I coltelli del vendicatore—Knives of the Avenger Synopsis
Arald, King of the Vikings, has been missing at sea for three years. Now his errant general Aghen, a violent and ambitious man, has returned to their homeland with his army in tow, to claim Arald’s crown and bride, Karin, as his own. Karin and her son Moki consult with Shuna, an aged oracle, who assures them that Arald still lives, and will soon return—but not before Aghen places them in immediate dan- ger. However, she etches in the sand a symbol of a man holding the disc of the Sun, which she says will be the sign heralding the arrival of the man who will be their salvation. Shuna urges the Queen and her son—the future of her country—to await his coming by flee- ing across the beach into hiding, so that the sea’s incoming waves will erase the tracks of their departure. Karin and Moki set up a secluded
home in the woods. One day, their soli- tude is interrupted by a weary travel- ler named Helmut, who comes to their doorstep, begging a meal. Warily, Karin sends him away to feed from the fish in the river and the berries growing along its banks. Helmut is wounded by her distrust, but does as the fearful woman suggests. While cleaning and eating the dinner he’s caught from the stream, Helmut hears a scream and rushes back to the cottage, where the woman and her son are being attacked by a pair of Aghen’s men. Helmut bursts in and quickly puts a stop to the intrusion with his fists and a pair of well-tossed knives. Some damage is done in the process, and while dispos- ing of the dead men, Helmut promises to stay until he can repair the broken furniture. During his stay, Helmut begins teaching the fatherless Moki the mas- culine arts of self-defense and trap- ping. Karin is touched by the interest he shows in the boy, but is also aware of his growing attraction to her. Both- ered by a sense that they have met somewhere before, Helmut questions Karin, who he can see is no ordinary country woman. She takes him into her confidence, introducing herself as Queen Karin. She tells him the story of how her country went to war against
