Silver Hammer, Golden Cross Trivia Quiz

Answer: Raedwulf

Ælfwyn thinks that had she met him instead of Gyric, perhaps she would have fallen in love with Raedwulf instead. Now that Ælfwyn is officially separated from Sidroc, she may marry again, and Raedwulf seems to want to either take advantage of this fact to marry her or at least tell her how he feels. This plot thread is left open in this book.

Answer: Hrald cuts Ceric's arm.

Sidroc tells them they could end up scarred like him if they do that, and he is correct. He jests in referring to his own scarring, as we find out in the next book, "Sidroc the Dane", that the fight that maimed him was not in fun.

When they spar, they keep their swords sheathed, but Hrald's becomes worn away at the tip, accidentally slicing Ceric. In a type of penance, Hrald immediately slices his arm in the same place.

Answer: Ashild and Ceric

Both Yrling and Gyric never removed their necklaces while they lived. Now, their children wear them in memory. Ashild never knew Yrling and owned the hammer before beginning to wear it next to her cross. I thought that Gyric was buried wearing the cross Ælfred gave him, as it was described in "The Claiming" that he was laid out for burial wearing the necklace, but Ceric now has the cross. Either it was removed directly before his internment or this is a continuity error (I prefer to think it is the former).

Answer: Her weight in silver

Ashild thinks this is crude, clever, and something her father would have done. Hrald offers fifty horses as her dowry, imagining he is in a saga. It is as if nobody thinks that real humans with feelings are involved here and conceive of everything in grand terms to be recounted later. I want to know where the scale is that will determine her weight.

Answer: A braid of her hair

She braids a small section of her hair and makes it into a necklace for him to wear, as if to protect him. He discovers it on the ship. This section crushed me--Sidroc gave up everything he had for a chance to be with her, and now he feels he must leave her for a time.

He even risks angering Tyr, as he vowed that Godwin would be the last person he killed, and he fears that he must kill again to protect his and Ceridwen's children.

Answer: She is pregnant.

With all their passion, I have to wonder how she was never pregnant again for about ten years, though a similar thing happened with Gyric: she became pregnant immediately following the wedding but did not conceive with him again for several years. Sidroc will have quite a pleasant surprise when he returns (or should I say if...as of writing, there are only seven books in the series, and the seventh is a prequel).

At this point, they have six children between them: Hrald and Ealhswith for Sidroc, Ceric and Edwin for Ceridwen, and Eirian and Yrling together.

As well, Ashild is Sidroc's adopted daughter, though by blood she is his first cousin. As well, Ceridwen had a daughter Ninnoc (deceased) with Gyric. One almost needs a family tree to keep track of everyone and their relationships.

Answer: A stab mark on the dragon bed

Gyric stabbed the dragon's head years earlier in anger when Godwin said he wished to get a child on Ceridwen. The boys know there must be some story behind it but cannot fathom what it is. Only one person alive knows the story, and she is on Gotland.

At least one person has remarked that Edwin resembles Godwin, but I do not think this will force the truth out. Godwin and Gyric (both deceased) looked so much alike that many thought they were twins, and Gyric spent the last several years of his life with a bandage over his eye sockets, and it has been decades since anyone saw Gyric unmaimed, so I do not think people would suspect the truth of Edwin's parentage simply because some say he looks like his father's brother.

Answer: Yes

Her years of spear practice with Hrald pay off; she also uses the shield Sidroc made for Hrald when the latter was a boy. I think her characterization is very good--she does not want to be a man but wishes she were in the succession for Jarl.

Answer: A three-on-three fight

Hrald and Thorfast disagree on whether or not they should honor the Peace with the Saxons or join the Danes against them. Talking has failed, so each pick two men and the six fight. Whichever side loses their men first, either to death or surrender, wins the hall and men of the loser and will determine whose side they will join. Hrald is victorious when he remembers his father telling him not to fear others.

Answer: No one

I felt that not making decisions about her marriage is appropriate for her character. She must completely consent to whomever she marries or she will not be happy, and she has not yet determined whether Ceric is the right husband for her. Whoever it is must accept her desire to both fight and be a woman.