Vinland Saga Volume 5 Chapter 30 The Supper Table of Master and Servant - Page 35 - Ear: ............tsk. - Page 36 - Chapter 30 The Supper Table of Master and Servant - Page 37 - Ear: Follow with your eyes, not your head. They're among the evergreens on the far side of the brook. Askeladd: How many? Ear: Dunno. Fifty, hundred, maybe more... They're flanking us to the east, along the forest. I don't think they're going to pounce just yet. - Page 38 - Bjorn: They sure sniffed us out fast. Did we tip them off somehow? Askeladd: Who knows? But they've found us, and that's that. (there we go) Man: Leaving TONIGHT?! We'll never get it done in time! - Page 39 - Man: We've only got two sleds finished, and the third was just started yesterday. Askeladd: Your efforts are appreciated. Get the third done by tonight. We'll have to leave the leftover wagons behind. Man: I can't! We've only got two carpenters here, and barely any tools! Askeladd: The English army's found us. We don't have any time left. Man: ...Wha-? Found us?! Askeladd: Yep. Braved the snows to come and reach us here. You can tell they've really got it in for us Danes. They aren't coming right after us, probably to wait for reinforcement. We've got a very small window of escape. - Page 40 - Askeladd: Are we clear, then? Get cracking. I'll send over anyone we can round up who's good with his hands. Get the boys prepared for battle, Bjorn. Keep any commanding officers alive. I want to know how they found us. Bjorn: (Roger) Askeladd: Just a moment, Bjorn. One more thing. Execute the plan we discussed earlier. It's a golden opportunity to make use of it. - Page 41 - Vikings: What?! We're busted?! Are you kidding? In THIS snow? You sure it isn't a pack of wolves? This could mean trouble. Not to worry. These English are a soft lot. Well, you're right about that, but it's not what I mean. I'm speaking of Askeladd's luck. First the snows, now this. I've never seen his plans go awry in succession like this. - Page 42 - Rabbit: (tik tik) (poink) (tsh tsh)(tsh) Thorfinn: (mup) - Page 43 - Rabbit: (Gwee!) (eee!) Ragnar: Ahh! A fine-looking coney! You caught this, Thorfinn? - Page 44 - Ragnar: Will it be your dinner? Do you always eat alone? Are you going to roast it? Thorfinn: What's it to you? (buzz off) Ragnar: A meal consisting solely of meat is unhealthy. Boil it with some vegetables. Even this dried-out cabbage will be serviceable after it's been stewed in the meat's juices. You'll find yourself tiring easily without any green intake. Bad thing to have happen, especially at this time of year. Give me the hare, I'll make a soup of it. Thorfinn: It's none of your business. I'll eat my food as I like. - Page 45 - Ragnar: Come on, boy. You're going to have to borrow someone's pot, anyway. Just use this one here and be done with it. Your Highness, we've brought string beans, cabbage and a good fat coney. Canute: A rabbit? Ragnar: Yes, Thorfinn caught it for us. I thought we could add it to the soup. Canute: Excellent. Drain the blood, skin it and wash the innards. - Page 46 - - Page 47 - Ragnar: Mmm! Not too bad, considering what we made it from. Canute: The rabbit is the key. I've grown tired of salted meat. Thank you. What's wrong? Don't mind me. It's your rabbit. - Page 48 - Ragnar: How's that? Good, eh? (ha ha ha) Now bag yourself a deer, and we'll have a REAL feast! Thorfinn: ... I thought all the nobles did was eat. Canute: I enjoy cooking. Only Ragnar knows this, however; I do not get the opportunity often. I'll ask you to keep my confidence, as well. Thorfinn: Why's that? What's wrong with it? Canute: ...I once attempted to cook a cod, years ago. I thought it so good, I brought it to his Majesty my father, to have him eat it. - Page 49 - Canute: His Majesty did not eat my dish; in fact, he flew into a fearsome rage, and declared: "No son of a king pretends to do a slave's work." Since then, I have not taken it back up. A prince does not need such skills. Ragnar: Perhaps, err, his Majesty was... occupied. It was just at the start of the war, and he doubtless had more pressing matters on his mind. Not to mention, his Majesty dislikes cod. When the war is over, I suggest cooking him a meal of poultry. I'm sure he'd enjoy it. - Page 50 - Canute: What type? I've never cooked a fowl before. Ragnar: I can show you chicken or duck, or anything, your Highness. Do you remember the duck from the winter solstice festival? Canute: Ah yes, that was good. Thorfinn: (mff mff)(mff) Ragnar: Indeed. I made sure to ask the man his secret afterward. It lies in how you utilize the broth... Thorfinn: (slurp) - Page 51 - Ragnar: ? What is it? Thorfinn: ! - Page 52 - Man: Lord Rag- NAAAH!! Knock it off, Thorfinn! It's me! I'm just delivering a message! Ragnar: What? What's the matter? Man: The English have found us. There's a battle begun in the forest to the east. There aren't too many of them, and they're too far to hit you with arrows here, but be careful all the same. Ragnar: What...? - Page 53 - Bjorn: Forward march, men!! I want to see these English pigs on the table for my supper tonight!! - Page 54 - Ragnar: How can this be?! We've only been hiding in this village for a mere ten days!! How did they know?! Man: (Ouch!) Don't ask ME! We're not happy about it either! We've got no choice but to leave our spoils of war behind, too! Ragnar: .........Dear God... Then those poor villagers were slaughtered for naught... Man: Look, we've got to leave this place behind. (offa me) We've got a few sleds built, and once we've shaken off these attackers, we'll be on the move. Got that? Ragnar: Don't you see? THIS is why I wanted to turn back to Wales at the first opportunity! Maybe now that stubborn goat Askeladd can see the sense in what I... Canute: (mmf mmf)(mff) Man: No, my lord, just the opposite. It's Derby where we're headed. - Page 55 - Ragnar: ............After ALL we've already been through... Now we're marching FURTHER into enemy territory?! Bring me Askeladd, RIGHT this minute!! Man: I can't, sir. He's commanding the troops in battle. If you'd like to discuss it with him, why don't you go and see him yourself? I can show you how to get there. Ragnar: (hsssss...) - Page 56 - Ragnar: Well, I can clearly see that his MEN follow the sterling EXAMPLE he leads!! None of them understands the least bit of courtesy!! I've never liked the man! Not from the MOMENT I laid eyes on him! He's opposed my opinion at every possible turn! And look what it's gotten us! What kind of a Norse warrior carries on like this without the least understanding of his own foul luck?! It's LAUGHABLE! (GRARRR) (hmph)(harrumph! humbug!) (thwup thwup thwup) He'll understand the error of his ways once my SWORD is through with him, by God!! Man: (Somebody shut this guy up) - Page 57 - Ragnar: I should have never agreed to get on that boat... Hey. Wait! The battle cries are in THAT direction. You're going the wrong way. Man: ... What, did you finally notice? By the gods, you're slow. Ragnar: What?! What do you m... - Page 58 - Spear: (zshht) - Page 59 - Ragnar: .....................You traitorous rats... - Page 60 - Man: Sorry, conehead. Askeladd's orders. - Page 61 - Ragnar: (ffh)(ffh)(ffh) Man: You want to keep going? We can indulge you, if you'd like... But you're not going to survive after that spear through the chest. It'll only prolong the suffering. Ragnar: ...Bring me Askeladd... I have something important to tell him... - Page 62 - Man: If you've any last words, I can relay them to him. Ragnar: Just bring him here!! I must speak to him MYSELF... about His Highness the prince! Now GO!! Askeladd: I can hear you out right now, Lord Ragnar. - Page 63 - Askeladd: It sounds like your need is urgent. Man: What about the battle? Askeladd: They were mostly peasants. I left Bjorn in charge. It'll be over in moments. Would you prefer some privacy, Lord Ragnar? Ragnar: ...Please. - Page 64 - Thorfinn: ... The shouting's stopped. Guess it's all over. Canute: Well, great... The soup has gone cold. - Page 65 - Askeladd: I AM grateful to you, you know. It must have taken a lot of work to keep that coward of a prince alive to see this day. Your death will be a step that vaults his growth to greater heights. I will be accepting your duties from this day onward, after your tragic death at the hands of an English soldier. Ragnar: ... ...Swear to your god... - Page 66 - Ragnar: ...that you will succeed my calling without fail... And protect the life of Prince Canute to the utmost of your abilities... Askeladd: In the name of Odin the All-Father, I pledge to give my life in service to Prince Canute, thus honoring the final wishes... ...of Ragnar, warrior, before his death. Will that do, my lord? - Page 67 - Ragnar: ...It is with deepest regret... ...that I must entrust the prince to you... Askeladd: Make it quick, sir. You've lost a lot of blood already. Ragnar: I must speak of the court... You must be well-prepared before you reach Gainsborough... - Page 68 - Ragnar: The courtiers at Jelling are currently split into two main factions... ...over the procession of the throne. Prince Canute stands at the head of one of the factions. The other is putting its weight behind His Highness' elder brother, Prince Harald. T-this conflict runs regardless of the princes' desires... It is a petty bickering between scheming nobles... - Page 69 - Ragnar: And His Majesty... fearing a catastrophic split in the kingdom of Denmark... Most likely steeled his heart for a very difficult decision. That one of his two sons... ...should be slain... Askeladd: ...?! He would do that...? - Page 70 - Ragnar: His Majesty the king has seen fit to send Prince Canute into this war... ...for the sole purpose of seeing him dead. Make no mistake, Askeladd... His Highness' greatest enemy... ...is none other than his own father, King Sweyn... - Page 71 - Ragnar: You- You must escape this madness. It is the only way... When you reach Gainsborough... My brother... ...will have made... ...preparations... - Page 72 - Askeladd: ............Well, fuck me... I really could have used that information earlier... (scritch scritch) Ragnar: One- One last request... Let me see... His... ...Highness... One... last... time... - Page 73 - Askeladd: No. Ragnar: Your Highness... When this war is over... We'll cook a duck... - Page 74 - Ragnar: And His Majesty will love... it... - Chapter 30 End -