1. GAINSBOROUGH OUTSKIRTS, NORTHEAST ENGLAND
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2. GAINSBOROUGH OUTSKIRTS, NORTHEAST ENGLAND
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3. This must be some plot of Thorkell's!
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4. I can think of no other explanation.
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5. B-But, Lord Floki,
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6. the reports from Derby—
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7. The left flank is thin! Do not underestimate them just because they're five hundred men.
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8. This is Thorkell we're dealing with!
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9. Floki.
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10. If the report is correct,
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11. this treatment is entirely unjustified.
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12. It cannot be correct.
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13. You mean to tell me that Prince Canute could possibly
return alive with Thorkell as his faithful servant?
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14. Not a chance in hell!
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15. Hey, Floki! Up for a duel?
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16. I'm game if you are.
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17. Stand down, Thorkell.
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18. I sent a herald several days ago with word of my return, Floki.
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19. Do you always greet princes by pointing spears at them?
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20. No, of course not...
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21. Askeladd?
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22. What is the meaning of this?
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23. Are you hard of hearing?
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24. You dare to draw arrows against a royal prince of Denmark?
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25. N-No...
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26. The Jomsvikings are ever loyal.
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27. That is... we've received an inaccurate report about an enemy ambush...
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28. I apologize.
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29. Send a report that I will visit
His Majesty's hold by evening.
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30. An accurate report.
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31. What in the world happened?
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32. He's like a different man altogether.
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33. Beyond the night skies I'm trudging towards, a lone crow lies in wait
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34. Beyond the night skies I'm trudging towards, a lone crow lies in wait
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35. Beyond the night skies I'm trudging towards, a lone crow lies in wait
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36. Cawing as if to hasten my gait
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37. Cawing as if to hasten my gait
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38. Cawing as if to hasten my gait
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39. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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40. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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41. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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42. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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43. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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44. From the annals of history, shadows of skulls laughed at me
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45. Laughing in my face with glee
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46. Laughing in my face with glee
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47. Laughing in my face with glee
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48. So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
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49. So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
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50. So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
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51. So I just bleed and feel the blood I have inside me
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52. Holding to the creed and blade to slay thee
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53. Holding to the creed and blade to slay thee
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54. Holding to the creed and blade to slay thee
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55. Carry on the oath until my last scene
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56. Carry on the oath until my last scene
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57. Carry on the oath until my last scene
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58. Higher than the sky and deeper than the sea
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59. Higher than the sky and deeper than the sea
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60. Higher than the sky and deeper than the sea
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61. Keep your precious justice to yourself, bud
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62. Keep your precious justice to yourself, bud
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63. Keep your precious justice to yourself, bud
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64. Use it till they're torn, become a pile of mud
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65. Use it till they're torn, become a pile of mud
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66. Use it till they're torn, become a pile of mud
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67. I don't need their choice or voice to judge me
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68. I don't need their choice or voice to judge me
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69. I don't need their choice or voice to judge me
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70. The one and only way I had and always seek
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71. The one and only way I had and always seek
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72. The one and only way I had and always seek
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73. The one and only way I had and always seek
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74. The one and only way I had and always seek
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75. The one and only way I had and always seek
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76. The one and only way I had and always seek
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77. Anyone, everyone, I will crush 'em all
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78. Anyone, everyone, I will crush 'em all
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79. Anyone, everyone, I will crush 'em all
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80. Enemies, let 'em see, now I see you fall
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81. Enemies, let 'em see, now I see you fall
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82. Enemies, let 'em see, now I see you fall
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83. Kings and gods, change the odds
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84. Kings and gods, change the odds
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85. Kings and gods, change the odds
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86. I'm the one who makes my final call
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87. I'm the one who makes my final call
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88. I'm the one who makes my final call
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89. My scars, my past and even my solitude
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90. My scars, my past and even my solitude
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91. My scars, my past and even my solitude
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92. I'll quell them all with just my feud
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93. I'll quell them all with just my feud
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94. I'll quell them all with just my feud
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95. Keep your crown, I'll take you down
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96. Keep your crown, I'll take you down
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97. Keep your crown, I'll take you down
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98. I'm the one who makes my final call
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99. I'm the one who makes my final call
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100. I'm the one who makes my final call
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101. DANISH OCCUPATION BASE, GAINSBOROUGH
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102. DANISH OCCUPATION BASE, GAINSBOROUGH
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103. Listen closely while we walk.
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104. We must not act yet.
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105. Crown
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106. Crown
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107. Crown
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108. I have few allies
among these soldiers.
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109. If we strike now, we'll be branded as rebels.
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110. We need time to make arrangements.
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111. Thorkell, you betrayed them once,
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112. but you're still a charismatic figure among the warriors.
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113. Meet with the minority chieftains,
get along with them, and see that you're in their favor.
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114. Meaning what, exactly?
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115. I'm supposed to drink and make merry on your tab?
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116. With the other chieftains.
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117. Now go.
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118. Best orders I've ever had!
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119. I knew following you was the right idea!
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120. Let's go!
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121. Hey!
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122. Come to meet the king with me, Askeladd.
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123. I need your skill in judging character.
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124. Understood.
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125. And about the future.
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126. How will we achieve it?
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127. Well...
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128. In the short term, I'd go with assassination.
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129. Your brother, Prince Harald,
is far away in Denmark right now.
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130. This is a good opportunity.
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131. By virtue of lineage, should His Majesty fall here,
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132. that would make you the commanding officer of the forces in England.
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133. This would require someone else to be framed for the deed, however.
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134. Thorfinn.
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135. I may have tasks for you that do not involve my personal protection soon.
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136. Be prepared.
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137. Don't tell me what to do.
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138. I don't recall swearing fealty to you.
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139. Forgive him for his insolence.
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140. I will see to it that the fool receives his orders.
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141. I suppose
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142. God is watching us from above even now.
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143. We lose our friends,
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144. and father and son kill one another.
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145. And he chooses to sit on his throne and watch it all happen.
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146. It is unforgivable.
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147. I will create a worldly paradise in this land.
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148. A place of peace and prosperity.
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149. A utopia for those who live in suffering.
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150. Perhaps the work will not be finished in my generation,
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151. but I will be the one to take that first bold step.
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152. God will surely call me to his side with love.
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153. And when that time comes, I will say to him:
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154. "We no longer need heaven or your trials.
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155. We have our paradise on Earth."
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156. We must take back what we have lost.
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157. Even if it means becoming demons.
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158. You have my assistance,
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159. Your Highness.
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160. So you have returned.
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161. I am pleased, Canute.
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162. Thank you for your kind words.
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163. I am afraid I am unworthy of them as I have lost the entire contingent of men you granted me.
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164. Approach.
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165. Just a moment.
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166. What do you think, Thorfinn?
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167. Yeah, they're there.
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168. Twenty, I'd say.
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169. Above us too.
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170. Archers.
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171. Your Highness.
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172. It's an ambush.
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173. It would seem His Majesty senses our plot.
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174. What is the matter?
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175. Come closer.
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176. No matter what,
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177. you must not draw your swords.
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178. In this sort of fight,
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179. he who draws first, loses.
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180. My eyes have adjusted to the dark.
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181. Just a little farther and I'll see the king's face.
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182. And when I do...
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183. Halt.
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184. That will do.
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185. Kneel.
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186. His eyes are tired.
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187. This is the king of the Danes?
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188. Askeladd.
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189. What happened to Ragnar?
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190. I do not see him with you.
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191. He died. In Mercia.
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192. I see.
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193. A lamentable loss.
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194. He was a loyal, true vassal.
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195. Normally, your return would be cause for celebration with a proper feast.
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196. But I have long desired
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197. the opportunity to speak with you
unfettered by social custom.
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198. Stand, Canute.
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199. Take ten paces forward.
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200. In a very short period of time,
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201. your face has changed.
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202. You look as I did when I was young.
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203. Then you must understand what lies within my heart.
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204. You are a troublesome child.
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205. You resemble me even in that.
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206. A son grows by watching his father.
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207. Surely you will not blame me for this.
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208. When I was young,
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209. I drove my father, the king, into exile
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210. and seized this crown for myself.
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211. I did it because I believed it was the best thing for the realm.
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212. The old king was cruel in nature, but he was also a coward.
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213. When such a man wears the crown,
the world suffers.
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214. If he's a coward, what does that make the man setting an ambush?
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215. Shut up.
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216. He'll hear you.
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217. So you won't bother to hide your ambitions, Your Highness?
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218. Don't forget that you stand in a den of foxes.
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219. I had done much good.
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220. And I would do more, I thought.
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221. Until I wore this, that is.
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222. This crown
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223. possesses a will of its own.
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224. With its power, you control a thousand ships and ten thousand men.
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225. It can bring you the treasures of far-off lands.
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226. The crown's power is akin to that of the gods.
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227. However...
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228. However, Canute,
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229. it is not the king who wields the power,
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230. but the crown's own will.
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231. So the crown ordered you
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232. to kill me?
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233. The crown commands the king to do but two things.
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234. To use power, and to gain power.
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235. It is futile to resist.
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236. The crown does not desire you.
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237. Canute.
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238. I will give you part of Cornwall.
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239. You may live out your days in peace reading the Bible if you wish.
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240. And if you refuse,
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241. you will die here.
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242. Are those the words of the crown, Your Majesty?
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243. Your Majesty!
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244. Please forgive his insolence!
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245. Who are you?
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246. I am Prince Canute's loyal vassal,
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247. Askeladd, son of Olaf.
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248. Excuse my impertinence in asking, but does this turn of events truly represent the will of the crown?
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249. Continue.
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250. His Highness succeeded in swaying the powerful Thorkell away from London.
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251. If you are crowned king of England,
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252. the city will have no choice but to surrender.
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253. London's riches will all be yours at minimal cost.
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254. And the man who made the great sacrifices necessary to bring you this victory
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255. is none other than Prince Canute.
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256. How can a man be punished for his great deeds?
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257. It will unsettle your chieftains before they are to be ceded new lands.
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258. Your Majesty, please reconsider.
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259. This man likes to talk.
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260. Askeladd.
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261. "Ashen one."
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262. That must be an epithet.
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263. What name did your father give you?
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264. I am known only as Askeladd.
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265. My father gave me no name.
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266. A bastard son, then.
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267. No...
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268. The son of a slave?
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269. What's this?
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270. I've never seen Askeladd so furious before.
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271. Canute.
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272. You have an excellent vassal in this man.
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273. He is correct.
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274. Your deeds ought to be rewarded.
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275. I leave for York on the morrow.
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276. There will be a feast there.
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277. I will see that you are properly honored.
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278. That set my blood to freezing, Your Highness.
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279. No need to panic.
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280. As you suspected, the king does not have the justification to kill me now.
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281. He wishes to be known as a wise king.
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282. If we do not act foolishly,
it is safest to remain within his grasp.
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283. That is all the more reason to refrain from provoking him as you just did.
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284. Nothing to worry about.
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285. King Sweyn is a slave to the crown.
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286. But I will wield the crown's power with skill.
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287. Askeladd...
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288. A man to be wary of.
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289. Cheers!
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290. All right! Don't be shy!
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291. This is all on His Highness Canute!
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292. Long live the prince!
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293. That's his 57th horn!
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294. He's a monster!
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295. Who's that gulping down the drinks over there?
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296. Did anyone invite a priest?
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297. It's me, Willibald.
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298. Have you forgotten me?
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299. What?
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300. The bearded one?
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301. You look so young! How old are you?
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302. Three and twenty.
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303. Bullshit!
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304. You're in your early twenties?
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305. All right, I'm up next!
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306. Here comes the captain!
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307. With a 58-horn handicap!
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308. He is an odd man.
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309. Utterly selfish, but those around him love him for it.
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310. Yes.
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311. So? What do you think?
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312. Can we kill the king?
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313. I must say that it will be difficult.
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314. I saw that he was a very shrewd man.
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315. He possesses the insight to read others and the initiative to strike first.
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316. The fact that he changed strategy upon seeing that we would not falter at his threat
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317. spoke to his tactical wisdom.
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318. He's fit to rule. That's for certain.
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319. A dangerous foe.
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320. So whenever I do kill him, it won't be now.
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321. For now, I suggest we maintain our present allegiance,
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322. waiting for our chance to strike.
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323. Your Highness! Your Highness!
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324. Please allow me to express my joy at your safe return!
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325. Oh, how your faithful servant Gunnar did fear for your well-being!
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326. Forgive me for being absent upon your glorious return at the castle.
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327. You see, I myself have just come home from abroad.
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328. Of course, I trusted in your good health at every waking moment!
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329. Oh, and who is this?
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330. A new vassal, mayhaps?
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331. Might I have the pleasure?
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332. This is Ragnar's brother, Gunnar.
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333. Get along now.
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334. Askeladd, son of Olaf.
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335. Oh, you look like a dependable character.
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336. I'm Gunnar.
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337. By the way, Your Highness...
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338. Preparations are in order for our ongoing plan.
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339. The Duchy of Normandy it is.
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340. Perhaps we might discuss the matter in private later when Ragnar is present.
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341. Your brother Ragnar is dead.
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342. He died serving me admirably.
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343. And I will not flee into hiding.
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344. Your Highness? What did you say?
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345. Your tireless service in seeking out a safe haven for me has been appreciated.
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346. I just picked a fight with King Sweyn.
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347. I will need your help.
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348. Ragnar is...
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349. Gunnar.
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350. Your job is to observe the king's actions and report them to me.
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351. Choose your soldiers wisely. Pick the most loyal.
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352. Your Highness! Is it wise to discuss such matters in the open?
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353. It's fine.
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354. It's harder to be overheard here.
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355. My prince...
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356. You've changed.
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357. As will happen.
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358. Everything must change, and I will see to that.
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359. That Gunnar fellow won't do at all.
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360. He won't be nearly as loyal to the prince as he says.
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361. Now here's a fellow who keeps himself sharp.
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362. Doesn't his arm hurt?
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363. Askeladd.
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364. I see.
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365. You're going back home.
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366. I know you said it was all in the past,
but that don't change the fact that we were traitors.
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367. I just can't see how I'm to face you anymo—Ow!
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368. Got you!
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369. And besides, my brother's, well... like that.
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370. I hope that Bjorn heals up.
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371. Atli! And you call yourself a Norseman?
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372. How did such a good-hearted man find himself in my band?
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373. Bjorn's not going to last long.
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374. He got hit in the guts.
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375. Soon,
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376. Thorfinn will be the only old hand remaining.
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377. This is a good opportunity before you leave.
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378. An armband?
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379. Gold. Take it.
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380. What? I don't want it!
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381. I've got no reason to accept it!
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382. Just take it.
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383. Nothing wrong with some extra money for the road.
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384. Well, if you insist... I'm grateful.
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385. What?
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386. Make up your mind!
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387. Are you giving it to me or not?
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388. On one condition.
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389. Never swing a sword again.
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390. You're not suited for it, Atli.
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391. Raise some sheep,
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392. take a wife,
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393. have some kids, and die in your bed.
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394. The next time I see you on the battlefield,
I'm going to gut you,
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395. friend or foe.
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396. Aye.
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397. I hear you.
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398. What's that?
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399. This?
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400. It's something important.
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401. It's pretty.
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402. You're charging too damn much! Gimme a discount!
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403. Show me some younger women!
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404. DANISH OCCUPIED YORK
NORTHUMBRIA
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405. DANISH OCCUPIED YORK
NORTHUMBRIA
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406. Bring the younger women!
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407. Any takers?
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408. I feel like I'm almost there, but I'm not
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409. Hounded by bones drifting along on silent winds
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410. Unceasing echoes of voices won't ever fade
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411. We can't well turn back without knowing what lies ahead
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412. We may see in the same colors
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413. But the breaths we draw are shaded differently
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414. You're gonna make me go
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415. You're gonna make me drown
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416. I've nothing left to even lose
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417. You're gonna make me go
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418. You're gonna make me drown
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419. No I don't want it, I don't want it,
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420. I don't want it
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421. Don't let me go
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422. You're gonna make me drown
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423. I'll head towards an answer that affords no footing
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424. You're gonna make me go
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425. You're gonna make me drown
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426. No I don't want it, I don't want it,
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427. I don't want it
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428. But I know no one's there
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429. I will stay right here
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430. I'll walk the precipice
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