Chapter Twenty-Five: Varg – Bloodsworn Stand Against Rurik’s Fleet
⚠️ 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
Varg opens his sea-chest and puts on his ring-mail coat, helm, weapons belt, and sealskin cloak. He fastens the silver arm ring given to him by Glornir. Svik and Røkia jest with him as the Bloodsworn prepare for battle. Their ships (the Sea-Wolf and Sulich’s knarr) have been sailing toward Vigrið, but Rurik’s longships are gaining. Glornir orders the ships lashed together to prevent the enemy from isolating them. Taras and Iva cross to Sulich’s ship, where horses are tethered behind wicker screens. Vol and Iva summon a sea serpent (Sjávarorm), but a rune-wielder on the lead drakkar counters it. Arrows fly both sides. Vol and Iva then create ice-blue rune-circles and launch shards of ice. One shard attacks the enemy’s red runes, freezing and shattering them. The other shard freezes the sea around the drakkar, causing ice to spread over the hull and oars. The longship cracks, splits, and sinks. Varg watches in horrified fascination. Æsa laments that she wants a proper fight, not a magical destruction.
Key Events
- Varg dons his full battle gear, including the silver arm ring from Glornir.
- Svik, Røkia, and the Bloodsworn share grim jokes before the coming fight.
- Glornir announces the decision to stand and fight rather than outrun Rurik’s fleet.
- The Sea-Wolf and Sulich’s knarr are lashed together with ropes.
- Vol and Iva summon a sea serpent, but an enemy rune-wielder dispels it.
- Arrows are exchanged; Sulich’s crew returns fire while the Bloodsworn raise shields.
- Vol and Iva weave a new spell of ice that first breaks the enemy’s red rune barrier and then freezes the sea around the approaching drakkar.
- The frozen drakkar cracks apart and sinks, killing or drowning its crew.
- Varg stares in shock; Æsa expresses disappointment at missing direct combat.
Character Development
- Varg: Continues his transformation from a former thrall into a capable warrior. He asks Svik practical questions about ship tactics (why the ships are lashed together, why rowers are kept on one side), showing his eagerness to learn. His reaction to the ice-spell sinking—horrified yet fascinated, but also unsettled—suggests he still has a moral compass that recoils from wholesale magical slaughter.
- Svik: Acts as a patient mentor, explaining the reasons behind each maneuver. His humour and confidence steady the crew.
- Einar: Takes the champion’s place on the prow, shouting defiance at the enemy. His physical presence and roaring challenge embody the Bloodsworn’s ferocity.
- Vol and Iva: Demonstrate formidable rune-magic, working together in synchronised song to create devastating ice spells. Their power is both awe-inspiring and terrifying; it sways the battle before any swords are crossed.
- Glornir: Shows strategic thinking by lashing the ships together and giving a stirring battle speech, reinforcing his leadership.
- Æsa: Her eagerness for a “good scrap” amidst the magical annihilation highlights the berserker spirit of some Bloodsworn, contrasting with Varg’s more reflective nature.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Unity and Tactical Bonding: The decision to lash the two ships together symbolises the Bloodsworn’s refusal to be divided. They fight as one entity, not as isolated ships.
- Magic as a Double-Edged Sword: The rune-wielders on both sides unleash destructive forces. Varg’s horrified reaction suggests that such power can unsettle even battle-hardened warriors.
- Learning and Adaptation: Varg’s questions about seamanship show that survival depends on constant learning. The Bloodsworn adapt their tactics (lash ships, maintain oar control) to counter enemy numbers.
- The Sea and Ice as Agents of Fate: The sea serpent is summoned and then countered; ice becomes a weapon that freezes not only water but also the enemy’s hope. The frozen drakkar breaking apart echoes the breaking of bonds and the finality of death at sea.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter Thirty punctuates the naval pursuit with a concentrated display of military and magical escalation. It raises the stakes for the Bloodsworn, who now face not only Rurik’s superior numbers but also enemy rune-wielders capable of countering their own sorcery. The destruction of one drakkar delays the enemy and buys time, but it also signals that future engagements will be brutal and unpredictable. Varg’s emotional response to the scene reinforces his character arc: he is becoming a warrior, yet he has not lost his capacity for empathy and wonder. This chapter also sets up the imminent landfall at Vigrið, promising that the real battle is only just beginning.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Glornir order the Sea-Wolf and Sulich’s knarr to be lashed together?
Answer: Glornir anticipates that Rurik’s faster longships will try to separate the two vessels and overwhelm them piecemeal. By lashing them together, the Bloodsworn prevent the enemy from isolating the slower knarr and can present a unified front, making it harder for the attackers to pick them off.
2. How do Vol and Iva overcome the enemy rune-wielder’s red rune barrier?
Answer: They sing in harmony, weaving two separate ice spells. One shard of ice strikes the red rune barrier directly, freezing it until the ice spreads through the runes, cracks, and collapses. The other shard freezes the sea around the drakkar, which then spreads up the hull and oars, eventually causing the ship to shatter and sink.
3. What does Varg’s reaction to the sinking drakkar reveal about his character at this point in the story?
Answer: Varg is both horrified and fascinated. He stares open-mouthed, disturbed by the sheer destructive power of the ice spell. This reveals that despite his growing competence as a fighter and his acceptance of bloodshed, he has not become numb to the slaughter of non-combatants or the awe-inspiring terror of magic. He retains a human empathy that may later inform his choices.