House of Chains

How it opens

Karsa Orlong, a warrior of the Uryd clan of the Teblor, has grown up on his grandfather Pahlk's tales of a raid on Silver Lake. Kneeling before the Faces in the Rock, he vows to his god Urugal to lead a raid there himself and slay the children who live by the lake. The clan's elders have spoken against the journey, but he rides out that night with Bairoth Gild and Delum Thord, mounted on Havok, the warhorse his father Synyg gives him. The three fight their way through the lands of the rival Rathyd clan, then free a woman pinned for ages beneath a stone slab. She names herself a Forkrul Assail called Calm, and when Delum draws his blade she strikes him down with a blow that leaves his mind broken. At Silver Lake they find a walled town where Pahlk's tales held two farms. After the fighting, Karsa lies chained in the slave pits beneath a warehouse, told that a slavemaster named Silgar will add him to his herd of slaves.

Who you meet early

• Karsa OrlongKarsa Orlong is an Uryd warrior newly arrived at his eightieth year and in his first year of scarring, the grandson of Pahlk Orlong. He is counted among the finest warriors of his clan, and he says he has faced twenty-four warriors and slain them all.
• Bairoth GildBairoth Gild is an Uryd warrior in his first year of scarring who rides with Karsa on the raid to Silver Lake. Dayliss has given him her blessing, and he says she is to be his wife when they return.
• Delum ThordDelum Thord is the third Uryd warrior on Karsa's raid, a tracker who by Karsa's account can read a ghost's trail. Karsa counts eighteen tongues looped on the thong at his hip.
• DaylissDayliss is a young unwedded Uryd woman whose blessing Karsa wants for his raid. She gives it to Bairoth Gild instead, and stands by on foot as the three warriors ride out.
• Synyg OrlongSynyg is Karsa's father, who tends horses in his valley and whom Karsa scorns for never once venturing into hostile lands. He gives Karsa his warhorse Havok but will not bless the raid, calling the Seven Gods a lie.
• Pahlk OrlongPahlk Orlong is Karsa's grandfather, and Karsa has grown up on his tales of a raid on Silver Lake. Trophies of that day clutter the walls of his longhouse, and he has given Karsa his blessing for the journey.
• SilgarSilgar is a slavemaster at Silver Lake, a tall, severe man in shimmering blue trimmed with gold. His guard tells Karsa that Silgar will add him to his herd of slaves.