The Danelaw is a settlement near London that Prince Harald Sigurdsson has decided to leave and head back home.
The main point of this article is that the Vikings are being killed by the Sten, who are ordered to do so by their leader, Aethelred. The article also discusses the reasons for the violence and how it is spreading.
The English were angry and frustrated over the St Brice’s Day massacre, which purged all Viking settlements from the English shores. The English were determined to avenge the deaths of their kin, and this move was a bold attempt to do just that.
King Canute of Denmark notices that the sea is rising and sets out on a crusade to stop the tide. Among those who join him are siblings Leif and Freydis. We first meet these two characters on the sea as they brave the elements and manage to navigate a frighteningly large wave that threatens to engulf them. They’ve come from Greenland, braving the open waters and the elements to make it to their destination. This happens to be Kattegat in Norway. ..
Hundreds of ships have been lost in the attempt to bring Harald back to Norway, but he has survived. ..
The Vikings are discussing revenge against the Englishmen. Leif Eriksson is looking for someone wearing a cross, which is an English cross. This suggests that the only Viking who would wear this is someone from England. ..
Freydis is also looking for him. It turns out this man abused her and he could well be on one of the many ships inbound to Kattegat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t take long to find him – a charismatic man by the name of Olaf Haraldsson.
The Viking brothers, Leif and Freydis, set out on an expedition to track down the man who killed their father. However, when they come across a large settlement of Viking warriors, they realize that revenge is unlikely to be obtained. Freydis is determined to find a way to get revenge, but Leif is more cautious. Watching from afar, Freydis regrets not taking her chances at the docks when she had the chance. ..
King Canute of Denmark is displeased with Olaf for trying to bargain with him and decides to send his army to attack the pagan tribes. If Olaf is not able to provide the information he seeks, he will be forced to convert or die.
That night, Canute gathers the Vikings and urges them to take up arms in England in retaliation for the attack. Among those in attendance are the Greenlanders, who are starting to question their purpose. ..
Unfortunately, despite working hard and getting the crowd invested in the cause, fighting breaks out between the Christians and Pagans. Harald manages to talk them around, giving an impassioned speech about Viking blood and inadvertently undermining Canute’s rule.
Estrid Haakon visits Freydis one night and tells her that she is far from home. Freydis encourages the other Greenlanders to head towards Kattegat, which they relay to her the next night. ..
Leif, meanwhile, is confronted by a group of Vikings who claim his father wronged them, committing murder. Surrounding him, Leif is forced to fight but manages to best the warriors – and catching the attention of Harald as a result. He encourages Leif to join him for the glory of battle, needing good ship captains for his cause. ..
Although Leif agrees to think about it, he also dissuades him from Freydis, given that he’s a Christian and that’s not going to sit well with her.
Freydis sneaks into the main hall during the festivities, intending to let Freydis act. However, Leif distracts her and she carving a cross on Gunnar Magnursan’s chest instead. It wasn’t Olaf after all.
Olaf, the leader of the city’s gangs, wants to punish Freydis, the city’s only survivor. He promises to burn down the city if that occurs, and Harald helps Freydis to show off her scars as proof of what she has gone through. Although this does sway the crowd a little, it’s not quite enough to fully convince them. Olaf is taken away to await his judgment.
The Episode Review
However, the action starts to feel a bit too slow and the tension doesn’t quite reach its peak until the last third of the game. There are also some problems with the graphics, which can make it difficult to follow what’s happening on-screen.
The heavy-handed way in which Haakon was gender swapped was a bit of a black mark in what was otherwise a very good episode.
With Freydis’ fate hanging in the balance, it’s all up to Leif and Harald to try and save her. But will they be successful?
