1 00:01:45,660 --> 00:01:52,000 Path of Blood 2 00:01:45,660 --> 00:01:52,000 Path of Blood 3 00:02:13,350 --> 00:02:16,150 Are you deaf too, you old man? 4 00:02:24,890 --> 00:02:26,660 Don't move, guards. 5 00:02:29,930 --> 00:02:33,030 The king is within reach of my sword. 6 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:38,490 Is he serious? 7 00:02:38,490 --> 00:02:39,680 Oh, dear. 8 00:02:52,100 --> 00:02:53,270 Askeladd. 9 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,720 You bastard! King Sweyn is mine. 10 00:02:56,720 --> 00:02:57,940 Don't move, Thorkell! 11 00:02:57,940 --> 00:02:59,880 Askeladd's not acting normal. 12 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:01,320 Don't provoke him. 13 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:03,570 The king mustn't be harmed. 14 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:04,930 What? 15 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:15,590 Put away your sword, then I'll forgive you for this offense. 16 00:03:16,210 --> 00:03:17,840 Forgive me? 17 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,130 Don't push your luck, you savage. 18 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,640 As punishment for mocking my family and my people, you deserve to die! 19 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:27,930 This is my last warning. 20 00:03:28,730 --> 00:03:32,140 Put away your sword, Askeladd. 21 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,470 That's my nickname. 22 00:03:35,140 --> 00:03:38,900 I'll tell you the name my mother gave me. My real name. 23 00:03:40,660 --> 00:03:43,650 Lucius Artorius Castus. 24 00:03:44,410 --> 00:03:50,500 I am the rightful king of the land of Britannia. 25 00:04:07,930 --> 00:04:09,620 I feel better now. 26 00:04:33,350 --> 00:04:38,710 For a period of time, the Danes held dominion over England. 27 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:43,610 But in the year 1014, the situation changed rapidly 28 00:04:43,610 --> 00:04:46,480 with the death of King Sweyn of Denmark. 29 00:04:51,410 --> 00:04:56,750 Denmark and England crossed swords once again. 30 00:04:58,050 --> 00:05:00,520 Canute succeeded his father Sweyn 31 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:05,080 and took command of the Danish viking army in England. 32 00:05:06,220 --> 00:05:08,030 Upon hearing news of Sweyn's death, 33 00:05:08,030 --> 00:05:13,570 Ethelred II returned from his exile to Normandy and was reinstated. 34 00:05:14,660 --> 00:05:18,810 Both men proclaimed themselves King of England, 35 00:05:18,810 --> 00:05:23,030 and the fate of the throne was uncertain once more. 36 00:05:23,580 --> 00:05:28,770 England was exhausted by never-ending battles. 37 00:05:37,210 --> 00:05:39,000 Your Highness, stand back. 38 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:42,150 I'm fine. I didn't drink any. 39 00:05:42,150 --> 00:05:44,400 Y-Your Highness, have mercy! 40 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:48,700 I swear to our Lord Jesus Christ that I didn't know. 41 00:05:48,700 --> 00:05:50,700 I had no idea the drink was poisoned. 42 00:05:51,130 --> 00:05:52,990 Your Highness, have mercy! 43 00:05:52,990 --> 00:05:54,790 Please, King Ethelred! 44 00:05:55,610 --> 00:05:57,130 Bastard... 45 00:05:58,730 --> 00:06:00,500 Such underhanded means... 46 00:06:26,250 --> 00:06:32,970 The situation here is even worse than we were told, Your Highness. 47 00:06:33,930 --> 00:06:36,870 It will take a long time for Mercia, 48 00:06:37,230 --> 00:06:42,310 once called the Jewel of the Fields, to recover from this. 49 00:06:43,730 --> 00:06:46,600 Gunnar, don't speak as though we had nothing to do with this. 50 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:49,050 We laid waste to this region. 51 00:06:51,850 --> 00:06:52,950 What is that? 52 00:06:53,740 --> 00:06:54,570 Huh? 53 00:06:55,590 --> 00:06:57,270 Oh, right. 54 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:02,520 This is the advance force of our army, which conquered this region. 55 00:07:02,970 --> 00:07:04,440 That's not what I meant. 56 00:07:04,440 --> 00:07:06,780 I'm asking what it is that they're doing. 57 00:07:07,470 --> 00:07:10,240 Why, pillaging the land, of course. 58 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,810 They're looking for girls to sell from among the beggars. 59 00:07:14,710 --> 00:07:16,130 I thought I forbade that. 60 00:07:16,970 --> 00:07:19,620 Have them beheaded and display their heads on the road. 61 00:07:19,620 --> 00:07:20,580 What? 62 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:26,220 B-But collecting the spoils of war is a military custom. 63 00:07:26,220 --> 00:07:28,750 Cracking down on it harshly would be... 64 00:07:28,750 --> 00:07:31,570 Men who can't maintain discipline are no soldiers of mine. 65 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,600 Behead them and display their heads on the road. 66 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:38,730 Y-Yes, Your Highness. 67 00:07:38,730 --> 00:07:39,670 Hey, you! 68 00:07:39,670 --> 00:07:41,890 What? Seriously? 69 00:07:57,450 --> 00:08:01,750 I appreciate you coming all the way here, Your Highness. 70 00:08:02,390 --> 00:08:04,880 Floki, have the arrangements been made? 71 00:08:05,230 --> 00:08:07,870 Yes, Your Highness, they await your command. 72 00:08:07,870 --> 00:08:10,760 They can move out immediately. 73 00:08:11,780 --> 00:08:15,560 But you need not have met them yourself. 74 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:17,640 You could have allowed us to handle the matter. 75 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,130 It's fine. I was already here observing the military situation. 76 00:08:21,130 --> 00:08:22,270 I shall meet with them. 77 00:08:22,600 --> 00:08:25,550 Earl Eadric of Mercia is a coward. 78 00:08:25,550 --> 00:08:27,890 He is hardly a man worth meeting. 79 00:08:28,460 --> 00:08:31,880 A person's character and their usefulness are two different things. 80 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,150 Either way, I shall meet him and judge for myself. 81 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:41,210 And besides, there is another reason for my visit. 82 00:08:42,350 --> 00:08:44,340 What do you mean? 83 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,290 Hey! 84 00:08:48,290 --> 00:08:52,300 Canute! 85 00:08:52,300 --> 00:08:55,550 You're here, you bastard! 86 00:08:55,550 --> 00:08:59,300 Canute! 87 00:08:59,970 --> 00:09:02,240 I must appease that. 88 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,700 I imagine it was too great a task for you and your men. 89 00:09:04,700 --> 00:09:07,100 Yes, indeed. 90 00:09:17,610 --> 00:09:20,490 You little brat! 91 00:09:20,490 --> 00:09:21,930 Let me hit him! 92 00:09:21,930 --> 00:09:26,420 Get outta my way and let me hit him once! 93 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:28,500 Calm yourself, Thorkell. 94 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:32,110 Why, you friggin' fraggin' little... 95 00:09:33,110 --> 00:09:40,760 I hate when someone stops my battles more than I hate frogs! 96 00:09:41,100 --> 00:09:41,930 What? 97 00:09:41,930 --> 00:09:43,010 Frogs? 98 00:09:44,150 --> 00:09:46,970 Mercia has requested a truce. 99 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:50,650 Our victory here is as good as certain. 100 00:09:51,050 --> 00:09:53,030 You did well, Thorkell. 101 00:09:53,030 --> 00:09:55,030 Shut up! 102 00:09:55,770 --> 00:10:02,120 Battles don't stop until you've taken the opposing leader's head. 103 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,790 I was about to lop off Eadric's head. 104 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:08,750 Don't make such a fuss. 105 00:10:08,750 --> 00:10:12,340 Earl Eadric of Mercia is merely the leader of this region. 106 00:10:12,780 --> 00:10:14,500 Look at the bigger picture. 107 00:10:15,050 --> 00:10:18,620 I don't care about that crap. 108 00:10:18,620 --> 00:10:22,550 I just want to enjoy a fulfilling life of warfare. 109 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:28,440 In the lands to the east, Ethelred's son, Edmund, is making some disquieting moves. 110 00:10:28,890 --> 00:10:33,860 I ask that you help us pacify the east. Your overwhelming strength in battle is— 111 00:10:33,860 --> 00:10:39,400 I'll decide where I go and who I fight, Dicehead. 112 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:41,820 Canute! 113 00:10:42,430 --> 00:10:47,580 You'd better not have forgotten what I said to you then. 114 00:10:48,690 --> 00:10:55,970 "I'm going to watch what you do from now on, and who you'll become." 115 00:10:57,460 --> 00:11:00,280 You're still a nobody. 116 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:02,840 You aren't even the King of England. 117 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,510 You're just a kid. 118 00:11:05,870 --> 00:11:07,900 So listen up, kid. 119 00:11:07,900 --> 00:11:11,750 No matter what you do, you won't be able to avoid war. 120 00:11:12,190 --> 00:11:15,730 You have no choice but to carve your path with blood and iron. 121 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:19,120 Just like Askeladd did. 122 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:20,650 Don't forget that. 123 00:11:21,100 --> 00:11:25,380 From the start, the path you walk has been covered in blood. 124 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:29,370 How long are you going to keep doing that? 125 00:11:29,370 --> 00:11:31,870 It's annoying! Get outta here! 126 00:11:32,220 --> 00:11:34,370 Boy, I'm pissed. 127 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:39,010 I'll back down for today, but there won't be a second time. 128 00:11:39,010 --> 00:11:40,660 And don't you forget it. 129 00:11:42,510 --> 00:11:45,600 H-How dare he insult you like that in front of the soldiers. 130 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:50,520 Your Highness, you mustn't overlook this offense. 131 00:11:51,250 --> 00:11:53,950 Why not? It makes sense. 132 00:11:53,950 --> 00:11:55,770 He offered a valuable warning. 133 00:11:56,840 --> 00:11:58,850 He's an honest man. 134 00:11:57,460 --> 00:11:58,850 {\an8}Move it! 135 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:01,000 {\an8}Clear the way. 136 00:11:59,560 --> 00:12:02,400 It would surely be a pleasure to live like him. 137 00:12:05,850 --> 00:12:06,790 Let's go. 138 00:12:30,100 --> 00:12:32,450 4,000 pounds of silver. 139 00:12:32,890 --> 00:12:36,210 This is everything we were able to gather at this time. 140 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:39,270 Please accept this offering. 141 00:12:43,830 --> 00:12:47,780 If you'll withdraw your forces from Mercia, 142 00:12:48,110 --> 00:12:50,760 we'll provide you with an additional 4,000 pounds. 143 00:12:50,760 --> 00:12:54,090 It's not a bad deal, Canute. 144 00:12:55,110 --> 00:12:59,530 You offer me Danegeld, Eadric? 145 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:07,160 What is your answer, Canute? 146 00:13:22,470 --> 00:13:23,940 This is nothing. 147 00:13:37,090 --> 00:13:40,460 Okay, lift 'em. 148 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:52,420 Hup. 149 00:14:28,180 --> 00:14:29,790 Let me ask you something. 150 00:14:31,190 --> 00:14:39,270 You're paying me this silver so I'll leave Mercia, aren't you, Eadric? 151 00:14:39,850 --> 00:14:42,270 I-I'm offering you 8,000 pounds. 152 00:14:42,270 --> 00:14:45,360 That should be more than enough for you to withdraw. 153 00:14:47,590 --> 00:14:48,490 It's not. 154 00:14:49,770 --> 00:14:52,900 Think carefully about what you're saying. 155 00:14:53,390 --> 00:14:57,500 You're telling Canute, Bretwalda of England, 156 00:14:57,850 --> 00:15:01,490 to take this money and leave his own territory. 157 00:15:02,310 --> 00:15:06,760 And the price you set on such an insult against a king is this paltry sum? 158 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:12,370 I am your king. 159 00:15:13,210 --> 00:15:17,540 I came to this land to quell the rebellion taking place within my domain, 160 00:15:18,770 --> 00:15:20,730 not for wealth. 161 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:25,400 This is nonsense! 162 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:31,530 Our king is Ethelred of the honorable House of Wessex, not you. 163 00:15:31,530 --> 00:15:32,940 Silence. 164 00:15:32,940 --> 00:15:34,400 But Father... 165 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,600 Enough. This is neither the time nor place. 166 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:42,790 You're right. There is another who calls himself the King of England. 167 00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:49,670 So, did you offer me this deal with Ethelred's permission? 168 00:15:51,290 --> 00:15:56,300 I-I'm sure His Highness would understand if we explained the situation to him. 169 00:15:57,350 --> 00:16:00,310 Ah, how open-minded of him. 170 00:16:00,950 --> 00:16:06,490 So Ethelred would forgive one of his own vassals for deserting 171 00:16:06,490 --> 00:16:08,600 in order to protect his own land. 172 00:16:09,940 --> 00:16:13,240 Now, that's not nice. 173 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:14,890 He's got a nasty streak. 174 00:16:17,330 --> 00:16:20,250 The world is in chaos because there are two kings. 175 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,940 One must die. 176 00:16:27,860 --> 00:16:31,960 Ethelred is a coward who abandoned his people and throne 177 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,170 to flee into exile during the previous war. 178 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:41,990 Don't you think it's foolish to trust the future of England to such a man? 179 00:16:44,410 --> 00:16:48,610 You're telling me to betray him? 180 00:16:52,330 --> 00:16:54,490 You've already betrayed him. 181 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,840 I'd like you to assist me, Eadric. 182 00:17:05,690 --> 00:17:09,060 I'd like to make Ethelred go away. 183 00:17:12,210 --> 00:17:16,030 You've served him for many years as his vassal. 184 00:17:16,030 --> 00:17:18,010 I'm sure you would know of a good method. 185 00:17:20,980 --> 00:17:26,770 Do you intend to strip me of every last shred of loyalty, boy? 186 00:17:27,910 --> 00:17:30,370 In exchange, I'll allow you to keep Mercia. 187 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:33,060 Ethelred's head is my price. 188 00:17:33,780 --> 00:17:35,780 A good deal, don't you think? 189 00:17:36,890 --> 00:17:41,210 I refuse. A truce is off the table. 190 00:17:41,210 --> 00:17:45,290 I'll keep fighting a foul man like you until the bitter end. 191 00:17:50,870 --> 00:17:55,130 Floki, this man doesn't seem to be a coward. 192 00:17:55,130 --> 00:17:56,630 He's got some backbone. 193 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:02,900 In that case, shall we test it, Your Highness? 194 00:18:06,680 --> 00:18:08,560 Come outside, Eadric. 195 00:18:09,270 --> 00:18:11,380 I have something to show you. 196 00:18:57,590 --> 00:18:59,070 Are you ready? 197 00:18:59,070 --> 00:19:00,610 Yes, Your Highness. 198 00:19:02,630 --> 00:19:03,490 Light it. 199 00:19:17,540 --> 00:19:21,510 Signal fires? What are they signaling? 200 00:19:24,650 --> 00:19:27,750 What is this? 201 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:34,130 What are you doing, Canute? 202 00:19:48,410 --> 00:19:49,570 Father. 203 00:19:51,650 --> 00:19:53,960 L-Look... 204 00:20:06,340 --> 00:20:08,330 Th-There are more over there. 205 00:20:12,650 --> 00:20:17,910 C-Canute, what are they signaling? 206 00:20:21,860 --> 00:20:24,790 This is what it means to go to war against me. 207 00:20:26,930 --> 00:20:29,430 Imagine it, Eadric. 208 00:20:30,820 --> 00:20:35,860 Mercia has been reduced to ash. 209 00:20:51,350 --> 00:20:52,600 Do you understand now? 210 00:20:53,430 --> 00:20:59,360 If I will it, reducing you to ash would be no trouble at all. 211 00:21:06,530 --> 00:21:07,690 Father! 212 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,250 Buy peace by offering me Ethelred's head. 213 00:21:19,050 --> 00:21:20,570 It's the smart choice. 214 00:21:47,830 --> 00:21:56,330 The next year, in April of 1016, King Ethelred II of England would die. 215 00:22:04,340 --> 00:22:05,320 Your Highness! 216 00:22:07,540 --> 00:22:09,480 It is said he died of an illness. 217 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:23,940 After Ethelred's death, his son Edmund assumed the throne. 218 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,370 As his father's successor, 219 00:22:27,370 --> 00:22:30,950 Edmund caused great trouble for Canute's forces in a hard-fought war, but... 220 00:22:36,190 --> 00:22:42,210 Seven months later in that same year, he unsurprisingly also died of an illness. 221 00:22:55,300 --> 00:22:57,130 Died of an illness, huh? 222 00:22:57,830 --> 00:23:01,100 It took King Sweyn ten years to conquer the nation, 223 00:23:01,610 --> 00:23:03,860 and this time, it ended in less than three. 224 00:23:05,110 --> 00:23:10,330 The Witanagemot will recognize Canute as Bretwalda. 225 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:13,290 The coronation will be held first thing next year. 226 00:23:18,790 --> 00:23:20,770 Don't talk to me about Canute. 227 00:23:21,290 --> 00:23:22,730 You're ruining my beer. 228 00:23:27,380 --> 00:23:28,510 Fine, fine. 229 00:23:43,860 --> 00:23:49,570 Sweyn, Ethelred, and Edmund... 230 00:23:51,110 --> 00:23:54,090 Thanks to the unnatural deaths of his rivals, 231 00:23:54,090 --> 00:24:00,370 in the year 1018, Canute officially became King of England. 232 00:25:51,190 --> 00:25:54,990 We Need a Horse 233 00:25:51,190 --> 00:25:54,990 We Need a Horse 234 00:25:52,940 --> 00:25:54,340 {\an8}"We Need a Horse."