Episode 7

"Normanni" is the 7th episode of the Vinland Saga anime.

Synopsis
Askeladd sends a recalcitrant Thorfinn to deliver a message to the leader of a French army that lost a recent battle trying to siege a fortress. Although the negotiations had a rocky start, Thorfinn convinces the leader Jabbathe to agree. The following day, the army attacks the French fort again and due to the help from Askeladd’s men, they manage to conquer it.

Summary
Year 1012 AD, October, king Sweyn decides to stop the attacks on England, so that the soldiers can rest. And then they will strike again next Summer. As a result, they won't be needing Askeladd and his pirates. Bjorn wonders what they will do as they pillaged the best villages and it would be bad to just sit during the winter. Askeladd then states they will do what the birds do and go to where the food is.

They go to France, where the Franks are fighting amongst themselves near Loire river. Askeladd decides to side with the attackers, who are failing to take the defenders fort. Askeladd then wants to send Thorfinn to make contact with the attacking leader and tell him that he is bad and they can't watch him anymore and will help him. When the fort falls, they will take half of the spoils and they will attack again tomorrow morning. Once he tells him that, Thorfinn should stay in their camp and observe the situation. However, Thorfinn complains that he killed many men and accomplished a lot, yet Askeladd isn't giving him what he wants. Askeladd promises to pay him three pieces of gold, but as Thorfinn doesn't want that, he tells him that to get what he wants, he needs to bring at least one head with a helmet. Thorfinn is annoyed, but he heads out. Bjorn wonders if its okay to leave the negotiations to Thorfinn, but Askeladd explains that when soldiers are losing such battles, they are short-tempered and often kill the messenger before even the negotiations start, and Askeladd is fine loosing a kid.

Thorfinn goes to the attackers camp and explains that he is a messenger, but as they don't speak his language, they wonder if he is a spy from the fort and wish to secure him. However, Thorfinn takes one of the guards as prisoner and keeps request for someone who can speak Norse. When they find a man who can speak Norse, they take Thorfinn to Jabbathe, who finds half the spoils as too much and reveals that Thorfinn is a Normanni, the people from north who are attacking England. Thorfinn states that if they keep attacking the gate, they will keep dying and the their defense is weak on the lake, so they will attack there. A commanding officer states that they tried, but failed as to reach the lake they need to pass through a waterfall and a river that gets steeper upstream. Thorfinn wonders if they are refusing the offer, because in that case Askeladd and his men will join the defenders in the fort. The men point their blades at Thorfinn, but he explains that his death won't change anything and if he doesn't signal that the deal is done, they will make hundred men from the Norse their enemies. Jabbathe agrees, stating that if he is saying the truth, he will share his bread equally.

Thorfinn gives the signal and Askeladd gives orders to start moving. Some of the attacking Franks who are guarding their ships at the river, see a "dragon" going up the hill. In the morning, Jabbathe learns of the reports of a dragon climbing the mountain. His commander things its a bad omen, but Jabbathe wished he could have seen it too. Jabbathe asks Thorfinn where are his men, but Thorfinn insults him and tells him to just attack. Jabbathe realizes he insulted him before it was even translated and guesses that their entertainment tonight would be cutting Thorfinn's head. Thorfinn doesn't react, which annoys Jabbathe, but he then orders his men to attack.

The battle starts and Askeladd hears it. He realizes they are being late and tells his men to increase the tempo. Thorfinn sees birds flying away from the forest and then asks the translator who is the enemy leader, and the man points a guy with a feather on his helmet. Thorfinn then runs towards the fort, causing Jabbathe to believe he is running away and orders his men to kill him, but they fail to hit him with their arrows. In that moment, Askeladd comes out of the forest with his men carrying their boats, shocking Jabbathe.

As Askeladd army put their boats into the lake and head towards the fort, Jabbathe realizes they were friendly forces and orders his troops to continue the attack. The defenders leader didn't expect the enemy to carry their boats but orders the crossbowmen to turn around and shoot at the boats. Askeladd didn't expect crossbowmen and realizes he will lose some men. Thorfinn manages to climb up the fort using his daggers and attacks the crossbowmen. He proceeds to cut them one by one as he makes his way to their leader. As he reaches him, he cuts off his head, which ends up falling into the water and Thorfinn jumps after it. Askeladd's group is surprised the arrows stopped, but decide to use the chance to land and attack. The attacking Franks are finally able to break through the front gate, but once inside they are shocked to see that the defenders have been killed already.

Jabbathe enters the fort stating it was all thanks to his military tactics. His officer tells him that the defense leader was killed by a kid. Jabbathe realizes its Thorfinn, and that if he lets him go, he may turn into an enemy one day. Jabbathe then decides to attack the Normanni when they are returning through the forest with carrying their boats back. A man then runs to Jabbathe informing him that the treasure room has been emptied. They have also plundered the church and the houses of all the leaders, and have taken everything. With boats filled with gold, Askeladd yells that he has a message to the attacking Franks leader. Askeladd states that the Franks will be getting half the spoils: they get the victory, while Askeladd gets the treasure. Askeladd states he is quite generous as he is also leaving them the fort. Jabbathe gets angry and insults Askeladd. His captain tells his men to get in the boats as Askeladd plans to descend the river, but is informed that all the boats were burned. Thorfinn climbs the boat, surprising the rest that he is still alive. He throws the leader's head and challenges Askeladd to a duel. Askeladd agrees, but as the Franks start shooting arrows at them, he tells Thorfinn to ask him another time as he orders his men to row to escape.

At the waterfall, the Franks are still discussing the dragon they saw. Moments later, they see the dragon coming on the river as Askeladd's boats come down the waterfall.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Floki
 * Sweyn
 * Atli
 * Torgrim
 * Bjorn
 * Askeladd
 * Thorfinn
 * Jabbathe
 * Olov

Trivia
Odcinek 7