Volume 4

Volume 4 is the 4th volume in the series.

Chapters

 * Chapter 22: The Troll's Son
 * Chapter 23: Reinforcements
 * Chapter 24: The Land On The Far Bank
 * Chapter 25: Bluff
 * Chapter 26: Artorius
 * Chapter 27: The Warriors And The Monk
 * Chapter 28: Night Attack

Cover Characters

 * Canute
 * Ragnar

Plot Overview
In November 1013, in the Marlborough forest near Bath, Ragnar and Thorkell's men are forced to stop fighting due to the fire started by Askeladd's men. Thorfinn, tasked with braving the blaze to fetch Askeladd Prince Canute, briefly speaks to Thorkell and learns he knew Thors. As the fire worsens, Thorkell lets him leave with the prince for now, as they are both heading to Sweyn's main force anyway. Ragnar reluctantly places Canute's safety in Askeladd's hands and tasks him with returning him to the main force safely. Chased by Thorkell and his men, Askeladd pays a man manning a ferry with delivering a written message in his name to anyone of authority on the other bank of the River Severn. He tells his men he has sent for reinforcements; they are surprised when it arrives in the shape of two ships, which ferry them across to the principality of Morgannwg, in Wales. Thorkell and his men, who cannot cross, lose the trail for the time being. Ragnar wants to sail to Gainsborough, but Askeladd refuses to request the small Morgannwg's shore defenses and insists that they march inland instead. Gratianus, the legatus who had responded to Askeladd's request for aid, asks Canute that in exchange for their help, he promise to forge a non-aggression treaty and to leave Wales alone once he is King of England, but Canute does not respond. Gratianus questions Askeladd about backing a man like Canute. The band starts marching and is ambushed by the envoy of Brycheiniog, Asser, and his men, despite Gratianus having sent word ahead. Askeladd asks Canute to say something fierce to scare them into letting them pass, but Canute is unable to speak. Gratianus and Askeladd go speak to Asser. They tell him Askeladd is half Welsh and the last of Artorius's lineage, and of his plan to rise in the Nordic ranks, become an important figure in Prince Canute's retinue, and exert a direct influence on Danish politics once they put Canute on the throne, a position from which he can best protect Wales and its interests. Asser agrees to help Askeladd. Askeladd's men willingly relinquish their weapons on Askeladd's order and pretend to be prisoners escorted across Brycheiniog by Asser and his men, a compromise which preserves the Welsh's honour while preventing a pointless battle. They are given their weapons back once they reach the border. In December 1013, Askeladd alters their course on the onset of snow, but they are nevertheless caught in a blizzard. Ragnar wants to turn back to Wales to winter, but Askeladd refuses, since it would mean leaving behind their plundered treasure and that they need shelter immediately in any case. The band attacks a nearby Mercian village and rounds up the food and the villagers. Despite Willibald and Ragnar's protests, Askeladd says the sixty-two villagers must all be killed, since there would be no food for them if they left them alive and a single person escaping and spreading word of the enemy settling in their territory would cause them to be surrounded at once. Unbeknownst to Askeladd, a young village girl, Anne, was not rounded up with the other villagers and was able to escape unnoticed after witnessing the massacre.

Plot Summary
In November 1013, the fire started by Askeladd's men in the Marlborough forest near Bath confuse Ragnar's and Thorkell's men, who cannot keep fighting in the low visibility. Askeladd sends Thorfinn into the blaze to secure and bring back Prince Canute. Thorfinn arrives in time to defend Canute from some of Thorkell's men before Thorkell himself approached. Thorkell talks to Thorfinn, who is surprised to learn Thorkell knew Thors, whom he refers to as the one man in the world stronger than him. The fire worsens and Thorkell lets Thorfinn leave with the prince, saying they're both heading to Sweyn's main force anyway. Ragnar reluctantly places Canute's safety in Askeladd's hands and tasks him with returning him to the main force safely. Askeladd and his men are surprised by Canute's face when he removes his helm.

Near the East Bank of the River Severn in Eastern England, Askeladd's band is relentlessly pursued by Thorkell and his men. Askeladd speaks to a man manning a ferry and pays him to deliver a scroll to anyone of authority on the other bank in his name. Askeladd tells his men he's sent for reinforcements. The men grumble about marching and start to have doubts about Askeladd's plan. Upon reaching the bank, they are surprised to be greeted by a legatus and two ships. The ships ferry them across the bank to the principality of Morgannwg. Thorkell is notified of what happened and is surprised that Askeladd had allies in Wales; he and his men must head back to Bristol for ships if they want to cross, effectively losing the trail for now. Ragnar wants to sail to Gainsborough, but Askeladd says they cannot take a small kingdom's shore defences and must march inland instead. He tasks Thorfinn with guarding Canute; Thorfinn agrees once Askeladd promises him a duel upon reaching their destination. Gratianus, the legatus, asks that in exchange for their help, Canute promise to forge a non-aggression treaty and swear not to interfere in Welsh matters once he is King of England. Canute does not respond and tries to have Ragnar handle matters for him, but Gratianus wants to hear it from the prince himself and promises to bring the matter back up later.

Marching in towards the mountains, some of Askeladd's men speak to Willibald and question him about his concept of "love", which they do not understand. Gratianus questions Askeladd about backing Canute, having thought him a better judge of character. They see the envoy from Brycheiniog up ahead, to whom Gratianus had sent word in advance. Askeladd stops his band after Bjorn tells him what Ear has just noticed, but they are already surrounded by Welsh archers, who shoot down Askeladd's horse. Askeladd greets the envoy, Asser, who is surprised to hear a Dane speak Welsh. Askeladd deduces the show of strength was to gain the upper hand in the parlay rather than to start a battle and plays along. He asks Canute to say something fierce to them so that the envoy's forces will cower and let them pass, but Canute cannot do it and hides behind Ragnar. Askeladd decides to tell Asser of his plan and heads up to meet him with Gratianus, who notes that Ragnar does Canute no favours and that Canute must fly on his own wings if Askeladd's plan is to succeed.

Askeladd and Gratianus speak to Asser alone. They tell him that Askeladd is Lydia's son and the last descendant of the hero Artorius, which Gratianus can attest to, as he first met Askeladd on his first visit to Wales, carrying his dying mother Lydia. Askeladd explains that his mixed blood allowed him to assimilate into Nordic society and that he is well placed to become an important figure in Prince Canute's retinue, act in the cause against the first prince in the matter of succession, and exert a direct influence on Danish politics if they can put Canute on the throne. Asser likes his bold plan, but asks Askeladd how he can be sure the blood of Artorius will always triumph over his Danish half, to which Askeladd simply replies that he hates the Danes. Asser agrees to help Askeladd. Askeladd's men willingly relinquish their weapons on Askeladd's order (save Ragnar and Thorfinn) and pretend to be prisoners escorted across Brycheiniog by Asser and his men, a compromise which preserves the Welsh's honour while preventing a pointless battle. Canute eventually signs a document and Askeladd's men, over the border, get their weapons back and keep marching as the snow starts to fall. On a brief rest stop, Atli keeps questioning Willibald about the concept of "love", describing his bond with his brother Torgrim and asking him if that is it. Willibald says it is surely a special bond, but that it is not "love". Torgrim offers him a tale the old hands still sometimes speak of; of the fierce warrior they encountered while waylaying ships in the Faroe Islands, who managed to fight them off bare-handed without killing or severely injuring any of them. Though Torgrim does not remember Thors's name, one of the men remembers that he had a sword but did not use it, and said "a true warrior needs no sword". Willibald, amazed, contemplates the words.

In December 1013, Askeladd alters their course on the onset of snow, but they are nevertheless caught in a blizzard. Ragnar wants to turn back to Wales to winter, but Askeladd refuses, since it would mean leaving behind their plundered treasure and that they need shelter immediately in any case. A young Christian English girl named Anne, in a nearby Mercian villages, steps out of her family's supper under the pretext of going to the bathroom in order to contemplate a ring she had stolen at the market and what it would mean for her come Judgement Day. She hides once she sees strange men about to enter her home and hears Father Willibald's screamed warnings, before he is knocked out by some of Askeladd's men. The band rounds up all of the food and the sixty-two villagers. Despite Willibald and Ragnar's protests, Askeladd says the villagers must all be killed, since there would be no food for them if they left them alive and a single person escaping and spreading word of the enemy settling in their territory would cause them to be surrounded at once. Anne, who has escaped, stands alone in a field and asks God if her family have reached Him, supposing he did not want her after all.