Before we part... may I just say one thing? You and I... have been through this life for years. We've laughed together, drunk together... and fought our way through countless battles together. And although we've been a band for well over a decade... there's something I've never said that you deserve to hear. I've hated every last one of you... with every fibre of my being. You stinking, pigfucking Danish whoresons.— Askeladd
Betrayal (裏切り Uragiri?) is the 33rd chapter of the Vinland Saga series.
Overview[]
Askeladd tells the men, unsettled by Thorkell's spear, to calm themselves, since Thorkell and his men are still a ways off and will be slowed down by the destroyed bridge. Torgrim says that's no guarantee. Askeladd says that he will not try to convince him and that this is where they part ways. His men approach him with their weapons drawn and Torgrim demands Askeladd give them the prince and be on his way, as he doesn't want to see him killed after all their years together. Askeladd says there's something they deserve to hear before he leaves; he starts off a speech about the time they've spent together, but surprisingly ends it by saying that through it all, he's hated every last one of them with every fibre of his being. He beheads the man nearest him before the men can process what he said. Bjorn spurs the horses forward, leaving with Canute, Willibald and Thorfinn in tow. Some of the men get on horses to chase the cart. In the distance, Thorkell realizes Askeladd's band has turned on each other and hastens his pace. Approaching Bjorn's cart, one of the riders kills one of the horses, prompting the cart to crash. Willibald and Canute fly off into the snow, while Thorfinn propels himself off before the cart lands. He uses the momentum to kick Atli off his horse, getting on himself and rushing for Askeladd's position, worried he'll get himself killed before he can kill him. The men are relieved that Canute is still alive and prepare to make their way back with him, but Bjorn, who survived, comes out from under the cart. He chomps on a mushroom and says he'll send them all to Valhalla. Meanwhile, Askeladd has killed many of his attackers, but is still surrounded by many armed men, bleeding from a cut above his eye.
Summary[]
Askeladd's men, flabbergasted that Thorkell managed to throw a spear hard enough to pierce multiple men at once from that distance, start to fret. Askeladd tells them to calm down and forget about the spear, since they're still in the distance and the bridge is down. Torgrim asks him who cares about the bridge and says it was pointless to take it down, since they'll walk right through the stream. Askeladd says if that's the case, they better stop wasting time and start marching. Torgrim, exasperated, asks him if he knows any other words than "march". Askeladd says they cannot beat Thorkell but that destroying the bridge will pay off if they stay vigilant for one more day, as they can only move as fast as their supplies and the river will slow them down, while leaving their supplies behind to continue would leave them without food and slow them down after a day. Torgrim says there's no guarantee they'll survive a day. Askeladd replies that this is where they part ways, as he won't waste time trying to convince them.
Askeladd's men turn on him and demand the prince
The men start approaching Askeladd and the cart, holding their weapons. Askeladd tells them not to get cute with him and that if they want to leave, they can stay there, wash their asses in the river and present themselves to Thorkell. Torgrim says the only thing Thorkell wants is the prince. He tells Askeladd that they've been together a long time and that he doesn't want to see him killed, and asks him to leave the prince behind and be on his way. Askeladd sighs and says he wants to say one thing before they part. He tells the men they've been through this life for years, laughing, drinking, and fighting together through countless battles. He says that there's something they deserve to hear that he never told them, after over a decade as a band; that he's hated every last one of them with every fibre of his being. He calls them "stinking, pigfucking, Danish whoresons."
Askeladd tells the men he's always hated them and beheads the one nearest to him
Thorfinn throws knives into the men nearing the cart
The men are confused; before they can process what he said, Askeladd unsheathes his sword and beheads the men nearest to him. Torgrim screams at the others to grab the prince, while Askeladd calls out to Thorfinn. Thorfinn, holding throwing knives, starts to throw them into the men who are nearing the cart. Bjorn, captaining the cart, tells Canute, Thorfinn and Willibald to hang on tight and hits the horses' rears with his riding crop, causing them to rapidly start running. The men realize Askeladd saw it coming and several get on horseback to chase Bjorn's cart. Askeladd keeps killing the men around him, but the riders keep going after the sled. Askeladd comments that he trained them too well and removes his cloak as he observes the many men left around him, remarking it's quite a pickle and that he must not have prayed enough. Getting closer to the men, Thorkell tries to discern what is happening in the distance, noting it looks like Askeladd's band is fighting over something. Asgeir says they're turning on each other, which happens a lot when your back's against a wall. One of the men laughs and says it's pathetic how everyone is afraid to die these days. Thorkell is outraged that they would start the fight behind him and quickens his pace.
The riders make Bjorn's cart crash
Bjorn survives the crash and takes a berserker mushroom
The riders get closer to Bjorn and the cart; one says to take down the horses. Bjorn asks Thorfinn what he's doing and tells him to use his knives. Thorfinn yells back and says to not tell him what to do and that besides, he's all out of throwing knives. Thorfinn wonders what Askeladd is doing, since he's not catching up with them. Atli tells Bjorn to stop and see sense; Bjorn asks him if he really thinks he's stupid enough to fall for that. Atli persists, telling them to their life and death depends on how they use the prince. Another man tells Atli not to bother, since Bjorn is Askeladd's man through and through and will not listen, meaning they have to kill him. Bjorn says at least one of them gets it, and that since Askeladd entrusted him with the prince's safety, they better be prepared to die if they think he'll let them take Canute away from him. Bjorn starts to panic when the men go after the horses with their axes, saying he told them to come after him, not the horses. He yells that they're going to crash; one of the horses falls when it gets an axe to the head, prompting the other horse to fall as well, along with the cart. Willibald and Canute fly out of the cart and fall into the snow. Thorfinn propels himself off the cart before it crashes, using the momentum to kick Atli off his horse. He takes the horse for himself and starts galloping away. The men notice, but let him go in favour of going after the prince. One of the men goes to check on Canute, who lies face-first in the snow, while another admonishes the one who killed the horse, saying he could have killed the prince. They are relieved to see Canute is still alive and prepare to head back, but realize Bjorn is still alive when he lifts the cart that had fallen on him. He tells them they've really done it now and chomps on a mushroom, telling them to give him the best they've got and that he'll send them all to Valhalla together.
Askeladd keeps fighting off the men
Rushing towards the rest of the band on horseback, Thorfinn wonders why he always has to do all the work and yells that Askeladd better not die before he can kill him. Meanwhile, Askeladd, bleeding from a cut above his right eye, tiredly grumbles that getting old is a bitch; to think that he couldn't fight his way out of a fifty-man noose. Although he has killed many of his attackers, many live ones remain, approaching him with their weapons at the ready.