The Roots of the Mountains · Chapter
Hall-Face Goeth Toward Rosedale explained
Face-of-god, Hall-face, and Stone-face debate strategy for the coming conflict.
What happens
Face-of-god, Hall-face, and Stone-face debate strategy for the coming conflict. Hall-face proposes an immediate attack on Rosedale, but Stone-face and Face-of-god counsel caution, advocating instead for a muster and weapon-show before the Great Folk-mote. Hall-face is permitted to lead a small force with Dallach into the wood toward Rosedale. He returns after seven days with rescued runaways but also with losses and wounded. Face-of-god then travels among the Shepherds and Woodlanders, rallying support and finding them eager for the coming fight. The chapter ends with a period of waiting and warding until the Weapon-show.
Themes in this chapter
War and Liberation
The chapter focuses on military strategy, the rescue of thralls, and the preparations for a decisive conflict to free the dales from the Dusky Men.
Community and Kinship
Face-of-god travels to rally the Shepherds and Woodlanders, who express their unity and willingness to live or die with the Burgdalers, emphasizing the bonds of the folk.
Characters to notice
- Face-of-god
Takes counsel with Hall-face and Stone-face, decides against immediate attack on Rosedale, sends Hall-face on a reconnaissance mission, then travels to rally the Shepherds and Woodlanders.
- Hall-face
Proposes attacking Rosedale, is given command of a hundred men and Dallach to scout the wood, returns after seven days with rescued runaways but also with losses and wounded.
- Stone-face
Advises caution against attacking Rosedale, arguing the time is too short and the risk too great.
- Dallach
Agrees to guide Hall-face into the wood, is wounded in the fighting but fights valiantly, and is given a new sword named Thicket-clearer by Iron-face.
- Iron-face
Gives Dallach a new sword named Thicket-clearer.
Key passages
“For we may deem the fighting-men of Rosedale to be little less than one thousand, and however we fall on them, even if it be unawares at first, they shall fight stubbornly; so that we may not send against them many less than they be, and that shall strip Burgdale of its fighting-men, so that whatever befalls, we that be left shall have to bide at home.”
Stone-face argues that attacking Rosedale with a smaller force would leave Burgdale defenseless, as the enemy has nearly a thousand fighters and would resist fiercely.
Stone-face's caution highlights the strategic risk of a premature assault.
“Now my rede is, that we send out the War-arrow at once up and down the Dale, and to the Shepherds and Woodlanders, and appoint a day for the Muster and Weapon-show of all our Folk, and that day to be the day before the Spring Market, that is to say, four days before the Great Folk-mote, and meantime that we keep sure watch about the border of the wood, and now and again scour the wood, so as to clear the Dale of their wandering bands.”
Face-of-god proposes a plan to muster all fighting men for a weapon-show just before the Folk-mote, while maintaining constant vigilance and patrols to clear the woods of enemy scouts.
This plan balances preparation with defense, avoiding a hasty offensive.
“But henceforth would he hold all still till he should have tidings of Folk-might; so nought was done thereafter save the warding of the Dale, from the country of the Shepherds to the Waste above the Eastern passes.”
After Hall-face's return, Face-of-god decides to wait for news from Folk-might and only continues defensive patrols along the Dale's borders.
This marks a shift to a waiting strategy, focusing on defense until more information arrives.