Dark Clouds
I'm sorry. I was wrong!
I'll apologize for everything!
Forgive me.
I'll release you.
I swear to Odin, I will.
Money! I'll even give you money.
I'll give you as much as you want.
That's not enough.
It'll take more than that to wipe away the insults I've suffered until today.
You try being a slave for once.
You won't understand the depths of my rage otherwise.
Okay!
I'll become your slave.
I'll serve you.
As of today, you'll be the master, and I'll be the slave.
Please, just spare my life, master.
I see. So you'll become my slave.
Yes, gladly.
Then whether you live or die...
is up to me.
It's been a long time.
Now I must go get her.
I guess we won't be visiting Mister Sverkel to borrow his horse anymore.
Why do you look so sullen?
I, um...
Have you already made your decision?
Huh? About what?
What you're going to do once you're free.
Oh, that.
How would you like to continue working for me as my retainers once you're free?
I'd gladly welcome a couple of hard workers like you.
I know what the master said, but I don't know.
I've lived too long as a slave.
I can't make a decision now that I'm free to choose whatever I want.
That's odd.
Does that mean you'd consider staying here?
It's true that we don't have a good relationship with the retainers.
But if I stay here, I might eventually get a chance to free Arnheid.
I'm surprised.
You're that in love with her?
Don't. It's not like that.
I just...
You're taking forever, Gramps!
Are you trying to kill me?
Where's the old man? He's not with you?
Huh? Oh...
The old master isn't back yet?
Not since he left for his farm this morning.
Damn it. It's already time for dinner.
He asked us to chop wood for him.
That's odd. Normally he'd be home by now.
I skipped lunch, too. Damn it, Gramps!
Are you trying to kill...
Huh?
Where... Where are you going?
To the farm. Follow me.
The farm?
Gramps...
Hey, Gramps. Hang in there. Gramps!
So I'm going to die in bed and not on my farm.
It's open. Let yourself in.
Excuse me.
The mistress instructed me to come.
W-Wow...
I-Is there enough here for us, too, Arnheid?
Yes.
The old master said it would be all right for me to cook for you as well.
I'm not sure if you'll like it, though.
Oh, I see none of you pray first...
So good!
Delicious!
It's so good!
Master, please have something to eat.
This is delicious!
Starting today, I'll be taking care of you.
I'll do anything you ask.
So good!
Have you had some of this?
Will you be staying at my house?
Have some of this!
What is that?
Yes, that's what the mistress told me to do.
Is it so good it hurts?
Now eat.
You okay?
Let me know if you don't like how it tastes.
I don't need any. I'll eat later.
I'm not hungry right now.
Oh, I see.
Don't mind him. Just shove the spoon in his mouth.
What?
Gramps is just embarrassed about being fed.
Get used to it, Gramps.
Until you've recovered, you're going to be fed for a while.
Did you just laugh?
N-No.
I'm really not hungry. I'll eat later—
Get out of here!
I'll wash the dishes.
No, I'll do it.
I'm glad the old master seems to be doing better than I'd heard.
And he doesn't seem as scary as they say.
Yeah. He's actually a kind man at heart.
He can be scary sometimes, though.
I think I know what you mean.
Hmph.
But...
I haven't had so much fun at a meal in a long time.
Neither have I.
It was like I was free again.
You're right. It did feel like that.
Hey, slaves. Is Snake around?
A runaway slave?
Yeah. He escaped from Kjallakr's farm three days ago.
That Kjallakr, huh?
He's always treated his slaves poorly.
He got what he deserved.
Actually, it's not that simple.
The slave killed Kjallakr and his sons and set his house on fire.
He's a violent man and a skilled fighter.
Kjallakr's uncle said he'd give three horses to whoever catches him.
What should we do, boss?
The three horses aside, we should probably take precautions.
Keep watch in groups of three for a while.
Even if you spot him, don't try too hard to catch him.
Call for reinforcements first.
There's no telling what a cornered man will do.
Look. That's him.
That's his hilt catching the sun.
Is he sleeping?
Looks like it. Just based on appearances, he looks like a beggar or pilgrim.
He looks pretty suspicious, right?
Yeah, sure does.
Hey, keep your voices down.
Does that mean it's him?
The guy worth three horses...
Yeah, it's gotta be.
Hey.
It's our lucky day.
You idiot, you can't assume that.
Hey, keep your voices down.
Huh?
Isn't he supposed to be pretty tough?
We'll be fine. We'll bag him easily while he's still asleep.
Guys, keep your voices down.
We should call for help, like the boss said.
Don't be a wuss, Lizard.
If we call for help, we'll get smaller shares.
I told you to keep your voices down.
How are you so confident when we don't even know how strong he is?
The reward is horses.
If we catch him now, each of us gets a whole horse.
It's not gonna go that well.
Keep your voices down.
There's nothing wrong with butchering a horse and cooking a leg or two to eat, fatty.
What was that, you shrimp?
If you're so desperate to die, go die by yourself.
I'll kill you first.
Not if I kill you first.
Keep your voices down, idiots.
Bring it on.
Man, it's hot.
Okay.
Thorfinn, I've got a lot of chopped wood waiting here.
Keep 'em moving.
Hey, Thorfinn.
S-Sorry, one second.
Sure thing.
What is Thorfinn doing?
Snake is reading the Bible inside.
The old master can't read himself. Thorfinn's eavesdropping on them.
I see. So Thorfinn is a Christian, too.
No, but he says it's interesting.
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'"
"But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
"so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;"
"for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,"
"and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
"For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?"
"Do not even the tax collectors do the same?"
"If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?"
"Do not even the Gentiles do the same?"
"Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Good grief, that's ridiculous.
Gramps, I'm sick of the Gospel.
Let's read the first bit again.
It's more interesting than this, at least.
Hey, Gramps, what are you doing?
Going for a piss?
The... The wheat...
I must harvest the wheat.
I told you, they finished the harvest a while ago.
Stay in bed.
Arnheid!
Gramps pissed himself. Do you mind?
Got it.
I'll help, too.
He's gone senile.
He probably doesn't have much longer to live.
What?
But he's well enough to go out on the farm every day.
Yeah, and he always goes fishing a couple times a day.
But he's old enough to have great-grandkids.
Old folks suddenly lose all their strength once their legs start to go.
But it won't be right away.
You guys should repay his kindness while you still have the chance.
There's something I've been wondering.
What's your relationship with the old master?
Huh? It's nothing special.
I'm just planning to inherit and sell that book once Gramps kicks the bucket.
Get back to work. The sun's setting.
Right.
Ow!
Ouch...
He's riding fast.
Is it one of my men?
No...
Hey, you on the horse. Stop!
Boss!
That's him! The runaway slave!
He killed Lizard! Get him!
Seriously? Damn it.
My sword's inside the house.
It can't be...
Gardar!
Arnheid!
I've finally found you,
my wife!
Freedom
"Freedom."