Chapter Thirty-Five: Elvar – Summary and Analysis
⚠️ 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
Elvar stands at the prow of the Wave-Jarl as her fleet—fifty longships and as many knarr—leaves the fjord of Snakavik, heading south along the coast. She feels awe at the size of the war-host, the largest since the Guðfalla. Ulfrir stands at the stern with Skuld, looking back at the skull of his dead father, Snaka. Elvar joins them. Ulfrir tells her that delaying a task does not make it easier, and questions whether she has the qualities to lead a pack. He reveals that he has heard her called "Wolf-Tamer". Skuld reluctantly asks for a favour: a pair of silver-wrought scissors from the treasure taken from Oskutreð, explaining they were her mother’s. Elvar retrieves and gives them to her, suspecting they may have Seiðr-power but trusting the thralling bond.
Elvar then walks to a makeshift room built around the mast, where Grend is bound and guarded by Gytha, Silrið, Uspa, Berak, Sólín Spittle, Hrung, and Hjalmar Peacemaker. Hjalmar explains that he discovered Grend is Tainted with Hundur’s blood after a fight on the dock. Grend killed two of Hjalmar’s men during capture, and three more while being subdued. Hjalmar hands Elvar Grend’s brynja and weapons. Elvar confronts Grend, who only mutters, “I am sorry.” She is furious that after years of being her weapons master, protector, and friend who taught her to speak the truth, he offers nothing else. She orders Silrið to put an iron collar on Grend and speak the rune-binding words, then leaves the room, blinking back tears.
Key Events
- Elvar’s fleet departs Snakavik; she notes the unprecedented size of the war-host.
- Ulfrir and Skuld stand in the stern, observing Snaka’s skull.
- Ulfrir advises Elvar on leadership and uses the epithet “Wolf-Tamer”.
- Skuld asks for her mother’s silver scissors from the treasure; Elvar gives them.
- Elvar enters the makeshift room and hears Hjalmar’s account of Grend’s Tainted nature and the deaths caused during his capture.
- Grend offers only a whispered apology; Elvar orders him collared and bound with runes.
- Elvar exits in distress, hiding her tears.
Character Development
Elvar shows growth as a leader: she considers Ulfrir’s counsel, makes a difficult decision to trust Skuld, and confronts Grend directly despite her personal pain. Her tears at the end reveal she is not entirely hardened, and her emotional conflict over Grend’s deception adds depth.
Grend is revealed as Tainted, a secret he kept for fifteen years. His single word “I am sorry” suggests guilt but also a refusal to explain himself, which deepens Elvar’s sense of betrayal.
Skuld swallows her pride to ask for the scissors, showing vulnerability and attachment to her mother’s memory. Her thanks hint at a softening of her earlier hostility.
Ulfrir continues to mourn Orna, as seen when he snarls about Lik-Rifa’s death. His advice to Elvar reveals his experience as a leader and his respect for her potential.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Deception and Truth: Grend’s hidden Tainted blood versus the code of honesty he taught Elvar. The chapter forces Elvar to question everything she believed.
- Leadership and Hard Choices: Ulfrir’s wolf-pack metaphor emphasizes that a leader must be both strong and cunning, and Elvar must act even when it hurts.
- Symbolism of the Scissors: Skuld’s mother’s scissors represent family, memory, and a tool of creation (forging rune-collars). Elvar returning them shows mercy and respect for the past.
- The Iron Collar: Represents the loss of freedom and the binding of will—a physical manifestation of thralling that contrasts with Elvar’s own thralled status.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter shifts the internal conflict from external enemies to relationships within Elvar’s camp. Grend’s exposure as Tainted raises questions about loyalty, trust, and the nature of the “Tainted” curse. It also deepens Elvar’s character, forcing her to act as a jarl even against a person she once considered a friend. The chapter sets up a personal reckoning that will affect the group’s cohesion as they sail toward Lik-Rifa’s domain. Ulfrir and Skuld’s increased integration into the crew shows Elvar’s growing ability to lead a diverse war-host.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Elvar give Skuld the scissors despite her suspicion of Seiðr-power?
Elvar recognizes Skuld’s pride in asking and trusts that the thralling bond prevents Skuld from using the scissors against her. The act also demonstrates Elvar’s ability to show compassion, which may help build loyalty.
2. How does Ulfrir’s advice about delaying a task apply to Elvar’s confrontation with Grend?
Ulfrir warns that delaying makes a hard task harder. Elvar initially hesitates to face Grend, but when she does, she must make a swift, painful decision. The advice pushes her to act without further procrastination.
3. What effect does Grend’s single word “I am sorry” have on Elvar?
It enrages her because, after years of teaching her to be truthful and never back down, Grend offers only a vague apology with no explanation. Elvar feels deeply betrayed, as his silence destroys the trust and mentorship they shared.