Ragnar returns triumphantly with rich treasure and enslaved monks from Lindisfarne monastery, but greedy earl Haraldson treats his entire crew as virtual criminals, confiscating the loot, except one item per Viking, only to bury it all in his own grave, with the unfortunate orphan boy he earlier seized as hostage for Ragnar's return. Ragnar chooses Athelstan as his prize, eager to learn about England, treats him surprisingly well, even makes him his household deputy. The earl accepts, being promised the loot again, to let Ragnar lead a second raid, now on Northumbria proper, but posts his own man, Knut. Their passage succeeds again, but now a royal soldiers patrol spots them on the beach, and Raganr's hothead brother ends up triggering a needless fight, only one soldier escapes on horseback.
—KGF Vissers