Chapter 49

"His clothes and body... are falling to pieces... Such a young boy has lived on the battlefield for so long... I've no doubt he's seen hell... No. I must stop this. If I am to save him, I must ignore the eleven years that have happened..."

- Leif Ericson

Karlsefni (カルルセヴニ) is the 49th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
The men move the wounded Prince Canute and are surprised to see a woman's breasts when they cut open his shirt to get to the wound. The real Prince Canute arrives, revealing a slave woman had been used as his body double. On the docks, guards assume Thorfinn was the prince's attacker and try to arrest him, but then recognize him as Thorfinn Karlsefni, the promising young man who challenged Thorkell with nothing but two knives and won. They realize he is part of Prince Canute's retinue. Leif asks if he is Thorfinn, son of Thors, from Iceland. Thorfinn recognizes Leif, who starts to cry and hugs him. Talking on the docks, Thorfinn asks Leif about Vinland, refusing to listen when Leif tells him about Helga and Ylva instead. He tells Thorfinn he's done enough and begs him to come home with him, but Thorfinn angrily says he hasn't done enough as long as Askeladd is alive. Sad to see what the cheerful little boy he knew has become, Leif tells him he'll stay in Jorvik until Thorfinn changes his mind. As news of the attempt on Prince Canute's life spreads through Jorvik, rumours and theories abound as the townsfolk wonder who was truly responsible and pulling the strings. King Sweyn remarks that Askeladd outwitted Floki, and that he's brought a curse upon the city.

Summary
The men on the ship disembark and move Prince Canute, who was shot in the chest by a crossbow. Floki and the Jomsvikings stand by. The men rush to find bandages and stop the bleeding. One man cuts the prince's shirt open to get to the wound and is shocked to see a woman's chest. On the docks, Leif still stares at Thorfinn in shock. A guard sends his men after Thorfinn, assuming he must've been the prince's attacker. Thorfinn replies it wasn't him and says the man under his foot was the attacker and had a weapon. He tells them they can ask the other witnesses. The men pick up the attacker's crossbow, confused about what kind of weapon it is. Another tries to take Thorfinn's weapons, while the main guard refuses to believe Thorfinn's story, believing that he is trying to escape justice by pinning the blame on someone else. He tells Thorfinn to stop making up stories and tells him anyone would agree he has the face of a wicked man, and that he can tell from his eyes that he's dead inside. Thorfinn hits the man in the throat, making him fall back. One of the men starts going for Thorfinn, but another stops him and tells him to wait. Seeing the two knives and the short, young man before him, he puts two and two together and asks Thorfinn if he is Thorfinn Karsefni. Leif is startled by the name Thorfinn, while Thorfinn wonders about the "Karsefni." One of the men asks what "Karsefni" means; another tells him it means "the promising," as Thorfinn was the man who challenged Thorkell with two knives and won. The man is shocked, since Thorfinn is so small, but the other reminds him that he just knocked Bui out with one empty hand. The man asks if that's a bad thing, since he's in the prince's retinue. Leif walks towards Thorfinn and asks if he is from Iceland, Thorfinn, son of Thors. Thorfinn looks at Leif, confused, but then recognizes him, though he has aged considerably since the last time he saw him. Leif starts to cry and hugs Thorfinn, thanking God that he is alive. The men wonder what they should do and if Thorfinn will tell Prince Canute that they accused him of being an assassin. The men tending to the wounded Prince Canute are in shock that he was a woman after all, though they always had their doubts. The real Prince Canute walks over and asks Askeladd why his double is a woman. Askeladd replies that he was not able to find a male slave who matched Canute's appearance. Canute asks if the slave woman will live, but one of the men tending to her says he doubts it. Canute holds her hand and apologizes for what she's been put through, then orders the men to treat her properly and do her every possible respect. As they walk by Floki and the Jomsvikings, Askeladd tells Canute that their vigilance has paid off, loudly pondering what would have happened without their body double. He instructs him to be cautious, and looking at Floki smugly, adds that it seems Jorvik is home to some who would wish Canute deadly harm. Floki grimaces. Leif and Thorfinn talk on the docks. Leif says he sees that Thorfinn has been seeking vengeance. Thorfinn says he has, and that he'll be the one to kill Askeladd with Thors's shortsword. He says he'll keep trying until he's regained their honour. Leif looks at Thorfinn sadly, seeing that his body and clothes are both falling to pieces. He has no doubt Thorfinn has seen hell, having been on the battlefield since he was a young boy. He thinks that if he is to save him, he has to forget the eleven years that have passed. Thorfinn asks Leif what is happening in Vinland now, saying that Thors always wanted to go and that he himself sometimes sees it in his dreams. He asks Leif if he's already built a village there. Leif does not answer, instead asking Thorfinn why he's not asking him about the mother and sister he left behind instead. Thorfinn is silent. Leif nevertheless tells him that after Thors and Thorfinn left, Helga's condition grew much worse, leaving her with the ability to do little but sleep and wake every day. He tells Thorfinn that seeing him again is the healing she needs. Thorfinn says he asked about Vinland. Leif tells him Ylva is a mother now, and that Thorfinn has three young nephews and nieces. Thorfinn yells at him to shut up and says he didn't ask him about that. He stands and starts to walk away. Leif asks him where he's going; Thorfinn tells him that for some reason, his job is to be in the prince's personal guard. Leif tells Thorfinn to go back home with him and tells him he's done enough. Thorfinn asks him what he would know about what's enough and what he's been through. His face distorted by anger, clenching his shortsword, he tells Leif that as long as Askeladd lives, he hasn't done enough. Leif is distraught to see what the cheerful little boy he knew has become. As Thorfinn walks away, he tells him he'll stay in Jorvik until he changes his mind, and again asks him to come back home to Iceland with him.

In Jorvik, the residents talk about what happened with Prince Canute. Rumours circulate as they start to wonder who was truly responsible for the assassination attempt and who was pulling the strings. Looking over the town from his hold, King Sweyn says that Askeladd outwitted Floki. Floki agrees and begs King Sweyn for his forgiveness. King Sweyn says Askeladd is a clever one and that he has brought a curse on Jorvik.

Supplemental Material
The end of Chapter 49 includes a Map of Thorfinn's Travels (including information boxes for "Gainsborough", with images of Bjorn, King Sweyn, Canute and Thorkell; "York (Jorvik)", with images of Leif and Thorfinn; and " Wales", with an image of Askeladd.

A supplemental design of Canute and his sword is included.

The Afterword talks about Vikings hating being shamed and pursuing violence, death and vengeance, as those who did not were considered cowards. Yukimura adds that pride above all is a facet of the Viking mindset that he hates.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Leif Ericson
 * Floki
 * Bui
 * Askeladd
 * Canute
 * Thors Snorresson
 * Sweyn