Volume 8

Volume 8 is the 8th volume in the series.

Chapters

 * Chapter 50: Plot
 * Chapter 51: Miscalculation
 * Chapter 52: The Hero Returns
 * Chapter 53: The Fury of Brittania's King
 * Chapter 54: End of the Prologue
 * Chapter 55: Slave
 * Chapter 56: Ketil Farm

Cover Characters

 * Askeladd

Plot Overview
The people in Jorvik are divided about who orchestrated the attempt on Prince Canute's life and theorize. Askeladd assumes this will prevent King Sweyn from giving Canute disadvantageous orders at the next day's meeting, as it would lend credence to the rumour that he attempted filicide. As expected, at the next day's feast, King Sweyn generously grants Canute the fertile land of Mercia and assigns Thorkell to assist him. King Sweyn however surprises Askeladd by announcing they will invade Wales come spring to quell the seed of rebellion. Askeladd cannot keep the shock off his face at the announcement; Floki notices and tells the King. Askeladd tries to think of a way to fix the situation. When he is called forth to receive his own prize, he thanks the King, before boldly asking him if conquering Wales is the wisest decision. Askeladd quickly gives him several reasonable reasons which the attendees will agree with, including their forces needing time to recuperate and Wales' lack of value. King Sweyn approaches Askeladd under the guise of thanking him for his council, but whispers that he must choose between Wales and Canute. He does not overly care about Wales and will cancel the invasion if Askeladd brings him Canute's head. Askeladd responds by loudly insulting the King and proclaiming that as the descendant of his namesake, Lucius Artorius Castus, he is the true King of Britannia. He then beheads King Sweyn. After a look from Askeladd, Canute understands what he is doing and orders the men to attack Askeladd, proclaiming he has committed regicide. Thorfinn realizes something is amiss when he hears screams in the hall from outside; he sees Askeladd slashing away at people from the window and quickly rushes inside. As Thorfinn tries to make his way through the crowd rushing out of the hall, Canute tells Thorkell that Askeladd has not gone mad and that having probably been given the choice between Wales and Canute, he took the path most likely to save both by taking full responsibility for the murder of the king. Canute asks Thorkell to end it, but Thorkell tells Canute that as Askeladd's master, he should be the one to do it. Thorfinn finally makes it through the crowd and yells out Askeladd's name. Askeladd is momentarily distracted and yells at Thorfinn to stay away. As Askeladd is looking at Thorfinn, Canute pierces his sword through Askeladd's chest. Thorfinn catches him before he hits the ground and yells at him that it was not supposed to end this way, as he was the one who was supposed to kill him. Askeladd chides Thorfinn for not giving a thought to what he would do after he was dead. He tells him to stop holding on, move on, become a true warrior and go further than Thors did. Askeladd dies. Canute tells Thorfinn he understands he will no longer want to serve him and that he can go where he wishes. Thorfinn responds by attacking Canute, slicing his cheek before being tackled to the ground by Thorkell. Thorfinn drops Thors's shortsword and is pulled away from the hall screaming. The scene is the last of the War Arc/Prologue, Vinland Saga's first arc.

Vinland Saga's second arc (the Slave Arc) begins with Einar, a Northern English man of approximately twenty who has recently been enslaved. He eventually resigns himself to the fact that no one can save him and that if he acts as a proper slave, at least he will not starve. Einar is shown off to potential buyers, including Leif Ericson, who is disappointed that Einar is far from the description of a short, young blond man he provided the slavers. He reminds the slaver that he is looking for a young man named Thorfinn, who he knows was sold in that town. Einar is sold to a man named Ketil, who brings him to his farm in Jutland, Denmark, in late June 1015. Ketil introduces Einar to his slave Thorfinn, whom he will be working with. He tells Einar that he is lending them his land, which they will deforest before using it to harvest. He will purchase their crops at a fair price, and if they earn more money than what they were bought for, they will be able to purchase their freedom. Ketil introduces Einar to Pater, a worker who purchased his freedom that way himself. Einar did not anticipate being given a chance to pull himself out of slavery and eagerly starts to work, though he quickly realizes he and Thorfinn have a significant amount of work to do. Einar questions the workers when they bring them their lunch, much too small and meager for two people. The workers, disdaining Einar as a simple slave, tell him he should be grateful and thank them. Einar and one of the workers start to get angry, but Thorfinn steps in and diffuses the situation by thanking the worker. Later, as they walk back from their first day, Einar tells Thorfinn they should report the workers, but Thorfinn tells him not to, as it will make matters worse. Ketil approaches and asks Einar how his first day of work went. Einar starts to report the workers, but is thoroughly distracted by a beautiful woman in Ketil's party.

Plot Summary
The feasting men continue to talk among themselves about the attempt on Prince Canute's life. They theorize that the English are not behind it, as they would've targeted the king, who is also in Jorvik. In another building, Askeladd says "nothing more than a rumour" is just what they want, as the lack of proof prevents a hasty confrontation. It also prevents the king from giving Canute disadvantageous orders at the next day's meeting, as it would lend credence to the rumour of attempted filicide and cost him the favour of his people. Gunnar excuses himself and Askeladd tells Canute that they cannot trust him, though he does not have proof. He's sent Thorfinn on his tail to ascertain his loyalty; Thorfinn sees Gunnar speak to a man in the forest, and follows that man straight to King Sweyn's guarded place; he deduces this means Gunnar is guilty. Canute inquires about what will happen to Gunnar if he is a traitor; Askeladd says they can keep using him to feed the king information, like that they do not want conflict in the short term, as he'll trust the words of his own spy. Satisfied with his plan, he comments that he cannot wait to see how the king will react the next day.

King Sweyn, now King over England, holds a feast in Jorvik to distribute riches and lands to the leaders of Denmark. Thorfinn refuses to join and eats outside instead. King Sweyn grants Canute England's richest and most fertile land, Mercia, and asks Thorkell to assist his son. Some of the chieftains take this gesture to mean that the rumours of King Sweyn attempting to assassinate Canute were unfounded, while others believe that he would've had to grant Canute something favourable if they were true. King Sweyn then announces that they must quell the seed of rebellion in the land that has twice rebuffed his heralds: they will invade Wales come spring. Askeladd is shocked at the news; Floki notices this and tells King Sweyn there might be some weakness of Askeladd's to be found there. Askeladd assumes Wales' invasion is a coincidence, as King Sweyn could not have known he was connected to it. Nevertheless, he struggles to quickly think of a way to prevent the invasion without turning Wales into a battleground. When Thorkell asks him why the Welsh helped a Dane like Askeladd when he was coming after him, Askeladd tells him the truth of his connection to the land, though he asks him not to tell anyone. Askeladd is called forth and granted fifty pounds of silver for rescuing Prince Canute. King Sweyn tells Askeladd he looks forward to his valour in their upcoming invasion of Wales. Askeladd takes the comment to mean King Sweyn indeed found out he was connected to Wales after all. To King Sweyn and Canute's shock, Askeladd boldly asks the king if a conquest of Wales is truly the wisest decision. King Sweyn allows Askeladd to tell him why he should reconsider his invasion of Wales; Askeladd says that the land, people and forces are all exhausted and should be given time to recuperate, and that Wales's land is treacherous and lacks value. Wanting to appear like a dashing ruler in front of his chieftains, King Sweyn approaches Askeladd and thanks him for his honest council instead of admonishing him. He however whispers to Askeladd that he must choose between Wales and Canute: he does not truly care about the invasion of Wales, and will cancel it if Askeladd brings him Canute's head. He adds that after looking into Askeladd's past, he deduced that his mother was a Welsh slaves, as slaves are Wales's only export of value. Askeladd replies that King Sweyn does not have the face of the king and that the crown should not rest atop such an ugly head. King Sweyn asks what he said, and Askeladd loudly insults the king for all to hear. The nearby guards unsheathe their swords, but Askeladd tells them to stay put, as the king is within his reach. Askeladd reveals his true name is Lucius Artorius Castus. He proclaims he is the true King of Britannia and beheads King Sweyn. Understanding what Askeladd is doing, Canute orders the men to attack him, as he has committed regicide. Thorfinn hears the commotion from outside.

Thorfinn hears screams coming from inside the hall and goes to one of the windows to see what's happening. He is shocked to see Askeladd slashing away at people and angrily starts to make for the entrance, wondering what Askeladd is doing. Inside, Askeladd laughs maniacally as he kills those who approach him. Canute orders the men to continue rushing him and to barricade the doors once reinforcements arrive. He tells Thorkell that Askeladd has not gone mad and that having probably been given the choice between Wales and Canute, he took the path most likely to save both by taking full responsibility for the murder of the king. Canute tells Thorkell he can end it, but Thorkell replies that Canute, as Askeladd's master, should be the one to do it. As Askeladd trades blows with Floki, Thorfinn struggles to make it inside the hall, as the entrance is blocked by the escaping chieftains and the incoming reinforcements. Once he clears the crowd, he yells Askeladd's name. Askeladd looks at him and yells at him to stay away. As Askeladd is distracted by Thorfinn, Canute pierces his sword through Askeladd's chest in front of a shocked Thorfinn. Prince Canute runs Askeladd through with the tip of his sword. Askeladd congratulates him before falling back, caught by Thorfinn before he hits the ground. Thorfinn urges Askeladd to get up and get away and is shocked when Askeladd tells him to kill him and that there is no time left. Thorfinn yells at Askeladd that it was not supposed to end this way and that he was the one who was supposed to kill him. Askeladd asks Thorfinn if he had given any thought to what he would do after he was dead, then chuckles and calls him hopeless when he realizes he did not. Askeladd tells Thorfinn to stop holding on, to move on and to be a true warrior and go further than Thors did. Askeladd dies. Canute tells Thorfinn he knows he will no longer want to serve him and he can go where he wishes. Thorfinn attacks Canute, leaving him with a gash in his cheek before he is tackled to the ground by Thorkell. Canute keeps the soldiers from killing Thorfinn, telling them his wound is shallow and a meager price to pay and that Thorfinn was not in league with Askeladd. Floki realizes the soldiers are obeying Canute and tries to take control of the situation before Canute wrests the military from him, but Canute steps forward and puts on the crown. Canute says he will decide Thorfinn's fate later, cancels the subjugation of Wales, and pushes back the distribution of valuables and lands. Thorfinn is dragged away and his shortsword is left behind.

Einar, a man of approximately twenty who used to tend fields in Northern England, is enslaved and brought to a town by boat along with other slaves. He tries to escape a few times, but faces obstacles such as hunger and is ultimately always caught. Eventually, he accepts his plight: that it is pointless to seek freedom when no one is coming for him and his home far away, and that as long as he acts like a proper slave, he will at least not starve. Leif comes to the slave market and takes a look at Einar; exhasperated, he reminds the slaver that he is looking for a small, blond boy named Thorfinn, who looks nothing like Einar. He asks the slaver if he knows anything, as Leif is certain Thorfinn was sold in this town, but the slaver knows nothing more and Leif leaves disappointed. A bearded man named Ketil comes after Leif and buys Einar, bringing him to his farm in Jutland, Denmark .In late June of 1015, Ketil introduces Einar to Thorfinn, whom he will be working with. Ketil tells Einar that he is lending them the land they are deforesting and that he will buy the crops they grow on it at a fair price; if their harvests earns them more than the amount they were bought for, they will be able to purchase their freedom, likely within three years. Einar meets Pater, who works for Ketil after having bought his own freedom the same way. Einar enthusiastically begins working, but soon finds out that the workers do not treat the slaves well when they barely bring any food for his and Thorfinn's lunch. Against Thorfinn's advice, Einar almost reports the workers to Ketil at the end of their work day, but he is distracted when he spots a beautiful light-haired woman in Ketil's party.