Character Analysis
Alnor Ortahlson is your typical old guy—stoic and in charge. He's a descendant of Reyel Ortahlson, and lives in Northbeck and talks to the river, protecting the glacier and keeping the Valley safe. When Tahl was young, Alnor's son died, leaving him to raise his grandkid. They generally have a good relationship—Tahl takes Alnor around when he's blind.
This nice old guy looks like his grandson, as both have "narrow, hooked noses and pointed chins" (3.93). Alnor is blind and uses Tahl as a guide (3.96); he leans on a staff, and is "light but not frail," with white hair (3.97). When chatting with the river, as he loves to do, he sings in a kind of "quiet, wavering, almost tuneless chant" (11.25).
But don't confuse Alnor with some fumbling old man. Because he is anything but.
Taking the Lead
Alnor is a leader who takes initiative whenever they go somewhere new. When the group arrives at Salata's house, Alnor kicks off the visit:
Alnor was at the head of the party, with his hand on Tahl's shoulder.
"Long life and good fortune," he answered, using the normal Valley greeting for strangers. (5.41-42)
Alnor can also be rather withdrawn. He keeps the side of himself that laughs and has fun in reserve for those he knows and cares about. And unlike Meena who relaxes when she becomes younger, Alnor doesn't loosen up with his decrease in age. When he meets strangers, he's taciturn:
Alnor was withdrawn, touchy, stiff with strangers on first meeting, as if they were somehow a challenge to him. He spoke to them in much the same formal manner that he had used as an old man, but less naturally, as if this was a style he had not long ago chosen for himself and was still getting used to. (14.95)
It seems like Alnor is—at his core—pretty guarded with those around him.
Can You Say Awkward?
When he's turned into a teenager and isn't automatically senior by age anymore, Alnor gets really uncomfortable. He dislikes not being able to be in charge of everything, and becomes snippy. Check it out:
"We must do as he said, exactly," snapped Alnor. Something in his tone gave Tilja a clue to the reason for his foul mood. He resented not being in control of things, in the way that he could control a raft on the river; he resented having set out on this difficult journey, by his own independent decision, despite everyone else's advice, and then… Yes, against all the odds they had actually found Faheel, but once they had left Talagh hardly any of that had been Alnor's doing. He had been swept along, helpless in the rush of the current, and finally lain asleep on Faheel's island while far away in Talagh the whole Empire was shaken apart. Now he was determined to take control again. (8.25)
Remember: Alnor and Meena eat the grapes that turn them young again by strict order from Faheel. So while Meena embraces the change, Alnor pretty legitimately doesn't. After all—someone else made him… and Alnor prefers to lead than follow.