Einar lives peacefully in northern England with his mother and sister, but then one day, their village comes under attack.

Einar and Thorfinn are told to convert a wild forest into a wheat field; and if they succeed, they will have the chance to buy their own freedom.

Thorfinn and Einar are working themselves to the bone to clear the forest, but there's only so much they can do without the help of horses.

Thieves have been stealing food from Ketil's farm. Meanwhile, Ketil's eldest son Thorgil returns home.

Thorfinn wakes up in a peaceful place and he sees his father again. But then things quickly turn dark, and Thorfinn must face his painful past.

Finally, after three long years, Einar and Thorfinn chop down the final tree in the forest. With hope in their hearts, they talk about the future.

While in Jelling, Ketil, Thorgil and Olmar meet a man named Leif Erikson who is searching for Thorfinn, the son of his close friend.

Olmar feels insulted by Canute's messenger and, encouraged by his older brother Thorgil, takes matters into his own hands.

Einar says that even if he gains his freedom, he wants to stay near Arnheid. Snake hears news of a slave who killed his owners, and is now on the run.

After returning home to his farm, an exhausted Ketil starts searching for Arnheid, only to find out what happened in his absence.

Amidst the confusion of a peasant uprising, Thorfinn and the others try to escape, carrying a severely injured and pregnant Arnheid.

As Thorfinn and Einar head for their escape, Arnheid regains consciousness and asks where they are going — and if there are slaves and wars there, too.

Thorfinn and Einar have said their piece, but Canute stubbornly refuses to give up Ketil's Farm. Then, Thorfinn breaks the standoff with a decision.