Glama Golden is a veteran war-chief of Black Dow’s, during his war with the Union. Well known for his vanity and arrogance, his chief attributes are his ridiculous blonde moustache and his rivalry with Cairm Ironhead.
Appearance and Personality[]
Golden is brawny, large and heavy-jaw handsome, with his long blond hair and moustache. He is at least taller than Logen Ninefingers. To add to the effect, he wears gold rings, bracelets and necklaces, and even gold on his armour, shining with bluster and self-love. He and Cairm Ironhead are locked in a feud.
History[]
Although it is unknown what he did during the First Law Trilogy, he seemingly followed Bethod. By the events of The Heroes he is a powerful war chief following Black Dow.
The Heroes[]
On the first day, General Jalenhorm’s division occupy the key ground in the valley of Osrung, but are overstretched, with some Regiments still caught up on the bad roads. Under cover of the thick forest to the north, the Northmen approached in great numbers. Caul Reachey’s forces leads off, moving towards Osrung, carrying all the Northmen standards to make it look like their big effort. Jalenhorm falls for this bluff and sends men from the Heroes to reinforce Osrung. Once the Union are between the hill and the town, Golden’s cavalry catch them in the open and rout them. Meanwhile, Ironhead and Tenways make the proper effort on the Heroes, and comprehensively breaking the defenders. As the Union flee south to the river, Golden’s cavalry follow through and ride them down. Golden is eventually stopped at the river, when Bremer dan Gorst leads a cavalry charge with half the First Regiment. Golden is badly beaten by Colonel Gorst and narrowly escape with his life.
After the hard fighting on the first day, Golden is kept in reserve on the second day. On the third day, as Jalenhorm makes his push for the Heroes, Golden’s cavalry help cut them off from the second wave, allowing Black Dow and the men on the Heroes to eventually drive off the Union.
Glama Golden holds a shield for Black Dow in his duel with Calder. After Caul Shivers steps into the circle and kills Dow, Golden is one of the men who hail Calder the victor.
In the end, Curnden Craw learns from Hardbread that the new rulers of the North, Scale and Black Calder, have declared war upon Golden in response to his supposed killing of Caul Reachey; however, it is incredibly likely that Calder was the real person who had him killed as soon as his son was born, and just blamed it on Golden to earn Cairm Ironhead’s loyalty.
Red Country[]
In the five years between the books, Glama Golden has been exiled from the North, having been forced to leave his wife and children behind whilst he fled. He has since earned fame across the Near Country as an unbeatable fighter in the pits. At some point, he killed a man named Stockling Bear in the Circle. He has lost all of his previous vanity and pride, and now dwells on his many failures and regrets.
In Crease, Papa Ring hires Golden to fight to the death in the ring with The Mayor’s champion, to settle their rivalry for the town; Golden is determined that whoever he faces, this will be his last fight before he takes his winnings, returns to the North and takes revenge on both Cairm Ironhead and Black Calder. The Mayor agrees to help Lamb and Shy find their missing children, if Lamb fights as her champion. Unaware of her connections to his soon-to-be opponent, Glama saves Shy from three men in an alleyway. It is apparent that he is anxious, putting on a front of power, and that he truly wishes to avoid further bloodshed.
Golden and Lamb enter the ring stripped to the waist, shaven headed, and smeared with grease to be less easily caught. Golden has a flicker of recognition when he sees Lamb and asks him his real name, but Lamb just says “Maybe it’ll come to you”.
Golden has the further reach plus weight and is younger than his opponent but is impressed at how well Lamb takes the repeated punishment of his powerful hits. The two eventually get into a grapple- When Lamb rips off half his moustache, Golden goes into a rage, and lands the father of all punches on him, which he expects to finish Lamb off. Golden waits for his knees to buckle, but Lamb smiles at him, smearing blood over his cheek with his tongue, and then slowly uncurls his left fist; Golden is horrified, realising the name of his opponent. He accepts this will be his last fight.
The Bloody-Nine tears Golden apart … literally. Glama has part of his cheek bitten off, before being head-butted repeatedly and finally having his head smashed apart.
