"The Path of Blood": Episode 5 of the second season of Vinland Saga brings intrigue and war to Britain. The viewers are first taken back to the end of the first season, when Askeladd draws his sword and threatens to kill the Danish Viking king Sweyn. He reveals his true identity as Lucius Artorius Castus, the rightful king of Britannia. Askeladd declares that King Sweyn deserves death for mocking his family and people. The king utters a final warning, but Askeladd kills him.

The episode then jumps to the time after King Sweyn's death, where King Canute, his son, has taken command of the Danish Viking army in England. Meanwhile, King Ethelred II has returned from exile, and both men lay claim to the title of King of England, leaving the fate of Britain uncertain.

King Canute oversees the war in Mercia and is unimpressed by his soldiers' behavior. He orders the execution of soldiers who fail to maintain discipline and meets with Floki to discuss their next steps. King Canute decides to meet with Earl Eadric of Mercia, despite Floki considering him a coward. King Canute wants to assess the situation himself and also calm the wrath of Thorkell, who is currently engaged in a fight with Eadric. Thorkell warns King Canute that war is inevitable and that his path will always be drenched in blood, while the latter strives for peace in Mercia.

King Canute meets with Eadric and rejects his offer of 8,000 pounds of silver for the withdrawal of his troops from Mercia, deeming it an insult to his kingship. He demands that Eadric betray King Ethelred and help him kill him in exchange for keeping Mercia, but Eadric refuses. The situation escalates, and King Canute signals his troops that war has begun. He warns Eadric that he, too, will turn to ashes if he chooses to fight.

Later, news arrives that King Ethelred has died of an illness, and his son Edmund becomes king. However, he also dies seven months later, prompting Asgeir to remark on the suspicious timing of his death. The Witanagemot, a council of nobles, recognizes King Canute as Bretwalda, the High King of England, and in 1018, he is officially acknowledged as King of England.

The episode's title, "The Path of Blood," aptly describes Canute's journey to becoming the King of Britain. Through cunning and deceit, he eliminates his enemies, a method not considered honorable among Vikings. Viewers can look forward to seeing how and when the paths of Canute and Thorfinn will cross in the future.