VI: The Dane-King's Daughter explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Power and Ambition

  Styrbiorn's lust for power and his sense of mastery over King Harald drive the conflict.

• Loyalty and Betrayal

  Thyri's secret warning to Biorn, asking him not to tell Styrbiorn, explores themes of loyalty and hidden agendas.

Characters to notice

• Styrbiorn the Strong

  Feels power over King Harald, reacts angrily to being urged to leave, and departs with a threat.

• Harald Gormson

  Fears and hates Styrbiorn, tries to persuade him to leave, and later reconciles with gifts.

• Biorn the Brisk

  Acts as mediator between Styrbiorn and King Harald, and receives a secret warning from Thyri.

• Thyri

  Secretly warns Biorn of danger, reveals her father's suspicions and plans for her marriage to King Burisleif.

• Bessi Thorlakson

  Helps smooth relations between Styrbiorn and King Harald.

Key passages

• “And he knew in his bones that it was the look of a man that seeth and knoweth his master, and feareth him and hateth him for his mastery and hateth his own little strength.”

  Styrbiorn realized King Harald saw him as a master he feared and hated, resenting his own weakness.

  Styrbiorn's perception of the King's fear and hatred.

• “When I come again, I will show thee and thy Danes if I be a man slow to take mine own or not.”

  Styrbiorn threatens to prove his decisiveness upon his return.

  Styrbiorn's defiant response to the King's suggestion.

• “The King my father thinketh there is somewhat between me and Styrbiorn. 'Tis foolish, but I have marked him, and I know. There's danger in it.”

  Thyri confides that her father suspects a relationship between her and Styrbiorn, which she believes is dangerous.

  Thyri's warning to Biorn about her father's suspicions.