Thorfinn Grows up hearing stories about war and faraway lands specifically the newly discovered land of Vinland. He hears all of this from Leif Ericson a traveling trader who originally found Vinland
When Thorfinn sneaks aboard his father's boat to join the impending war his father sacrifices his life a against a group of mercenaries to save him and the rest of the crew.
Thorfinn asks the leader of the mercenaries Askeladd if he can join their group in order to stay with them, grow stronger, and eventually avenge his father.