Episode Title:
The Path of Blood
Episode Description:
As King Canute marches ahead of his troops in the war against Ethelred II for the throne of England, he recalls the time when Askeladd killed King Sweyn, making Canute the new king of Denmark. He severely punishes some of his forward troops for pillaging and treating the English peasants badly. Canute greets Floki on his way to accept the surrender of Earl Eadric of Mercia when Thorkell appears, angry at not being allowed to sever Eadric's head, but Thorkell defers to Canute's strategy. Eadric offers Canute treasure to leave him and Mercia alone, however Canute rejects the paltry offer and demands that Eadric swear loyalty to him and deliver Ethelred's head in exchange for retaining Mecia. Canute then sets alight a series of massive pyres across the countryside to demonstrate his power. Both Ethelred and his son Edmund are dead within 3 years leading Canute to being recognized in 1018 as Bretwalda, King of England.
