Thorgal Vol.7: the Master of the Mountains, Paperback/Jean van Hamme

Unable to find a ship to sail north in the middle of winter, Thorgal sets off by land to reach his old village and bring back a drakkar. His trip takes him through the land of Saxegaard, a ruthless warlord who terrorizes the surrounding country. One night he meets Torric, an escaped slave, and finds a strange ring in the ashes.