Ep 11. A Gamble

In VINLAND SAGA season 1 episode 11, titled "A Gamble," Thorfinn and his companions arrive at the city of London and seek out a well-known trader named Samson. Samson reveals to them that he has information on Thorkell's whereabouts and suggests that they enter a fighting tournament in order to get close to him.

Meanwhile, Askeladd receives a message from Canute, the prince he has been tasked with protecting. Canute wants to meet with Askeladd and asks him to bring Thorfinn along as well. Askeladd agrees but warns Thorfinn not to cause any trouble during the meeting.

The fighting tournament begins and Thorfinn easily defeats his first few opponents. As he moves onto the later rounds, he realizes that the fights are becoming more difficult and that his opponents are not holding back. In the final round, Thorfinn faces a mysterious and powerful fighter who seems to have a personal vendetta against him.

During the meeting with Canute, Askeladd and Thorfinn learn about Canute's plans to overthrow his father, the King of Denmark. Askeladd sees an opportunity to gain power and offers to help Canute in exchange for his own ambitions. Canute agrees, but he also reveals a dark secret from Askeladd's past.

Back at the fight tournament, Thorfinn faces off against the mysterious fighter in an intense battle. Both fighters are evenly matched and they both take heavy hits. As the fight nears its end, Thorfinn must decide whether to take a risky gamble that could lead to victory or play it safe and risk losing the fight.

Overall, "A Gamble" is a thrilling episode that advances the plot and introduces new characters. It also explores the complex relationships between the main characters and sets up the next stages of their journey. Fans of the show will not want to miss this action-packed episode.