III: Garin Hears of the Black Ones explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Ancient Wisdom and Technology

  The Folk's advanced machines and knowledge stem from the Ancient Ones, whose legacy is central to the chapter.

• Good Versus Evil

  The Black Ones' cruel experiments and plague contrast with the Folk's civilized society and the hope to rescue Thrala.

• Destiny and Prophecy

  Garin is proclaimed fit to mate with the Daughter, setting him on a prophesied path to rescue Thrala.

Characters to notice

• Captain Garin Featherstone

  Garin undergoes a language lesson, learns of the Folk's history, sees a vision of Thrala, and witnesses the Black Ones' victims.

• Urg

  Urg teaches Garin the Folk's language, explains the Ancient Ones' legacy, and brings him to the Hall of Women.

• Lady Thrala

  Thrala is shown in a vision as the Daughter imprisoned in the Caves of Darkness, and is the subject of the Folk's hope and rescue mission.

• Sera

  Sera reveals Thrala's image in the mirror and identifies herself as Thrala's former handmaiden.

• Kepta

  Kepta is mentioned as the Black Ones' leader who threatens Thrala.

• Ancient Ones

  The Ancient Ones are described as the former rulers of Tav who uplifted the Folk and whose knowledge is now guarded.

Key passages

• “Urg brought the flyer into one of the bubble-shaped rooms which contained a low, cushioned bench facing a metal screen—and here they seated themselves. What followed was a language lesson.”

  Urg takes Garin to a room with a screen for a language lesson.

  Garin begins learning the Folk's language through a technological method.

• “All they knew in the beginning, they had learned from the Ancient Ones, a race unlike themselves, which had preceded them in sovereignty over Tav.”

  The Folk's knowledge originated from the Ancient Ones, an earlier dominant race on Tav.

  Establishes the Ancient Ones as the source of Folk civilization.

• “That was Thrala before the Black Ones took her.”

  Sera shows Garin a vision of Thrala before her capture by the Black Ones.

  Introduces Thrala's imprisonment and the Black Ones as antagonists.

• “Jiv and Betv were captured while on a mission to the Gibi of the Cliff. It seems that the Black Ones needed material for their laboratories. They seek even to give the Daughter to their workers of horror!”

  The Black Ones captured two Folk to use in their experiments and plan to subject Thrala to the same fate.

  Highlights the Black Ones' cruelty and the urgency of Thrala's rescue.