Chapter 61

"Any man who cannot obey the laws of my army is no soldier of mine. I shall say it again, I want all of their heads cut off."

- Canute

The Bloodstained Road (血の道, Chi no Michi) is the 61st chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
After King Sweyn's death in 1014, England is once again engulfed by war. Both Canute and Etheldred claim they are the rightful king. In 1015, Canute comes through Mercia with Gunnar to speak to Eadric of Mercia. On the way, he notices his own troops are pillaging despite it being outlawed, and orders all of them beheaded and their heads displayed displayed as a punishment and warning. Canute comes across Floki, who reiterates Canute had no need of coming himself. Canute admits he also came to deal with Thorkell, who is upset that he was made to stop fighting when Mercia asked for a truce. Floki explains that Ethelred's son Edmund has been showing suspicious movement in the east, and that Thorkell will be needed to fight there. Thorkell reminds Canute that he is still a greenhorn and that he cannot keep avoiding his battles. Canute goes to visit Eadric, who presents him with an offering worth 4000 pounds of silver if he agrees to pull his troops back from Mercia. Canute tells him that his offering is much too cheap.

Summary
After the death of King Sweyn in 1014, the English once again started fighting against the Danes. Both Canute, who had seized power after Sweyn's death, and Ethelred the Second, who had returned from Normandy, claimed themselves the rightful king. England is engulfed by war, and attempts to poison Ethelred are made. In the English Midlands, near the borders of Mercia and Danelaw in 1015, Canute and Gunnar travel by horseback. Gunnar comments on the now pitiful state of the once impressive Mercia. Canute states that they are the ones responsible for it. As they pass through a camp, Canute asks what the troops they sent ahead are doing. Gunnar replies that they are pillaging and looking for girls to sell as slaves. Canute remarks that it is outlawed and states he wants all of them beheaded, with their heads on spikes by the road as an example to others. Gunnar is shocked by the request and notes that taking the spoils of war is a common custom. Canute replies that men who cannot obey the laws of his army are no soldiers of his. Floki rides up to the two and kneels, telling Canute he is honoured he has come all this way. Canute asks about the arrangements, and Floki replies that they are ready and waiting for Canute. Floki starts to say the matters are not important enough to be handled by Canute personally, but Canute cuts him off and says he might as well, while he's there. Floki counters that Eadric of Mercia is a timid man, but Canute states that a man's character and his value as a pawn are different things, and that he'll judge for himself. He adds that he also came for another reason — to calm down Thorkell. Thorkell runs up to Canute, calls him a shithead, and says he needs to greet him with his fists. He yells that he hates being stopped in the middle of fighting, even more than he hates retreating. Canute reminds him that Mercia has called for a truce, but Thorkell rages on, saying that a battle should not end until the enemy commander's head has been taken. He states he almost had Eadric's head. Canute tells him there is someone greater than Eadric who must be cut down, but Thorkell does not care, simply wishing to finish what he had started.

Floki tells Thorkell that Ethelred's son Edmund has been showing signs of suspicious movement in the east, and that Thorkell's assistance will be needed for the upcoming battle there. Thorkell calls Floki a dicehead and tells him he'll pick his own battles. Thorkell reminds Canute of what he'd told him before he chose to follow him — that he will see what he'll do and who he'll become with his own eyes. Thorkell tells Canute that he has not accomplished anything yet, and is still a green boy who has yet to even become the King of England. He tells him he cannot keep avoiding his battles and must cross the road that lies ahead by blood and iron, as Askeladd did. Thorkell shakes off the men who were ineffectively trying to hold him back and walks off, telling Canute that he will back off and go easy on him today, but that there will not be a second time. Gunnar is incensed by Thorkell's impudence and wishes Canute would not overlook it, but Canute says Thorkell gave him good advice and that it would be pleasant if others could live like him, as a person with nothing to hide. Canute rides off to see Eadric, who presents him with a pile of gold and valuables he estimates as being worth around 4000 pounds of silver. He tells Canute that this is his offering, if he agrees to pull his troops back from Mercia. Canute picks up a necklace from the pile and throw it down. He smiles and tells Eadric that if this is his offering, it is much too cheap.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Canute
 * Askeladd
 * Floki
 * Thorkell
 * Sweyn
 * Ethelred II
 * Gunnar
 * Eadric