Karin, Queen of the Land, is distraught by the loss at sea of her husband, King Harald. The king's exiled general Hagen vows to return to marry Karin and assume the throne, killing anyone in his path and Karin herself once they are married. Karin takes her young son Moki to a tiny cottage to hide out until Hagen is gone and perhaps King Harald has returned. While in hiding, a stranger named Helmut approaches the cottage. Fearing for their lives, Karin turns him away, but Helmut returns when he hears their cries for help, wielding and throwing the knives that are his namesake.