EPISODE 12: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTRY
Catch anything, old man?
It's nearly hibernation season for fish.
I don't mind not catching anything
since my main work is as a ferryman.
You're all Danish, aren't you?
You speak English well enough,
but you've got a slight accent.
It's similar to the accent of my country.
How much is the ferriage to the opposite bank?
Two silver coins.
I also take strong drink.
Now then, to transport you all will take several days.
No.
The only cargo is this letter.
That's too bad. I was hoping you'l be passengers.
So whose the recipient on the other bank?
Deliver is now to one of the elders.
Tell them it's from the son of Lydia, Askeladd.
Understood. It will do so promptly.
Askeladd!
Askeladd! Where are you?
Hey!
Ragnar, please be quiet.
Why have we stopped marching?
Thorkell will overtake us!
When Ear is working, we must keep quiet.
Ear?
Bjorn, stop that cone head from breathing.
Ear!
How's the situation?
They're closer than yesterday.
I hear footsteps and horses marching.
Close too
500 of them.
They're right behind us.
About a day's distance away on foot.
Are you sure, Ear?
Yesterday you said they were two days away.
Are you doubting my hearing?
They're quick.
They're marching at a fast pace.
At this rate, they'll reach us in a few days.
Quiet, everyone!
Horses. Two on the hill!
We're entirely within their grasp.
What do we do?
If we're to counter, we must get into formation now.
No, impossible.
We wouldn't succeed.
But at this rate…
I've sent for reinforcements.
For now, we'll try to shake them off here.
-Huh? -Reinforcements?
Reinforcements?
We're right in enemy territory.
That's what Askeladd said, right?
You ever hear him lie about something like this?
I guess not. That's true.
But where's the nearest fort?
Leicester.
Are you serious?
It'll take us two weeks!
Will reinforcements really arrive in time?
With more help, won't we have to share the spoils?
Askeladd said we'd be splitting it just between the 100 of us.
I am so exhausted!
I wanna sail on a ship.
Yeah.
If only we had a ship.
What?
Something you need?
Everyone is restless.
You must explain what we're doing.
Let them be restless.
A little agitation is good if it spurs them to pick up the pace.
What?
If there's nothing else, go to sleep.
You've been acting strangely these past few days.
What are you thinking?
You've been like this since seeing the prince's face.
I've been living among scoundrels for more than 40 years.
With just one glance
I can tell whether a man is proud or meek, clever or foolish.
When I saw the prince's face,
I understood.
He doesn't have the face of a king.
Yeah, he looks more like a woman.
But you know, he's just a kid.
Well, that's true.
He's still young.
It starts now.
What does?
All right, wake up, you bastards!
Prepare to march!
Waste time and Thorkell will catch up!
What?
Is he serious?
It's still pitch black out.
Hey.
What?
Did you sleep?
No.
Hey.
You're so loud. Shut up.
But if I don't talk,
I'm going to fall asleep.
We're in trouble, Askeladd.
They're close.
Yeah, I know.
At this rate, they'll catch us.
I know that.
We're almost to the rendezvous point.
See? There.
They're our reinforcements?
Two men?
They're not evil fog demons, right?
I'm grateful to you for coming yourself, Commander.
It's been a long time, Askeladd.
So.
You say all those men got into a ship and crossed the river?
Do you know whose ship it was?
No, I couldn't tell.
The fog was as thick as goat's milk.
It wasn't a Norse ship.
There was no dragon's head.
Yeah, it was a stodgy-looking ship.
I'm sure I saw eyes painted on it.
Wide eyes on the bow.
That doesn't seem like King Sweyn's ship.
Either way, we can no longer trace the footsteps of Thorfinn and the rest.
We may have underestimated them.
Who knew they'd have an ally on the other side of the River Severn?
Do you mean to say the people
across the river changed sides from England to Denmark?
Fool. You don't know anything, do you?
It doesn't matter if they changed sides. The land across the river isn't England.
That's Wales.
Wales.
A mountainous region to the west of England.
Steep peaks, scarce resources,
and little flat land suitable for farming.
Compared with England, it is a barren land.
Since the fall of the Roman Empire,
the country's regions never unified.
And several small kingdoms held their ground for hundreds of years.
The call for help from Askeladd's army
was answered by one of those small kingdoms.
EASTERN PART OF THE KINGDOM OF MORGANNWG, WALES
I commend you, Askeladd.
Right about now, Thorkell's army must be across the river grinding their teeth.
All we have to do now is sail this route home to Gainsborough!
No, we'll be going by land from here.
What the hell are you talking about? There are ships right here!
Consider it from the perspective of a small nation.
Three warships in this country hold great military value.
We must be grateful they helped us escape Thorkell.
Then how about two ships? We can squeeze in 100 if we try.
No. And I'll leave you behind if you act like a spoiled child.
You're telling us to walk through Wales?
Inconceivable!
The people here hate us.
I will not let you subject His Highness to any further danger!
A falcon.
Flying so low.
Ragnar, capture it for me.
What? Your Highness, we're…
discussing something crucial.
It's better than heading north to England with Thorkell on our tail.
At least I have allies in this country.
If you're still worried, then…
Thorfinn!
I will have this one escort the prince.
You're the boy from before.
Don't make decisions for me.
He's small but very skilled.
He's the same age as the prince, so they'll get along.
Greet him, Thorfinn.
You idiot!
What are doing glaring at him like that?
I'll be compensated, right?
All right.
We'll duel upon reaching Gainsborough.
Askeladd, are you ready?
Yes, soon.
It never stops.
This is the commander the Kingdom of Morgannwg, Gratianus.
He will lead us through the route.
He seems harsh, but is a strong-looking young man.
Commander, that's one of my men.
Prince Canute is over there.
His gaze lacks fortitude.
Can this be the next generation to lead England?
What? How dare you!
We only have one reason for helping the Danish Prince escape.
Wales wishes to enter a non-aggression pact.
Everything depends on you.
Prince, swear to us
that upon becoming the king of England,
you will not interfere with the affairs of Wales.
I'll take care of this.
His Highness has stated the following:
"If you offer us three ships--"
I'm asking the prince directly.
What?
In that case, I'll ask him again later.
In the meantime, I will prepare the documents.
Quickly, assemble for departure.
How can he be so insolent?
He's taking advantage of us!
Does he think he can speak to the prince as an equal?
The damned provincial fool!
Marching, marching, and more marching.
And now there's a mountain road.
A mountain road is better than facing Thorkell.
Let's talk about something fun.
Like what?
The rewards we'll get from King Sweyn.
Saving the prince from Thorkell has gotta be worth a lot.
-I'd like to get a whole farm. -A fine sword would be nice.
No, I want gold.
There's nothing that beats gold.
That's the truth.
I heard that in his bedroom the king has 100 of the most beautiful concubines
from all over the world.
Now, that gets me excited! Tell me more!
Hey, Father!
You've been to the royal palace, right?
What's inside the king's chambers?
Well…
there was nothing of any value to me.
It can't be! Not even women?
Yes, there were quite a few female slaves.
He says that so casually.
You're not interested in women?
No.
Compared to that which I seek
money and women mean nothing.
Tell us please.
What is it you seek?
Love.
Huh? Love?
Yes.
What's that? I've never heard of it.
I have.
It's some magic word that Christians always say.
It's not food?
How many pounds of silver is it worth?
It cannot be measured in silver.
Because love is what gives silver value.
Gold, silver, women, and everything else have no value without love.
It gives value?
I don't think I get it.
Silver is worth silver.
Why make things complicated?
He's probably making it up.
Forget him.
Hey, monk.
Say more about it.
I'm interested.
We should be entering Brycheiniog soon.
Don't worry. I've spoken to them.
I appreciate your support.
We're not doing this for you. It's in our best interest as well.
For a long time, the Welsh kingdoms have suffered the invasions of England.
If you Danes can force them into submission, it works in our favor.
The Prince will surely promise to make that happen.
Is that your king, Askeladd?
The bloodline is good.
And as he is still young there is much we can expect.
The more charmed you are by a man, the less likely things will go your way.
But he may surprise us and turn out to be the perfect vessel.
We are the proud descendants of Britannia.
We will not follow a Danish king.
Gratianus.
Do you still believe in that legend?
The one that claims Artorius will return from Avalon in the far west
and revive the Britannia of old.
Askeladd!
You're certain?
That's what Ear said.
You've done well to travel this far, Prince of Denmark!
An envoy from Brycheiniog.
Greetings to you!
Wait, Gratianus.
Did they notice?
How do you know?
I have a man with superb hearing.
But they're too late.
What's wrong, Thorfinn?
Stand up! Quickly!
Let's go.
Subtitle translation by Astrid Oliver