Chapter 5: They Quarrel Again – Summary & Analysis
⚠️ 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
Aurienne and Mordaunt arrive in the town of Kentigern via waystone, landing in a seedy alley beside the Randy Unicorn, a brothel with a notoriously lewd sign. Mordaunt reveals that the hot springs they seek are inside the brothel. Aurienne is uncomfortable with the setting and with being recognised alongside a Fyren, but she hides her Haelan whites under a hooded cloak. Inside, they pass rows of counters offering various sexual specialties, including one manned by a man known as the Clydesdale. Mordaunt steers Aurienne past the breeding kink counter toward the baths. After mandatory showers, they enter an underground spa with five pools. Mordaunt strips and enters the hot water, but Aurienne refuses to immerse herself, citing both the temperature and the risk of swimming in bodily fluids. She attempts the healing from the pool edge, placing her palm on Mordaunt’s back and activating her tācn. Once again, her seith fails to make any difference; the decay in his seith system remains untouched. Mordaunt suggests pursuing the Monafyll Stone and the disgraced philologist Widdershins, but Aurienne dismisses the lead as a dead end. She promises to investigate other possible conjunctions for the April full moon. Their frustration erupts into a bitter quarrel: Mordaunt accuses her of being small-minded, she calls him an abscess with inferior hair, and they exchange a series of cutting insults. Aurienne declares she will not offer a third healing, drops her massage hook into his hands, and storms off.
Key Events
- Aurienne and Mordaunt arrive in Kentigern at the Randy Unicorn, a brothel housing the hot springs.
- They navigate the foyer with its explicit counters and encounter the Clydesdale.
- Mordaunt pays for bath tickets and they proceed to the underground spa after showering.
- Aurienne attempts the healing from the edge of the pool while Mordaunt sits in the water.
- The healing fails again; Aurienne’s seith cannot revive the dead parts of his system.
- Mordaunt brings up the Monafyll Stone and the philologist Widdershins; Aurienne dismisses the lead.
- Aurienne agrees to research better dates and conditions for the next full moon.
- The two argue heatedly, trading personal insults and parting on hostile terms.
Character Development
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Aurienne shows her stubbornness and her firm resistance to Mordaunt’s casual attitude. Her refusal to enter the bath highlights her discomfort with bodily fluids and her rigid sense of propriety. Despite this, she attempts the healing a second time, demonstrating her commitment to her oath—even when it yields no results. Her dismissal of the Monafyll Stone research reveals a pragmatic side, but also a reluctance to engage with leads she considers untrustworthy.
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Mordaunt is frustrated by the repeated failure. He tries to maintain a confident, smug exterior, but his sulking after the healing betrays his desperation. His suggestion to follow up on Widdershins shows he is still actively seeking solutions, even if Aurienne rejects them. The quarrel reveals his tendency to provoke her and his unwillingness to admit defeat gracefully.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Futility of Effort: The central action of the chapter is the second failed healing. Both characters invest time and hope, yet the outcome is exactly the same as before. This pattern reinforces the theme that some problems cannot be solved by willpower or ritual alone.
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Sexual Liberation vs. Discomfort: The Randy Unicorn is a space of explicit sexual expression, where nothing is taboo. Aurienne’s discomfort contrasts with Mordaunt’s ease, highlighting their different worldviews. The brothel setting also underscores the tension between physical desire and moral judgment.
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Bodily Control and Vulnerability: Aurienne is acutely aware of her own body (her modesty towel, her hair coming unpinned) and others’ bodies (the Clydesdale’s endowment, the autofellatio performer). The requirement to shower and wear only a towel strips away her Haelan armor, making her feel exposed. Mordaunt’s easy nudity and his scarred back become sites of power and intimacy.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter deepens the central conflict by showing that the healing attempt at the hot springs—like the one at the full moon—is a dead end. It forces both characters to confront the possibility that Mordaunt’s condition may be incurable, raising the stakes for the rest of the story. The quarrel also solidifies their adversarial dynamic, making any future cooperation seem unlikely yet setting the stage for potential change. The introduction of the Monafyll Stone and the philologist Widdershins plants a seed for a new avenue of investigation, one that Aurienne resists but that may prove crucial later.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Aurienne refuse to get into the pool, and what does her refusal reveal about her character?
She refuses because the water feels boiling and because she is repulsed by the idea of swimming in other patrons’ bodily fluids, especially Scrope’s semen. This shows her strong sense of cleanliness and propriety, as well as her distrust of environments she cannot control. It also highlights her physical sensitivity and emotional resistance to Mordaunt’s casual dismissal of her concerns. -
How does Mordaunt’s reaction to the failed healing differ from Aurienne’s, and what does that tell us about their priorities?
Mordaunt is visibly disappointed and sulky, immediately searching for alternatives (the Monafyll Stone). Aurienne is more resigned; she reminds him that she warned him to expect failure. He is focused on finding a cure at any cost, while she is more concerned with maintaining her professional integrity and avoiding what she sees as wasted effort. -
What role does the setting (the Randy Unicorn) play in advancing the chapter’s themes?
The brothel’s frank sexuality contrasts with Aurienne’s modesty and moral discomfort, forcing her to confront her own prejudices. The emphasis on physical bodies (the Clydesdale, the autofellatio performer, the “no sex in the baths” sign) mirrors Mordaunt’s bodily vulnerability and the failed healing. The setting also creates an atmosphere where the usual social rules are suspended, making the quarrel between two enemies more intense and intimate.