Contents
Chapter 43
Overview
On Goltay’s outskirts, Galva leads a brutal rearguard, suffering heavy attrition but devastating the enemy. She recovers her grandfather’s shield from a Holtish knight, who reports a boy matching Amiel slain. Accepting Amiel’s death, Galva shoulders guilt over the Mouth, hardens herself with the Bride’s path, drink, and killing.
Summary
Outside Goltay’s walls, Galva and the dwindling Raven Knights fight a rearguard to buy time for the army’s flight north. Their birds terrify the biters and help destroy palisade cars; Galva notes their unit’s lethal efficiency but terrible attrition, ending the battle with only thirty riders and fifty-one birds. Her fury earns her the nickname “Lady Hate.”
Galva admits anger is easier than the despair threatening to unmake her. Before the clash, she spots Holtish knights moving to reinforce the western gate and recognizes the springwood and steel of her grandfather’s shield on a Norholter’s back.
She confronts the man—Sir Umbert of Swatlingmoor—demanding an oath on whether he took the shield from a boy like her brother. After she declares her name and claim, describes the Mouth’s boss, and reveals her Calar Bajat tattoo, Umbert yields. He trades her shield for her lanza shield and tells her a boy in orange stockings—matching Amiel—was cut down by spear and axe; Umbert’s party slew the biters and consigned the dead to the river.
Galva turns away in tears, clinging to the faint hope Umbert saw another, yet feeling Amiel’s absence. She recognizes that had Migaéd yielded the Mouth as ordered—or had she or Pol forced the issue—Amiel would not have tried to deliver it and died. Bearing the Mouth again, she presses on, channeling grief into the Bride’s discipline, drink, and killing.
Who Appears
- Galva dom BragaNarrator; leads a brutal rearguard, reclaims the Mouth, learns Amiel likely died, resolves herself in grief.
- Sir Umbert of SwatlingmoorNorholter knight who returns the Mouth; reports a boy in orange stockings slain.
- Nouva (Lanzamachur)Commander urging Galva to formation as the rearguard action begins.
- Amiel dom BragaGalva’s younger brother; presumed killed near Goltay while trying to return the shield.
- MigaédOnce held the Mouth; Galva blames his defiance for Amiel’s fatal errand.
- Pol dom BragaTerce-general and brother; might have ordered the Mouth’s transfer; part of Galva’s regret.
- Roderigu dom BragaFather and duke; would reward Umbert for returning the family’s shield.