One interesting thing about this excerpt was how Bayrd and Lord Jarid's roles are reversed. The High Lord is bereft of the symbols of his position (his tent falls apart, his dagger stretches like a piece of gum) and his men leave him while Bayrd, the odd stone age anachronism of a guard who was nobody until now becomes the leader of the men. Lord Jarid flamboyant leadership is replaced with Bayrd's quiet and methodical one.

In this strange world where metal becomes soft as butter the lords and their gold aren't worth much, they're a dime a dozen. It's the man who can chip stone spears who is irreplaceable.