Young Thorfinn longs for an adventure far from his home in Iceland. One day, his father saves the life of a runaway slave found buried in the snow.
As the war between England and Denmark heats up in the year 1002, Jomsvikings arrive in Thorfinnโs village and pressure Thors to return to battle.
Mercenary Viking leader Askeladd accepts Flokiโs orders to kill Thors. Meanwhile, Thors and his army of enthusiastic young men embark on their voyage.
In a display of incredible strength, Thors single-handedly defeats Askeladdโs men. Hoping to save all the villagers, he offers Askeladd a deal.
Consumed by his desire for revenge, Thorfinn sneaks up to Askeladdโs bed, intending to kill him in his sleep. Leif breaks the news to Helga and Ylva.
Thorfinn gets his first taste of war as he fights alongside Askeladdโs men. Driven by his hatred for Askeladd, he grows to become a capable warrior.
Smelling an opportunity for treasure, Askeladd decides to join a skirmish among the Franks. He sends 16-year-old Thorfinn to negotiate on his behalf.
Askeladdโs men return to their village to rest for the winter. Shortly after landing, Askeladd finally grants Thorfinn his long-awaited duel.
The Danes attack London. Askeladd offers Thorfinn another duel if he can take the head of Thorkell the Tall, a great warrior who defected to England.
Thorfinn thinks of home after seeing his father in a dream. Later, Askeladd joins him and talks about Ragnarok and the aging state of the world.
Itching for a fight, Thorkell does his best to antagonize the Danish army. Askeladdโs men create a smokescreen for Thorfinn to rescue Prince Canute.
Askeladd and his men continue to flee from Thorkell. Stopping at the River Severn, Askeladd asks an old man to ferry a letter with utmost urgency.
Reaching the kingdom of Brycheiniog, Askeladd and his men are suddenly surrounded. Negotiating with a messenger, Askeladd reveals his true intentions.
A blizzard complicates things for Askeladd and his men as they pass through Mercia. On the way, they spot a village with provisions for the winter.
Thorkell hears that the English nobility is ready to surrender. As he laments the end of the war, he receives an enticing piece of information.
Askeladd and his men torture an English captain for information. Unease spreads throughout the group after it learns that Thorkell is drawing near.
A large number of Askeladdโs men rebel, intent on handing the prince to Thorkell to save themselves. Thorkell finally arrives amidst the confusion.
During their intense duel, Thorfinn learns that Thorkell knew his father. Meanwhile, Canute has a dream from which he wishes he would never awake.
Askeladd treats the heavily wounded Thorfinn and gives him advice for the duel. Thorkell recounts the events of the last night he saw Thors.
Canute and his new followers return to Gainsborough to seek an audience with King Sweyn. Askeladd and Canute plot the kingโs assassination.
Canuteโs party docks at the town of York, where Askeladd carries out various schemes. Thorfinn encounters a person he knew during his childhood.
Thorfinn and Askeladd duel yet again. After Thorfinn hesitates to attack, Askeladd tosses aside his sword and challenges him with his bare hands.
A statement by King Sweyn at the Imperial Council catches Askeladd off guard. Thorfinn gets himself arrested after causing a disturbance in the town.
Askeladd kneels before the king and attempts to dissuade him from invading Wales. A defeated Thorfinn prepares to return home to Iceland with Leif.
Einar lives peacefully in northern England with his mother and sister, but then one day, their village comes under attack.
Einar and Thorfinn are told to convert a wild forest into a wheat field; and if they succeed, they will have the chance to buy their own freedom.
The farm guards convince Ketilโs 17-year-old son that he needs to make his first killing to become a man.
After everything that happened, Einar asks Thorfinn if he's ever fought in a war โ and if he's ever killed a man.
After the sudden turn of events, young Canute must rise up to claim the throne to a kingdom much reduced and under attack.
Thorfinn and Einar are working themselves to the bone to clear the forest, but there's only so much they can do without the help of horses.
Thieves have been stealing food from Ketil's farm. Meanwhile, Ketil's eldest son Thorgil returns home.
Thorfinn has nightmares almost every night, but he can never remember what he dreamed about โ and that bothers him.
Thorfinn wakes up in a peaceful place and he sees his father again. But then things quickly turn dark, and Thorfinn must face his painful past.
Finally, after three long years, Einar and Thorfinn chop down the final tree in the forest. With hope in their hearts, they talk about the future.
While in Jelling, Ketil, Thorgil and Olmar meet a man named Leif Erikson who is searching for Thorfinn, the son of his close friend.
Olmar feels insulted by Canuteโs messenger and, encouraged by his older brother Thorgil, takes matters into his own hands.
Einar says that even if he gains his freedom, he wants to stay near Arnheid. Snake hears news of a slave who killed his owners, and is now on the run.
A runaway slave appears on Ketil's farm, claiming to be Arnheid's husband. But before he can free her, he's confronted by Snake.
Arnheid comes to the fortress where Gardar is imprisoned. She wants to see her husband and treat his injuries.
As Snake intensifies his search, Arnheid tells Einar and Thorfinn everything she's done. Knowing the risks, Einar and Thorfinn offer to help her.
Snake strikes quickly, surprising Thorfinn with his speed and agility. As he lies wounded, Gardar thinks back on the life he shared with Arnheid.
After returning home to his farm, an exhausted Ketil starts searching for Arnheid, only to find out what happened in his absence.
Amidst the confusion of a peasant uprising, Thorfinn and the others try to escape, carrying a severely injured and pregnant Arnheid.
As Thorfinn and Einar head for their escape, Arnheid regains consciousness and asks where they are going โ and if there are slaves and wars there, too.
The battle has left heartbreaking casualties in its wake. Though Thorgil and Ketilโs wife want to continue the fight, Canute demands their surrender.
Snake tries to put a stop to it, but Thorfinn insists on receiving all 100 blows from Canute's brutish guard Drott, shocking the rowdy onlookers.
Thorfinn and Einar have said their piece, but Canute stubbornly refuses to give up Ketilโs Farm. Then, Thorfinn breaks the standoff with a decision.
At long last, Thorfinn returns to Iceland and finds a moment of happiness, reunited with his loved ones. But soon, he opens up about his next journey.