Chapter 94

"I can't ever become like you, brother... I don't care about honour or being a proud Norseman anymore... I'm going to surrender. Mock me if you want."

- Olmar

Recommendation of Surrender (降伏勧告) is the 94th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Canute's men finish gathering the bodies: their opponent lost 122 men, while they lost 8. He sends another messenger to ask for Ketil's surrender. Canute denies Floki's request to let the Jomsvikings pillage the farm and forbids them from killing more farmers. An apparition of King Sweyn taunts him for playing benevolent after everything he's done. Olmar is horrified at the state of their wounded at the guests' lodgings and throws up after seeing an apparition of Brodd. Snake passes along the message to surrender to Ketil's family; Thorgil wants to keep fighting with their 20 remaining men, but Sverkel points out that with Ketil incapacitated, the decision rests with the farm's designated successor, Olmar. Despite being ashamed, Olmar is scared and wishes to surrender to end the fight he started. Olmar no longer cares about honour or being a proud Norseman; unable to convince him to keep fighting, Thorgil leaves. As Leif's crew is ready to leave, Thorfinn says there's one more thing he has to do.

Summary
Soldiers finish bringing dead bodies to Canute. Wulf announces that Ketil farm's fatalities number 122, while they themselves suffered 8. He notes that it's higher than either of them expected. Canute replies that it was unavoidable and that they needed to show the difference in their power. Wulf agrees that no one left will resist and that another messenger was sent to ask for Ketil's surrender. Floki tells Canute that the Jomsvikings are grumbling about being called back and asks if they can go confiscate goods in the rebels' homes; Canute refuses and reiterates that the soldiers are forbidden from entering the farm, as Ketil's men will resist until death if they are being pillaged. Floki reminds Canute that pillaging is the victors' right, but Canute replies that the goal was to confiscate the whole farm, not just petty goods. He adds that he'd like to get the farm relatively unscathed and that he'll reward the Jomsvikings greatly another way later. Floki acquiesces and leaves. King Sweyn's head appears behind Canute and taunts him for showing benevolence after all he's done. He reminds Canute that his lies won't work on him and that he can read his mind and see that he wishes to believe he did the right thing. He agrees that it is right because it is a true king's decision; that deciding who to kill and who to spare to create paradise on earth is a burden that the masses cannot comprehend. He tells Canute that the world is still a living hell and that the laws of paradise will do him no good here; that after killing his father, his brother and his own people, he should keep piling the bodies until the corpses reach the door to paradise. At the guests' lodgings, Olmar arrives and sees the sorry state of the wounded. Oddny calls out to him and tells him her father's hands are gone. He begs Olmar to take care of his daughter and family. Olmar starts to back away, but pauses when he sees and hears a vision of Brodd behind him, a sword through his neck. Brodd reminds him he couldn't even cut a pig. Oddny notices Olmar visible startle; she rushes to ask him if he's alright when he throws up. She asks him if he's injured and tells him he should lie down; Olmar simply cries. In Ketil's home, Snake announces that they've just received another message asking them to surrender. The message stated that Canute would stop attacking to give them time to consider, though the original offer of the Ketil family being outlawed if they surrender remains the same. Snake adds that while it's their choice whether to keep fighting or not, they have less than 20 men still capable of fighting. Ketil's wife, outraged, asks if it's a joke and states that she won't stand to be outlawed when the land is their rightful land and their home. She yells that it's all Snake's fault for being an incompetent and useless free-loader, unable to beat them when he had three times the amount of men. She throws a filled pan at him, which he doesn't move to avoid. Fox is shocked and starts to speak, but Snake tells him to not say anymore. Thorgil asks Snake what he would do if they continued to fight; Snake replies that he'd fight with him. Thorgil smiles and tells his mother to leave it to him, as 20 men is more than enough to take the head of one king. He boldly states that winning when outnumbered is a true man's path and that he'll make sure his name is engraved in history. Sverkel tells him to calm down and reminds him that the choice to surrender or not is not his. Thorgil argues that it is, since Ketil's incapacitated, wounded and bedridden. He asks if Sverkel means to make the decision. Sverkel replies that he will not, as he decided to retire and leave them to farm a long time ago, but that Ketil had already designated the farm's next successor. The household turns to Olmar, who weakly says they'll surrender. His mother yells at him, asking him how he could call himself a Norseman and not be ashamed of himself. Olmar replies that he is ashamed, but also scared at the thought of others or himself dying. Be he exiled for it or not, he wishes to put an end to it as soon as possible. Thorgil tells him to stop whining and reminds him that he wanted to fight in war and that he himself started the battle. Olmar says he knows it's his fault for letting his anger get the best of him when he was humiliated. He knows he did something unforgivable to everyone who suffered today and wishes to end the fight since he's the one who started it. Thorgil tries a different tactic and tells Olmar it wasn't his fault, as King Canute already planned to confiscate the farm and only used Olmar as a convenient excuse to exploit. Olmar takes the blame regardless, pointing out that he gave them something to exploit. Thorgil argues that it doesn't matter, as they'd have found something to fault in him or their father otherwise. He says Olmar only fought to protect his honour, which is more valuable than life. He reaches for Olmar's shoulder and encourages him to continue to protect his honour and to show a true Norseman's courage once more. Olmar slaps his hand away and yells that Thorgil is wrong and that it wasn't courage; that he deserved to be mocked after embarrassing himself in front of the king, and that he lacked the courage to bear the shame. He wipes away his tears and tells Thorgil that he can't ever become like him and that he doesn't care about honour or being a proud Norseman anymore. He states that he will surrender and that Thorgil can mock him if he wants to. Sverkel says that the acting master of the farm has made his decision and tells Olmar to go inform the king. Snake says he'll accompany him and won't mock him. Thorgil sighs and says he's done, shoving Olmar out of the way and walking out the door. Snake asks him where he's going. Thorgil says he's done with cowards and walks off. Sverkel looks at his bedridden son and asks the unconscious Ketil how many times he warned him that a large farm would only attract equally large misfortune. He smiles and adds that it wasn't all in vain, as in exchange for the farm, Olmar became a man.

At the docks, Leif and his crew finalize their preparations to leave. He tells Thorfinn it's time to go. While walking down the dock, Thorfinn thinks to himself that the master is still alive and has not been caught by Canute, so the battle shouldn't be over yet. He ponders that he may make it in time if he goes now. As he looks out to the farm and wonders if he's fine leaving like this, Einar calls out to him. Thorfinn says that he's forgotten one thing he has to do.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Canute
 * Wulf
 * Floki
 * Sweyn (vision)
 * Olmar
 * Oddny
 * Brodd
 * Snake
 * Sverkel
 * Thorgil
 * Fox
 * Ketil
 * Leif Ericson
 * Mols
 * Thorfinn
 * Einar