Episode 31

"Iron Fist Ketil" (鉄拳ケティル) is the thirty-first overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the seventh episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.

Synopsis
Food theft continues on Ketil's farm and the guests are investigating. At the same time, Thorgil, the eldest son of the Ketil family, returns home. Unlike his quiet father Ketil, Thorgil has a strong Viking temper and was Canute's squire. A young boy and girl who are siblings are caught as the culprits of the robbery. A meeting begins to decide their punishment.

Summary
There has been another food theft on Ketil's farm, but as the footprints mix with others, Fox is unable to track them. Snake notes the thieves aren't stealing much, but have done it few times already and need to be punished.

Hearing about Sverkel giving tools and food to Einar, Arnheid states that Sverkel likes them. Einar believes he was just paying them back, but Arnheid states that they are slaves and no one is paying them back. Einar then wonders why would he like them, which causes Arnheid to laugh and states that he is a good person, causing Einar to blush. Ketil's wife then calls Arnheid and slaps her for chatting around while they haven't even prepared breakfast yet. She tells Arnheid that Ketil will be returning today and may bring guests, so they need to prepare for them.

Einar and Thorfinn look at their growing up crops and Einar gets excited that in few years he can buy his freedom. He then wonders if Arnheid has a similar freedom deal. Thofrinn tells him to ask her, but Einer wonders if he can ask such a thing. Thorfinn wonders what they should do now and Einar tells him that they should pray. He then gets on his knees and start asking God of rain and to keep the insect away. He then pulls Thorfinn down and makes him pray with him.

Ketil returns with his son, Thorgil, who wonders how are his mother and Olmar. Ketil state that Olmar is full of energy, and is anxious to head off into battle like Thorgil, however he isn't fit for battle and should stay here. Thorgil disagrees, explaining that the battlefield can change a man and gives King Canute as an example, who changed and no one calls him "prince" anymore. Snake and his men see Ketil and Thorgil and go greet them. Snake is surprised that Thorgil is still alive, but Thorgil explains its all thanks to the training Snake put him through. Ketil wonders what is Snake trailing and Snake reveals that he captured two kids and explains that they are thieves. He was going to him to hand them and Ketil to punish them.

At Ketil's house, while eating, Thorgil talks about battles and how even after the fight, some men kill each other to get women they can sell. Thorgil asks Olmar if he would go to England and fight and Olmar agrees. Thorgil then decides to give him a souvenir and gives him a necklace. Looking at it, Olmar wonders if its some dried meat and if he can eat it and Thorgil confirms he can eat it, but notes that ears don't taste very good. Realizing those are ears of English men, Olmar throws the necklace while screaming. Thorgil laughs, noting that they are Iron Fist Ketil sons and wonders how is he going to fight if he is such a scaridy-cat. Olmar haven't heard about "Iron Fist" and seeing that, Thorgil explains that Ketil was a legend when he was young. When battles started, his weapon would shatter due to his own strength and he would continue fighting bare-handed. Ketil then wants them to rest, but Snake asks him to first handle the thieves situation.

Ketil asks the two kids about their name and the boy reveals he is Sture and his younger sister is Thora. Ketil wonders if someone can speak for their defense and Snake explains that their family also include a mother and a baby. As the mother was sick in bed, Snake didn't bring her here. Ketil asks the kids about their father and if he is missing. Sture explains that his father is Snorri and last fall he went to sell vegetables and never came back. Pater wonders if their grandfather is Bo and Sture confirms. Pater then tells Ketil that Snorri owns him money on the land he rents. Thorgil states that Snorri must be dead if he haven't come back for a year, but Sture refuses to believe it. Ketil gets sad, knowing that normally in such cases, the family gets hired by another family to help with work, but with the mother being sick, no one would hire them. Ketil asks what they stole and Snake explains that they confessed only for a bag of flour. Ketil wonders if Snake forced them to say this, but Snake explains he forced them to reveal it, but not what to say. Thorgil states they should cut one arm from each of the kids. Sture asks them to go easy on his sister since she is young and Thorgil asks him if he will accept her punishment too and lose both his arms. Snake also asks Ketil to go easy on them.

Ketil can't believe how fearsome his son has become, but he has no choice but to punish them. Pater speaks up that he is against it as such punishment is essentially execution. Pater suggest that since Ketil needs to be compensated for what they stole and also get the money Snorri owns them, they can make Sture work and pay him back that way. Pater volunteers to teach Sture on how to farm and if they eventually become good workers, Ketil will be fully compensated. That way, they also won't need to steal anymore. Ketil agrees fully, happy that he found another solution. However in that moment Pater explains that a beating would be an appropriate punishment. Ketil is surprised, but Thorgil understands it. Ketil states that working is fine for their punishment, but Snake explains they need an actual punishment or people won't take them seriously. Snake removes the blade of an axe and asks Ketil how many times to hit them. Ketil is about to say five, but correct himself to ten strokes. Sture pushes his sister away and asks to be hit 20 times and to spare her. Thorgil finds that interesting and wishes he to be the one hitting. Snake complains, noting that Thorgil doesn't know how to hold back, but tells him to not kill the kid. Thorgil then swings and with a single hit sends Sture flying. Seeing that, Ketil rushes and stops him, stating he will do it himself.

Later, Ketil goes early to bed with Arnheid, revealing that the "Iron First" thing is a lie. He reveals that he is afraid of Thorgil, war and violence. Arnheid tells him that being kind isn't a bad thing. Ketil states that she is the only person who will tell him that, which is why she is the only person he tells this. He asks Arnheid to stay with him, since without her his world is full of darkness.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Snake
 * Badger
 * Fox
 * Arnheid
 * Einar
 * Thorfinn
 * Thorgil
 * Ketil
 * Sture
 * Thora
 * Olmar
 * Pater