King Sorrow Chapter 118: The Troll's Bargain and Arthur's Final Rest
⚠️ 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
The chapter opens by contrasting Arthur Oakes' six‑year search for a mythical troll with Colin's success using a custom search engine that found the creature in only six weeks. Colin’s engine identified the troll as Svangur, also known as Stu Finger, living near Camelford and active online. Svangur posted hateful content from conspiracy theories to antisemitic rhetoric; Colin noted overlaps with Donna McBride’s beliefs. Svangur agreed to trade a robe woven from human hair and a vial of holy blood in exchange for faster web page loading speeds. Colin kept the robe and vial, left behind a magic sword that felt hostile to him, and retrieved Arthur’s Glass. With Svangur’s help, Colin placed Arthur’s body into a stone coffin, covered his eyes with two commemorative coins, and said a brief blessing. Svangur sealed the coffin with the heavy limestone lid and made a crude joke.
Key Events
- Colin’s custom search engine locates a troll in six weeks, solving a six‑year quest.
- The troll is identified as Svangur (Stu Finger), a creature who also engages in online trolling.
- Svangur agrees to trade a robe woven from human hair and a vial of holy blood for faster internet speeds.
- Colin abandons a magic sword because it does not like him; he already has a dragon.
- Colin takes Arthur’s Glass from the dead man’s pocket before the burial.
- Arthur is placed in a stone coffin; two coins (a Welsh pound and a coin with a Celtic cross) are laid over his eyes.
- Svangur lifts the heavy limestone lid alone and seals the coffin.
- Colin speaks a simple eulogy: “May God bless my friend Arthur Oakes. He had good intentions.”
Character Development
- Colin shows a pragmatic, tech‑savvy side that Arthur lacked. He willingly trades a powerful artifact (the robe) for a strategic asset, and he trusts his intuition about the sword. His eulogy reveals a reserved affection for Arthur.
- Arthur Oakes is remembered posthumously as a well‑meaning but flawed man. The chapter reinforces his romantic, old‑school approach (physically tramping to parish libraries) versus Colin’s modern efficiency.
- Svangur (Stu Finger) is both a literal troll and an internet troll—crude, hateful, and transactional. He treats Arthur’s burial with disrespect, adding dark humor.
- Donna McBride is referenced only through her overlap with Svangur’s online falsehoods, highlighting her gullibility.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Old versus new methods: Arthur’s decades of dusty legwork are outdone by Colin’s targeted search engine.
- The nature of trolls: The chapter merges folklore trolls with modern internet trolls, suggesting that both are ugly, destructive, and can be manipulated through technology.
- The robe woven from human hair symbolizes sacrifice and the grotesque nature of the bargain.
- The rejected sword: Colin’s disinterest in a magic blade reinforces his character—he does not need weapons; he relies on wits and his dragon.
- Eyes covered with coins: A classical funerary motif (Charon’s obol) appears here with a Celtic twist, hinting at an afterlife or transition.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 118 completes Arthur Oakes’ storyline, providing closure and revealing the cost of Colin’s quest. It demonstrates Colin’s growth from a dependent student to a decisive agent who makes hard trades and accepts the moral ambiguity of dealing with a troll. The chapter also deepens the novel’s commentary on how ancient evils adapt to the digital age. The retrieval of Arthur’s Glass and the burial set the stage for Colin’s next moves, while the rejection of the sword suggests his reliance on unconventional power.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Colin decide to leave the magic sword with the troll?
Colin senses that the sword does not like him the moment he touches it. He also believes he already possesses a dragon, which is a weapon far more suited to his situation. He values practical tools over legendary ones.
2. What does the contrast between Arthur’s six‑year search and Colin’s six‑week search reveal about the two characters?
Arthur relied on physical legwork, local folklore, and small‑town libraries—a romantic but inefficient approach. Colin uses a custom search engine that analyzes online behavior, reflecting a modern, data‑driven mindset. The contrast underscores Arthur’s nostalgia and Colin’s pragmatism.
3. How does the chapter blur the line between mythical trolls and online trolls?
Svangur is described as both a creature of folklore (with great strength and a terrible breath) and an internet troll who posts antisemitic conspiracy theories. Colin negotiates with him over web loading speeds, treating him like a service provider. The overlap suggests that the same malicious spirit manifests across different eras.