Of the Word Which Hall-Ward of the Steer Had for Folk-Might explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Sacrifice

  Face-of-god accepts the delay of his wedding for the sake of peace, sacrificing personal desire for the good of the kindred.

• Community and Kinship

  The negotiation between Hall-ward and Folk-might emphasizes the importance of family bonds and the integration of the Sun-beam into the House of the Steer.

• Honor and Oath-Keeping

  Face-of-god reaffirms his oath to wed the Sun-beam, revealing that his vow at Yule was always meant for her.

Characters to notice

• Hall-face

  Present at the oak-tree meeting; comments on his brother's woodcraft.

• Iron-face

  Sits with the chieftains; speaks of the loss of the Bride and questions Face-of-god about his oath.

• Face-of-god

  Present at the meeting; struggles with the delay of his wedding to the Sun-beam.

• Folk-might

  Chief of the Wolf; negotiates with Hall-ward for the Bride and agrees to give the Sun-beam in exchange.

• Sun-beam

  Given as a bride to the House of the Steer; requests Bow-may and the sons of Wood-father as her companions.

• Bow-may

  Leads Hall-ward to the meeting; helps him across the stream; later chosen by the Sun-beam to accompany her.

Key passages

• “Folk-might, chief of the Wolf, since thou wouldst take our maiden the Bride away from us, I ask thee to make good her place with this maiden; so that the House of the Steer may not lack, when they who are wont to wed therein come to us and pray us for a bedfellow for the best of their kindred.”

  Hall-ward asks Folk-might to give the Sun-beam as a bride to the House of the Steer to replace the Bride.

  Hall-ward proposes the exchange of brides to maintain the strength of his house.

• “Gold-mane, wilt thou verily keep thine oath to wed the fairest woman in the world? By how much is this one fairer than my dear daughter who shall no more dwell in mine house?”

  Iron-face questions Face-of-god about his oath to marry the Sun-beam, comparing her to the Bride.

  Iron-face expresses sorrow over losing the Bride and seeks reassurance from his son.

• “Yea, father, I shall keep mine oath; for the Gods, who know much, know that when I swore last Yule I was thinking of the fair woman going yonder beside Hall-ward, and of none other.”

  Face-of-god confirms his oath was always meant for the Sun-beam, not the Bride.

  Face-of-god reveals the true object of his vow, clarifying the misunderstanding.