It is 1014 A.D.
York is under the control of the Danish Vikings led by King Sweyn.
The town is a major center for supplying slaves to much of Europe.
In this location the Vikings are the main traders of slaves.
I understand how you feel, chief.
But we're not rich enough to liberate the slaves even if we feel sorry for them.
It's been 11 years.
Haven't we spent enough time here.
If Thors hadn't saved me back then, I wouldn't made it out alive.
I still owe him that debt.
Hurry! Ready everything!
What's going on?
Hey, you!
Get that hunk of junk off the pier!
Hurry up! The lead ship is almost here!
Heave-ho!
Get out of here!
The royal ships are lining up to pull into the wharf!
Yeah! We got it!
Heave-ho!
So this is York?
It's a large town.
Yes.
It's an old town that goes back to Roman times.
People and cargo from both Scandinavia and England gather here.
The king likely intends to use it as the base for his new dynasty .
It is a good choice.
I would do the same.
What are these nobles doing here?
They're such a pain in the ass.
Hey chief, get the stern, will you?
Huh?
That man.
There's no mistaking him.
I could never forget that face!
Askeladd!
The pirate who killed Thors!
Don't push!
Whose procession is this?
So, what will we do?
The king will provoke a fight at tomorrow's banquet.
You're right. We'll need a plan.
It's clear that we'll be disadvantaged at tomorrow's royal council meeting.
Two separate territories may be given to you and Thorkell, thus separating you.
That will be both a reward and a command from the king.
If you refuse the offer, it could be seen as an act of sedition.
It all depends on the whim of the king.
It will be a problem if Thorkell is stolen from us.
Indeed. A big problem.
So am I supposed to sit and wait?
What do you think about
exposing everything to all these people right here and now?
Expose what?
Which one is the prince?
Isn't that him?
Prince Canute…
by this I mean that right here and now,
you will be assassinated.
He has been shot!
The prince has been shot!
Damn it! Where did it come from?
The northern bank! Search the area!
What? From this direction?
Seriously?
That was an easy job.
I think something has gone wrong.
We shouldn't get involved.
Hey! Chief, where are you going?
It's him! He's there!
What happened to you?
Are you all right?
You're bleeding.
What a waste of my time.
Hold it right there, you bastards!
What's going on down there?
You must be the rogues behind the assassination!
It was him, not me. He even has a deadly weapon.
What is this?
Is this a bow?
That's the deadly weapon?
Are you his accomplice?
No, I…
Don't think you can blame him and get away!
You're pinning it on your pal so you can save your own hide.
I said it wasn't me.
Lies! I can tell it by your eyes.
Look at those dull, dead eyes!
No matter what you say you look like a villain!
You intend to fight back?
Wait a minute!
He's a knife-thrower,
short and young.
Is it possible that you are
Thorfinn Karlsefni?
Thorfinn?
Karlsefni?
Who is that?
Idiot! Don't you know?
He's the man who beat Thorkell the Tall with two knives in a duel!
Really? Unbelievable.
This can't be good.
This guy's a servant of the prince.
Really?
Excuse me.
Are you…
Do you, perchance,
come from Iceland?
Your name
is Thorfinn, son of Thors.
You are
old man Leif?
You're alive!
Thank the Gods!
I am so overjoyed!
Out of the way!
Don't shake him, idiot!
-Where was he hit? -The chest!
Your Highness, stay with us!
Your Highness, I'm going to cut your clothes.
What the…?
I suspected the rumors were true, but…
The prince is a woman after all!
-What a revelation! -This can't be!
You fools.
I'm right here.
Of course, it wasn't true.
Why was a woman used?
We couldn't find a male slave who looked like you on such short notice.
Can she be saved?
There's little chance.
It is a mortal wound.
And if the arrow was poisoned, then she could already be…
Forgive me for this.
Tend to her and do everything in your power to save her.
Yes, Your Highness.
It seems taking precautions was a wise decision, Your Highness.
Doubtless you have several enemies hiding here in the town of York.
I understand.
You're seeking revenge.
Yes.
The time will come when I will kill that bastard
with my father's dagger.
He looks exhausted.
For a young boy like him to grow up on the battlefield,
means he's undoubtedly been through hell.
But I cannot give up.
To save this child, I must put the past 11 years behind me
Leif.
How is Vinland?
How is it there now?
My father wanted to go there.
I sometimes see it in my dreams.
Have they even established village?
Why not ask about the mother and sister you left behind?
Ever since you disappeared, Helga's health has grown worse.
Go see her, Thorfinn.
It would be medicine for Helga.
I'm asking you about Vinland!
Why speak of things I did not ask about?
Hey.
Hey, stop. Where are you going? Thorfinn!
Go back home, Thorfinn.
Stop this!
Let's go home together!
Enough?
What the hell do you know?
What the hell do you know about me after what happened that day?
Huh?
As long as Askeladd lives, eats, and shits, it's not enough!
It's not enough!
What a tragic sight.
What has that cheerful boy become?
I will wait here until you change your mind.
Thorfinn!
Come back home!
I brought you some booze.
Oh, thank you.
This is quite the room, Bjorn.
I'm jealous.
For risking my life, this room is much too small.
That reminds me,
Atli wanted to tell you that he greatly regrets what he did.
It's kill or be killed on the battlefield. There are no hard feelings.
The only one clutching onto a grudge is Thorfinn.
I'm fine. You can go. Isn't it time you to start scheming?
Yeah. I'll see you later.
Askeladd.
How
is your leg healing?
It took its share of arrows.
But it's fine.
It won't hinder me from wielding a sword.
I see.
Then, see you tomorrow.
All right.
Tomorrow.
We were outmaneuver.
Floki.
Yes.
I offer my deepest apologies.
Askeladd, right?
He's proven capable.
He has cast a shadow over the whole town.
The prince was killed?
No, it was a double.
How horrible. No one will sleep soundly tonight.
But I just don't get it.
What reason would an assassin have for targeting the prince?
Well, he is nobility. Naturally, his life would be in danger.
Yes, but we all know that King Sweyn is here as well.
Why wasn't he targeted?
You have a point there.
Besides, he has two potential successors.
If someone specifically targeted the second son, then that means…
You guys.
I heard something interesting about that very thing.
I mean, it's really just an unfounded rumor, but…
Something that's just a rumor. That should be enough.
It should be something unprovable and it should give the king leeway.
So you hired the assassin and planned everything from start to finish.
Not a bad performance, right?
But it's not enough to merely spread a rumor.
For such a production, there needs to be some truth for the rumor to spread.
Everyone knows about the dispute over the succession.
To this fact, I added an assassination attempt and a rumor.
Now then, gentlemen,
Let's see how this affects tomorrow's royal council.
I see.
He can no longer give orders that would be unfavorable to me.
Precisely.
If the king tries to steal Thorkell away or send you to the battlefield,
it will only support the rumors.
The king needs the good favor of his subjects.
He cannot risk damaging his reputation with the army…
especially if he's accused of targeting his own son.
You truly are a cunning man.
Where did you learn all this?
Using brute force isn't the only way to fight.
That's a good lesson.
For the time being, the king won't be able to touch me.
It's a good plan to buy us time.
But from now on, I forbid you to use a substitute in my place.
Understood.
I am deeply sorry.
You've truly impressed me, Askeladd!
It's like having an army of 10,000 supporters.
Much obliged.
Well, now that our discussion has ended, I must go attend to another matter.
Yes indeed! This is all very reassuring!
Your Highness.
You cannot trust Gunnar.
He's likely working for King Sweyn.
Why do you think so?
Based on what?
Intuition.
But there's no doubt about it.
Then isn't this bad? He knows everything now.
It doesn't matter.
I only said what I wanted him to hear.
If Gunnar's an enemy, then he'll relay the information tonight.
I have Thorfinn tailing him to confirm it.
What do we do if Gunnar is a spy?
Kill him?
We let him go.
Through him,
we'll let the king know we don't want a quick, decisive battle.
He'll believe his spy, and this will set him at ease.
To avoid an impending dispute, we need to be on the same page.
And with that, my plan is complete.
Wow.
This man is really something.
I can't wait to see the king's reaction tomorrow.
The king's home? Well, that settles it.
They're all obsessed with decieving each other.
Is that what a warrior does?
There's only one thing left for me to do.
You couldn't have waited until after the royal council meeting, Thorfinn?
Wouldn't it be better for you to wait until your arm heals?
Well, it's up to you. I'm fine either way.
I will bear witness.
When I tell you to stop, the duel is over. Do both parties agree?
That's fine.
But please wait a moment, Your Highness.
I have another appointment before this. He should be here soon.
Sorry, Thorfinn.
This won't take long.
Understood.
Begin.
Askeladd.
You are strong and clever.
And I respect you…
even though you have loathed me from the bottom of your heart.
Right, Askeladd?
But it's not just me.
All of our dead comrades.
And even yourself.
Is it not lonely?
Rejecting everyone and everything the way you do?
I…
wanted to be…
I wanted to be…
to be your friend.
Forgive me!
I missed your heart.
I'll end it quickly!
Askeladd.
I wanted to be your friend.
Yes, Bjorn.
You were…
my one and only
true friend.
Send me off.
Now then.
Sorry to keep you waiting, kid.
Come.
I'll play with you now.
Subtitle translation by Astrid Oliver