good buddy

Like at the end when Askeladd has died and Thorfinn’s a slave on Ketil’s farm, Thorfinn has long since forgiven Askeladd. As soon as Askeladd dies Thorfinn’s anger dries up and what is he left with? Not even anger at Askeladd’s memory.

I think that if the society Thorfinn was in didnt place so much emphasis on killing in revenge or anger or for pride, then any affection between Askeladd and Thorfinn could’ve grown more into a father/son relationship.

Askeladd DID kill Thors, but he was never consumed by the same anger in battle as Thorfinn (even when killing his own father he kept a cool head)

Askeladd raised thorfinn, and I feel that there must have been some kind of feeling of conflict in Thorfinn after his death that they did have some partnership there. It’s why he sees Askeladd in Hell when he’s having his guilt dreams, this is his mentor. Thors died too early in Thorfinn’s life for him to be anything but a kind of moral map for Thorfinn to follow.