Eardwulf sees an opportunity in Aethelred’s imminent demise. Ragnar explains that Kjartan’s story is that the English rose against their father, encouraged by Uhtred. It appears Ragnar kisses Brida goodbye as she leaves on a horseback to meet with the remaining of their Danish army. She gives her Welsh captors a taste of their own medicine. In return, he will help Aethelred become king of Mercia. She tells Beocca that she intends to rescind Alfred’s pardon of Uhtred. Cnut decides to continue their efforts. Alfred and his clerics confront Uhtred for his action of disinterring Gisela to give her a pagan funeral. Kjarten learns of Uhtred’s presence in Cumberland. They encounter Brother Asser who introduces him to King Peredur of the Britons. When Uhtred learns that Ubba has returned from Ireland, he escapes from Werham with Ragnar’s help and sends Alfred news of Guthrum’s planned betrayal of the truce. He reveals that Edward couldn’t choose between his sons, and he has given them Uhtred in his place. Father Beocca reveals to Uhtred that he is in possession of the charter of Bebbanburg. He asks Aethelred to help him assume the crown of Wessex when Alfred dies. Lastly, he has Brida and Uhtred taken away and put into cages. Callyn turns out to be a Danish warlord, Skorpa. Guthrum decides to send Aethelwold into Alfred’s camp to kill him. They find Thyra, who is severely traumatized by her life as a slave to Kjartan and his son, Sven. Incensed, Cnut orders his men to march immediately to rescue his remaining son. After the marriage, he discovers that she is heavily in debt to the church, and that he is now responsible for the debt. Uhtred drowns Skade, thus lifting the curse she placed on him. Father Pyrlig is sent by Aelswith to Wales to ask for help from King Hywel. He convinces them to attack a rival, King Callyn, for an ample reward.
Brida looks to Cnut and makes him swear to the gods that it was Æthelwold who killed Ragnar. Instead of death, Alfred chooses public humiliation for Uhtred and for Aethelwold, who absconded from the monastery. Brida is overwhelmed with joy. Uhtred tells Alfred he now wishes to be seen as an Ealdormen.
Sigtryggr agrees. At Aylesbury, Aethelhelm bars her entry to the fortress, the gates of which have been closed to peasants seeking shelter from the plague. Eardwulf refuses. He offers them the fortress of Dunholm in exchange for Eoferwic, but for this they must join forces to defeat Kjartan. They eventually force Kjartan to retreat and Ragnar challenges him to a fight to the death. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. Brida and Cnut bury Ragnar. She replies that he’s plowing a new field in the hope of sowing the seed of another son. Sigtryggr gathers his men and brings Eardwulf out before them. Brida and Uhtred find a nearby village ransacked and destroyed. Uhtred is ailing badly from an injury incurred whilst escaping. Brida states that it’s not Cnut’s child, but hers alone. She then puts the collar on Rhodri’s neck and throws him in the pit. There they are befriended by the Irishman, Finan, another slave. Uhtred comes towards her, and she raises her axe. Iseult shows them where another stash of silver is stored. It cost her a family and her husband. And Ubba has sent men to Mercia asking of Uhtred’s whereabouts. Uhtred has come with proof. On this condition, the Witan approves her appointment as Queen of Mercia until such time as Aelfwynn marries. Edward is repelled by his father’s actions and issues the command to enter the battle. He doesn’t care about the seer or the others. Cnut and Brida command their soldiers to have their defences built by sunset. Aethelflaed is crowned Queen of Mercia. Uhtred plans to use the monks as camouflage to gain entry to Bebbanburg. Jackdaw returns to camp to report to Brida, Cnut, and Bloodhair that Alfred is dead. She will breed to him a hate of all Saxons. He replies that Uhtred doesn’t know whether to kill her or hump her. Cnut tasks Bjorgulf with bringing her back. Edward sends his men to attack. In East Anglia, Brida, Cnut and Haeston’s men get ready for an invasion of Mercia. Eadith screams out from the crowd for them to have mercy. Beocca informs them that Alfred was victorious in their battle against the Danes, and Beocca will see to it that they are released. Edward sees how Uhtred instantly commands the trust of the Mercians. Guthred fails to convince the earls of Northumbria, but Abbot Eadred’s rhetoric succeeds. She tells him that she’s with Ragnar now, and he reveals that he’s married. However, Uhtred tells Brida that he can only become the king of Bebbanburg through Alfred. Uhtred and Ragnar raid Dunholm, Kjartan’s fortress. Uhtred finds her and they bury the remains, which is a sign of the passing. A severe storm decimates Guthrum’s ships that were approaching the Wessex coast. The man reveals they were attacked by Danes for revenge. Aethelflaed learns of Edward’s plan. Uhtred spots Brida joins Uhtred in the village after Kjartan and Sven leave. Edward meets his betrothed, Aelflaed. She tells Uhtred that Young Ragnar is back and that they can return the silver and join his ranks. Brida then tells Ragnar how Uhtred is expecting a child and how he intends to go back to his wife. Aethelred tells Aethelflaed that she will accompany him to battle. That night, she watches the charcoal from the woods. He suspects Aethelwold of conspiring against him and also voices suspicion of Uhtred. He asks Edward for support, but he refuses. Brida has grown tired of Uhtred’s submission to the Saxons and goes into the woods, where she makes a mushroom ale to induce psychic visions, where she sees herself on Young Ragnar's Viking ship, sailing at his side. Uhtred wonders why Brida didn’t act sooner. He realizes she’s pregnant and asks who the father is. Beocca throws himself in from of the arrow, saves Young Uhtred and dies in the process. Three nights before the ransom is to be paid, Uhtred leads a night raid to rescue Aethelflaed. Uhtred lets Cnut’s sons go. He fought alongside some of the men. Aethelred tells Eardwulf he will never agree to this. King Hywel and the Welsh feast and celebrate. Brida tells Uhtred that she no longer loves him, but he knows that they are one and that what she speaks isn’t true. Uhtred is summarily imprisoned.
Uhtred lures Bloodhair and his men to Fearnham, a location that Alfred and Aethelflaed’s armies will use as a battlefield. Uhtred declares that he will follow Edward Rex.