Violence is the last choice. But if that's the case, what's the first choice? What would be the best thing to do from the start? I want to live as someone who'll always take that "first choice," no matter what, and never have to resort to the "last choice"... There can be no such thing as a good person that hurts others.— Thorfinn
The First Move (最初の手段 Saisho no Shudan?) is the 87th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.
Overview
In October 1018, Canute is two days away from arriving at Ketil's farm with Wulf, Floki and their men. He does not intend to hold back if they resist. Leif's knarr arrives at Ketil's farm; Leif wonders if the Thorfinn he's looking for is really there. Mols asks Ketil to uphold his end of the deal, but Ketil is shellshocked and wanders off to look for Arnheid. Thorgil orders everyone on the farm to gather weapons and all the able-bodied men; he tells them there's a war coming, but does not tell them who the enemy is. At the guests' lodging, the guests discuss Thorgil's orders and lament their lack of fighters — no matter who the enemy is, they are in a bad position. Nearby, the bound Thorfinn and Einar wonder about Arnheid's fate. Thorfinn regrets resorting to violence with Snake, as he views violence as the last option. He wonders what the first option would be, as it's eluded him so far. Ketil looks for Arnheid at home and runs into his wife, who tells him of Arnheid's attempted escape.
Summary
Canute, Wulf and Floki are at the helm of a ship. Floki comments that their trip will be nice and fast due to the favourable winds, which should let them arrive at Ketil's farm in two or three days. He adds that Canute could have let the Jomsvikings take care of things instead of going to personally deal with the matter himself. Wulf replies that Canute has his reasons and that a good subject should not needlessly question it. Floki tells Wulf he should not forget that the Jomsvikings are allies, not subjects. Paying no mind to their conversation, Canute asks them if they think they'll resist despite knowing they're up against their king. Wulf replies that they should not let their guard down, as Ketil was known as "Iron Fist Ketil" and had a reputation as a wild beast in his fighting days. Canute says he did not sense any wildness in him. He adds that his people are his treasures and that he doesn't wish to lose them needlessly. Therefore, if Ketil and the farmers acknowledge his authority and surrender, he will have no reason to take more drastic options. Floki asks if that's why Canute came along. He asks if it wouldn't be better to let them off with a punishment even if they do resist, as they've been loyal subjects until now. Canute says he will not hold back if they resist. On the floor, Sweyn's head laughs. Canute says that despite the favourable winds, the waves are high and the place he is looking for is still a long way away.
In October 1018, Leif's knarr arrives at Ketil's farm. The workers welcome Thorgil back; he states he has a gift for them and throws a spinning barrel their way, knocking them over in the process. The barrel breaks and Ketil comes tumbling out, hugging his knees to his chest with a vacant look. The workers are shocked; Thorgil tells them to give him some ale to drink and then put him to bed. He loudly tells the workers to stop drying fish and to start preparing for war — that enemy soldiers are coming to pillage the farm and that they need to quickly gather weapons and all the able-bodied men. The workers are shocked and ask who the enemy is, how many there are, when they're coming, and what happened to Ketil. From the boat, Mols tells Thorgil to hurry up and uphold his part of the deal, as he doesn't want to stay longer and get caught up in a war. Thorgil waves him off, telling him he's busy and to discuss the matter with Ketil. He yells at Olmar to follow him. Thorgil tells him that as it's his first battle, Olmar will stay by his side and learn the ways of war. He laughs that given who their foes are, it might be his last battle as well, and asks Olmar if he's glad the battle he's been looking for all those years has come. Looking downcast, Olmar doesn't reply. Mols tells Ketil, still laying on the ground, to wake up and remember their deal: that he'd buy their goods at three times the price. Ketil gets up and starts calling out for Arnheid to comfort and console him. He wanders off as Mols calls after him. Leif looks out at the farmlands and thinks of Thorfinn living there, then reminds himself not to set his expectations too high, as it's probably another mistake. Bug-Eyes tells him not to worry —he's sure it'll be the real Thorfinn this time, as Leif himself had a good feeling about it.
At the guests' lodgings, Thorfinn and Einar are both tied up. Rat tells Fox and the other guests that Thorgil told him a war is coming in a couple of days and that they need to repair the walls. They reply that the walls aren't something that can be repaired in just a few days and ask who and how many they're fighting. Rat says that Thorgil didn't specify, only telling them to have all the men gathered and armed. Fox says they're done for in any case, as nearly no one on the farm has any combat experience and they just lost five fighting men in the Gardar incident. Observing the agitated guests from afar, Einar wonders if it means Ketil has come back and how he'll react once he finds out Arnheid tried to escape. He asks Thorfinn if he thinks he'll punish her. Thorfinn replies that given how many guards were killed, he likely will. Einar hopes that since Ketil is fond of Arnheid, he won't punish her too harshly. Thorfinn supposes that might be the case, especially given the fact that she's pregnant with Ketil's child. Einar says he's worried and wonders where they're keeping her; he hopes they haven't beaten her or done something worse. Thorfinn apologizes, but Einar tells him he has nothing to be sorry for, as he fought against Snake for her and Gardar's sake.
Thorfinn replies that in any case, he broke his oath to never resort to violence. Einar counters that it wasn't his fault and that he did what he had to do to help someone — that there are times when one needs to fight. Thorfinn says that he likes Snake and thinks he's a rational and kind person. He didn't want to fight him, but he did, and all it resulted in was Gardar's death. Although he doesn't think he's smart enough to phrase it properly, he tries to explain to Einar that he keeps wondering if there's not a better option where no one would die or get hurt. He tells Einar he's been trying to find that option for a long time now. Einar replies that it's impossible and that since Gardar had already killed several guests, there was no way for things to end happily for everyone. Thorfinn tells him that violence is the last choice, but that he's wondering what the first choice is. He insists he wants to live as someone who always takes the first choice and never has to resort to the last one, as there's no such thing as a good person who hurts others. Einar tells him he's right and apologizes.
Ketil searches for Arnheid and does not find him at home. Outside, his wife mentions he's returned earlier than she thought he would. She asks him if the rumours that King Harald has passed away are true. Ketil doesn't respond and keeps muttering for Arnheid. His wife huffs and tells him that if he's looking for that ungrateful wench, she's been tied and put in the stables. She tells him that despite everything he's done for her, she tried to escape when he was gone. Ketil is shocked. His wife goes on to explain that her former husband came and asked her to escape, killing several guards in the process, and that two of their slaves tried to help them get away. She adds that it's not a matter he can afford to settle light-handedly. Trembling with shock and rage, Ketil asks why everything he tries to hold slips through his fingers and how Arnheid dared to do such a thing.
Characters in Order of Appearance
- Wulf
- Canute
- Floki
- Sweyn (Vision)
- Mols
- Thorgil
- Olmar
- Ketil
- Leif Ericson
- Bug-Eyes
- Thorfinn
- Rat
- Mole
- Fox
- Sparrow
- Einar
- Snake (Flashback)
- Gardar (Flashback)