Gold Chapter 39: Osrik – A Flower, a Bell, and a Goodbye

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

In Chapter 39 (titled “CHAPTER 38: OSRIK”), Osrik goes to a crowded city street and enters a plant shop. He asks the shopkeeper for yellow bells, a flower he believes Rissa would like, but the shopkeeper does not carry them; the flower is poisonous and unpopular. Frustrated, Osrik leaves, accidentally ripping the shop’s bell off its hook. Back at the mender room, he meets Polly, who tearfully says she can no longer bear to watch Rissa decline. Hojat tells Osrik that Rissa’s death is near. Alone with her, Osrik places the brass bell from the shop on her bedside, speaks to her, and feels her weakening pulse. He prays to the gods for more time, admitting he never prays, and then breaks down, pressing his forehead to hers and whispering a goodbye she will never hear.

Key Events

Osrik visits a flower shop in search of yellow bells for Rissa.
The shopkeeper explains yellow bells are poisonous and not in stock.
Osrik leaves in anger, breaking the shop’s bell.
Polly visits Rissa’s bedside but tells Osrik she can no longer come.
Hojat informs Osrik that Rissa will die soon.
Osrik sits alone with Rissa, places a small brass bell on her table, and holds her hand.
He reflects on her desire for independence and his guilt for asking her to stay.
Osrik prays to the gods for more time, then sobs and bids her a silent farewell.

Character Development

Osrik: Reveals a tender, vulnerable side he rarely shows. His anger at the shopkeeper masks desperation. His prayer – something he never does – underscores his helplessness. The raw grief at the chapter’s end marks a turning point: from stoic soldier to a man confronting loss.
Rissa: Remains unconscious throughout, but her presence drives the chapter. Osrik’s memories of her blush, her voice, and her wish for independence flesh out her character even while she is dying.
Polly: Abandons her duty to Rissa, highlighting the contrast between fair-weather loyalty and Osrik’s steadfast vigil.
Hojat: Serves as the bearer of grim news, gently urging Osrik to prepare for the end.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Yellow bells: Symbolize Osrik’s love and his failed attempt to give Rissa something beautiful. Their rarity and poison also mirror the dangerous nature of their relationship and the fragility of her life.
The brass bell: Replaces the absent flowers. It is noisy and imperfect, just as Osrik feels he is. It becomes a keepsake of his effort and a reminder of what he could not obtain.
Time and regret: Osrik laments that they “were supposed to have time” and that he was a “selfish bastard” for asking her to stay. The motif of wasted time and missed chances dominates his internal monologue.
Prayer as vulnerability: A non-believer praying shows complete surrender – Osrik’s only remaining action when all else fails.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the emotional climax of Osrik’s arc. It strips away his gruff exterior and forces him to acknowledge feelings he had suppressed. His helplessness in the face of Rissa’s death contrasts with his earlier violent attempts to save her (torturing, raging). The moment crystallizes the theme that some wrongs cannot be righted, and that love – even when called a “mistake” – is worth grieving. It also sets the stage for whatever may come if Rissa somehow survives or if Osrik must go on without her.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Osrik want yellow bells specifically, and what does their absence represent?
Osrik wants yellow bells because he thinks Rissa would like them – he calls her “Yellow Bell” as a nickname. The flower’s absence at a shop that sells almost everything else highlights how unique and rare Rissa is to him. Their poisonous nature also foreshadows the fatal wound she received, and the inability to find them mirrors his helplessness to save her.

2. What does Osrik’s prayer to the gods reveal about his state of mind?
Osrik says he never prays and does not even know if he believes in the gods. His prayer – “Not her… Not yet” – shows he has exhausted all other options: rage, torture, arguments, denial. By appealing to a power he doubts, he reveals total desperation and a willingness to try anything, even begging, for more time with Rissa.

3. Compare Polly’s reaction to Rissa’s condition with Osrik’s. What do their responses say about their characters?
Polly leaves because she “can’t keep seeing her like this,” putting her own emotional comfort above Rissa’s need for companionship. Osrik stays, vowing not to abandon her “unlike Polly.” His commitment is rooted in guilt (for asking her to stay) and love, while Polly’s departure shows that her earlier gratitude to Rissa was shallow when tested by hardship.