Chapter 29 Summary – A Sorceress Comes to Call

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

For eight days Cordelia and her friends pore over ancient books in search of a way to counter her mother’s magic. Willard helps sort the useless texts, and the group works through a mountain of dense, often irrelevant material. Cordelia struggles with exhaustion and the fear of missing a crucial detail, but she also experiences a strange freedom: away from her mother, she no longer lives in terror of social missteps. The others treat her as an equal, and the shared goal forges a bond.

On the afternoon of the eighth day, Imogene discovers a ritual in a tome called On Reagents, Their Uses, and the Alchemical Work That May Be Done with Them. The ritual promises to break sorcerous powers using water, wine, and salt, performed by four people at the points of a triangle. It claims to “render the gold of sorcery into base human metal.” Cordelia asks whether stripping Evangeline of magic would be enough; the adults exchange looks, then admit that without magic, Evangeline would still be dangerous but could be dealt with by ordinary means. Imogene bluntly suggests killing her once the magic is gone. Hester objects, but Cordelia admits her mother is a monster and that they cannot afford to let her continue harming others.

The group discusses practical problems: how to get Evangeline to stand in the circle. Imogene proposes drugging her with laudanum. Cordelia raises the risk that even a failed ritual would alert Evangeline through her familiar, Falada. This leads to a crucial idea: test the ritual on Falada first. That evening they watch the bone-white horse walk the grounds, always surrounded by a ring of protective geese. Hester suggests that if the ritual fails, they kill the horse outright. Cordelia, who once loved Falada, now feels only rage and agrees.

Key Events

Cordelia, Imogene, Hester, Richard, and Willard spend eight days searching books for a counter to Evangeline’s sorcery.
Willard discards unreadable or irrelevant texts; the remaining pile is still overwhelming.
Imogene finds a ritual in an alchemical book that uses water, wine, and salt to break sorcery.
The group debates whether stripping Evangeline’s magic would be sufficient; Imogene suggests killing her afterward.
Cordelia acknowledges her mother’s monstrosity and agrees that stopping her justifies drastic measures.
Cordelia proposes testing the ritual on Falada, Evangeline’s familiar, to see if it works before trying it on the sorceress.
They observe Falada, always guarded by a flock of geese, and discuss how to contain him for the ritual.
Hester declares that if the ritual fails, they will simply kill the horse.

Character Development

Cordelia grows stronger and more assertive. She no longer fears social mistakes, because everyone is too tired to care. She pushes past guilt about contemplating her mother’s death and accepts that Evangeline must be stopped by any means. Her decision to test the ritual on Falada shows her willingness to sacrifice her former friend for the greater good.
Imogene displays ruthless pragmatism, immediately proposing killing Evangeline once the magic is gone. Her sharpness contrasts with Hester’s moral hesitation, yet she remains committed to Cordelia’s cause.
Hester acts as the voice of caution, questioning whether the ritual will work and reminding the others of the consequences. But she also agrees to kill Falada if necessary, showing her own capacity for hard choices.
Richard and Willard provide support: Richard lends his estate and practicality, Willard handles the tedious book sorting.
Evermore appears briefly, offering an apologetic objection to murder, but Cordelia dismisses his concern as naive.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Knowledge as Weapon: The weeks of research highlight that defeating a sorceress requires not bravery alone but painstaking study. The ritual is a product of scholarship, not instinct.
The Price of Resistance: Characters confront the moral cost of fighting evil. Cordelia must accept that killing—even a once-beloved horse or her own mother—may be necessary.
Geese as Guardians: The geese that ring Falada are comically undignified yet utterly effective. They symbolize how unexpected allies (or even ordinary creatures) can stand against the uncanny.
Water, Wine, and Salt: These everyday substances are recast as ritual reagents, suggesting that power can be hidden in the ordinary and that a humble wedding or meal can carry symbolic weight.
Familiar Bonds: Falada is not a mere horse but a tether to Evangeline. Testing the ritual on him risks alerting her, emphasizing that any move against a sorcerer must account for their magical connections.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 29 is the turning point where the protagonists move from frantic research to a concrete plan. The discovery of the ritual gives them a weapon, and Cordelia’s proposal to test it on Falada reveals her growing strategic thinking. The chapter also crystallizes the moral dilemma: to defeat a monster, the heroes must be willing to become ruthless themselves. Hester’s calm suggestion to kill the horse if the ritual fails—and Cordelia’s wholehearted agreement—underscores that the fight against Evangeline will leave no innocence untouched. This chapter sets the stage for the perilous execution of the plan in the chapters to come.

Study Questions and Answers

1. What is the ritual Imogene finds, and what does it promise to do?
Imogene discovers a ritual in the book On Reagents, Their Uses, and the Alchemical Work That May Be Done with Them. It uses water, wine, and salt, performed by four people at the points of a triangle, and claims to break sorcerous powers permanently, “rendering the gold of sorcery into base human metal.”

2. Why does Cordelia suggest testing the ritual on Falada first?
Cordelia knows that Falada is Evangeline’s familiar, so even a failed attempt might alert her mother. By testing on the horse, the group can determine if the ritual works without risking a direct confrontation. If the ritual succeeds on Falada, it weakens Evangeline’s magical network; if it fails, they can kill the horse without Evangeline learning of their larger plan.

3. How does Cordelia’s attitude toward Falada change in this chapter?
Earlier, Cordelia saw Falada as a friend and tried to escape with him. Now she learns the horse is her mother’s tool. When Hester suggests killing Falada if the ritual fails, Cordelia feels no pity—only rage and horror. She agrees without hesitation, showing she has fully accepted the cost of fighting her mother.