Episode 21: Reunion

In York during 1014, Leif Ericson refuses to abandon his years-long search for the son of Thors, brushing off Mols who urges him to give up. When Canute's fleet docks, Leif picks Askeladd out of the crew at a glance, certain he could never forget that face. Rather than wait for the royal banquet, Askeladd springs a scheme of his own: a hired bowman fires on the prince before the gathered crowd, and Askeladd loudly cries that Canute has been hit. Thorfinn darts out and kills the fleeing shooter, an act that unfolds directly in front of a stunned Leif.

A bystander accuses Thorfinn of the shooting because of his cold stare, so the young man drops him with a single blow. The onlookers recognize the short, twin-knife fighter as the warrior who once bested Thorkell. Hearing the name spoken, Leif steps forward, and the two embrace, the old sailor weeping with relief that the boy is alive. The wounded prince, meanwhile, is revealed to be a woman standing in as a double, since no fitting male slave could be found. The real Canute asks whether she can be saved, but the fatal, possibly poisoned wound leaves no hope, and he orders every effort made regardless.

Thorfinn tells Leif that he stays beside Askeladd only to claim his revenge, and he sharply rebuffs the news about his ailing mother Helga and the home waiting for him. Leif pledges to remain in town until the boy relents. Askeladd then visits Bjorn, who holds no grudge over battlefield wounds, and the two agree to settle their own duel the next day. Floki reports the double to Sweyn, who admits they were outwitted; a whispered story that Sweyn ordered the attack spreads through York exactly as Askeladd engineered, tightening Canute's political footing. Askeladd also warns the prince that Gunnar likely leaks their plans, and Thorfinn confirms it by tailing the man to a royal contact.

The following day, Askeladd and Bjorn face each other with Canute observing. Bjorn confesses his long admiration and his wish that they might have been friends, despite Askeladd's coldness toward every comrade. Askeladd runs him through the chest but misses the killing point; as Bjorn clings to him repeating his hope, Askeladd finally admits that Bjorn was his only friend before granting the finishing blow.

The rigged attempt on Canute exposes his female body double and seeds a rumor pinning the plot on King Sweyn. Thorfinn is reunited with Leif Ericson after years apart, yet refuses to leave Askeladd's side until his revenge is complete. Thorfinn shadows Gunnar and confirms him as Sweyn's informant. In a private duel, Askeladd fatally wounds Bjorn and, at the end, names him the one friend he ever had.

Reunion first aired on December 8, 2019, drawing on material from chapters 43 through 50. Yuusuke Sunouchi handled episode direction over a storyboard by Yoshimitsu Oohashi, with scripts credited to Hiroshi Seko and Kenta Ihara. Dark Crow plays as the opening theme and Drown closes the episode.