bygones and such.
I have no choice but to let bygones be bygones.
I feel like I'm almost there, but I'm not
Hounded by bones drifting along on silent winds
Unceasing echoes of voices won't ever fade
We can't well turn back without knowing what lies ahead
We may see in the same colors
But the breaths we draw are shaded differently
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
I've nothing left to even lose
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
No I don't want it, I don't want it,
I don't want it
Don't let me go
You're gonna make me drown
I'll head towards an answer that affords no footing
You're gonna make me go
You're gonna make me drown
No I don't want it, I don't want it,
I don't want it
But I know no one's there
I will stay right here
I'll walk the precipice