Volume 6

Volume 6 is the 6th volume in the series.

Chapters

 * Chapter 36: Two on the Battlefield
 * Chapter 37: The Definition of Love
 * Chapter 38: Out of the the Cradle
 * Chapter 39: The King Awakens
 * Chapter 40: The Legend of Thors
 * Chapter 41: United Front
 * Chapter 42: Verdict

Cover Characters

 * Thorfinn

Plot Overview
Canute dreams Ragnar is saying his farewells and apologizing to him. He wakes and tells Willibald of his dream. Willibald tells Canute that the emotion people mistake as love is in reality discrimination; Ragnar, for whom Canute's life was probably more important than even his own, discriminated and allowed many to die for Canute's sake. Willibald points to a nearby dead man and says he embodies love, as he will not hate, kill or steal, and that death completes a man. Canute sheds tears as he understands that the whole world brims with love, while there is none in the hearts of men. Still under the effects of the berserker mushroom and out of opponents, Bjorn notices Canute and Willibald and heads their way. Canute embraces the raging Bjorn, who comes back to. Canute decides that men will have to recreate Paradise with their own hands if God will not give it to them. Atli stabs Bjorn in the guts while he is distracted. Canute surprises everyone when he tells them they will go to Thorkell for a sled to carry the wounded Bjorn; he calls the men's battle pointless and states that as his subjects, he will give their battles, lives and deaths proper meaning, the calling of a king. Thorfinn and Thorkell begin their duel. Thorkell tells Thorfinn he'll tell him more about Thors if he makes the duel worth his while. Thorfinn aims for the tendons to immobilize Thorkell, who is wearing chain mail and whose vital points are out of reach. Thorkell tells Thorfinn he was hoping to learn of the missing something that would make him a complete warrior from the son of Thors, but that Thorfinn is missing it too. Thorkell uses his axes to send snow flying at Thorfinn and aims a kick at him while he is momentarily blinded; Thorfinn braces against it by bouncing off, but the force of the kick sends him soaring through the air and into a tree, breaking his arm. Thorkell insists on giving him time to patch up his wounds. Thorfinn reluctantly lets Askeladd patch him up while Thorkell tells him of Thors. He says that and Thors were two of four Jomsvikings captains and that Thors impressed their chief Sigvaldi so much that he offered Thors his daughter Helga. Thorkell confirms this means the head of Jom is Thorfinn's grandfather, and that he himself is Thorfinn's great-uncle. Thorkell tells Thorfinn that he saw Thors fall into the water fully armoured and never resurface at the battle of Hjörungavágr in Norway. They held a funeral without a body for him, but he last saw Thors in Jomsborg three months later, in 987 A.D. Thorkell had intercepted two people he assumed were thieves leaving Thors's old home in the night, but they were revealed to be Thors and Helga, holding a baby Ylva. Thorkell is at first happy to see Thors is alive, but Thors tells Thorkell that he now knows what it means to be a true warrior, will no longer battle, and is leaving the Jomsvikings. He asks Thorkell to forget he ever saw him. Thorkell reminds Thors of their laws about defection and attacks him. Thors refuses to use his sword and knocks Thorkell unconscious. Thorkell wakes to find Thors and Helga long gone, but decides that not telling anyone he saw them would be the honourable thing to do. Thorfinn refuses to tell Thorkell of Thors's life in Iceland in return; annoyed, Thorkell claims Thorfinn won't tell him of Thors because he learned nothing from him. Thorfinn rushes for Thorkell, but Askeladd holds him back and tells Thorfinn to take his advice and use it to overcome Thorkell if he wants both of them to make it out alive. Thorkell and Thorfinn resume their duel. Askeladd is happy that Thorfinn is maintaining a good position, being patient and leading Thorkell to believe he is helpless, causing Thorkell to lower his guard and approach him. Askeladd recalls witnessing an instant where Thorkell was brought to his knees at the Battle of Maldon many years prior and recreates it, angling his cleaned sword to catch the sunlight. He directs it into Thorkell's eyes, momentarily blinding him. Thorfinn uses the moment to leap up and kick Thorkell in the face; Thorkell falls onto his back. Thorfinn loses his cool and hooks his legs around Thorkell's neck, going for his eyes with his bare hands. Asgeir orders the men to rush Thorfinn together and kill him. Thorkell angrily orders them to stop, damning them for daring to shame him and dishonour his duel. Asgeir stands his ground and says Thorkell must live, as no one else could lead their army of five hundred beasts. Prince Canute arrives at the duel grounds and tells everyone to calm themselves. Atli is devastated to find that the band has been killed and that his brother Torgrim, who has survived, does not recognize him. Thorkell tells Canute that he has no right to interfere in a duel; Canute replies it's not much of a duel anymore and suggests he show pride and grace before his followers. Thorkell yells at him, since it's something he already knows. He reiterates that he lost the duel, despite this being precipitated by his men disobeying his orders and interfering, and tells them to let Thorfinn go. Thorfinn rushes Askeladd to leave, but Askeladd says he wants to stay and watch. Canute tells Thorkell he is there to borrow and sled and food and Thorkell asks why he would let him go. Canute tells him he has no value as a hostage, since King Sweyn favours his older brother Harald and sent Canute off to die in battle to prevent splitting the kingdom. He tells Thorkell that if he went free, he would go to Gainsborough to face his father, as it has to be done and he doesn't have much of a life to mourn even if he loses. Thorkell decides to test his resolve to give up his life by punching him in the face, but stops just short of making contact when Canute does not so much as flinch. Thorkell, who recognizes the look in Canute's eyes as the same one he saw in Thors's, says that his only regret was not following Thors back then and losing his chance at finding out what it means to be a true warrior. To the surprise of his men, he says he will fight with Canute, as he'll still be against King Sweyn anyway. Askeladd hands his sword to Canute and admits he is the one who killed Ragnar. He tells Canute to strike him down, or to let him live out his life in loyal service to him. Canute tells him his atonement will be to do Ragnar's share of the lifting. He tells everyone that if they are to follow him, they are off to Gainsborough to drag King Sweyn off of his throne.

Plot Summary
Before waking where he lies in the snow, Canute dreams Ragnar is saying his farewells. Ragnar apologizes for raising him like a common farmer would raise his son rather than how a king would; Canute tearfully tells him his life would have been much better if he was born his son. Canute wakes to find a berserker Bjorn fighting the men who had pursued their cart. Canute tells Willibald of his dream and laments that with Ragnar gone, there is no one left in the world who loves him. Willibald asks him what love is and if it was love Ragnar felt for Canute, as he allowed sixty-two innocent villagers to be killed for safety. Canute asks Willibald who embodies love if Ragnar did not love him; Willibald points to a nearby dead man and says he does, as he will not hate, kill or steal, and that death completes a man. Canute asks what the emotion between a parent and child, husband and wife, or Ragnar and him is if it is not love. Willibald says it is discrimination; Ragnar, for whom Canute's life was probably more important than even his own, discriminated and allowed many to die for Canute's sake. Canute understands that the whole world brims with love; the sun, the sky, the mountains, the trees and the breeze. He sheds tears as he wonders how God's creation can hold so much love, while there is none in the hearts of men. Willibald replies that they became pathetic creatures, exiled from Paradise, when their ancestors sinned and turned their backs on God. Atli wakes up to find his comrades dead, savagely killed by the berserker Bjorn. Still under the effects of the mushroom and out of opponents, Bjorn notices Canute and Willibald and heads their way. Canute stands and faces him without flinching. Disgusted with God, Canute wonders why He would make men seek Paradise and put them through trials for something they can never get back. He embraces the raging Bjorn, who comes back to. Canute decides that men will have to recreate Paradise with their own hands if God will not give it to them. Atli rushes at the momentarily distracted Bjorn and stabs him in the guts. Canute surprises everyone when he tells them they will go to Thorkell for a sled to carry the wounded Bjorn; he calls the men's battle pointless and states that as his subjects, he'll give them the proper time and enemy for their battles and give their lives and deaths proper meaning, the calling of a king.

Thorfinn and Thorkell duel; Thorfinn is able to dodge Thorkell's swings, but his own slashes are unable to draw blood from Thorkell since he is wearing chain mail underneath his coat. Thorkell goads Thorfinn about Thors; Thorfinn asks how Thorkell knew him. Thorkell gives him a bit of information and tells him he'll tell him more if he makes the duel worth his while. Thorfinn, who knows going straight for the vital points like in London would be bad, notes he has aim for tendons to immobilize Thorkell before going in for the kill. Thorkell compliments Thorfinn on his fighting skills, but comments that his swordwork is mundane and asks if he's ever felt like he's missing something that would make him a complete warrior. Thorkell admits that he himself is missing something and that he was hoping he could learn what it was from the son of Thors. He asks Thorfinn what makes a true warrior, causing Thorfinn to recall his father's last moments. Thorfinn keeps dodging Thorkell's swings and cuts up Thorkell's arms, though the cuts are still too shallow. Thorkell changes his approach uses his axe to send snow flying at Thorfinn and aims a kick at him while he is momentarily blinded; Thorfinn braces against it by bouncing off, but the force of the kick sends him soaring through the air. Thorfinn crashes near the top of a tree, hitting branches as he comes tumbling down. Thorfinn wakes and Thorkell tells him he'll give him time to patch up his wounds; Thorfinn wants to keep fighting, but realizes his right arm is broken. He very reluctantly accepts Askeladd's offer to patch him up when Thorkell says he'll tell him of Thors, as promised, while his arm is being tended to.

Thorkell tells Thorfinn that he and Thors were two of four Jomsvikings captains and that Thors was the best, impressing their chief Sigvaldi so much that he offered Thors his daughter, Thorfinn's mother Helga. Thorkell confirms this means the head of Jom is Thorfinn's grandfather, and that since Sigvaldi is his brother, Thorkell himself is Thorfinn's great-uncle. Thorkell tells Thorfinn that he saw Thors fall into the water fully armoured and never resurface at the battle of Hjörungavágr in Norway, where the Jomsvikings were defeated. He tells him that they held a funeral without a body for him, but that he last saw Thors in Jomsborg three months later, in 987 A.D., though he was a far cry from the Troll he had known. Seeing two hooded figures sneak from the deceased Thors's home, Thorkell assumes they are thieves and attacks them. His swing is blocked by one of the figures; his hood slips back to reveal Thors, the other figure Helga, holding baby Ylva. Thorkell is happy to see Thors alive and asks him to go speak to chief Sigvaldi, but Thors declines. He tells Thorkell that he now knows what it means to be a true warrior, will no longer battle, and is leaving the Jomsvikings, having only come back to Jomsborg to get Hegla and Ylva. He asks Thorkell to forget he ever saw him. Not understanding, Thorkell reminds Thors of their laws about defection and attacks him. Thors refuses to use his sword and knocks Thorkell unconscious. Thorkell wakes to find Thors and Helga long gone, but decides that not telling anyone he saw them would be the honourable thing to do. He learns Thors truly died fifteen years later, when Leif Ericson brought his body to Jomsborg.

Askeladd finishes splinting the humiliated Thorfinn's arm and Thorkell asks Thorfinn to tell him of Thors's life in Iceland. Thorfinn refuses; annoyed, Thorkell angers Thorfinn by telling him he won't tell him of Thors because he learned nothing from him, and tells him he's missing the spark Thors had in his eyes. Thorfinn rushes for Thorkell, but Askeladd holds him back and reminds him he'll lose if he keeps fighting Thorkell the same way while wounded. He reminds Thorfinn that he is dueling Thorkell so that he can beat Askeladd in a duel, and to take his advice and use it to overcome Thorkell if he wants both of them to make it out alive. Thorkell and Thorfinn resume their duel. Thorfinn simply keeps dodging and does not fight as sharply as before; Thorkell notes he is disappointed and expected him to show more backbone. Thorfinn lets one of Thorkell's hits make his shortsword fly off into a nearby tree. Askeladd is happy that Thorfinn is maintaining a good position, being patient and leading Thorkell to believe he is helpless, causing Thorkell to lower his guard and approach him. Askeladd recalls witnessing an instant where Thorkell was brought to his knees at the Battle of Maldon many years prior and recreates it, angling his cleaned sword to catch the sunlight and direct it into Thorkell's eyes, momentarily blinding him. Thorfinn uses the moment to leap up and kick Thorkell in the face; Thorkell falls onto his back. Thorfinn loses his cool and hooks his legs around Thorkell's neck, going for his eyes with his bare hands. Asgeir orders the men to rush Thorfinn together and kill him. Thorkell angrily orders them to stop, damning them for daring to shame him and dishonour his duel. He asks Asgeir what warrior's pride means to him and Asgeir replies that the duel is over and he will kill Thorfinn. Thorkell grasps Asgeir's neck and head, ready to kill him, but Asgeir stands his ground and says Thorkell must live, as no one else could lead their army of five hundred beasts.

Part of Thorkell's crew try to catch Prince Canute before he can take refuge somewhere. They are surprised when he goes to them and demands to be taken to Thorkell. Prince Canute arrives at the duel grounds and tells everyone to calm themselves, stating that there will be no more combat and that any who die in the battle are wasting their lives. Atli is devastated to find that the band has been killed and that his brother Torgrim, who has survived, does not recognize him. Thorkell tells Canute that he has no right to interfere in a duel; Canute replies it's not much of a duel anymore and suggests he show pride and grace before his followers. Thorkell yells at him, since it's something he already knows. He reiterates that he lost the duel, despite this being precipitated by his men disobeying his orders and interfering, and tells them to let Thorfinn go. Thorfinn rushes Askeladd to leave, but Askeladd says he wants to stay and watch. Canute tells Thorkell he is there to borrow and sled and food and Thorkell asks why he would let him go. Canute tells him he has no value as a hostage, since King Sweyn favours his older brother Harald and sent Canute off to die in battle to prevent splitting the kingdom. He tells Thorkell that if he went free, he would go to Gainsborough to face his father, as it has to be done and he doesn't have much of a life to mourn even if he loses. Thorkell decides to test his resolve to give up his life by punching him in the face, but stops just short of making contact when Canute does not so much as flinch. Thorkell, who recognizes the look in Canute's eyes as the same one he saw in Thors's, says that his only regret was not following Thors back then and losing his chance at finding out what it means to be a true warrior. To the surprise of his men, he says he will fight with Canute, as he'll still be against King Sweyn anyway. Askeladd hysterically laughs, then hands his sword to Canute and admits he is the one who killed Ragnar. He tells Canute to strike him down, or to let him live out his life in loyal service to him. Canute tells him his atonement will be to do Ragnar's share of the lifting. He tells everyone that if they are to follow him, they are off to Gainsborough to drag King Sweyn off of his throne.