Chapter 45

"... Askeladd... you're clever and strong. I respect you. Even if you did hate me with all your being... Tell me, Askeladd.... it wasn't just me... you hated our lost comrades. You even hate yourself... Isn't it lonely? Shutting out anyone and everyone... I wished... that I could be a friend to you."

- Bjorn

His Last Friend (最後の友達, Saigo no Tomodachi) is the 45th chapter in the series.

Overview
Thorkell drinks and talks with the chieftains to win them over. Askeladd tells Canute that King Sweyn will be very cautious now and that they must wait for their moment to strike. Gunnar, Ragnar's brother, tells Canute that their plan is underway and that he's secured him a safe place in Normandy, but Canute tells him he's picked a fight with King Sweyn and no longer wants to go into hiding. Despite Askeladd telling him that the past is in the past, Atli chooses to leave and go home with his brother Torgrim. He tells Askeladd he hopes Bjorn heals, but Askeladd tells him Bjorn was hit in the guts and will not survive. He sends Atli off with a gold armlet and tells him to go lead a quiet life, as he is not suited for battle. He tells him he will kill him if he sees him on a battlefield again. The next morning, Thorfinn, Canute and Thorkell meet Askeladd on a snowy hill. Thorfinn wants to duel Askeladd despite his broken arm and Canute says he will serve as witness, but that they must stop when he says so. Askeladd agrees, but says he has a prior engagement first. Bjorn arrives to duel Askeladd. Before they start, he asks Askeladd if it isn't lonely to shut everyone out, and tells him he wishes he could've been his friend. Askeladd stabs his sword through Bjorn's chest, but misses the sure kill. Dying, Bjorn says he just wanted to be his friend. Askeladd tells him he was his only friend and sends him to Valhalla. Askeladd covers Bjorn's body with his cloak and calls Thorfinn forward, telling him he's waited long enough and that he'll entertain him.

Summary
While the men eat, drink and sing nearby, Thorfinn stays outside and attaches his shortsword to a stick. He unwraps his arm sling from around his neck and rewraps it around his broken arm, using the makeshift spear to stabilize his arm while allowing him to hold his shortsword. He practices some swings, but his arm still pains him. Inside, where the men feast, two of the men have a drinking contest; a young Christian man remains composed after his 56th horn, while his challenger, Bodvar, passes out. Thorkell says hello to Chief Kothran of Scania, who greets him in return. They briefly discuss the war. Thorkell asks where Kothran's son is and Kothran tells him he died in the Battle of London. Thorkell understands this to mean he's at fault and apologizes, but Kathran brushes it off, since battle is battle and he has give more sons. The sons are amazed at seeing Thorkell and his size. The youngest rides atop Thorkell's shoulders. Thorkell tells the men to drink their fill, courtesy of Prince Canute, sitting nearby on the dais. The child sitting on Thorkell's shoulder touches his eyepatch and asks him if he's missing an eye. Thorkell confirms and tells him it's a riveting tale, but that before he can tell it, he needs to know who's gulping down the alcohol at the table. He asks if anyone invited a priest. The man tells Thorkell he is Willibald and asks if Thorkell has forgotten him. Thorkell, who hadn't recognized him without his beard, asks him just how old he is; Willibald answers that he is twenty-three. Thorkell decides that he is Willibald's next challenger.

On the dais, Canute tells Askeladd that Thorkell is an odd man, since he is selfish but those around him love him for it. Canute asks Askeladd if he thinks they can kill the king. Askeladd replies that it will be difficult, as he's now observed that the king is shrewd and possesses the insight to read others and the initiative to strike first. He notes that the king adapting his strategy when he met them showed his tactical wisdom. Askeladd tells Canute that the king will be very cautious at the moment, meaning an attempt on his life now would be bound to fail. He suggests that for now, they wait for their chance to strike and concentrate on winning over the petty chieftains. Canute tells him he's concerned about the "reward" the king mentioned, and asks Askeladd what he thinks he's plotting. Askeladd replies that they'll have to wait and see, but that it might be an impossible duty disguised as a great honour. A balding man approaches the dais and tells Canute he is joyous to see him return safely, and that he, his faithful servant Gunnar, feared for his well-being. He quickly explains he was not there for his return because he'd just returned home from abroad, and asks who the man next to Canute is. Canute tells Askeladd that the man is Ragnar's brother Gunnar, and Askeladd introduces himself. Gunnar tells Canute that preparations for their plan are in order, that it will be the duchy of Normandy, and that they could discuss it in private later when Ragnar is there. Canute calmly tells Gunnar that Ragnar is dead and that he will not flee into hiding, though he appreciates Gunnar's service in seeking out a safe place for him. He tells him he just picked a fight with King Sweyn and will require his help, and asks him to choose loyal soldiers, observe the king's actions and report them to him. Gunnar, shocked about Ragnar's death, asks Canute if it's prudent to talk about these things in the open, but Canute tells him it's harder to be overheard that way. Gunnar comments Canute has changed. Canute replies that everything must change, and that he will see to it that it does. Askeladd goes outside to relieve himself. He thinks Gunnar is small of heart and will not do for their purposes at all, as the small-hearted protect themselves above all and Gunnar won't be nearly as loyal as Canute says. Askeladd notices noise nearby and sees Thorfinn practicing with his shortswords on a bucket hung from a tree branch, finishing up by splitting the bucket apart with a kick. Askeladd smiles that he is keeping himself sharp, but wonders if his arm hurts. Atli approaches Askeladd, packed to leave. Askeladd deduces he and Torgrim are going back home. Atli replies that he knew Askeladd said that everything was in the past, but that it doesn't change the fact that they were traitors and that he doesn't know how he could hold his head high when he faces Askeladd or Bjorn. Atli is interrupted by Torgrim, who throws a snowball in his face. Atli continues on to say that he also needs to leave because Torgrim is now like that. He tells Askeladd that he hopes Bjorn heals. Askeladd laughs and asks Atli how such a good-hearted man found himself in his band. He tells him Bjorn was hit in the guts and won't live, meaning Thorfinn will soon be the only old hand remaining. Askeladd removes a gold serpent armlet he was wearing and hands it to Atli. Atli says he cannot take it and has no reason to accept it; Askeladd replies that there's nothing wrong with extra money for the road. Atli tears up and tells him he is grateful. As he tries to reach for it, Askeladd keeps moving it out of his grasp. Atli tells him to make up his mind. Askeladd says he will give it to him on one condition: that he never swing a sword again, as he's not suited for it. He tells him to take a wife, raise some sheep, have children and die in his bed, and that if he ever sees him on the battlefield, friend or foe, he will kill him. Atli says that he hears him and leaves with Torgrim. The next morning, Askeladd stands atop a snowy hill. Thorfinn approaches him with Canute and Thorkell. Askeladd asks Thorfinn if he should not wait until his arm is healed, but Thorfinn only removes his cloak and stares him down with angry eyes. Askeladd sighs and says it's whatever he wants, as it makes no difference to him. Canute says he will serve as witness, but that when he says stop, the duel is over. Askeladd agrees, but tells him that he has another engagement first. With some difficulty, a sweating Bjorn makes his way to the group. He apologizes to Thorfinn, but tells him it won't take long. Canute tells them to begin. Askeladd and Bjorn draw their swords. Bjorn tells Askeladd that he is clever and strong and that he respects him, even if Askeladd did hate him with all of his being all along. He notes Askeladd hated him, their lost comrades, and even himself, and asks him if it isn't lonely to shut out everyone. He tells Askeladd he wished that he could be a friend to him. Askeladd runs his sword through Bjorn's chest; he screams and falls in the snow, the impact sending his helmet flying off. Askeladd apologizes for missing the sure kill and tells Bjorn he'll end it. Bjorn grasps Askeladd's cloak and says that he just wanted to be his friend. Askeladd says Bjorn is is one and only friend. Bjorn starts to ask Askeladd to send him to Valhalla. Askeladd complies, then covers Bjorn's body with his cloak. He whips the blood off of his sword and tells Thorfinn to come and that he'll entertain him.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Bjorn
 * Thorfinn
 * Willibald
 * Bodvar
 * Kothran
 * Thorkell
 * Asgeir
 * Canute
 * Askeladd
 * Sweyn (flashback)
 * Gunnar
 * Atli
 * Torgrim