Chapter 23

"I've lived among wicked men for over two score years. And I've picked up a skill along the way. I can tell what a man is. Is he great or timid? Is he clever or stupid? One glance at his face will tell me everything I need. I took a single look at Prince Canute... and I knew him for what he was... "This is not the face of a king." That's what I saw."

- Askeladd

Reinforcements (援軍) is the 23rd chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
In November 1013, near the East Bank of the River Severn in Eastern England, Askeladd speaks to an old man manning a ferry and asks him to deliver a scroll to anyone of authority on the other bank at once, and to tell them it's a message from Askeladd, son of Lydia. The Ear notifies Askeladd that Thorkell's men are now less than a day's march behind them. They are spotted by two of Thorkell's scouts uphill. Askeladd tells Ragnar that they can't win against Thorkell, but that he's sent for reinforcements and that they only have to stay on the run until they arrive. The men are tired of marching and concerned about Askeladd's claims, since the nearest friendly post is two weeks away and reinforcements would mean having to split the spoils, unlike what he had said before. While stopped to rest, Bjorn asks Askeladd why he's been acting strange since seeing Prince Canute's face. Askeladd tells him that he can tell what a man is just by looking at his face, and that a single look at Canute told him he did not have the face of a king. The men keep marching until they reach a bank and see two men in the fog. Askeladd bows to one of the men. The man, a legatus, greets him by name and tells him it's been a long time. The other man whistles, and two ships appear behind them in the fog.

Summary
In November 1013, Askeladd and his band are marching near the mouth of the East Bank of the River Severn, in Western England. Askeladd branches off to go speak to an old man, who is sitting by the river in a small rowboat next to a dock, fishing. He asks if the fish are biting, noting that even they should be preparing for the winter. The old man replies that it does not matter if they bite or not, since his real job is to man the ferry. He asks if Askeladd and his men are Danes and says that Askeladd's English is quite proficient, though he notes that he detects an accent to it, similar to the brogue of his own land. Askeladd gets off his horse and asks how much the fare to cross is. The old man replies it is two silvers a piece, though he would also take ale or barley, but that it will take many days to ferry Askeladd's whole band across on his little rowboat. Askeladd specifies that his only cargo is a message, and that the scroll should be given to anyone of authority on the other bank at once. He asks the man to tell them the message is from Askeladd, son of Lydia. The man, who seems to suddenly recognize Askeladd's breastplate and his name, says it will be done at once.

The Ear has his ear to the ground, trying to determine how far Thorkell's men are. Ragnar stomps up asking where Askeladd is and saying they must speak. Bjorn tells him to quiet down, but Ragnar keeps going and asks why they've stopped marching, since Thorkell will catch up to them. Bjorn says they are not to make noise while the Ear works, and Ear asks Bjorn to tell the "conehead" to stop. Askeladd comes back and asks Ear what he's found. Ear says he can hear Thorkell's band right on their trail, closer than the day prior and not even a day's march behind them. Bjorn asks if he's sure, since they were two days off yesterday, and Askeladd notes that they're moving fast and will catch them within a few days at that rate. Ear asks for quiet and hears two horses on the nearby hill. Askeladd deduces they're scouts and that Thorkell now knows their position, though he does not send men to chase them, since it'd be a waste of resources. Ragnar asks Askeladd what his plan is, but Askeladd says they can't win. He says he sent for reinforcements and that they will have to stay on the run until they arrive. Bjorn and Ragnar are both surprised at his claim reinforcements are coming.

Askeladd's men march, confused about Askeladd's statement that reinforcements are coming even though they're in the middle of England and that the nearest friendly outpost is in Leicester, two weeks away. Although they know Askeladd has never lied about something like that in the past, they still wonder if they'll have to split the spoils with the reinforcements despite Askeladd saying they could handle everything with just their hundred. The men complain about all the walking and marching they've been doing since London, wishing for a boat. As they pause to sleep, Bjorn approaches Askeladd by the campfire and tells him the men are rattled and need an explanation. Askeladd, unconcerned, replies that fear will hasten them. He tells Bjorn to go get some sleep if that's all he had to say. Bjorn notes that Askeladd has been acting strange for a few days now and asks him what's on his mind, pointing out that it's been since he saw the prince's face. Askeladd says that after living among wicked men for over two decades, he's picked up the skill of telling what a man is just from one glance at his face — if he's great, timid, clever, or stupid. He tells Bjorn that one glance of the Prince's face told him that he did not have the face of a king. Bjorn says the Prince does look fairly girlish, but that he is only seventeen and could change as he gets older. Askeladd says he supposes so, as he's just a lad. Bjorn starts to guess at what Askeladd is implying, but Askeladd gets up and tells the rest of the men to get up and prepare to march, despite the fact that it's still pitch-black outside.

The men march on, grumbling about getting no sleep and struggling to stay awake. The Ear tells Askeladd that Thorkell's men are coming. Askeladd says that they're almost at the meeting point. Through the fog, two cloaked men appear, standing on top of several stone steps. The men are confused about their backup comprising of just two people. Askeladd walks up to them and bows, referring to one as legatus and saying it is an honour to be greeted by him personally. The man greets Askeladd by name and tells him it's been a long time. The other man whistles and two ships row forward, to the surprise of Askeladd's men.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Askeladd
 * Ear
 * Bjorn
 * Ragnar
 * Canute
 * Gratianus