{Opening}
Water running
Stronger, rougher
Holding on to anything
{shift}
All I want is to survive it
If I let go, will it be the end of me?
Got to move on
Held on too long
Sweep me away
Out into the ocean
Mighty river, release my soul
I need to see the world
To the unknown, I'll go against my sorrow
Mighty river, release my soul out to the open gold
I can't stay here forever in this hollow
Oh, river, take me out
Take me away, river
Oh, river, take me out
Take me out to the unknown
Oh, river, take me out
Take me away, river
Oh, river, take me out
Take me out to the unknown
Out into the ocean
{Part A}
We Need a Horse
Come on, you bastard!
Einar! Einar, stop.
Let's dig it out a little more and cut the roots.
We won't get it out like this.
Piece of shit!
It still won't budge.
Come on, damn you!
A horse...
This won't work without a horse.
They gave us one for hauling the lumber, so why don't we get one for clearing the land?
It doesn't make sense.
They didn't give us a horse.
It was just doing the job that the farmhands were supposed to do.
What do you think, Einar?
Should we leave the clearing for now and go back to cutting down trees?
No, I'll try asking them again.
Though, I could be wasting my breath.
Oh, give it up already!
You're not getting any, and that's final!
But, listen! We have Pater's permission!
Pater?
The upjumped slave.
Well, it's not happening.
All the horses are going to other jobs.
We don't have any to spare for you!
Enough, you slaves! You're wasting your time.
Now stop slacking and get back to the forest.
Good day.
What's this? I only heard one greeting.
As always, the big one forgets his manners.
Hey, I need one!
Sure.
Now that I think about it, you slaves are no different from cows and horses.
It's rich enough that a horse has been given land to turn into his own fields.
Use your own bodies to do the work!
Well, that does it!
I'll just have to talk to the master directly about this!
Clearly, we're going to need a horse.
And not just to pull out the stumps. We'll need them to till our fields!
I'm not going to let the farmhands' harassment stop me!
But if you use the master's help to get a horse, it will only make the farmhands angrier.
They'll come after us even harder.
Well, what's the plan? Are we going to do everything by hand?
Who knows how many years it'll take for us to finally start farming?
There's still plenty of forest to go.
Maybe we should wait until we've cleared more land to worry about fields.
It's hard enough to clear the land. We can't tend the fields at the same time.
Thorfinn!
What is it with you and your lack of ambition?
Don't you want to be free?
We're gonna grow crops, no matter what.
Then we'll sell them to the master and buy back our freedom!
And to do that, we need a horse!
For a man who doesn't get any real food, you're very lively, Einar.
Don't be stupid! I'm not lively, you're lethargic!
Aye. I think I understand your plight.
Hup, and... Ow, ow, ow...
What are you doing? Over here. Come on!
Can't talk this far apart.
Don't step on the ridges.
Good afternoon. Um, how may we help you?
What are your names?
Oh, er. I'm Einar.
I'm Thorfinn.
Shall I lend you one?
What?
A horse. You need one, don'tcha?
What?
W-We do, we do!
Wow, really?!
That'd be a huge help!
But first...
I'm sorry to have to ask, but who are you?
This really goes right to your back.
Uh, um...
Gramps?
I am Sverkel.
You will address me as "Mister Sverkel."
Mister Sverkel, how long must we pick out these stones?
Until the stones are gone.
Come on. I don't see your hands moving.
Oh, s-sorry.
Ow...
Aye. Good enough.
So, um, Mister Sverkel!
About you lending us a horse...
Bring the basket.
Once you're done chopping firewood, draw up some water.
Make it quick.
Yes, sir!
Well, he certainly took us to the cleaners.
We've got better things to be doing than these chores.
Now that I think about it, does that old man live in this house all by himself?
Who knows? I've never met him before, either.
Is he really going to lend us a horse?
He isn't just saying that to get us to do a bunch of hard work for free, is he?
Even so, he'd be within his rights.
We're slaves, remember.
We're the master's slaves.
I care not for what you are.
This is our agreement.
I lend you the horse, you do the chores around my house.
When you borrow the horse, and when you bring it back.
Understood?
Here we go! Ready for the next one!
Pull!
Oh, it's so much easier!
This is the life!
I didn't think he'd actually lend us a horse!
That old fellow's as good as his word!
Hup!
All right, you can do it!
That's it. You got it!
You're such a cute horsey!
That's the way!
Bring on the next stump!
At this rate, we might actually be ready in time for the sowing season in the fall!
Maybe the old man will even lend us a plow.
I hope he'll lend us a heavy one with wheels.
What would we plant in the fall?
What?
Why, wheat, of course.
Really? You plant wheat in the fall, huh?
What?
Hey, hey, wait a minute.
Are you saying you've never done fieldwork before?
No.
No one had fields in my homeland.
The only field I worked since I was a boy was the battlefield.
A land without fields...
I can't imagine such a place.
My mom and sister would be shocked to hear that.
Well, don't worry. If there's anything I know, it's farming.
After all, I'm a professional!
Okay.
Hey, slaves!
Who said you could borrow that horse, eh?!
Ugh, these guys...
Good day.
We didn't just sneak her out without permission, all right?
Mister Sverkel lent her to us.
What? Who?
Mister Sverkel.
The one who lives down at the end of the road.
Don't lie to me!
There's no one named Sverkel around here!
So you finally resorted to theft!
Wait. Do we even have a horse like this on our farm?
Who'd you say lent you this horse again, slave?
I already told you!
It was Mister Sverkel!
Don't you know him?
He's a short bald old man.
Short... bald... old man...
Oh, the old master!
Ah, maybe you're right. He did have a name like that, didn't he?
The old master?
Well, you must be lyin', then.
He's an ornery old cuss.
He'd never lend you a horse.
That's Mr. Ketil's father.
He's the most important fellow on the entire farm.
{Part B}
Looks like rain's coming.
Thorfinn, let's call it a day after this row.
Got it.
Stop, stop.
More roots.
Even though we pulled out the stumps, the deepest roots still got left behind.
I guess we'll just have to dig shallow for this season.
No use in pushing this borrowed plow until it breaks.
This is incredible.
In just one day, we've gone from a wild field to this.
Just look over there.
And there.
And two more over there.
That's four new heavy plows in one year. They've got ten in all, apparently.
Our master is unbelievably wealthy.
Are they that expensive?
You bet they are.
Back home, we had one to share between eight families.
We're lucky the old master had one of them.
The farmhands would never lend us a single one.
It must be very difficult to till the same fields with just hands and hoes.
It sure is.
It makes a world of a difference having a horse and plow.
It's quite an invention.
It must have been a farmer who invented this.
Only someone who knew how hard farming was could design such a thing.
You really are a stranger to the fields, aren't you?
Everything's new to you.
You're like a great big baby.
Aw, man. It's starting to rain!
Let's hurry, Thorfinn!
Have you prepared for the rain?
Don't change the subject.
I'm concerned about your health, Father.
You're getting too old to keep pushing yourself like this.
You're lucky that Snake was there to find you the last time you collapsed outside.
I was born to die in the fields.
And on top of that, it's insane to keep living on your own at that age.
You're not capable of physical labor.
Not necessary. I get by.
Father, don't be so stubborn!
You and I don't see eye-to-eye, Ketil.
Under the same roof, we will fight again.
Because you're so stubborn, Father!
We can't go in there right now.
Just think about it, all right?
What are you boys doing here?
Hello.
Father, don't get into any funny business.
These are my slaves.
You're wet. Come in and wash those clothes.
They don't seem to get along.
Well, where's that washing pot?
What is it?
Snake! Snake in the bed!
A snake?
What's he doing here?
How did he sleep through that argument?
How thick are his nerves?
He's sprawled out all over the place.
Are you cookin' out here, Gramps?
You better not be plannin' to eat it all yourself!
Damn it. I see you're awake.
What were you doin'?
Sneakin' into my bed?
Good morning.
You're good for hardly nothin'.
Only wakin' up when the food is on.
Don't you feel ashamed?
How can a grown man like you brazenly eat when he doesn't even work?
Shut it, old man.
Thieves come sneakin' around when it's dark, see?
It's our night patrols that keep the farm secure and peaceful.
That's how I eat just fine.
And visiting young women is what you call "security"?
Just making sure those bad robbers don't make off with the young ladies.
You never stop with the jokes.
And you never stop with the bitching.
What are you guys doing?
Come over here and eat.
You haven't eaten yet, right?
Are you sure?
C'mon, eat up. It ain't worth enough to hold back.
Enough outta you.
Have a seat. You've earned a meal for your hard work.
Is it true that thieves come to the farm?
Oh yeah. All the time.
They come for unharvested wheat, pigs, that kind of thing.
Huh.
Some of them even have weapons.
It's our job to knock 'em off their feet and tie 'em up.
So you see, we do have an honest job.
Whatever the thieves would steal from us goes to feed you guests anyway.
You really know how to piss someone off, don't you?
I can drive off any thieves without your help.
We're proper Norsemen.
We know our way around a sword and spear.
Oh? Gonna have yourself a little swordfight, bent over at the waist like you are?
Don't be conceited, Snake.
There are plenty of fighters more skilled than you.
I'm only concerned for your elderly bones.
I'm not addled. The last thing I need is your concern.
Oh, don't be so grumpy. Can't have you falling down again, Gramps.
Besides, whether you like it or not, the security forces on this farm don't match its size.
I've only got 13 men, and our hands are full just stopping the sneak thieves.
A good 50 or 60 soldiers would flatten this farm.
Right, Thorfinn?
Huh?
Oh, um... I'm not sure.
Nothing tougher than thieves ever comes to this place.
You don't know that.
And it'll be too late when they do.
Don't worry.
Even if it did happen, we wouldn't come crying to you.
Why wouldn't anyone tougher than thieves come here?
S-Sorry.
Because of King Harald's influence.
Ketil pays an exorbitant tribute to the king twice a year.
Given the riches that he receives, the king is obligated to protect Ketil.
It's a fool's game.
Buying peace with gold...
What use does a single farmer have owning so much land if he cannot defend it on his own?
How many days do you think it takes to get here from Jelling?
We're the ones who actually keep this farm safe.
Too much wealth brings disaster.
You're just gonna ignore me?!
When you increase your wealth, you fear losing it.
To ease that fear, you spend money to make more of it.
The idiot boy doesn't realize how empty it all is.
Ugh, I can't take this.
Save me from the lectures of an old man.
Would you look at that. The skies have cleared!
And with that, I'll go make my rounds!
And don't come back!
But you know you'll be lonely without me around.
Move your accursed behind!
They're a strange pair, aren't they?
They seemed closer than the actual father and son.
Yeah.
After all that happened today, I feel like I learned a great deal.
Good for you, you big baby.
Don't call me that.
Too much wealth, huh?
You can spread more seed than that.
What?
But isn't this all we have?
It'll be fine. You can grab 'em by the handful.
I'm your friend. Trust me.
Friend?
What the? No way!
Why do you seem lost?
We're friends, aren't we?
What? Are we not?
No...
We are friends.
{Ending}
Time and time again, my hopes are gone
{shift}
It's like a never-ending marathon
I hear voices every night of the ones I left behind that I love
I'm trying to find the place where I belong
Until I do, I guess I'll carry on
Trapped in every sacrifice
Feel like I'm gonna lose my mind
No freedom
Without love
I played the game of life and had a ball
Crazy of me to think I had it all
And I kept holding on to the power and lost my freedom
I guess I had to learn there is no freedom without love
{Preview}
Iron Fist Ketil
"Iron Fist Ketil."