This chapter opens with a soliloquy by the "red warrior" . The red warrior says that he has come to the castle to kill the "mongrel" , but that the "toms" have come to him in droves, asking him for money and soldiers. He says that if he were to kill them, he would go to the "world" and stir up "a whole new hornets nest" but that if his son were to be killed, he himself would be doing him a favor. The father says that his son is longer than he is, but the "dog brain" is alive and kicking. The dog brain is alive, kicking, and humping a stump, and the red warrior is ready to kill him. He tells the father that he will kill him if he wants to.