The Sundering Flood · Chapter
VI: They Fare to the Cloven Mote explained
On Yule morning, Osberne travels with his grandparents to the Cloven Mote for Christmas mass.
What happens
On Yule morning, Osberne travels with his grandparents to the Cloven Mote for Christmas mass. Along the way, he sees Hartshaw Knolls and feels a premonition about the folk there. At the Mote, his grandmother proudly recounts his wolf-slaying deed, and a stave is sung mocking Surly John. Osberne is paired with a young damsel for the feast, shares sweet speech and a kiss, and the day ends with the parting ceremony.
Themes in this chapter
Community and Kinship
The Mote gathering, shared feasting, and the communal celebration of Osberne's deed highlight the bonds of the Dale-dwellers.
Fate and Destiny
Osberne's premonition about Hartshaw Knolls and his feeling that its folk will enter his life suggest a sense of destined encounters.
Characters to notice
- Osberne Wulfgrimsson
Travels to the Cloven Mote for the first time, feels a premonition about Hartshaw Knolls, is celebrated for his wolf-slaying, and enjoys the feast with a young damsel.
- Surly John
First man encountered at the Mote; listens to the tale of Osberne's deed but responds sourly, and is later mocked in a stave.
- Goodman
Osberne's grandsire; accompanies him to the Mote, lies about the route to avoid a perilous place, and explains about Hartshaw Knolls.
- Dame Anna
Osberne's grandam; insists on coming to the Mote to show off her grandson, and tells the tale of the wolves to Surly John.
Key passages
“And now the days wore away to winter, and ever thereafter might Osberne do what he would, and go where he would, for as little a lad as he was; but he worked with a good will if he were uncompelled, and if he were suffered to wander at whiles as his will drave him.”
As winter approached, young Osberne gained the freedom to go wherever he pleased, yet he willingly worked when not forced and enjoyed wandering as his desires led him.
Describes Osberne's newfound autonomy and his balanced nature between duty and adventure.
“Said Osberne: 'I would we were there a while, for as I look at the stead it seemeth friendly to me, and I fare to feel that the folk thereof shall come into my life some day.'”
Osberne expressed a wish to visit Hartshaw Knolls, feeling a friendly pull and a premonition that its inhabitants would one day be important to him.
Highlights Osberne's intuitive sense of destiny regarding the place.
“And one man made up this stave, which was presently sung all about the Eastern Mote, and went over the water with the tale to the Western one: To run and to fight Are deeds free to the wight, And John tried in battle Had heard the boards rattle, But needed to prove The race back to the stove; So his wightness he showed In way-wearing the road. While Osberne, who knew How the footrace to do, Must try the new game Where the battle-beasts came. Bairn for fight, but for running the strong man and tall, And all folk for the laughter when both are in hall.”
A man composed a verse contrasting Surly John's failed flight from the wolves with Osberne's brave fight, celebrating the boy's courage and mocking John's cowardice.
Illustrates the oral tradition and communal mockery that reinforces social bonds and reputations.
“And this time (and it was dark save for the fires flaring behind them) it was the maid that kissed Osberne; neither needed she, a tall damsel though she was, to stoop much thereto, for right big and tall he was of his years.”
At the parting, the young damsel kissed Osberne in the firelight, and being tall herself, she didn't have to bend far because Osberne was also unusually tall for his age.
Shows Osberne's physical growth and the affectionate conclusion to the feast.