Chapter 42

"Listen up, boys... Even I... harbour one great regret in my life. "Why didn't... I follow Thors back then?". It still haunts me. A terrible shame. If only I'd gone with him... I might have discovered the secret to being a true warrior."

- Thorkell

Verdict (裁定, Saitei) is the 42nd chapter in the series and the last chapter of Volume 6.

Overview
Atli is devastated to find that the band has been killed and that his brother Torgrim, who has survived, does not recognize him. Thorkell tells Canute that he has no right to interfere in a duel; Canute replies it's not much of a duel anymore and suggests he show pride and grace before his followers. Thorkell yells at him, since it's something he already knows. He reiterates that he lost the duel, despite this being precipitated by his men disobeying his orders and interfering, and tells them to let Thorfinn go. Thorfinn rushes Askeladd to leave, but Askeladd says he wants to stay and watch. Canute tells Thorkell he is there to borrow and sled and food and Thorkell asks why he would let him go. Canute tells him he has no value as a hostage, since King Sweyn favours his older brother Harald and sent Canute off to die in battle to prevent splitting the kingdom. He tells Thorkell that if he went free, he would go to Gainsborough to face his father, as it has to be done and he doesn't have much of a life to mourn even if he loses. Thorkell decides to test his resolve to give up his life by punching him in the face, but stops just short of making contact when Canute does not so much as flinch. Thorkell, who recognizes the look in Canute's eyes as the same one he saw in Thors's, says that his only regret was not following Thors back then and losing his chance at finding out what it means to be a true warrior. To the surprise of his men, he says he will fight with Canute, as he'll still be against King Sweyn anyway. Askeladd hysterically laughs, then hands his sword to Canute and admits he is the one who killed Ragnar. He tells Canute to strike him down, or to let him live out his life in loyal service to him. Canute tells him his atonement will be to do Ragnar's share of the lifting. He tells everyone that if they are to follow him, they are off to Gainsborough to drag King Sweyn off of his throne.

Summary
Atli realizes the rest of the band has been killed and falls to his knees. He then notices his brother Torgrim kneeling nearby and heads for him, ecstatic to see that he is still alive. He grasps him and asks him if he's hurt and if he can walk, then tearfully apologizes, implying things would have gone differently if he'd brought back Prince Canute sooner. As Atli sobs against his shoulder, Torgrim asks him who he is. Canute says he is astonished by how much killing the men can undertake without growing weary of it. Thorkell frowns at him and replies that not even kings or gods have the right to interfere in a duel. Canute notes it doesn't seem to be much of a duel anymore; a man still holds Thorfinn down against the ground. Canute tells Thorkell that as a leader of men, he should demonstrate pride and grace before his followers. Thorkell, who had already been admonishing his men prior to Canute's arrival, screams at Canute to shut up and tells him he knows those things already. He tells his men he lost the duel and to release Thorfinn. The man holding Thorfinn down counters that Thorkell didn't lose, since they're the ones who interfered against his orders, but Thorkell tells him to shut his mouth, observe the rules and to at least let him keep his dignity. Asgeir tells the men to do as Thorkell says. Thorkell yells that he's never had such a bad day in his fifty years, sits down, and calls for mead. Askeladd observes Canute. Thorfinn approaches Askeladd and tells him they should leave quickly before Thorkell changes his mind. Askeladd tells him to leave if he wants to, but that he's staying. Thorfinn, startled, starts to ask him if he thinks it's a joke and why he had to go through all of that torture if he was just going to stay, but Askeladd tells him to stop squalling and watch the good part. Thorkell knocks back some mead and has his eye patched by one of his men. He asks Canute why he is there. Canute tells him he wants a sled and food, both of which Thorkell will be repaid for later. He adds that Thorfinn and Askeladd are his subjects and that he will take them with him. Thorkell asks him if he's dense, as hunters don't typically let prey go when they jump into their grasp. Thorkell directs his men to surrender Canute and "soften him up". Thorfinn yells at Askeladd to give up on the prince and leave already, but Askeladd again tells him to shut up and watch.

Canute asks Thorkell if he thinks he will be his wildcard if he crosses paths with King Sweyn's forces; Thorkell confirms. One of the men approaches Canute with a length of rope, but Canute commands him to stand back and tells him he's not going anywhere. Thorkell notes it hasn't taken Canute long to speak like a king and asks him what happened. When Canute doesn't answer, he adds that he saw Ragnar's body in the village they passed through the day prior. Canute ignores the comment and tells Thorkell that he has no use as a hostage, since his father does not love him and intends to give the throne to his eldest son, Canute's brother Harald. He adds that he's only the backup plan, serving as nothing more than an emergency substitute, but is nevertheless part of the line of succession to the Danish throne, with a right to his father's inheritance. Canute explains that the ambitions of the court have been stimulated by this, thus threatening the balance of the realm, and that his existence is now a source of lament for King Sweyn and his kingdom. He asks if Thorkell knows that to grow plump and ripe fruit, the first rule is to prune the weaker fruits off the branch as early as possible. Thorkell asks if Canute is saying that King Sweyn is hoping he will kill him. Canute confirms that King Sweyn does not wish to sully his own hands with his blood, and that having him die in battle is more proper than assassination or imprisonment. Asgeir tells Thorkell that there's no proof to support Canute's story and that there is no harm in seizing him regardless; Thorkell tells him to shut up and that the prince is not lying. He asks Canute where he would go, given the situation, if he was to let him go free. Canute says he would go to the army's headquarters in Gainsborough to face his father. Thorkell replies he's very optimistic to think he would win, especially without Ragnar. Canute counters that he will just do what must be done and does not have much of a life to mourn in any case. Thorkell stands and faces Canute. He tells him he's seen many men who claimed they were ready to give up their lives, but that many were just all talk who were one hit away from crying and begging for their lives. He asks Canute if he's one of them and readies himself to punch him. Thorkell goes in for the punch and stops right before hitting Canute's face, with enough momentum to make his hair fly back. Askeladd, Thorfinn and Thorkell's men are astounded that Canute did not so much as flinch. Thorkell looks at Canute and thinks to himself that he does not like the look in his eyes, similar to the one he had seen in Thors's. He wonders what people like them see. The men wonder why Thorkell is just staring at Canute without saying anything. Asgeir assumes he got another odd idea. Thorkell straightens up and tells his men that he harbours one great regret in his life: that he did not follow Thors the last time he saw him, which is something that still haunts him. He wonders if he'd have discovered the secret of being a true warrior if he had gone with Thors then. Thorkell, deciding he'd still be fighting against King Sweyn in any case, tells Canute that he has his assistance in the fight and that he is on his side. Asgeir and Askeladd are both particularly surprised by the turn of events. Thorkell tells Canute that he wants to see what he does and what he will become with his own eye, though he will kill him on the spot if he finds him unworthy of the example he's shown. Canute smiles and says that as of this day, Thorkell is his thegn. Thorkell's men wonder what that means for them and assume they will be following him. Thorfinn, staring uncomprehendingly, is distracted when Askeladd starts laughing hysterically next to him. Thorkell is almost surprised that Askeladd is still there. Exhaling and becoming serious again, Askeladd walks over to Canute, kneels and hands him his sword hilt first. He tells Canute that he was the one who killed Lord Ragnar and tells him to strike him down. Canute looks down on him severely and Thorfinn worryingly wonders why Askeladd would tell him that. Askeladd tells Canute that if he would grant him his life, he would see that it is spent in loyal service to him. Canute turns his back on Askeladd, ignoring his sword, and tells him that his atonement will be to do Ragnar's share of the lifting — Thorfinn is relieved. Askeladd accepts the command. Thorkell asks Askeladd what the big idea is and tells him not to copy him; Askeladd replies that he was in Canute's service first. Smiling, Thorkell tells him that they're partners now in any case, though he hopes Askeladd doesn't mind he already killed all of his men. Askeladd laughs back that he has no choice but to let bygones be bygones. Canute tells everyone that if they are to follow him, then they march to drag King Sweyn off of his throne.

Supplemental Material
The end of Chapter 42 includes a Map of Thorfinn's Travels (including information boxes for "Gainsborough", with images of King Sweyn and Floki; the "Banks of the River Severn", with images of Thorkell, Askeladd, Thorfinn and Canute; and " Jomsborg", with an image of Thors.

It is followed by the shorts Dimly-Remembered Vinland Saga (Memory 1) and Bonus Manga (Memory 2), drawn by Yukimura's assistant Haito Kumagai in the style of Shigery Muzuki

The Afterword talks about how Yukimura would be happy if his sons read his manga growing up, despite some of the material not being suitable for children, as all children should learn from those who have come before and he's tried hard to draw what he himself has learned in Vinland Saga.

Characters in order of appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Canute
 * Askeladd
 * Thorkell
 * Atli
 * Ear (corpse)
 * Torgrim
 * Asgeir
 * Thors Snorresson (flashback)
 * Helga (flashback)