Chapter summaries The Fury of the Gods John Gwynne

Chapter 85: Biórr - The Betrayal of Snaka and Theft of His Heart

⚠️ 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

Biórr kneels before Snaka, the risen maker of the world, and feels his overwhelming presence. Snaka proclaims himself the creator of Rotta and all Tainted. Biórr, exhausted from battle and haunted by Elvar’s words about freeing the Tainted and Ulfrir, confronts Rotta. Rotta admits that Elvar told him but he dismissed it as bluff. Snaka dominates Lik-Rifa publicly, humiliating her into submission. Rotta and Lik-Rifa serve Snaka poisoned meat and mead. Snaka begins to convulse and resists the poison, but Lik-Rifa stabs his hand to the table and Rotta slits his throat, killing him. Rotta rips out Snaka’s heart, intending to eat it, but a tennúr snatches the heart and flies away. More tennúr appear, shouting warnings of Ulfrir. A wolf howls, and Ulfrir’s forces charge from the forest, attacking the camp. The chapter ends with chaos and the collapse of the gods’ plans.

Key Events

  • Biórr kneels before Snaka and feels his suffocating presence.
  • Biórr confronts Rotta about hiding Elvar’s freeing of Ulfrir and the Tainted; Rotta says he did not believe her.
  • Snaka humiliates Lik-Rifa, forcing her to admit she raised him out of fear, not love.
  • Rotta and Lik-Rifa serve Snaka poisoned food and drink.
  • Snaka partly resists the poison, but Lik-Rifa pins his hand with a knife and Rotta cuts his throat, killing him.
  • Rotta rips out Snaka’s heart, but a tennúr steals it mid-air.
  • More tennúr appear, shouting warnings; a wolf howls, and Ulfrir’s forces attack the camp.
  • The camp descends into chaos and battle.

Character Development

  • Biórr: Grows disillusioned and guilt-ridden after learning Rotta knew the truth about Elvar. His exhaustion and unease with Snaka’s presence foreshadow his shifting loyalty.
  • Rotta: Reveals his cunning and long-planned treachery. He despises his father Snaka and uses poisoning and deceit to murder him, then attempts to consume his heart for power.
  • Lik-Rifa: Observed in fear and submission before Snaka, then in snarling vengeance after the betrayal. Her cruelty is matched by her desperation to gain Snaka’s power.
  • Snaka: Arrogant and contemptuous, he underestimates his children. His partial resistance to poison shows his residual godly strength, but it is not enough.
  • Red Fain: Remains loyal but is shocked by Rotta’s betrayal and the unfolding events. He represents the Tainted’s hope now shattered.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Betrayal within family: The murder of a father by his children (Rotta and Lik-Rifa) echoes mythological parricide and highlights the toxic nature of divine power struggles.
  • Poison as deceit: The poisoned meal symbolizes the false hospitality and hidden agendas that run through the alliance.
  • The heart: Snaka’s heart represents the ultimate source of godly power. Its theft by the tennúr denies Rotta and Lik-Rifa their expected victory and shifts the balance.
  • The wolf and the tennúr: The intervention of Ulfrir’s forces (wolves and tennúr) signifies that nature and the free Tainted are now striking back against the gods.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks the shocking and sudden death of Snaka, the primordial creator-god, just after he was resurrected. It dismantles the expectation of a united god-front against Ulfrir and instead reveals Rotta and Lik-Rifa’s selfish ambition. The theft of Snaka’s heart sets up a race for ultimate power and leaves both sides vulnerable. The final charge of Ulfrir’s forces transforms the battlefield into a chaotic three-way conflict, raising the stakes for the remaining characters.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why do Rotta and Lik-Rifa kill Snaka despite raising him from the dead?
    They despise him and never intended to serve him. They believe that by consuming his heart, they will gain his power to defeat Ulfrir themselves. Their act is one of complete treachery, born from centuries of resentment and the desire for absolute control.

  2. What does the theft of Snaka’s heart by the tennúr signify for the rest of the story?
    The theft denies Rotta and Lik-Rifa the godly power they sought, leaving them weakened and vulnerable. It also suggests that Ulfrir or his allies now have access to Snaka’s heart, which could be used either to strengthen the wolf or to perform a ritual that might change the course of the war.

  3. How does Biórr’s perspective shift in this chapter?
    Biórr begins to doubt Rotta’s leadership and the righteousness of their cause. Elvar’s earlier words echo in his mind, and he realizes that Rotta withheld crucial information about the Tainted’s freedom. His unease with Snaka and the brutal murder deepens his internal conflict, setting him up for a potential change of allegiance.

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