# XVIII: War! Red War explained — Allan Quatermain > Chapter companion for Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard. ## What happens Umslopogaas reports Sorais's attempt to murder Nyleptha. Sir Henry initially blames Good for letting Sorais escape, but Allan defends him. A comedic scene follows where Umslopogaas punishes Alphonse by thrusting him into a thorn bush. In a public assembly, Sorais declares war after Nyleptha publicly betroths herself to Sir Henry by placing a golden snake around his neck. The first blood is spilled when Umslopogaas kills a soldier who tries to defect to Sorais. Sorais flees to her fortress at M'Arstuna, and the city prepares for war. ## Themes in this chapter ### Power and Politics Sorais declares war after losing the political and romantic contest for Sir Henry, leading to a split in the kingdom. ### Love and Jealousy Nyleptha's public betrothal to Sir Henry incites Sorais's jealous rage and declaration of war. ### Friendship and Loyalty Allan defends Good against Sir Henry's accusations, highlighting the tension between loyalty and moral judgment. ## Character check-ins ### Umslopogaas Reports Sorais's assassination attempt, punishes Alphonse by thrusting him into a thorn bush, and kills the first soldier in the war. ### Sir Henry Curtis Initially angry at Good for letting Sorais escape, but later acknowledges his own weakness. Publicly betrothed to Nyleptha. ### Allan Quatermain Defends Good's actions, reflects on the danger of becoming a woman's tool, and witnesses the declaration of war. ### Sorais Declares war after Nyleptha's public betrothal, threatens Good, and flees to M'Arstuna. ### Nyleptha Publicly betroths herself to Sir Henry by placing a golden snake around his neck, defying Sorais and winning the crowd's support. ### Captain Good Blamed by Sir Henry for letting Sorais escape; Sorais threatens him with unrequited love. ### Alphonse Comically punished by Umslopogaas by being thrust into a thorn bush. ## Key lines > A foul and wicked murder had been attempted, and he had let the murderess escape, and thereby, among other things, allowed her to gain a complete ascendency over himself. In fact, he was in a fair way to become her tool—and no more dreadful fate can befall a man than to become the tool of an unscrupulous woman, or indeed of any woman. Good allowed Sorais to escape after her attempted murder, giving her power over him; Allan reflects that being used by a ruthless woman is one of the worst fates for a man. _Allan's internal commentary on Good's vulnerability and the danger of manipulation._ > Up she rose, and descending from the throne, swept in all the glory of her royal grace on to where her lover stood. There she stopped and untwined the golden snake that was wound around her arm. Then she bade him kneel, and he dropped on one knee on the marble before her; and next, taking the golden snake with both her hands, she bent the pure soft metal round his neck, and when it was fast, deliberately kissed him on the brow and called him her 'dear lord.' Nyleptha descended from her throne, removed a golden snake bracelet, placed it around Sir Henry's neck as a betrothal token, and kissed his forehead, declaring him her lord. _Nyleptha's bold public betrothal to Sir Henry, defying Sorais and tradition._ > War! war! war! she cried. 'Here, with my hand upon the sacred stone that shall endure, so runs the prophecy, till the Zu-Vendi set their necks beneath an alien yoke, I declare war to the end.' Sorais declared war, swearing on a sacred stone that the Zu-Vendi would never submit to foreign rule. _Sorais's formal declaration of war, invoking prophecy and national pride._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters/xviii-war-red-war - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/allan_quatermain_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/allan_quatermain_se/chapters