After Doomsday, 5.
The planet, Vorlak, was unified into an imperium under the Overmaster eight thousand years ago and discovered by spacefarers two hundred years ago. Since that discovery, the Dragar, masters of sea warships, have become masters of space warships while the imperium has lost power but still embodies wisdom. Vorlakka history has been maritime because most of their land is islands made swamps by tides.
Through the open doors of the Dragar hall, Donnan hears surf, night-birds and a spouting, roaring saurian and smells cold unfamiliar odours. Battle banners hang from remote rafters.
One Draga advises Donnan to kill any of his men who question his authority but he cannot kill any human beings when so few remain!
When there is a pause in the dialogue:
"Even the fire and surf seemed to hush themselves." (p. 44)
Of course the fire and surf did not quieten down but the elements always seem to correspond to the conversation in Poul Anderson's works.
Draga honour grants four inalienable rights:
food and protection to groundlings;
justice and leadership to crew;
respect to colleagues;
deference to the Overmaster.
When Ger Nenna, an imperial scholar-bureaucrat and the Overmaster's representative, asks whether the Draga can deny the Earthmen's right to revenge:
"The fire roared on the hearth." (p. 48)
Of course the fire roars when revenge is mentioned! Ger Nenna does not believe in revenge but does believe in justice and also recognizes the value of humanity to the galaxy.
"The wind, wet and pungent, in his face, sobered Donnan." (ibid.)
The wind always contributes something in Poul Anderson's works.
Donnan and the European women have different ways of trying to find or to be found by other human survivors. Donnan's way is to become involved in the Vorlak-Kandemir war.
