Chapter 35 Summary: Underwater Reckonings—Matilda
⚠️ 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
Warin drags Matilda to the riverbed. This time she does not run, knowing she would be too slow in the water. Warin asks why she fled; Matilda remains guarded, remembering his iron grip. Warin summons luminescent fish to light their surroundings. They walk past sunken bones and treasure before sitting on smoothed rocks. Matilda asks what he wants to discuss. Warin questions why she bound herself to frail Vincent, suspecting she hides secrets. Matilda claims she desires Vincent for her own. Warin reveals he has already met Vincent and demanded a toll for crossing the bridge: one-third of produce, treasure, or a third-born child. Vincent refused. Now Warin pressures Matilda to convince her husband, giving her two days. He implies he may ally with the baron instead. As Matilda rises to leave, the river snatches her cloak. Warin says it is a pity, then departs.
Key Events
- Warin drags Matilda underwater but releases her when she stops fleeing.
- Under his command, a school of luminescent fish lights the riverbed.
- Warin leads Matilda past sunken relics: a skeleton, broken coffer, armor, jewelry.
- They sit on rock thrones; Warin demands to know Matilda’s plans concerning Vincent.
- Matilda carefully claims she wants Vincent for herself, avoiding mention of love.
- Warin discloses he took power over rivers last spring and later met Vincent.
- He reveals the three toll options: first fruits, money, or a third-born child.
- Vincent refused all options; Warin now threatens to ally with the baron.
- Warin gives Matilda two days to persuade Vincent.
- Matilda’s cloak is swept away by the current as Warin leaves.
Character Development
Matilda shows strategic self-restraint. Though afraid, she does not panic and each reply is measured to protect Vincent from being seen as a weakness. Her instinct not to run underwater and her careful omission of love demonstrate her survival skills.
Warin shifts from aggressive to calculating. He drops his rough pursuit and adopts a calm, manipulative tone. His revelation of the toll options confirms his desire for tribute and control, and his mention of the baron shows he is willing to switch allegiances.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Water as a revealer — The underwater setting forces a truth-telling scene, yet also muffles speech and hides intent. Warin and Matilda speak more directly than they would on land, but still hold back.
Luminescent fish as guidance — The fish provide needed light in darkness, symbolizing the fragile clarity that emerges in this confrontation. They also underscore Warin’s power over the river’s creatures.
The cloak as loss of protection — Matilda loses her cloak to the current, a tangible sign that she has given up a layer of defense in this exchange. The cloak’s disappearance hints at cost of her choices.
The third-born child toll — This demand echoes folkloric bargains (like Rumpelstiltskin) and raises the stakes: Warin’s true intent may be to collect children, not just tribute.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter exposes the central conflict over the bridge toll, escalating Warin’s threat from a personal power struggle to a potential alliance with the baron. Matilda learns that Vincent already refused Warin, leaving her caught between two powerful men. The loss of the cloak foreshadows additional sacrifices to come, while the two-day deadline drives urgency into the next chapter.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Matilda decide not to run when Warin releases her underwater?
She recognizes the river slows her even with enchanted shoes; the darkness and uneven bottom make escape impractical. She chooses to stay and manage the encounter with Warin. -
What does Warin reveal about his prior meeting with Vincent?
Warin states he met Vincent last spring and demanded a toll for using the bridge. Vincent refused, which Warin calls irreverent. Warin now suggests he may ally with the baron if Vincent continues to refuse. -
What are the three toll options Warin proposes?
First: a third of the first fruits (produce, harvest, wine). Second: a third of money (gold, silver, jewels, coppers). Third: the family’s third-born child. Warin claims the third option is merciful because that child is less important than the first or second born.