Chapter 48

"When we were waylaid by pirates... we would not be where we are now, if not for Thors. That debt must be paid. No matter where we looked, Thorfinn was nowhere to be found. I knew that boy. If he'd snuck onto their ship, hoping to avenge his father..."

- Leif Ericson

Reunion (再会, Saikai) is the 48th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Leif talks to a slaver in the Viking-occupied Jorvik. The slaver doubts Thorfinn would still be alive if he went missing at age six or seven, but tells Leif that he will buy him if he comes across him. On their moored knarr, Mols tells Leif he should forget Thorfinn, as he's already been looking for him for eleven years, but Leif wants to repay his debt to Thors, who saved them. Men block off the pier and tell Mols and Leif to go, as an important procession of ships is arriving. Prince Canute's retinue pulls in on their ships. Canute asks Askeladd if they are ready for what King Sweyn has planned — Askeladd guesses King Sweyn will try to separate Canute and Thorkell's forces by granting them separate territories under the guise of a reward. He suggests informing the world of the state of affairs and having Canute die. A man wielding a crossbow infiltrates a crowd watching the ships arrive from above the docks and shoots Canute. Askeladd yells out that the prince has been shot. As the attacker moves to dispose of the weapon, he is intercepted by Thorfinn. Leif recognizes Askeladd as the pirate who killed Thors and runs up on the docks, desperate to grasp onto a thread that might bring him to Thorfinn. The attacker falls onto the docks in front of Leif. Thorfinn leaps down and kills the crossbow wielder. Thorfinn turns back to see Leif, who looks shocked.

Summary
In 1014, York, Northern England, is under the control of King Swey n, whose Danish Vikings call the town "Jorvik." Slave traders do business there, having plenty of English slaves in stock from the war. Some count on the church to pay for their return. One slave trader speaks to Leif and asks him if he ever considered slave trading; he denies, stating that he happens to also be a Christian and that it pains him to see his fellows in such a state. The slave trader asks him to remind him who he was looking for. Leif says he is looking for Thorfinn, son of Thors. The slaver asks what the story was and if Thorfinn was an old favourite slave who escaped. Leif corrects him and says that he's the son of a friend, and that he is looking even though he has no proof that Thorfinn ended up a slave. The slaver asks when Thorfinn went missing, and Leif replies that it was eleven years ago, when Thorfinn was six or seven. The shocked slaver says that he won't still be alive without his parents if he went missing that young, but that he will buy him if he comes across him. Leif thanks him and says that he'll give him twice what he pays, and specifies Thorfinn has blond hair and brown eyes. Back on Leif's knarr, Mols tells Leif he knows how he feels, but that they're not rich enough to free slaves out of pity. He asks Leif how many slaves he bought thinking they might be Thorfinn, and tells him that after eleven years, it might be time he forgets him. Leif says that they would not be where they are now if Thors had not acted the way he did when they were waylaid by pirates, and that the debt must be paid. Leif adds that they could not find Thorfinn no matter where they looked, and that he knew Thorfinn and that he might've snuck onto the pirates' ship to avenge Thors. Mols says that it's Leif's good nature that makes him and others follow him. There is a commotion on the docks and men rush by. Mols and Leif wonder what's happening. One man tells them to move their knarr, as a line of important ships are coming to use the pier. Mols rushes to move as the men block off the pier to traffic until the ships have passed. On the ship, Canute tells Askeladd that Jorvik is a large place. Askeladd agrees and adds that it is old, having prospered during the time of the Romans, and that people from both Northern Europe and England end up there. He says that King Sweyn will likely make the wise choice of making Jorvik the base of his new reign, a choice he himself would make. Canute says that King Sweyn will attempt something during the next day's feast and asks Askeladd if they are prepared for it. Askeladd replies that they will be shunted aside and that King Sweyn might grant Canute and Thorkell separate territories to isolate their forces and their influence, in a move that would be both a reward and an order that Canute could not refuse without appearing to betray him or rebel. Canute says he does not want Thorkell taken away from him and Askeladd agrees that that would be bad. He asks Askeladd what they should do. Askeladd asks what Canute would say to informing everyone of the state of affairs, specifying that he is suggesting that Canute die here. On the shore, Floki instructs the Jomsvikings that they are to guard the landing to King Sweyn's hold. Floki thinks to himself that he always thought that Askeladd was crafty, but he is surprised that he'd manage to worm his way in with Prince Canute. He thinks that no matter what Askeladd has up his sleeve, their cards will trump his and that Askeladd will share Canute's fate. As Canute's ship nears, Leif watches from his knarr and recognizes Askeladd as the pirate who killed Thors. A crowd of people watches the ship pass from above the docks. A cloaked man in the crowd pulls out a crossbow and releases a bolt, which hits Canute in the chest. Askeladd takes a deep breath and yells out that the prince has been shot, telling the men to raise the shields, protect the prince and find the culprit. The crossbow's wielder hides the weapon under his cloak and goes to dispose of it. He is intercepted by Thorfinn, who is holding one of his shortswords. Mols tells Leif he does not like the look of what's going on, then asks Leif where he is going as Leif hops off the knarr and starts to run on the docks. Leif tells Mols to just watch the ship, running after the ship and Askeladd, who might be the clue he needs to track down Thorfinn. The crossbow's wielder falls on the docks in front of Leif. Leif asks him if he's alright, as he's bleeding. Thorfinn jumps down onto the docks and stabs the crossbow's wielder in the back. He stands and notes it's a waste of his time. He turns and looks over to Leif, who looks shocked.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Leif Ericson
 * Halldor
 * Mols
 * Thorfinn
 * Thors Snorresson
 * Askeladd
 * Canute
 * Thorkell
 * Floki