Huh?
Oh, whew.
It was just a dream.
Boy, that was scary.
Father had been killed.
I wandered across battlefields fighting men who were like monsters.
And in the end, I became a slave.
I'm glad I'm here.
It's so peaceful.
What's with this guy?
H-He's so persistent.
Stay down already!
Damn it.
What's wrong? I'll keep fighting.
Let's find out if we're beneath you or not!
I don't have time for this.
Aw, man. I've had enough.
You'd better prepare yourselves.
You slaves have got some serious punishment waiting for you after going this wild.
We won.
Oath
Father!
Listen to this.
I just had a crazy dream.
A bunch of arrows came flying, and you—
I smell blood.
Huh?
Who did you kill...
with that knife?
What?
It was to protect you.
That strength was for protecting you.
I'm sorry, Thorfinn.
I still had things to tell you.
There was still so much I needed to teach you.
No. Father...
I... This is...
I'm sorry...
I did this!
...for leaving you alone.
Father, wait! Wait! Father!
You understand now.
You don't have any enemies.
Nobody has any enemies.
There's no one who it's okay to hurt.
There never was.
What is this place? Valhalla?
They're laughing...
Bjorn?
Still stuck up there, huh, Thorfinn?
Hey. It's been a while.
Askeladd...
You never learn, do you?
You're already back here again?
Is this Valhalla?
What? Valhalla?
You think this is the afterlife?
You can't be serious.
The afterlife is a much nicer place than this.
Look carefully.
This place is no different from the world of the living.
It's where all the shit gets dumped...
Where all warriors wind up.
It's the purest form of war.
There is no victory. There is no end.
In this place, everyone besides yourself is your enemy.
Everyone... is your enemy...
Do you remember, Thorfinn?
You used to live here with us.
But for better or for worse, you became empty.
That's why you were able to escape this place.
I shouldn't be saying this as the man who dragged you here, but you're lucky.
Not many men ever manage to escape.
Just look at Bjorn.
You were once filled with the idea of being a warrior, but then you were emptied out.
What's inside you now?
I'm... still a warrior.
I struck someone in a fit of rage.
That's why I'm back here.
I still reside in this place.
My hands are about to give out, too.
I'm pathetic. I never grow.
Me, me, me.
Good grief. A little soul-searching is all well and good, but try to keep your eyes open.
Something terrifying's right beneath your feet.
You're kicking them? How cruel.
Shouldn't you lend an ear to their complaints?
Complaints?
That's right. Look closely.
I'm sure you recognize some of those faces.
They're all of the people you killed.
What?
I...
You... All of you...
I don't know who you are or where you're from.
I can't remember where or when I killed you.
I'm sorry.
Unbelievable. What an uncouth lot.
Come on! You don't have time to cry.
You don't want to fall back down here, do you?
Even if they're hanging off you, keep climbing!
Climb!
That's your battle.
Go!
Take the people you killed with you!
Fight your true battle!
Become a true warrior,
Thorfinn!
A dream?
A true...
Einar. Einar!
Hey! Are you alive?
Yeah.
We won the fight.
Man, we've hit rock bottom.
We're drowning in debt, our wheat has been ruined, and I'm a mess.
On top of that, we'll be punished for getting into that fight.
But seeing you punch that guy sure was satisfying.
Ow...
What's wrong? Are you in pain, too?
Einar, I've used these hands to kill so many people.
People no different from your family...
People whose names I didn't even know.
People who I bore no grudge against.
And today, I struck another person.
But it ends now.
I'll never hurt anyone again.
As of today, I'm swearing off violence.
I'm going to be reborn.
I need to be reborn and start atoning for what I've done.
I'm going to fight my true battle.
I see. All right.
I don't really get it, but I hear you loud and clear.
I'm going to be reborn.
They're not going to be punished? That's ridiculous!
Master, this matter concerns order and discipline on the farm!
Pater found this on the ravaged farm this morning.
By the way, Trygve, where's that coat you always wear?
Huh? What? Uh...
The farm was ravaged by wild boars. There was no fight.
That's the story we're going with. Got it?
Thank you, master.
You're a strong man, Pater.
You're not the slightest bit afraid of being ostracized by the people you work with?
I've been through a lot.
After all, I used to be a slave.
Loosen up or you'll wear yourself out.
Let the weight of the hoe do the work.
Yes, sir.
The Cursed Head
"The Cursed Head."