Plot

Messengers arrive in Kattegat with news that presents Bjorn with a dilemma. As Bjorn attempts to do the right thing as ruler of Kattegat, Prince Oleg of Kiev seems untroubled by his conscience.

Bjorn still hesitates whether to go rescue Harald from Olaf and gets nu useful answer from the seer, while Lagertha plays retired farmer with the kids and Ubbe receives news from Kjetill Flatnose of Floki's Iceland party's meager survival rate but refuses to believe Floki is dead. Neither suspects the danger rising in the east, where the Kievan Rus plot to reconquer their Scandinavian homeland. Ivar is again amazed how prince Oleg the Prophet deals with rival brothers. Prince Askold is poisoned during a smoke curtain banquet in Novgorod, to get hold of little prince Igor, the legitimate heir of Kiev. Oleg's annexation of land and troops is challenged by another brother, Dir, whose not so as he thought secret marriage to a princess proves Oleg(s secret weapon to 'prove' himself as prophet in a wager and get home safely with Ivar, who befriends young Igor.—KGF Vissers

Bjorn was conflicted about helping Harald, as he knew that Kattegat's prosperity lay in trade and not conquest, and yet he could not bring himself to abandon Harald. Harald had saved his life twice, and had helped Bjorn reclaim Kattegat. Ubbe and Hvitserk both disagree with Bjorn's decision. Hvitserk says that Bjorn should focus on finding and killing Ivar. Bjorn consults the Seer (ohn Kavanagh) who only says that Bjorn should not betray his own Gods in the process.

Gunnhild confronts a slave named Ingrid (Lucy Martin) who has lustful feelings for Bjorn. Ingrid tries to seduce Bjorn by approaching him directly.

Kjetill returns to Kattegat (Adam Copeland) in Floki's boat, in search of new settlers to help build Iceland. Kjetill tells Ubbe that initially it was hard, and they lost many people to disease and starvation. The land is called Iceland as in the winter, the fjord fills with Ice floes. Since then, things have stabilized, and the colony has planted their first crops.

Ubbe is interested in following him as Kjetill claims that one of the settlers is the fabled Othere (Ray Stevenson), who has sighted a new land west of Iceland. Ubbe says that he needs to find this land and is outfitting 2 boats for this mission.

Torvi reveals to Ubbe that she is pregnant. Torvi now lives with Lagertha at her farm. Bjorn comes to the farm and consults Lagertha about helping Harald. Against Lagertha's advice, Bjorn decides to go to Harald's aid. Lagertha says that even she refused to join Ragnar is his raid, as she did not want to leave Kattegat undefended. Ubbe tells Bjorn that Hvitserk is now a drunk and not fit to defend Kattegat. Bjorn asks Ubbe to delay his journey for a little while till he returns from helping Harald.

Kjetill says Floki (Gustaf Skarsgard) has vanished, raising the suspicion of Bjorn. Bjorn browbeats Kjetill into joining his war party.

In Kievan Rus' Oleg says that they need to raise an army and build a fleet. Oleg reveals that he had defeated Constantinople he was invited to dine with its rulers and make peace, as he was not strong enough to occupy the city indefinitely. Just before the feast, he had a dream that his wine had been poisoned. Oleg refused to drink the wine, but his 2 commanders did and died. From then on, he was called The Prophet.

Oleg and Ivar travel to Novgorod (the old capital of Rus) to meet Oleg's brother Askold (Blake Kubena) and retrieve Oleg's nephew Igor (Oran Glynn O'Donovan), the heir to the kingdom. Igor is the son of Oleg's dead brother-in-law King Rorik.

Askold promises to contribute to Oleg's army, albeit reluctantly. Oleg has Askold poisoned, while Ivar forms a connection with Igor. Oleg says that he killed Askold to get custody of Igor, as to control Igor is the only means to getting the keys to the Kingdom.

Oleg's other brother Dir (Lenn Kudrjawizki) soon arrives to arrest Oleg, but when Oleg shows apparent prophetic power by producing Dir's secret wife Anna (Serena Kennedy), Dir is forced to let them go. Dir was recently married, and nobody knew the name of his wife, and yet Oleg was able to produce her. Oleg demands free passage to Kiev from Dir, else he promises to harm Anna in a matter of days.