Chapter 69

"If they like you, they won't let you go. If they hate you, they tear you down like this. I can't stand being a slave."

- Einar

Provocation (いじめ, Ijime) is the 69th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Einar, noticing the wheat was pulled out at the roots, assumes the farmhands wrecked their field. He angrily states he is going to "kill" the farmhands and is incensed that Thorfinn does not seem angry about what's transpired, as this will be a significant setback to earning their freedom and will put them further into Ketil's debt. Thorfinn reminds him that he has no right to be angry, as he was always on the side of the destroyers himself — that if the farmhands deserve to be killed for what they've done, he himself deserved to be killed a hundred times over. He adds that no good will come of revenge. Thorfinn is able to get Einar to settle down long enough to get Pater, who tells them he will investigate to see if the culprits left any clues behind in the field. As they walk back, Einar tells Thorfinn that Arnheid is Ketil's favourite and that unlike them, she will get no chance to work to buy her freedom. They run into the farmhands on the road, who provoke Einar by feigning innocent and insulting them. Einar moves to punch one of the farmhands, but Thorfinn punches the farmhand first, breaking his jaw — he is shocked and mortified by his own reaction. Einar and the other farmhands start to fight in earnest; a distracted Thorfinn is hit by a shovel as he tries to stop Einar. He sees the English mother and his father Thors as he falls unconscious into the rocky abyss of his dreams.

Summary
Thorfinn and Einar are shocked to see their field destroyed. Einar tells Thorfinn that wheat is a hardy crop that can sustain being knocked down by wind — their crops were purposely destroyed by people who knew that very well and pulled out their roots to prevent them from recovering. Einar, strangely calm, starts to walk away. When Thorfinn asks him where he's going, Einar says he's going to the farmhands, who are the only ones who would've done a thing like that. Thorfinn asks him to wait, as slaves cannot attack free men. Einar replies that he does not care and that he will kill them. Thorfinn tries to get Einar to settle down and points out that they're only going to play dumb, since they don't have proof the farmhands did it. He adds that even if they did have proof, they'd be the ones who'd get punished for fighting. Thorfinn grabs onto Einar's arm and tells him they should tell Pater about what happened first. Einar grabs him by the collar and asks him how he can be so calm about things and if he can understand the situation. He explains to Thorfinn that not only did they use their most fertile soil for a crop that they now do not have, but they also don't have any seeds for the next planting season and owe a whole field's worth of seeds, which will require them to borrow again to plant the next crop. Einar laments that on top of that, the farmhands are supposed to be farmers who know the hardship and joy that comes with raising crops — he can hardly believe they of all people would do this. As Thorfinn looks concerned, but not agitated or angry about it, Einar yells at him and asks him what's wrong with him. Thorfinn shakily says that he's always been on the side of those who destroyed and plundered, and as such he does not have the right to feel indignant about the farmhands like Einar does. He says if Einar wants to kill them for it, he ought to kill Thorfinn a hundred times over. Einar lets go of Thorfinn's collar. Thorfinn tells Einar to be calm and remember that nothing good will come from revenge. Thorfinn and Einar go get Pater and bring him out to the field. They confirm that they did not see it being wrecked. Pater asks them to leave the field as is and tells them he will examine it to see if any clues were left behind that could point to the responsible party. When he asks if they have any ideas about who the culprit is, Einar tells him he suspects the farmhands. Pater says he will need to report to Ketil, and asks them to leave it to him. He tells them that he had his own share of trouble when he himself was a slave, and wondered why his tormentors bothered with such pointless acts. He tells them that while there are people who unjustly discriminate everywhere, they should not lose heart, as there are also a few who do not. Thorfinn and Einar start to walk back, the anger drained out of Einar. Einar tells Thorfinn that he heard Arnheid is Ketil's favourite, and that she does not have an arrangement with her as he does with them — she was not given the option of buying back her freedom through work, and Ketil has no intention of letting her go. He says Arnheid has seemingly given up on the idea of freedom altogether. Einar says he cannot stand being a slave, as they are not allowed to go if they are liked, and are torn down if they are hated. Thorfinn and Einar hear the farmhands laughing up ahead on the road. Thorfinn tells Einar they should take another route, but Einar walks forward and tells Thorfinn they don't have any reason to sulk about. One of the farmhands tells Einar he looks down and derisively asks him what's wrong. Einar comes to stand before him despite Thorfinn trying to dissuade him. He tells the farmhand that he knows it was them who ruined their field. The farmhand plays dumb and asks Einar what he means. Einar, angrily clenching his fist, starts to approach the farmhand, but Thorfinn physically gets in front of him. The farmhand tells him not to be too down about their little field being destroyed, since wheat grown by slaves would be too filthy to eat anyways. Einar moves to punch the farmhand, but before he can do so, Thorfinn beats him to it and punches the farmhand in the face, sending him to the ground. Thorfinn snaps out of it and seems shocked and mortified about what happened; Einar, also shocked, starts to laugh and compliments Thorfinn's punch, noting he might have broken the farmhand's jaw. The other farmhands angrily approach Thorfinn and Einar, but Einar kicks one in the face. He tells the others to shut their mouths and come get some. Thorfinn tries to get Einar to settle down again, but he is hit in the back of the head by a shovel-wielding farmhand. Thorfinn starts to get woozy and falls down; Einar is similarly hit as he is momentarily distracted by Thorfinn's state. As he falls unconscious, the last things Thorfinn sees are the tearful face of the English mother he once met as a child, and the concerned face of his father Thors trying to speak to him. He wonders what his father is saying, and feels himself falling into the rocky abyss of his dreams.

Characters In Order of Appearance

 * Einar
 * Thorfinn
 * Pater
 * Arnheid
 * Thors Snorresson