Episode 2 of Vikings: Valhalla Season 3 commences with the Syracuse Emir boldly declaring the imminent arrival of a formidable Saracen army, hailing from Cairo and Alexandria, to reinforce his stronghold. However, Leif's strategic maneuver to deprive them of their vital water supply casts doubt on their survival until the reinforcements can arrive. Faced with this dire situation, the Emir proposes a duel—a fateful contest that will determine the fate of Syracuse, with the victor claiming sovereignty, yet benevolently stipulating that the local populace remains unscathed. Romanos, concurring, selects Harald, the Norse warrior, over his own General, while the Emir bravely steps forward to defend his people personally.
Leif's heart is heavy with concern, wondering if Harald's focus has strayed from their original objectives. In stark contrast, the Emir's fierce devotion to his people resonates deeply. Yet, Harald reassures Leif, his every action rooted firmly in the service of Norway.
Meanwhile, tranquility in Jomsborg shatters as an ominous illness spreads like wildfire. Kolr and Little Harald are struck first by seizures, precipitating a chain reaction that engulfs the entire settlement. In a desperate bid to save his community, Stigr discovers the poisoned flour sourced from Kattegat and races to procure an antidote. But amidst the chaos, suspicion falls upon him, with even the enfeebled villagers, including Freydis, too weakened to defend him.
As the drama unfolds in Jomsborg, Magnus Olafsson arrives in Kattegat, accompanied by a retinue of monks. King Svein, the son of Canute and Aelfgifu, greets him warmly, yet Aelfgifu's demeanor betrays her skepticism. Magnus unveils a miraculous tale—a blind monk granted sight through dreams of Olaf—hinting at a second such wonder that could elevate Olaf to sainthood. With this in mind, Magnus seeks to repatriate his father's remains from Jomsborg to Kattegat, where he plans to erect a shrine. Aelfgifu, ever the shrewd negotiator, sees through his motives, reminding him of their pact with Freydis to maintain peace. Magnus, however, insists on innocence, his duplicity masked behind a veil of pious intentions.
But behind closed doors, the truth emerges—Magnus is the puppeteer, manipulating a trader to supply the poisoned flour to Jomsborg.
Back in Syracuse, the fateful duel commences, the Emir a formidable adversary. Yet, Harald's prowess triumphs, claiming victory and the city's allegiance. Romanos, grateful, acknowledges Harald's aid while hinting at the Prince's inevitable return to Norway. Before departing for Constantinople, the Emperor issues a stern warning to General Maniakes, admonishing him to spare the locals. But the seeds of intrigue have already been sown, as Maniakes, slyly slipping into Leif's tent, steals the gunpowder, setting the stage for further turmoil and intrigue.
The narrative shifts seamlessly to Rome, where Emma embarks on a quest to secure an audience with the Holy Father. With fervor, she underscores the towering might of Canute, who not only avenged the St. Brice's Day massacre but ascended to the throne, a testament to his unparalleled power. Furthermore, she daringly exposes the Cardinal's duplicity, revealing his sordid dealings with bribes from Godwin, a revelation that rattles the Pope to his core. Touched by her sincerity, the Pope extends a warm greeting to Emma and concedes to another meeting with Canute.
The king, emphasizing the significance of Viking camaraderie, presents the Pope with a grim yet symbolic gift—the Cardinal's severed head, which the Pope accepts with a mixture of gratitude and awe. It becomes evident that Emma orchestrated this entire strategy, much to Godwin's disapproval. Undeterred, she announces their next destination: Normandy, to reunite with her children, while tasking Godwin with a journey to Denmark to convey the Pope's blessing to Canute's father, Forkbeard.
Elsewhere, Stigr returns, his words echoing with the promise of a cure. The villagers, though hesitant, find solace in his remedy, but alas, it arrives too late for Kolr, whose life slips away. Amidst this somber scene, Svein whispers the path to Jomsborg into Magnus's ear, a revelation that elicits a sigh of relief from Aelfgifu, who reminds her son that Magnus, too, harbors ambitions for the Norwegian throne.
At the beleaguered fort, General Maniakes' obsession with its destruction burns bright. Just as all seems lost, Leif arrives like a beacon of hope, rescuing the library from destruction's brink. In a chance encounter with the librarian, Leif discovers the long-sought treasure—a map hailing from the shores of Corfu.
Meanwhile, Maniakes' cunning soldiers lure the unsuspecting townsfolk to the square with the promise of food, only to trap them within its confines. As the army unleashes its deadly powder and ignites the square, turning it into an inferno, Leif's heart wrenches from the library window. He rushes to aid, but his efforts are met with the cruel realization of futility. Harald, too, arrives, his gaze fixed on the rising smoke, helpless to intervene.
The General stands triumphant, proclaiming the necessity of eradicating the Saracens to safeguard Christianity. However, Leif, his voice laced with indignation, counters that the act remains murder, regardless of justification. The General, unfazed, shifts the blame, claiming that it was Leif's own scientific pursuits that wrought this devastation, and he merely served as its messenger. The episode of Vikings: Valhalla Season 3, Episode 2, thus concludes on a note of moral ambiguity and the bitter taste of sacrifice.
