XL: They Ride Toward Utterness from Out of Vale Turris explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Home and Wandering

  Ralph and his company travel through unfamiliar terrain, highlighting the theme of wandering away from home.

• Power and Tyranny

  The Lord of Utterbol's presence and the cryptic warnings about the Queen suggest underlying power dynamics and potential tyranny.

Characters to notice

• Ralph of Upmeads

  Rides with David, observes the Lord's company, and mistakes a woman for the Queen.

• The Sage of Swevenham

  David guides Ralph, advises him to press on but not outgo the Queen's people, and cryptically warns him about certain matters.

• Otter

  Leads a band of men-at-arms galloping past Ralph and David.

• The Lord of Utterbol

  Rides on his black steed with a woman on a white palfrey, passing Ralph and David.

Key passages

• “So they rode by a good highway, well beaten, past the Tower and over the ridge of the valley, and came full upon the terrible sight of the Great Mountains, and the sea of woodland lay before them, swelling and falling, and swelling again, till it broke grey against the dark blue of the mountain wall.”

  They traveled along a well-used road, passing the Tower and crossing the valley ridge, and suddenly saw the imposing Great Mountains and a vast forest that rose and fell like waves until it met the dark blue mountain wall.

  Describes the landscape as they leave the Vale of the Tower.

• “But as the afternoon was drawing toward evening they heard great noise of horns behind them, and the sound of horses galloping.”

  As late afternoon approached, they heard loud horns and galloping horses behind them.

  Signals the approach of the Lord's company.

• “Sir Knight, there be matters whereof we servants of my Lord say little or nothing, and thou wert best to do the like.”

  Sir Knight, there are things we servants of my Lord rarely discuss, and you should follow suit.

  David's cryptic warning to Ralph about not speaking of certain matters.