Chapter 85: Confrontation

Hidden in the tall grass, Thorfinn waits until all three guards ride out after the cloaked decoy, silently wishing Einar luck. Disguised in a hood, Einar bolts for the forest with Snake, Badger, and Spider on horseback behind him. Snake orders the two to flank the runner, but soon notices the figure moves far too fast for a badly wounded man. Telling Badger and Spider to keep up the chase without closing in recklessly, Snake wheels his horse around and rides back.

Thorfinn and Arnheid enter Sverkel's house. Thorfinn lifts the old man onto a chair and apologizes that they must take the horse and cart, promising future repayment. Sverkel waves off the debt and insists on riding along, reasoning they will draw less suspicion with him aboard. When Thorfinn protests dragging him into the mess, Sverkel points out he is already involved. Thorfinn then raises the bedframe hiding the wounded Gardar, finding him alive but alarmingly cold from blood loss. Carrying him to the cart, he lays out the plan: reach the southern border fast, slip across into the neighboring kingdom, and shake their pursuers, with Sverkel accompanying them to the farm's edge before Thorfinn peels off to create a diversion.

Thorfinn spots Snake and realizes the mercenary left his horse behind to approach unheard. Snake, understanding now why he could not sense Gardar earlier, draws his scimitar and warns that this is not open to negotiation: surrender Gardar quietly or be cut down. Arnheid looks on in fear as Thorfinn weighs the odds, noting Snake is alone with no others near, so knocking him out and binding him could clear their escape.

Askeladd's voice returns at Thorfinn's side, observing his predicament and asking whether he will fight. The apparition argues that a clash to protect the helpless would be justifiable, that Snake has his own reasons too, and presses the question: cling to the newly sworn creed of non-violence, or break it for those in need, and which is the true warrior's road. Out of time as Snake advances, Thorfinn shuts his eyes, breathes, and strikes with his fist, slipping past the scimitar. Snake, puzzled by a style that fits neither sword, axe, nor spear, wonders whether the young man once fought with daggers.

Einar draws two of the three guards away by posing as the fleeing Gardar. Snake sees through the decoy and returns to Sverkel's house. Thorfinn and Arnheid load the barely-living Gardar into a cart, with Sverkel insisting on coming to reduce suspicion. Confronted by Snake, and prompted by a vision of Askeladd, Thorfinn chooses to fight barehanded and their duel begins.

Released August 25, 2012 in Volume 12, this chapter adapts into Episode 40. Askeladd's reappearance sharpens the arc's core dilemma, forcing Thorfinn to test his pacifism against the need to protect Arnheid and Gardar, and setting up his fistfight with Snake.