Episode 40

"Great Purpose" (大義) is the fortieth overall episode of the Vinland Saga anime and the sixteenth episode of Season 2, produced by MAPPA.

Synopsis
Gardar, who had killed the guards and fled the fortress, disappears. As Snake and his men intensify their search for Gardar, Einar, knowing the situation, decides to help Arnheid. Thorfinn, though hesitant, offers to help both of them.

Summary
Learning that Gardar had escaped, Einar runs to Sverkel's place, thinking that there should be something he can do for Arnheid. Snake is also waiting for Gardar at Severkel's place. When Thorfinn and Einar arrive, Badger sees them, but Snake tells his men to just leave them.

Einar is surprised to learn that Arnheid knows about Gardar, and she explains that she was the one who helped him escape and cut his ropes. She cut him free because she was afraid that the guards will kill her and Gardar. Then Gardar kill all the guests who showed up. Thorfinn notices that they are being watched and tells Einar to kneel and help Arnheid with washing the dishes. Arnheid then explains that Gardar got injured and they fled to Sverkel's house. While she was treating his wounds, Gardar lost consciousness. She barely managed to move him and hide him thanks to Sverkel. Soon after that Snake arrived, believing that Gardar would eventually come here and currently Snake and two of his men are inside Sverkel's house. Einar wonders why she did such a reckless thing considering what she said and that she is pregnant. Arnheid starts crying and guesses she was dreaming of a life having a family with Gardar and this child. Thofinn asks if Gardar's bleeding had stopped, but Arnheid tells him that he was still bleeding when she hid him. Einar then states he is ready to help her if she wants to escape with Gardar. Thorfinn also agrees to help out.

A bit later, Arnheid wishes to start preparing lunch. Snake agrees and tells her to take what she needs, but to stay outside where she can be seen, since she is bait for Gardar. While she prepares food, Sverkel states that slaves are just unlucky people and if they were unlucky too, they could have been slaves too. Snake states that Gardar killed five of his men and he won't be satisfied until Gardar is dead. Sverkel tells him that he must throw away his sword. He can recognize that his sword isn't from around here and that there is a reason he ended up here. However, if he throws away his sword, he would be able to escape whatever it was. He can have Sverkel's land and work on it, which would be a better life than swinging his sword around. Sverkel can no longer walk and knows he will die soon. He feels he owes Snake for reading him the bible and this is also good opportunity for Snake to straighten his life. Snake however refuses, stating he doesn't want to do field work. Spider then informs Snake that he sees a man hiding behind a tree and guesses it must be Gardar.

Snake then takes the bait and heads out with his men chasing the man, who is disguised Einar. While they chase him, Thorfinn heads towards the house and asks Sverkel if he can borrow his horse and cart. Sverkel agrees, but tells him to take him as well, as that way, they can travel around unquestioned. Thorfinn then lifts Sverkel's bed, under which Gardar is hidden. He sees that Gardar is still alive but had lost a lot of blood and is barely hanging to life.

While chasing Einar, Snake finds it odd that he is so far, considering he must be badly injured. He tells Badger and Spider to keep following the man and if its Gardar to not engage him, and that he will send reinforcements soon. Snake then turns around, which surprises Badger.

Thorfinn prepares the cart and informs Arnheid they need to hurry towards the border to the south. Once they are out of the country, it will be hard for Snake's men to chase them. Thorfinn will also leave her partway in order to distract Snake's men. Thorfinn asks Sverkel to accompany them to the edge of the farm and Sverkel agrees. Thorfinn gets Gardar on the cart. A moment later, Snake comes and Thorfinn realizes that he dismounted his horse so that they don't hear him coming.

Snake sees that Gardar is unconscious and tells Thorfinn that he isn't there to negotiate. If he doesn't hand him Gardar, he will kill him. Thorfinn guesses that if he manages to subdue Snake, they can still escape. A vision of Askeladd then appears next to Thorfinn, who states that Thorfinn doesn't have a choice and will have to raise his fists in order to help someone. He guesses that Snake also have a go reason to fight and wonders if Thorfinn will remain a pacifist or fight to help someone else. Askeladd wonders which of the two paths lead to becoming a true warrior, but states that Thorfinn doesn't have time to think about it. As Snake approaches, Thorfinn attacks him. Snake manages to dodge and attacks himself, however Thorfinn also manages to dodge and block his attack. Askeladd tells Thorfinn that he can't defeat him half-asleep and Thorfinn then takes his usual fighting stance. Snake finds it an odd stance, but looking at him, he realizes it's a stance using double daggers.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Fox
 * Thorfinn
 * Einar
 * Sverkel
 * Snake
 * Arnheid
 * Badger
 * Spider
 * Askeladd (vision)