Burhmund and Veleda are historical figures in Tacitus' Histories. Heidhin, Veleda's companion, and of course Manse Everard of the Time Patrol are fictional characters created by Poul Anderson. Thus, several narrative strands converge when Burhmund tells Heidhin:
"'Yon Everard is an odd one. He may be able to bring something about.'" (p. 617)
That is how a time traveller intervening in historical events might appear to a participant in those events: odd but possibly effective. We value alternative viewpoints in fiction. In Anderson's Technic History, we sometimes read how van Rijn, Falkayn or Flandry appear to others.
Burhmund and Heidhin converse although neither is presented as the viewpoint character. Veleda arrives and leads Heidhin outside. We are told what Burhmund says to others who are present when the door closes, then we follow events outside the building without any break in the text. Heidhin and Veleda converse with Janne Floris/Niaerdh. As in the previous chapter, Floris hears Everard's voice internally so she, Floris, has become the viewpoint character.
This chapter is the turning point. Heidhin releases Veleda from her oath by killing himself. His death ensures the Tacitus One timeline. If Heidhin had refused to yield and had carried Veleda with him, then the Tacitus Two timeline with continued warfare and a new religion of the Goddess would have followed.
3 comments:
Testing. Another disappeared comment. I said Heidhin became the CRUCIAL character at this point of the story.
Sean
Kaor, Paul! Then Heidhin, at this point of the story, became the CRUCIAL character. Ad astra! Sean
Note that Everard is a name Everard can use among 1st-century Germanics. (Eric/Erik is another very old one.
Post a Comment