Chapter 65

"Having too big of a farm will only bring disasters. He continually tries to expand the farm and increase his wealth, out of fear of losing that very wealth... my idiot son fails to see the futility of it all."

- Sverkel

At the Old Master's House (大旦那の家で) is the 65th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Thorfinn and Einar get an impressive amount of work done with the horses and the plow lent to them by Sverkel. They head to Sverkel's house as it starts to rain and witness the end of an argument between Ketil and Sverkel. Ketil insists that Sverkel should stop doing physically demanding farmwork and wonders what would have happened if Snake had not been there to find him the last few times he collapsed in the fields. As Ketil leaves, Sverkel tells Thorfinn and Einar to go to the next room to wash their clothes. They are surprised to find Snake asleep there; he wakes up once he smells food and immediately starts bickering with Ketil. Snake invites Thorfinn and Einar to join them to eat, and Sverkel gruffly echoes the invitation. Snake tells them that the guests' job is important, as they keep occasionally armed thieves from stealing livestock and crops. He points out that they're actually quite shorthanded with only fourteen guests, and would be in a bad situation if an organized unit was to attack the farm. Sverkel tells him that it would not happen, as Ketil pays King Harald a significant tribute twice a year, and thus the King has a responsibility to protect Ketil's farm. Snake points out that the King's army would not be able to protect them if the worst was to happen, since it would take them days to reach the farm. Sverkel ignores Snake and criticizes Ketil's pursuit of an overly large farm, commenting that growing his wealth out of fear of losing said wealth is a futile way to live. Snake, Thorfinn and Einar leave after the rain stops. Shortly after, in October, Thorfinn and Einar begin to seed the fields.

Summary
Thorfinn and Einar continue to plow the fields with the horses they've borrowed from the master's father, Sverkel. They stop when it starts looking like it will rain and hit a tree root. Einar notes that the remaining roots from the uprooted trees will continue to get caught in the plow, but that they will rot away within a year or so. He suggests they don't try to dig any deeper, as it may damage the plow. Thorfinn is amazed that they managed to get so much done in one day. Einar is similarly impressed at the effort Ketil is putting into his farm, as he has ten plows in total. Thorfinn wonders if plows are really that expensive, and Einar replies that they are — his own hometown had only owned one, shared by eight families. Thorfinn asks if doing the work manually with a hoe would have been more difficult, and Einar tells him it's the same difference as having a horse versus not having one. Thorfinn is amazed, having never known such an invention existed. He comments that it must have been invented by a peasant who knew the hardship of farm work firsthand. Einar smiles at his cluelessness about farm work, comparing him to a big baby who gawks at everything he is seeing for the first time. The two leave the field as the rain starts pouring in earnest.

At Sverkel's house, Sverkel asks Ketil if he's made preparations against rain. Ketil tells him to stop trying to change the subject. He states he is concerned for Sverkel's health, and that at his age, he should not continue with physically demanding farmwork. He says he should stop working, as they don't know what could have happened if Snake had not found Sverkel the few times he collapsed on the field. Sverkel replies that he'd be quite happy if he died in the fields, and asks Ketil why he doesn't go back to working his own fields himself. Ketil ignores the question and tells Sverkel he should not even be living alone at his age. Sverkel retorts he can manage fine on his own. When Ketil tells him to stop being stubborn, Sverkel tells him that they just think very differently and would start fighting again if he went to live with him. Ketil says it's precisely because of Sverkel's stubbornness, and that he should acknowledge that the farm is only as big as it is today because of his hard work. Thorfinn and Einar arrive at Sverkel's house, soaked from the rain. They witness the end of Sverkel and Ketil's argument as Ketil leaves, asking his father to think about what he said and that he'd come by again. He asks what the two are doing there and tells Sverkel to stop ordering his slaves around, as Pater was the one put in charge of taking care of them. Ketil leaves on horseback. Sverkel points out that Thorfinn and Einar's clothes are wet and tells them they can wash them in a tub in the next room. They start discussing the argument they witnessed as they head to the room, but Einar suddenly startles when he sees Snake asleep on a bed holding a book. Thorfinn asks what Snake is doing there, which Einar doesn't know. He however notes he's surprised Snake was able to sleep through all the bickering. Thorfinn comments that Snake's sleeping posture is terrible. Snake suddenly opens his eyes and bolts upright when he smells something. He rushes out of the room and yells at Sverkel, asking him if he cooked dinner and if he thought he could leave him out and fill only his own belly. Snake notices Einar and Thorfinn behind me and mockingly asks if they were trying to sneak into bed with him. As Snake serves himself a bowl of food, Sverkel says he's a good for nothing leech, only waking up for food. He says he should be ashamed to sleep all day only to then eat like a pig. Snake retorts that the guards work the night shift, since thieves typically sneak around at night. He credits the farm's peace and wealth to their nightly patrols and says it's why he has to eat a lot. Sverkel points out that lurking around the homes of young women isn't patrolling, but Snake counters protecting women is part of their duty. Einar and Thorfinn awkwardly stand back and watch the exchange as Sverkel and Snake proceed to start calling each other names. Snake looks at them and tells them to come and eat if they haven't yet. Einar asks if that would be alright. Snake replies that it's not some fancy food that slaves can't eat, so they can eat their fill. Sverkel grumbles about Snake taking the liberty to give him dinner away, but nevertheless tells Thorfinn and Einar to sit, since people who've worked hard should eat. As they eat, Einar asks Snake if it is true that thieves sneak around the farm. Snake replies that they do from time to time, mostly to steal grazing livestock or some of the crops ready for harvest. He adds that some of them are armed, and that it is the guests' job to catch them. Sverkel comments that the amount of food stolen by thieves is about as much as the food spent on feeding the guests, which doesn't make sense. Snake says he just has to complain about everything. Sverkel says he could chase away thieves himself, as he still knows how to use a sword and spear despite his age. Snake asks him if he could really fight with his bad hip. Snake and Sverkel continue to bicker as Thorfinn and Einar eat. Snake tells them that in all seriousness, the farm lacks in fighting force, as they only have fourteen guards in total and would not stand a chance against a unit of over 50 organized soldiers. He asks Thorfinn for his opinion. Thorfinn is startled by the question, and replies that he doesn't really know. Sverkel asks Snake what good it is to ask Thorfinn a question like that. He notes that in any case, they won't get anything worse than petty thieves around the area. Snake says that they have to do something about it now, as nothing would help spare anyone if the worst was really to happen. Sverkel says he will not come crying to him if anything does happen. Einar asks why no one but petty thieves would come around the area, as a lot of people would want a nice farm for themselves. At Sverkel's stern look, Einar apologizes for asking. Regardless, Sverkel explains, saying it is because of King Harald. Twice a year, Ketil pays him an exorbitant amount in tribute — in exchange, the King has the responsibility to protect the farm. Thorfinn thinks to himself that Harald is Canute's older brother. Sverkel comments that it is stupid to buy peace, and ponders about what the need for such a big farm is when they could never become autonomous. Snake says that if anything were to happen, King Harald's army would not be able to do anything about it, since it would take them days to come from Hjørring. He reiterates that the guests are the only ones who can really be counted upon for protection. Sverkel ignores him and says that having a farm that is too big will only bring forth disaster. He says that his idiot son Ketil continues to try to expand the farm to increase his wealth, out of the fear of losing that very same wealth, without seeing the futility of his actions. As Thorfinn and Einar think about what Sverkel said, Snake grumbles about all his lecturing. It stops raining and Snake makes for the door to go back to work. Sverkel tells him not to come back anymore. Snake smugly points out Sverkel would be lonely if he didn't come; Sverkel again yells at him to get out. Thorfinn and Einar put their damp clothes back on and assure Ketil that they will dry quickly as they wear them; they thank him for the dinner again. As they walk, Einar points out that Sverkel and Snake are strange and get along better than the real father and son, Sverkel and Ketil, do. Thorfinn tells Einar that he feels like he learned a lot of things today. Einar smiles and tells him that is good to hear, once again calling him a big baby. Thorfinn bashfully asks him to stop calling him that. He looks out at the expanse of fields and ponders on what Sverkel said about the farm getting too big. Shortly after, now in October, Thorfinn and Einar spread seeds in the fields.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Einar
 * Sverkel
 * Ketil
 * Snake