Symbols A Sorceress Comes to Call T. Kingfisher

Geese: Warding Creatures in A Sorceress Comes to Call

What Are the Geese?

The geese in T. Kingfisher’s A Sorceress Comes to Call are ordinary domestic birds living on the grounds of Lord Evermore’s estate, Evermore House. They are first seen waddling out of a lake, honking loudly, and immediately swarm around the unnatural horse Falada, hissing at him. Richard Evermore keeps them as watch-animals because he is allergic to dogs, but they also lay “quite impressive eggs.” Hester, a friend of the family, immediately identifies them with an old folk belief: “Historically geese are wards against misfortune and evil magic.”

Where Do the Geese Recur?

The geese appear at several critical moments in the second half of the novel:

  1. Arrival at Evermore House (Chapter 27) – The geese rush to surround Falada, hissing and refusing to let him roam freely. They follow him whenever he moves, forming a constant, agitated ring.
  2. Research and planning (Chapter 29) – Cordelia, Hester, and their allies watch Falada from a window. The geese never allow him to walk the grounds alone. Even when he breaks into a run to escape them, they take flight and immediately regroup around him.
  3. The first ritual (Chapter 30) – After the binding circle is drawn, the geese arrive silently and stand a few yards away, watching. Hester notes they are “guarding us,” acting as sentinels while the rest of the flock feeds.
  4. Falada’s return (Chapter 32) – When the headless, reanimated Falada charges Hester on her patio, the geese attack him, striking his legs and driving him back long enough for Hester to escape indoors. The short-legged gander leads the assault.
  5. The final battle (Chapter 36) – As Falada, having killed Evangeline, turns toward Richard and Hester, the short-legged gander flies into his face, wings beating. The distraction allows the fading familiar to be struck at a critical moment, and Falada vanishes with daylight pouring through him.

The geese also leave traces: feathers scattered at the empty grave after Falada digs himself out (Chapter 31), and their honking warns the household of danger throughout the siege.

How the Meaning of the Geese Changes

Initially, the geese appear as comic or mundane animals—ungainly, noisy, and slightly ridiculous. Evangeline tries to dismiss them with a haughty remark. Richard claims he keeps them only for eggs and alarm. Yet Hester’s comment about “wards against evil magic” plants a seed. As the story progresses, the geese prove that folk belief is accurate: they are the only creatures on the estate that instinctively recognize Falada as a threat. Their hissing and relentless pursuit strip away the horse’s glamour, revealing him as something unnatural. By the end, the geese transform from livestock into heroes, actively defending the human characters from a monster that ordinary weapons cannot harm.

Character Connections

Hester – Hester is the character most attuned to the geese. She immediately knows their reputed power, admires their fitness, and even evaluates individual birds (“that one needs to be culled … awfully short”). During the headless Falada attack, her instinct is to protect the geese rather than herself. The geese, in turn, protect her: the flock’s assault frees her from paralysis and gives her time to retreat. Hester’s bond with the birds underscores her practical, nature-connected wisdom and her role as a defender of the household.

Cordelia – Cordelia observes the geese from windows, noting how they “scream” and their uncanny ability to corral Falada. The geese’s vigilance gives her a small measure of safety, and their presence helps her allies devise the plan to contain Falada for the ritual. The geese embody a natural resistance that Cordelia herself comes to embody by the end.

Falada – The familiar horse is the geese’s primary target. He cannot escape their harassment; their hissing reveals his unnaturalness. He fears them, and this fear deepens as the story continues. In his final form, the geese are still able to affect him—striking his legs and forcing him to veer, even as he becomes transparent.

Evangeline – The sorceress dismisses the geese as a silly old wives’ tale. Her contempt for natural wards blinds her to their power, a fatal underestimation.

Theme Connections

The geese reinforce several major themes of the novel:

  • Natural Resistance vs. Supernatural Control – Evangeline’s magic operates through obedience, deception, and forced submission. The geese obey no one; they act on instinct. Their natural, unthinking hostility to evil magic provides a counterpoint to the sorceress’s artificial, manipulative power.
  • Appearance vs. Reality – Geese are often viewed as foolish, clumsy birds, but their ugliness masks a fierce effectiveness. This mirrors the way characters like Hester and Cordelia appear powerless but prove to be the real forces of resistance.
  • Female Solidarity – Hester, Cordelia, Imogene, and even Penelope’s ghost form a coalition to fight Evangeline. The geese, though not human, act as allies in this coalition, protecting Hester and enabling the final ritual. Their collective defense mirrors the women’s teamwork.
  • Sacrifice and Bravery – The short-legged gander risks its life in the final confrontation, striking at Falada despite the danger. This selfless act reflects the sacrifices made by characters like Penelope and Cordelia.

Study Questions

  1. Why do the geese hiss at Falada when he first arrives at Evermore House?
    The geese instinctively recognize Falada as an unnatural creature—a demon disguised as a horse. Hester explains that geese are traditionally considered wards against evil magic, so they react to the sorcerous presence in Falada by hissing and surrounding him, refusing to let him roam freely.

  2. How does Hester’s knowledge of geese contribute to the plot?
    Hester’s familiarity with geese allows her to identify them as useful guardians. She evaluates the flock, notes their sentinel behavior, and later uses their presence to confirm danger. Her trust in the birds gives the group confidence to conduct the ritual, as the geese stand guard without being asked.

  3. What does the short-legged gander reveal about the geese’s role?
    The short-legged gander, initially judged as unfit for breeding, becomes the most aggressive defender. He leads the attack on Falada in Chapter 32 and delivers the final blow in Chapter 36, flying into the monster’s face and causing him to disappear. The gander shows that unlikely or overlooked beings can be the most powerful protectors.

  4. How do the geese contrast with Evangeline’s magic throughout the novel?
    Evangeline’s magic relies on domination and illusion—she forces obedience, hides her true nature, and uses Falada as a spy. The geese rely on instinct, physical presence, and collective action. They have no personal agenda; they simply react to evil. This contrast highlights that natural, untainted forces can resist sorcery more effectively than any human scheme.

Conclusion

The geese in A Sorceress Comes to Call are far more than comic relief. They serve as living wards against supernatural evil, embodying the novel’s themes of natural resistance, underestimated strength, and the power of collective action. Through their relentless harassment of Falada and their protective vigilance, the geese become key allies in the fight against Evangeline. Hester’s connection to them underscores her practical wisdom, while their final heroic act cements their symbolic role as guardians of the ordinary world against magical corruption.

For further exploration of related themes and characters, see the book overview, the analysis of mother-daughter power dynamics, and the character pages for Hester and Cordelia.