Chapter 15

"The only reason I must rely on this sword... is because I am imperfect. A true warrior... needs no sword."

- Thors Snorresson

A True Warrior (本当の戦士, Hontō no Senshi) is the 15th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Thors tells Askeladd he is the winner and must concede, take his men and leave, as they had agreed upon. Askeladd questions why a man like Thors would hide away from fifteen years. Thors says a true warrior needs no sword. Askeladd asks Thors if he will lead their band, but passes it off as a joke when he realizes Thors will not agree. Bjorn takes Thorfinn hostage and tells Thors to drop his sword. Askeladd asks the angry Thors if he really expected them to be honorable and stay bound to the duel's customs. He tells Thors all he wants is his life. Thors says he knows and throws the sword he is holding away. Askeladd understands Thors's action and signals to his archers, who loose arrows into Thors as Thorfinn watches and screams.

Summary
Thors holds Askeladd at sword-point. Askeladd's men watch cannot believe their leader lost. Thors tells Askeladd that he has won the duel and that Askeladd must concede the fight, take his men and leave, as he swore to Odin. Askeladd says that Thors is a mighty man capable of leading a great force, and asks him why a man of his caliber would hide in Iceland for fifteen years. He asks Thors if he thinks it is a waste, but Thors says he does not believe so. Thors says he must rely on a sword because he is imperfect, whereas a true warrior needs no sword. Thorfinn, listening, asks Ari what it means. Ari says he does not know, but that maybe Thors is referring to his ability to kill a man with his bare hands. Askeladd says his nose was pointing him in the right direction and asks Thors if he will lead the band. Askeladd's and Thors's men are both shocked. Thors stays silent. Askeladd, realizing he will not agree, changes his demeanour and says he is kidding, asking why no one can take a joke. Bjorn, who has regained consciousness again and is no longer under the influence of the berserker mushroom, says it is no time for telling jokes. He leaps onto Thors's ship and grabs Thorfinn by the hair, taking his short sword and holding it to his throat. He warns everyone not to move and says Thorfinn will lose his head if they do. He says he knows Thors can see him and tells him to drop his sword. Thors calls Askeladd a bastard while Thorfinn screams for his father. Askeladd laughs at Thors and asks him if he really expected them to be honorable gentlemen bound to the customs of the duel. He says he played along and had his fun, learning more about the Troll of Jom as he wanted, and that it was worth his time. Thors tells Askeladd that he is the winner, and that Askeladd has violated the rules of the duel. Askeladd says it does not matter to him, since all he wants is Thors's life. Thors says he knows and throws the sword he is holding into the water. Understanding the symbolism of Thors's action, Askeladd acknowledges him as the winner of the duel and signals to the archers perched above. They fire arrows into Thors as Thorfinn, still held hostage by Bjorn, watches and screams for his father.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Thors Snorresson
 * Askeladd
 * Bjorn
 * Thorfinn
 * Ari
 * Leif Ericson
 * Magni