Pathetic fallacy highway:
"...the summer was waning at last. But so was Trollheim." (p. 183)
Valgard is drunk and despondent:
"Would the rain never end? He shuddered at the wet breath through the window. Lightning glared blue-white and his bones shook to the thunder." (ibid.)
When he enters his bedroom:
"Lightning blazed anew. Thunder sent quiverings through the floor. Wind screamed and dashed rain against glass. Tapestries fluttered and candles flickered in a cold draught." (ibid.)
We read it and want to see it on screen.
When Valgard screams that he is "'...but the shadow of Skafloc...'":
"Lightning leaped and flamed, hellfire loose in heaven. Thunder banged. Wind hooted. The rain flung itself down rivering panes. A gust within the walls blew out the candles." (p. 184)
There is an exact parallel between inner and outer turmoil.
Before even hearing their message, Valgard has killed one of the messengers that had come to tell him that the elves have landed in England and that the Sidhe from Ireland are in Scotland. Only two of a band of fifteen messengers had survived attacks by elven outlaws.
Chapter XXVI begins:
"Under cover of an autumn storm, Skafloc led the best of the elf warriors across the channel." (p. 185)
The storm both reflects Valgard's inner conflicts and works against him.
Earlier in Chapter XXV, we were told how Skafloc appears to his enemies:
"A demon on a giant horse, with a sword and a heart from hell, led the elves to victory over twice their number." (p. 180)
It can be amusing to hear how we are seen by others. In Lancaster, someone said, "One of the big leftists in town was there...," then added, "Eugene, I think he's called." Yes, I know Eugene!
7 comments:
He actually has a lot to complain about. He's soulless, and death will be oblivion for him, but he'll age and die like a human being.
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly, what Stirling said above as regards Valgard. Even so, as late as the time he slew Orm and his sons Valgard could have escaped being a mere "shadow of Scafloc" by fleeing almost anywhere else except to Trollheim.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: I think he wants to defeat Scafloc -- to kill him.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, and Valgard did kill Skafloc, with that magic sword! But, even in that moment of triumph the treacherous sword slipped from Valgard's hand and killed him as well.
We see similar story elements in Tolkien's posthumous THE CHILDREN OF HURIN, which I loved despite it being so grim and fierce a story. I hope you read it too.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yup, I did.
BTW, the "vengeance is unsatisfying" is only true if you feel guilty about taking revenge. I don't, and I find it intensely satisfying.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Good, re THE CHILDREN OF HURIN. That story corrects the criticism I've seen of him being too unidimensional a writer.
I have to disagree, as regards vengeance. If it was right of the State to take over the control and penalizing of crime/violence, instead of leaving it to the friends and families of victims, then we should let go of the desire for vengeance, however understandable that is. To quote/paraphrase Scripture: "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
The problem with private vengeance is how feuds and vendettas can lead to indiscriminate slaughter and socio/political anarchy. As Judges 21.24 says: "In those days there was no king in Israel, but everyone did that which seemed right to himself."
A little guilt can keep us from going off the deep end.
Ad astra! Sean
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