Athelstan knows better than most: it is one matter to take prisoners, but another matter to be one. Confined to the local monastery after King Ecbert's intervention at his crucifixion, our favorite former monk is given time to reflect on what home means, what friendship is and does, and where his heart truly lies. (S2, featuring Athelstan, various monastics, and Ecbert's court.)

Athelstan was taken from his home and forced to live a life so foreign that he questions his God daily. Why was he brought here? What is his purpose? How could this possibly be serving God? After a new set of slaves reaches the land of the Vikings, his destiny may become clearer.