Shield-maiden forgetfulness given to Sigurðr so he forgets his previous relationship with her. Brynhildr is upset not only for the loss of Sigurðr but also for the dishonesty involved. Similar to her male counterparts, the shield-maiden prefers to do things straightforwardly, without the deception considered stereotypically feminine in much of medieval literature. She enacts her vengeance directly, resulting in the deaths of herself, Sigurðr, and Sigurð's son by Guðrún. By killing the child, she demonstrates an understanding of feud and filial responsibility; if he lived, the boy would grow up to take vengeance on Brynhildr's family. Guðrún has a similar concern
The Courts of Chaos sans Merci" by John Keats. Corwin's meeting with Ygg parallels Dante's meeting with a talking tree in the middle ring of the seventh circle of hell in the ""Inferno" (Dante)". Ygg might also be an allusion to Yggdrasil, the mythological tree of the Norse mythology. Hugi might allude to Huginn, one of the two mythical ravens of Odin also from the Norse mythology. Corwin's valedictory to Dara, ""Carmen, voulez-vous venir avec moi?" No? Then goodbye to you too, Princess of Chaos." probably alludes to "Lolita"; the "Carmen" line is included by Humbert Humbert in his narration of speaking to Dolores