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i_read_whatSo last time, Wulfgar's father was the luckiest shit alive, Drizzt has a Gary Stu's direction sense, Wulfgar talks politely to a dragon, then they kill it dead. Fun times.
So the chapter starts with a groggy Wulfgar regaining consciousness. He's under a blanket that he doesn't remember bringing, and there's a dead dragon with a giant icicle in its back nearby. Because we can't not praise Drizzt, Wulfgar gawks at how accurate Drizzt's archery was, even with the glove of darkness.
Wulfgar goes to find Drizzt, who is using Aegis-Fang to whack some treasure out of some ice. Drizzt greets him with "Dragon's Bane" and Wulfgar is very happy to see him. Drizzt references their competition and they agree to split the credit for the dragon kill. Wulfgar also offers half of the treasure, but Drizzt is happy with a few baubles and a nifty silver, diamond-edged scimitar.
Now that I think about it, I remember that in later books, Drizzt possesses a non-matching set of magic scimitars: Twinkle and Icingdeath. This is clearly where he got Icingdeath. Fair enough. He rolled lucky on the loot table.
We're told that even before they fought the dragon, Wulfgar had been wondering how to get out. Wait. I mean, Wulfgar FOUND the dragon because of very specific instructions from his dad. His dad didn't tell him how to escape?
But anyway, the current is too strong, the ledge is too high, and Wulfgar is out of deer blubber. Fortunately, he has Drizzt in with him and there's no way that Salvatore is going to let Forgotten Realm's biggest cash cow freeze to death in a cave before he ever becomes popular. He apparently, at some point, had already discovered an escape route.
Actually, to be fair, this does make sense: the icicle had taken some of the ceiling with it. Drizzt has a grapple and cord. Wulfgar is too exhausted and cold to throw it, at first, but Drizzt yells at him to run and get his body warm. He does, and manages to throw the grapple. He collects a bag of riches and "some other items he knew he would need". (Translation: contrivances for later deus ex machinae). They ascend, and camp beside Evermelt.
Soon they're off, running side by side west, for two days, until they find the trails of the gathering barbarians. They split up here, with an emotional goodbye. After Drizzt leaves, Wulfgar "put[s] aside the urgency of his mission to pause and ponder his emotions". That seems fair. And healthy. Well done, Wulfgar. Anyway, five years ago, he was with the barbarian tribes, and he had a very different view of battle. Wulfgar refers to it now as "innocent savagery". He's learned from Bruenor and Drizzt, and has had to face the brutal consequences of his actions. He's disgusted by the thought that his people might attack the Ten Towns again, and that they're teamed with giants and goblins to do it.
The Barbarians haven't completely recovered in ten tears: there's no swanky mead hall or Hengorot. Just small tents. Wulfgar approaches and introduces himself to the guards. He explains where he was, carefully, because apparently the barbarians do not discuss subjects like defeat. That...seems shortsighted.
Fortunately, the guard knew Wulfgar's dad, Beornegar, and recognizes him, bringing him to the central camp. Rather than go inside, Wulfgar stands outside and issues his challenge. His self-introduction is pretty swanky:
"But Wulfgar matched Heafstaag's dangerous stare and did not back away an inch. 'I am Wulfgar,' he proclaimed proudly, 'son of Beornegar, son of Beorne before him; warrior of the Tribe of the Elk, who fought at the Battle of Bryn Shander; wielder of Aegis-fang, the Giant Foe,' he held the great hammer high before him, 'friend to dwarven craftsmen and student to a ranger of Gwaeron Windstrom; giantkiller and lair-invader; slayer of the frost giant chieftain, Biggrin," he paused for a moment, his eyes squinted by a spreading smile, heightening the anticipation of his next proclamation. When he was satisfied that he held the crowd's fullest attention, he continued, 'I am Wulfgar, Dragon's bane!'"
Apparently no living man on the tundra can claim such a "lofty title". Heafstaag tries to bring up Wulfgar's lack of lineage. Wulfgar shouts accusations back about following a wizard's command and allying with goblins and orcs."
The guard friend, who's name is Revjak, breaks in, pointing out that Wulfgar hasn't yet justified his right to make his challenge, which is part of the rite. Wulfgar notices that Revjak seems excited, and interfered more to prevent less formal fisticuffs.
Wulfgar says "by deed" and produces two spear like objects (told you), the horns of Icingdeath. Say what you will about our boy, he knows how to issue a challenge. It's no Thu'um, but there you go.
So we get to the challenge, it's suitably dramatic, but of course it boils down to trial by combat. In a nice bit of full circle, Wulfgar notes Heafstaag's impatience. Unfortunately, Mr. Salvatore doesn't trust us to pick up on the parallel, and has Wulfgar think specifically about his lessons from Drizzt.
The fight is a fight, and thus not interesting to recap. Though we're told that compared to Drizzt's "whirring blades", Heafstaag's axe seems very slow. Wulfgar thinks of more wise words from Drizzt. Wulfgar gets Heafstaag disarmed and remembers more wise words from Drizzt, a scolding that we didn't see after Icingdeath, "Never confuse honor with stupidity!".
But Wulfgar wants to make an impression, so he drops Aegis-fang, and approaches Heafstaag on even terms. They grapple. Wulfgar thinks of wise words from Bruenor this time, telling him to think of the weasel.
It occurs to me that I think this story would have had a lot more emotional impact if we didn't just skip the five years between Wulfgar's capture and now. Bruenor and Wulfgar SHOULD be a very powerful relationship. Bruenor is captor, role model and surrogate father. But we don't really get to see that. Instead we get a lot of mixed messages through the indentured servitude. (More flashbacks might have given us a chance to see Bruenor as more of the father figure he's clearly supposed to be, and made it clear that the indentured servitude is more of a masquerade for the boy's benefit.
Anyway, Wulfgar wins by squishing Heafstaag's skull. This is where Revjak should have declared Wulfgar king, but instead he's standing unblinking, jaw open. Hm. Shock? Or mind control?
Meanwhile, Drizzt is heading back, only to see Caer-Konig and Caer-Dinavel burning. End of chapter.
Wow, Wulfgar is really effective when he puts his mind to it. From dragon-slayer to barbarian king in one chapter! But I am starting to get a little bit annoyed by how Wulfgar can't have his triumph without Drizzt being a part of it, even if Drizzt isn't actually there. I've said before that I do actually understand why Drizzt overtook Wulfgar as lead of the series. But it certainly doesn't help that Mr. Salvatore stacked the deck.
So the chapter starts with a groggy Wulfgar regaining consciousness. He's under a blanket that he doesn't remember bringing, and there's a dead dragon with a giant icicle in its back nearby. Because we can't not praise Drizzt, Wulfgar gawks at how accurate Drizzt's archery was, even with the glove of darkness.
Wulfgar goes to find Drizzt, who is using Aegis-Fang to whack some treasure out of some ice. Drizzt greets him with "Dragon's Bane" and Wulfgar is very happy to see him. Drizzt references their competition and they agree to split the credit for the dragon kill. Wulfgar also offers half of the treasure, but Drizzt is happy with a few baubles and a nifty silver, diamond-edged scimitar.
Now that I think about it, I remember that in later books, Drizzt possesses a non-matching set of magic scimitars: Twinkle and Icingdeath. This is clearly where he got Icingdeath. Fair enough. He rolled lucky on the loot table.
We're told that even before they fought the dragon, Wulfgar had been wondering how to get out. Wait. I mean, Wulfgar FOUND the dragon because of very specific instructions from his dad. His dad didn't tell him how to escape?
But anyway, the current is too strong, the ledge is too high, and Wulfgar is out of deer blubber. Fortunately, he has Drizzt in with him and there's no way that Salvatore is going to let Forgotten Realm's biggest cash cow freeze to death in a cave before he ever becomes popular. He apparently, at some point, had already discovered an escape route.
Actually, to be fair, this does make sense: the icicle had taken some of the ceiling with it. Drizzt has a grapple and cord. Wulfgar is too exhausted and cold to throw it, at first, but Drizzt yells at him to run and get his body warm. He does, and manages to throw the grapple. He collects a bag of riches and "some other items he knew he would need". (Translation: contrivances for later deus ex machinae). They ascend, and camp beside Evermelt.
Soon they're off, running side by side west, for two days, until they find the trails of the gathering barbarians. They split up here, with an emotional goodbye. After Drizzt leaves, Wulfgar "put[s] aside the urgency of his mission to pause and ponder his emotions". That seems fair. And healthy. Well done, Wulfgar. Anyway, five years ago, he was with the barbarian tribes, and he had a very different view of battle. Wulfgar refers to it now as "innocent savagery". He's learned from Bruenor and Drizzt, and has had to face the brutal consequences of his actions. He's disgusted by the thought that his people might attack the Ten Towns again, and that they're teamed with giants and goblins to do it.
The Barbarians haven't completely recovered in ten tears: there's no swanky mead hall or Hengorot. Just small tents. Wulfgar approaches and introduces himself to the guards. He explains where he was, carefully, because apparently the barbarians do not discuss subjects like defeat. That...seems shortsighted.
Fortunately, the guard knew Wulfgar's dad, Beornegar, and recognizes him, bringing him to the central camp. Rather than go inside, Wulfgar stands outside and issues his challenge. His self-introduction is pretty swanky:
"But Wulfgar matched Heafstaag's dangerous stare and did not back away an inch. 'I am Wulfgar,' he proclaimed proudly, 'son of Beornegar, son of Beorne before him; warrior of the Tribe of the Elk, who fought at the Battle of Bryn Shander; wielder of Aegis-fang, the Giant Foe,' he held the great hammer high before him, 'friend to dwarven craftsmen and student to a ranger of Gwaeron Windstrom; giantkiller and lair-invader; slayer of the frost giant chieftain, Biggrin," he paused for a moment, his eyes squinted by a spreading smile, heightening the anticipation of his next proclamation. When he was satisfied that he held the crowd's fullest attention, he continued, 'I am Wulfgar, Dragon's bane!'"
Apparently no living man on the tundra can claim such a "lofty title". Heafstaag tries to bring up Wulfgar's lack of lineage. Wulfgar shouts accusations back about following a wizard's command and allying with goblins and orcs."
The guard friend, who's name is Revjak, breaks in, pointing out that Wulfgar hasn't yet justified his right to make his challenge, which is part of the rite. Wulfgar notices that Revjak seems excited, and interfered more to prevent less formal fisticuffs.
Wulfgar says "by deed" and produces two spear like objects (told you), the horns of Icingdeath. Say what you will about our boy, he knows how to issue a challenge. It's no Thu'um, but there you go.
So we get to the challenge, it's suitably dramatic, but of course it boils down to trial by combat. In a nice bit of full circle, Wulfgar notes Heafstaag's impatience. Unfortunately, Mr. Salvatore doesn't trust us to pick up on the parallel, and has Wulfgar think specifically about his lessons from Drizzt.
The fight is a fight, and thus not interesting to recap. Though we're told that compared to Drizzt's "whirring blades", Heafstaag's axe seems very slow. Wulfgar thinks of more wise words from Drizzt. Wulfgar gets Heafstaag disarmed and remembers more wise words from Drizzt, a scolding that we didn't see after Icingdeath, "Never confuse honor with stupidity!".
But Wulfgar wants to make an impression, so he drops Aegis-fang, and approaches Heafstaag on even terms. They grapple. Wulfgar thinks of wise words from Bruenor this time, telling him to think of the weasel.
It occurs to me that I think this story would have had a lot more emotional impact if we didn't just skip the five years between Wulfgar's capture and now. Bruenor and Wulfgar SHOULD be a very powerful relationship. Bruenor is captor, role model and surrogate father. But we don't really get to see that. Instead we get a lot of mixed messages through the indentured servitude. (More flashbacks might have given us a chance to see Bruenor as more of the father figure he's clearly supposed to be, and made it clear that the indentured servitude is more of a masquerade for the boy's benefit.
Anyway, Wulfgar wins by squishing Heafstaag's skull. This is where Revjak should have declared Wulfgar king, but instead he's standing unblinking, jaw open. Hm. Shock? Or mind control?
Meanwhile, Drizzt is heading back, only to see Caer-Konig and Caer-Dinavel burning. End of chapter.
Wow, Wulfgar is really effective when he puts his mind to it. From dragon-slayer to barbarian king in one chapter! But I am starting to get a little bit annoyed by how Wulfgar can't have his triumph without Drizzt being a part of it, even if Drizzt isn't actually there. I've said before that I do actually understand why Drizzt overtook Wulfgar as lead of the series. But it certainly doesn't help that Mr. Salvatore stacked the deck.