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i_read_whatSo last time, Drizzt fought a demon with a magic scimitar. As one does. This time, we rejoin Wulfgar, who's got his issues.
So as you might recall, Wulfgar is now king of the Barbarians. He doesn't intend to have a very long reign, but he does intend to be a fair king which means restoring some of the old traditions that Heafstaag discarded and putting up with some pomp and circumstance.
I feel like the idea that Heafstaag was a tyrant who discarded tradition left and right is something that we should have heard before this. It really doesn't seem to mesh with the dude we saw at the beginning of the book. Remember all those greeting songs? And if this was a change that happened after the original Ten Towns debacle, then that would have been worth noting. Perhaps it's because of Akar Kessell's control? That would have been worth noting too, since it'd be one thing that dick actually accomplished.
Still, I don't want to complain too much because this is a Wulfgar chapter. And I am tickled pink seeing Wulfgar being a good king. And so far he seems to be. Though he really really wants to get going, because he knows Kessell's army will strike soon. And if you recall, the barbarians are actually supposed to be a part of that.
There is a great line here: "He only hoped that in the frenzy of pre-battle preparations, Kessell would overlook the absence of the barbarian king, Heafstaag. If the wizard was at all sharp, it wasn't likely."
I don't think you have anything to worry about, Wulfgar.
So there are festivities and competitions, and eventually Wulfgar sees his chance: he takes part in an axe throwing competition, using Aegis-fang. Which seems kind of like cheating, but everyone wants to see the hammer in action, so no one seems to mind. Wulfgar orders a number of kegs of mead to be stacked in a row. This also seems like a waste of mead, but again, no one seems to mind. So Wulfgar not only smashes the shit out of those kegs, the stools they're on, and a wall of the mead hall with one throw.
He follows this up with a great speech about how Heafgaar sucks and he wants to lead them back to honor. His people like this very much. They haven't been happy with Heafgaar's decisions, especially the whole allying with goblins and giants.
I wish we got a better idea of exactly how Creshinibon's mind control works. Does it just target the leader? Because I feel like this should not be quite so easy. Happily, the barbarians are not being mind controlled. They're a little hesitant about Wulfgar's plan to assist the Ten Towns, (and Wulfgar gets a disappointment to learn the attack's already started), but they get on board when he promises those who follow him, (or their surviving kin) a share of Icingdeath's treasure. Apparently not a single man remained behind.
It's a short chapter, but a fun one. And next time, we go back to the Ten Towns to see what's going on there. Maybe Kemp will die. One can only hope.
So as you might recall, Wulfgar is now king of the Barbarians. He doesn't intend to have a very long reign, but he does intend to be a fair king which means restoring some of the old traditions that Heafstaag discarded and putting up with some pomp and circumstance.
I feel like the idea that Heafstaag was a tyrant who discarded tradition left and right is something that we should have heard before this. It really doesn't seem to mesh with the dude we saw at the beginning of the book. Remember all those greeting songs? And if this was a change that happened after the original Ten Towns debacle, then that would have been worth noting. Perhaps it's because of Akar Kessell's control? That would have been worth noting too, since it'd be one thing that dick actually accomplished.
Still, I don't want to complain too much because this is a Wulfgar chapter. And I am tickled pink seeing Wulfgar being a good king. And so far he seems to be. Though he really really wants to get going, because he knows Kessell's army will strike soon. And if you recall, the barbarians are actually supposed to be a part of that.
There is a great line here: "He only hoped that in the frenzy of pre-battle preparations, Kessell would overlook the absence of the barbarian king, Heafstaag. If the wizard was at all sharp, it wasn't likely."
I don't think you have anything to worry about, Wulfgar.
So there are festivities and competitions, and eventually Wulfgar sees his chance: he takes part in an axe throwing competition, using Aegis-fang. Which seems kind of like cheating, but everyone wants to see the hammer in action, so no one seems to mind. Wulfgar orders a number of kegs of mead to be stacked in a row. This also seems like a waste of mead, but again, no one seems to mind. So Wulfgar not only smashes the shit out of those kegs, the stools they're on, and a wall of the mead hall with one throw.
He follows this up with a great speech about how Heafgaar sucks and he wants to lead them back to honor. His people like this very much. They haven't been happy with Heafgaar's decisions, especially the whole allying with goblins and giants.
I wish we got a better idea of exactly how Creshinibon's mind control works. Does it just target the leader? Because I feel like this should not be quite so easy. Happily, the barbarians are not being mind controlled. They're a little hesitant about Wulfgar's plan to assist the Ten Towns, (and Wulfgar gets a disappointment to learn the attack's already started), but they get on board when he promises those who follow him, (or their surviving kin) a share of Icingdeath's treasure. Apparently not a single man remained behind.
It's a short chapter, but a fun one. And next time, we go back to the Ten Towns to see what's going on there. Maybe Kemp will die. One can only hope.