# XXXII: The Men of Shadowy Vale Come to the Spring Market at Burgstead explained — The Roots of the Mountains

> Chapter companion for The Roots of the Mountains by William Morris.

## What happens

The Westland merchants arrive at the Spring Market in Burgstead, setting up colorful booths and trading goods with the Dalesmen. Amidst the bustling fair, the Bride tends to the Runaways, while Face-of-god and the Alderman meet with the merchants and hear tales of the Plain. Suddenly, armed strangers from Shadowy Vale arrive, led by Folk-might and Sun-beam, who are welcomed by the Alderman as friends and guests.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Kinship

The Spring Market brings together Dalesmen, Woodlanders, Shepherds, and Westland merchants in a bustling display of trade and fellowship, while the arrival of the Shadowy Vale folk is met with hospitality and kinship.

### Honor and Oath-Keeping

The Dalesmen's pride in their freedom and their honest dealings with the merchants (who trust their tallies without seeing the beasts) reflect a code of honor and truthfulness.

## Character check-ins

### Face-of-god

Moves among the folk in glorious attire, then joins the Alderman and elders at the Gate, speaking proudly of the Dalesmen's resolve.

### The Bride

In maiden's attire, girt with a sword, she goes from booth to booth with the Runaways, giving them gifts and pleasure.

### Dallach

Still weak from his wounds, he sits on a bench by the House of the Face, watching the fair with pleasure.

### Iron-face

Sits with the elders and the merchant chief, speaking gravely and proudly of the Dalesmen's nature.

### Folk-might

Leads the armed strangers from Shadowy Vale, initially few-spoken and sharp-spoken, struggling with longing and wrath.

### Sun-beam

Arrives with the strangers from Shadowy Vale, noted as one of the guests welcomed by the Alderman.

## Key lines

> But, quoth he, I know you, bold tillers of the soil, valiant scourers of the Wildwood, that the worst that can befall you will be to die under shield, and that ye shall suffer no torment of the thrall.

The merchant praises the Dalesmen as brave farmers and woodsmen, assuring them that they will only die in battle and never endure slavery.

_The merchant flatters the Dalesmen, contrasting their free warrior spirit with the fate of thralls._

> Yea, father, said Face-of-god, I say that the very Gods, though they slay me, cannot unmake my life that has been. If they do deeds, yet shall we also do.

Face-of-god declares that even the Gods cannot erase his past, and that whatever the Gods do, he and his people will also act.

_Face-of-god asserts the Dalesmen's agency and pride in the face of divine power._

> True it was that every man of the Dale and the neighbours was girt with his sword, or bore spear or axe or other weapon in his hand, and that most had their bucklers at their backs and their helms on their heads; but this was ever their custom at all meetings of men, not because they dreaded war or were fain of strife, but in token that they were free men, from whom none should take the weapons without battle.

Every Dalesman carried weapons at the market, not out of fear or love of conflict, but as a symbol of their freedom and readiness to defend it.

_The Dalesmen's constant bearing of arms is a cultural marker of liberty, not aggression._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se/chapters/xxxii-the-men-of-shadowy-vale-come-to-the-spring-market-at-burgstead
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_roots_of_the_mountains_se
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