Chapter 15 Summary: The Road to the Northern Kingdom

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens with the group—Marra, Agnes, the dust-wife, Fenris, and the chick—sharing a plain breakfast at Miss Margaret's inn. Agnes proposes that she visit the prince's godmother to see if there is a loophole in the blessing that has been placed on the royal children. She argues that professional courtesy might persuade the godmother to reveal more than she would to a stranger. Fenris supports the idea, noting that people often confide in those who share their craft, even when they would never speak to outsiders. The dust-wife warns that if the prince dies, the godmother will become suspicious, but Agnes points out that she has a legitimate reason to be in the city—the queen is about to give birth again, and as a godmother herself, she has an interest in the royal family.

Marra volunteers to accompany Agnes, though she is uneasy about facing the terrifying figure. Before they leave, Agnes asks the dust-wife to look after Finder, the chick she has named. This leads to a brief, humorous exchange about naming chickens; the dust-wife reveals that her own hen contains a demon and that naming such a creature would give it ideas. Agnes insists on naming all her chickens, and the dust-wife reluctantly agrees to watch Finder.

Agnes and Marra set out, following the landlady's advice to climb the spiral road toward the richer houses. The climb is steep, and they stop to rest on a bench. Agnes takes the opportunity to tease Marra about Fenris, pointing out that Marra watched him chop firewood and that he is a gentleman. Marra deflects, saying she is suspicious of men and that Fenris is wanted for murder in his home country. Agnes remains undeterred, hinting that a “little moth” has told her Fenris is what Marra needs. Marra is flustered but insists the matter is moot.

They eventually reach the temple district, where a tall woman wearing the medals of the Unconquered Sun gives them directions to the godmother's house. The house resembles a temple, with a guard standing outside. Agnes approaches and asks to see the godmother. The guard says she sees no visitors, but Agnes insists she is a godmother herself. When the guard demands proof, Agnes reads a blessing on him—one that was placed on his mother, ensuring her children would be born strong or healthy. The guard is startled and lets them in.

Inside, the godmother sits on a dais at the far end of a long hall hung with tapestries. She offers tea. Marra begins to feel disoriented, as if she is standing behind her own shoulder. She hears the two godmothers talking but cannot follow the conversation. She drifts over to examine the tapestries, which are strangely woven with irregular patterns, weft locks, split weaves, and odd golden knots. The godmother asks if Marra is a weaver; Marra says she embroiders. The godmother tells her she has been working on these tapestries for many years and offers Marra a gift. She cuts a piece from one of the tapestries with shears and hands it to Marra, who takes it reluctantly, reminded of the goblin market's cocoon.

After they leave, Marra realizes she was under a misdirection spell. Agnes explains that the godmother wanted to speak privately, and the spell made Marra wander off while they talked. Agnes then reveals the crucial truth: the godmother has been cursing the royal babies for centuries, not blessing them.

Key Events

Agnes decides to visit the prince's godmother to seek a loophole in the blessing.
The group discusses the plan; Fenris supports it, the dust-wife warns of suspicion.
Agnes names the chick Finder, leading to a humorous exchange about naming chickens.
Agnes and Marra climb the spiral road to the temple district.
Agnes teases Marra about Fenris; Marra deflects.
They reach the godmother's house; Agnes proves her identity by reading a blessing on the guard.
Inside, the godmother offers tea; Marra becomes disoriented and examines the tapestries.
The godmother cuts a piece from a tapestry and gives it to Marra.
After leaving, Agnes reveals that the godmother has been cursing the royal babies for centuries.

Character Development

Marra shows growing self-awareness and vulnerability. She is uneasy about the godmother, yet she volunteers to accompany Agnes out of protectiveness. Her reaction to Agnes's teasing about Fenris reveals that she has noticed him, but she is still guarded, saying she is suspicious of men. The misdirection spell leaves her feeling foolish, but she is also curious about the tapestries, showing her observant nature.

Agnes demonstrates her cleverness and experience. She reads the guard's blessing with ease, proving her skill as a godmother. She also understands the godmother's motives, recognizing the misdirection spell and interpreting the godmother's actions. Her lighthearted teasing of Marra shows her warmth, but her final revelation—that the godmother is cursing the babies—shows that she is not naive.

The godmother is portrayed as ancient, isolated, and ruthless. She lives in a temple-like house, sits immobile on a dais, and speaks in a voice like an echo from a bone pit. She is willing to cut a piece from her own tapestry without hesitation, and she uses misdirection magic to speak privately. Her revelation that she has been cursing the royal babies for centuries suggests a deep-seated malice or perhaps a twisted sense of duty.

The dust-wife appears briefly but shows her pragmatic, no-nonsense attitude. She is reluctant to watch Finder, and her comment about naming demons reveals her caution about magical entities.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Curses Disguised as Blessings: The central revelation is that the godmother's “blessing” is actually a curse. This subverts the expectation that godmothers are benevolent figures and highlights the theme of deception.

Professional Courtesy: Agnes's plan relies on the idea that practitioners of the same craft will share confidences. Fenris's analogy about prisoners and doctors reinforces this motif, suggesting that shared expertise creates a bond that transcends other loyalties.

Misdirection Magic: The godmother uses a misdirection spell to exclude Marra from the conversation. This symbolizes the way secrets are kept and how power can manipulate perception.

Cost of Magic: Agnes explains that blessings leave marks on children and that magic spreads thin over generations. The godmother's tapestries, which she has worked on for years, also suggest a cost—perhaps the tapestries represent the lives she has affected.

Tapestry Symbolism: The tapestries are irregular, with no discernable pattern, and the bottom third of each is identical. They may symbolize the tangled, repetitive nature of the curse, or the godmother's own fragmented history. Marra's gift of a cut piece could be a clue or a burden.

Isolation of the Powerful: The godmother lives alone in a temple-like house, surrounded by tapestries. Agnes remarks that it must be lonely to be that old and not care. This motif underscores the emotional cost of wielding great power.

Fear Chains: Marra reflects on her fear of Vorling and how that fear extends to the godmother, linking predator to prey. This chain of fear shows how intimidation can control even those who are not directly threatened.

Naming: The exchange about naming chickens—and the dust-wife's refusal to name her demon-possessed hen—highlights the power of names. Agnes names the chick Finder, giving it purpose, while the dust-wife avoids naming the demon to prevent giving it ideas.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is a turning point in the plot. The revelation that the godmother has been cursing the royal babies—not blessing them—changes the nature of the mission. Marra and her companions now know that the prince's death is not an accident of a flawed blessing but the result of a deliberate, centuries-long curse. This raises the stakes and clarifies the enemy: the godmother herself, or perhaps the queen who has been complicit. The chapter also deepens Marra's personal journey, as she confronts her own fears and begins to acknowledge her feelings for Fenris. The gift of the tapestry piece may prove to be a crucial artifact later in the story.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Agnes believe the godmother might reveal information about the blessing?

Agnes argues that professional courtesy might make the godmother more forthcoming with a fellow godmother. Fenris supports this by noting that people in the same profession often share confidences with each other, even when they would not speak to outsiders. Agnes also has a legitimate reason to be in the city, as the queen is about to give birth again.

2. What does the misdirection spell reveal about the godmother's character and methods?

The misdirection spell shows that the godmother is highly skilled and secretive. She uses the spell to speak privately with Agnes, excluding Marra without her knowledge. This demonstrates her willingness to manipulate others and her desire to control information. It also suggests that she is cautious and does not trust even those who come to her in good faith.

3. How does the chapter subvert the traditional role of a godmother?

Traditionally, a godmother is a benevolent figure who bestows blessings on a child. In this chapter, the godmother is revealed to have been cursing the royal babies for centuries. This subversion turns the expected protector into a source of harm, and it forces the protagonists to reconsider their assumptions about magic and power.