I've involved the village in this madness... Years ago... I made a living by murder and death. But one day... one day... I no longer wanted any part of it. I was tired of killing. Tired of death. So I ran away. I left the battlefield. I thought I had successfully faked my death, as far as they knew.— Thors Snorresson
Messenger from the Battlefield (戦場よりの使者 Senjō Yori no Shisha?) is the 6th chapter in the series and the first chapter of Volume 2.
Overview[]
Thors discusses matters with his former comrade Floki about returning to the Jomsvikings. It is an offer Thors cannot refuse without the village paying the price. Before leaving the village, Floki introduces himself to the villagers and invites any who wish it to join Thors in coming to Jomsborg to join the war. With Floki and his men gone, the villagers cheer the fact that a war has begun, all while Thors looks overcome with melancholy. Although disheartened, Thors realizes that he must come to terms with his past for the sake of the village. As the warship is being readied for the trip, Thorfinn is being overly aggressive while playing war with the other children, disregarding the game's rules and using too much violence.
Summary[]
Floki implies the village will pay the price if Thors refuses to join to Jomsvikings again
Floki and Thors continue their discussion in Thors and Helga's home. Floki tells Thors that the offer is merciful and that the story being spun is that Thors the "Troll of Jom", the powerful and renowned Jomsviking captain, is triumphantly returning to the fold after being thought missing in battle after a naval battle in the Norwegian sea fifteen years ago. Thors replies that he did not need to bring a longship just to tell him that, as they've unsettled the villagers. Floki laughs and says that either Thors has changed or the village has changed him. Floki remarks that it is a good and peaceful village that war no doubt hasn't touched, evident from the children's behaviour. Thors understands that Floki is subtly threatening the village if Thors should refuse. Floki tells Thors that if he refuses to participate in the coming battle, Floki would fail his mission and it would cause Chief Sigvaldi to lose face. He says he cannot afford to go home empty-handed after such an insult and trusts Thors understands what he means.
The villagers, Thors excluded, cheer about the prospect of going to war
Ari, Magni, Thorfinn and other village children who were listening to Thors and Floki's discussion are excited by the idea of war, hoping they can join the war against England. They are impressed the Jomsvikings sailed all the way to their village just to recruit Thors and note he must be something special, to Thorfinn's delight. Ari accidentally bumps into one of the Jomsvikings, who stares him down coldly. At the harbour, Leif asks Thorfinn if he knew Thors was once a Jomsviking — part of a company of warriors based out of Jomsborg, a port far to the east in Wendland. Thorfinn says he did not know. Ari asks if they are strong, and Leif tells the children the Jomsvikings are very strong; that they say they are the mightiest men in the North Sea, and are so strong that the King of Wendland cannot levy taxes upon them. Floki arrives and tells his men to withdraw. He loudly proclaims that Thors graciously heeded their call and has joined their band, and will thus be provided with a longship. He invites those who wish it to join and travel to Jomsborg with Thors. Floki and his men leave, bidding Thors farewell. The villagers cheer about the coming war, while Thors looks defeated and silently walks away.
Back in Thors and Helga's home, Thors and Leif discuss the recent events. Leif asks Thors if he could have simply refused. Thors tells Leif that he involved the village in this, as he used to make a living by murder and death. He says that one day, he no longer wanted any part of it, tired of killing and death; he ran away, leaving behind the battlefield. He thought he had succeeded in faking his death. Leif asks if he could do it again, but Thors says the village will pay the price if he runs again, as the Jomsvikings do not suffer deserters. He also has nowhere to run to, which means he has to face his past.
Thorfinn walks away after being overly aggressive with his playmates and disregarding their game's rules
At the harbour, Thors's longship is pulled into the water by the villagers. Leif tells Ari that he is no longer leaving today, as Thors asked for a change in plans and he will now be accompanying his warship on his trip. In the village, the children are playing at war again. Thorfinn is being overly aggressive and not following the rules, attacking others with his wooden sword even after he has been "killed" in the game. When confronted about his behaviour by one of the other kids, he simply hits him in the face with his wooden sword and walks away, wiping his bloody nose as Faxi looks on sadly.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Thors Snorresson
- Floki
- Thorfinn
- Magni
- Ari
- Harkon (Debut)
- Leif Ericson
- Helga
- Faxi