Guðvarr: The Cowardly Schemer in The Fury of the Gods

Overview

Guðvarr is a cunning but cowardly drengr in John Gwynne’s The Fury of the Gods, the final volume of the Bloodsworn saga. From the outset, he is driven by ambition and self-preservation, willing to align himself with the dragon-god Lik-Rifa to climb the ladder of power. Yet beneath his schemes lies a deep‑rooted fear of violence and death, which ultimately unravels his pretence of courage. His arc is a stark study in the gap between aspiration and action: he repeatedly tries to talk himself into bravery but flees when tested. His story ends not in glory but in ignominious execution at the hands of Lif, a fisherman seeking vengeance for his murdered family.

For the broader context of the war between gods and mortals, see the main book page.

Plot Role

Guðvarr first appears as a servant of Jarl Skalk and Queen Helka in Darl, but he quickly betrays them to Lik-Rifa, hoping to secure a place in the new order. In The Fury of the Gods he serves as a point‑of‑view character, offering a window into Lik‑Rifa’s war‑host and the internal politics of the dragon‑cult. He is tasked with hunting down the exiled Queen Estrid and the Galdurman Skalk, a mission that forces him into the dangerous Jarnvidr forest. Later he fights at the siege of Wolfdales, but his courage fails him in the final battle. His role is to illustrate how fear and ambition can make a person complicit in evil without ever granting them the strength to face its consequences.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Guðvarr’s primary motivation is self‑advancement. He craves status, wealth, and safety—ideally without having to risk his life. He allies with Lik‑Rifa because he believes she will win, and he hopes to benefit from her victory. Yet every time he is thrust into danger, his cowardice overrides his ambition. In the Jarnvidr, he trembles at the sight of ash trees, haunted by the memory of a Froa‑spirit. During the assault on Wolfdales, he freezes when the shield wall crumbles, then abandons his wounded aunt Sigrún to save himself. His internal monologue is a constant battle between self‑encouragement (“master your fear”) and sheer terror.

He is also manipulative and untrustworthy. He betrays Skalk and Helka without hesitation, and later he lies to Sigrún about his wounds to avoid further combat. His loyalty is transactional: he stays with Sigrún only as long as she protects him. He has no qualms about killing (he murders Estrid while she is wounded), but he will only strike when the odds are overwhelmingly in his favour.

Chronological Arc

1. Early chapters (Ch. 2, 8, 18, 20, 31, 34): Guðvarr wakes from nightmares about the hyrndur, his scar peeling. He travels with Sigrún, trying to stay useful to Lik‑Rifa. He is terrified of the dragon‑god but inwardly corrects her mispronunciation of his name—a small act of defiance that hints at his wounded pride. He joins the hunt for Estrid, guided by the traitor Skapti, and barely survives a Froa attack and a faunir ambush.

2. Mid story (Ch. 55, 57): Lik‑Rifa’s war‑host reaches Wolfdales. Guðvarr is awed by the scale of the battle but immediately feels the urge to flee. He sees Rotta and Biórr slip into the forest on a secret mission. When Sigrún orders him to join the assault on the fortress, he is paralysed with fear, though he eventually follows.

3. Climactic battle (Ch. 82): The Battle‑Grim charge through Lik‑Rifa’s camp. Guðvarr’s shield is splintered by a red‑haired axe‑man. He hides under his shield, then crawls to his aunt, who is wounded. After a moment of hesitation he leaves her, deciding that his own survival matters more. As he heads for the treeline, Lif confronts him.

4. Death (Ch. 85): Lif executes Guðvarr with an axe, avenging the murder of his father (killed in a holmganga) and his brother (stabbed while chained). Guðvarr offers his gear as payment, but Lif refuses—he wants his family back, not silver. The chapter ends with Guðvarr’s death, a final judgement on his life of cowardly scheming.

Relationships

• Jarl Sigrún (aunt): She is his protector and the only person who consistently believes in him. She teaches him that courage is a response to fear, not its absence. Yet Guðvarr ultimately betrays her, leaving her to die on the battlefield. Their relationship shows that his love for her is weaker than his self‑interest.
• Lik‑Rifa: He serves her out of fear and ambition. He never earns her respect; she barely remembers his name. Their dynamic illustrates how the powerful use and discard the weak.
• Lif the fisherman: Lif represents the consequences of Guðvarr’s past cruelties. Guðvarr killed Lif’s father in a rigged duel and later stabbed his brother while he was chained. These acts return to haunt him, and he cannot talk or bribe his way out of the reckoning.
• Skapti: A former captain who becomes a guide. Guðvarr distrusts him but uses him. Skapti’s cynicism mirrors Guðvarr’s own self‑serving nature, yet Skapti is bolder and ends up surviving longer.
• Krúsa: A skraeling leader forced to serve Lik‑Rifa. She fights fiercely but is killed defending Sigrún in the same battle where Guðvarr flees. Her loyalty contrasts sharply with his cowardice.

Key Decisions and Consequences

His decisions consistently prioritise short‑term safety over loyalty, honour, or long‑term survival. The final decision to run seals his fate.

Theme and Symbol Connections

• Vengeance and Blood Feuds: Guðvarr is both perpetrator and victim of vengeance. He kills Estrid to prove his worth to Lik‑Rifa, but he himself is killed by Lif in a act of blood‑debt. His story shows that the cycle of violence spares no one who participates in it. See the vengeance and blood feuds analysis.
• Freedom vs. Thralldom: Guðvarr is technically free, but his fear makes him a thrall to Lik‑Rifa and to his own cowardice. He never escapes that servitude. Explore the freedom vs. thralldom theme.
• Loyalty and Betrayal: He betrays everyone who trusts him—Skalk, Helka, and finally Sigrún. His arc warns that a person who treats loyalty as a commodity will end up alone. Read more about loyalty and betrayal.
• Gods and Mortals: Guðvarr’s interactions with Lik‑Rifa show how mortals can be crushed by the ambitions of gods. He is a pawn, never a player. See gods and mortals.
• Sacrifice and Redemption: Guðvarr makes no sacrifice and earns no redemption. His death is simply an execution, not a redeeming moment. His lack of growth contrasts with characters like Varg or Orka, who find purpose. Further discussion at sacrifice and redemption.

Questions and Answers

1. Why does Guðvarr ally with Lik‑Rifa?
   He sees it as the quickest path to power and safety. He believes the dragon‑god will win the war, so he betrays his previous masters to gain favour. His decision is driven entirely by pragmatism and self‑preservation.

2. What is the significance of his scar from the hyrndur?
   The scar is a physical reminder of the terror he experienced in The Shadow of the Gods. It haunts his dreams and symbolises his inability to escape his own fear. He picks at the scar, literally and figuratively reopening old wounds.

3. How does his relationship with Sigrún define his arc?
   Sigrún offers him unconditional support and tries to teach him courage. His decision to abandon her marks the point of no return. It proves that he will never overcome his cowardice, and it severs his last meaningful human bond.

4. What leads to his death?
   After abandoning Sigrún, he meets Lif, whose father and brother Guðvarr murdered earlier. Lif ignores his pleas and bargains, executing him with an axe. The death is a direct consequence of his past crimes and his choice to run from responsibility.

5. Does Guðvarr experience any redemption?
   No. Unlike characters such as Varg or Orka, Guðvarr never performs a selfless act or faces his fear with genuine courage. He dies as he lived: scheming, terrified, and alone. His story serves as a cautionary counterpoint to the themes of sacrifice and redemption explored elsewhere in the novel.

For more on the book’s ending and implications, visit the ending explained and questions and answers pages.