Chapter 46

"... Bjorn was right. I hate warriors. Especially Norsemen. My very first kill was a Norse warrior. And he was an ugly man. My father. Let me give you a lesson, boy... on how to kill a man you truly hate."

- Askeladd

Two Lone Wolves (二匹の孤狼, Ni-biki no Ko Ōkami) is the 46th chapter in the series.

Overview
As Askeladd and Thorfinn are about to start their duel, Thorkell bets Askeladd will win. Thorfinn notices something is off and holds himself off from attacking right away; Askeladd asks him what's wrong and then throws away his sword, claiming he only needs his two hands to wrangle Thorfinn. Furious, Thorfinn attacks. Askeladd easily grabs his forearms before he can make contact and then starts to knee and punch him. Thorkell takes back his comment and notes that it isn't much of a fight, as Askeladd clearly knows all of Thorfinn's quirks and tendencies. Thorfinn loses consciousness and falls face first into the snow. Askeladd raises his sword above Thorfinn, but Canute stops the duel before he can strike. Canute wakes Thorfinn and tells him to wait for his arm to heal to fight again. Askeladd tells him it will not matter if Thorfinn has one or two arms, as he loses because he is a fool. He tells Thorfinn he loses as soon as the blood goes to his head, as Askeladd can see he's aiming for the neck from his eyes, and that only a fool gives in to rage. He adds that Bjorn was right: he hates warriors, especially Norsemen. Askeladd says the first man he killed was an ugly Norseman, his father. He tells Thorfinn he will give him a lesson on how to kill a man you truly hate.

Summary
With Bjorn now dead, Askeladd and Thorfinn begin their duel. Thorfinn notices that it isn't like usual; Askeladd's face is serious. Thorkell asks Canute who he'd wager on. Canute replies that it does not matter to him, as he'll stop the fight before either dies. Thorkell tells him not to be a spoil-sport and that it is rare to see hardened warriors like them face off that way. Thorkell bets a pound of silver on Askeladd. Canute says he is not betting, but asks why Thorkell is betting on Askeladd. Thorkell replies that he just has a feeling about him. Canute asks if that means Askeladd is greater than Thorfinn, who himself bested Thorkell. Thorkell reminds him he's talking to Thorkell the Great and asks him if his first thought is really to label him the weakest of the three great men he sees. He specifies that one cannot determine strong, weak, or who is greater just from who has beaten whom, which is what makes it fun. Canute says he has no interest in those matters and Thorkell tells him to admit he is a woman already. Askeladd tells Thorfinn to come forward, since he wants to get the duel over with before they get stuck in a blizzard. Thorfinn simply looks at him, and Askeladd throws away his sword in the snow. He asks Thorfinn if it isn't easier to attack that way and says he only needs his two hands to wrangle him. Furious, Thorfinn charges for Askeladd, who is easily able to simply grasp Thorfinn's forearms. Askeladd notes Thorfinn still does not understand why it always happens. He knees Thorfinn and then headbutts him. Askeladd keeps punching and kneeing him. Thorkell says he has to retract his previous statement, as this isn't much a fight; not only do Askeladd and Thorfinn's fighting styles not match, but Askeladd knows all of Thorfinn's quirks and tendencies. He assumes they fought like this countless times. He asks Canute what is at the root of the duel, but Canute has not heard. Quite beat up, Thorfinn falls face first into the snow. Askeladd tells him he never learns and that it is growing tiresome, chiding him for thinking beating Thorkell meant he could conquer the world, including beating him with one hand. Canute yells for the duel to cease. Askeladd puts his foot on Thorfinn's back, raises his sword, and says it has to be his lucky day. Canute again yells at him to stop and Askeladd stabs his sword into the snow next to Thorfinn's head. Canute tells him to stop, since Thorfinn is out cold and Askeladd has won the duel. Thorkell cannot believe Canute actually stopped the duel. Askeladd starts to walk away, as Canute turns Thorfinn over and tries to smack him back to consciousness. Bruised, battered and bloodied, Thorfinn opens his eyes. Canute tells him that the fight is over and that he lost. Once it registers, Thorfinn starts looking around erratically, but Canute tells him to stop, since it's over. Thorfinn starts to yell at Canute, but Canute tells him Thorfinn blacked out and that Askeladd dealt the finishing blow. He tells Thorfinn to wait until his arm is healed to fight again. Askeladd, who is wiping snow off of a structure's ruins to sit on the remains of its masonry, says the results will be the same whether Thorfinn has one arm or two, as he loses because he is a fool. He admits that Thorfinn has learned to think a bit before he fights, but tells him he lost as soon as he let Askeladd read his first move; that he loses as soon as the blood goes to his head, and that Askeladd can see he's aiming for the neck from his eyes alone. He adds that only fools give into their rage, scream their head off and wave their weapon about, grumbling that it seems no one around has heard of grace or beauty. Askeladd says that Bjorn was right: that he hates warriors, especially Norsemen. He tells Thorfinn, as well as the listening Canute, that his first kill was a Norse warrior, and an ugly man: his father. He tells Thorfinn that he will give him a lesson on how to kill a man you truly hate.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Thorkell
 * Canute
 * Thorfinn
 * Askeladd
 * Bjorn (corpse)