Wild Reverence Chapter 6: That Which Is Forbidden – Matilda Summary and 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
Matilda returns home from her first shield lesson with Bade to find her mother Zenia and the goddess Phelyra examining strange objects: an iridescent eithral scale and unfamiliar coins that are blue, midnight, and starlight-bright. Zenia slaps Matilda for being alone outside the burrow, then orders her to clean her scraped knees. While washing, Matilda overhears Bade arrive and report his failed attempt to join the mortal queen’s council. Phelyra conceals the forbidden Skyward currency in a secret pocket and departs. Later, Zenia soothes Matilda by burning a Skyward coin in the hearth fire, releasing exquisite music from flutes and harps—magic that cannot be cast but can be felt. She explains that Skywards pay highly for eithral scales, which can cut through the mind and heart of a god, and that Phelyra found the scale on the ground in Dacre’s wyvern pits. Matilda learns that Dacre wounds his eithrals to control them. She promises to keep the secret from Bade and Alva. The chapter ends with Alva delivering a dream scroll containing another of Vincent’s dreams, in which he dreams of the river and of Matilda.
Key Events
- Matilda enters her burrow and sees a forbidden eithral scale and mysterious coins on the table.
- Zenia strikes Matilda for being alone and orders her to clean her wounds.
- Overheard conversation: Bade tells Zenia the mortal queen (the Poet Queen) refuses his offer of favor and a seat on her council.
- Phelyra secretly pockets the coins and scale; Zenia does not reveal the secret to Bade.
- Bade gives Matilda the shield and tells her to carry it always; he will be gone for five days.
- Zenia burns a Skyward coin in the fire, releasing brief but enchanting music that Matilda finds intoxicating.
- Zenia reveals that Skywards trade for eithral scales, which are potent weapons even against gods.
- Matilda learns Dacre wounds his own wyverns to keep them obedient.
- Matilda promises to keep the forbidden trade a secret.
- Alva delivers a dream scroll with a new dream from Vincent, who dreams of the river and of Matilda.
Character Development
Matilda is caught between obedience and curiosity. Her desire to find her own magic clashes with her mother’s suffocating control. She begins to question the morality of the under realm’s secrets, feeling sadness for the wounded eithrals. Her encounter with the Skyward coin’s music awakens a longing for forbidden beauty and power.
Zenia shows a complex maternal side: she hits Matilda in anger but later apologizes by sharing the secret music. She trusts Matilda enough to reveal the illicit trade and extract a promise of silence, treating her daughter as an ally rather than a child.
Bade remains focused on his mission with the mortal queen, though his frustration shows. He is oblivious to Phelyra’s concealment, highlighting his trust in his allies and his distraction.
Phelyra is portrayed as cunning and secretive, using her power over coin and pockets to hide forbidden goods. Her alliance with Zenia is deeper than Bade suspects.
Themes, Symbols, and Motifs
Forbidden Knowledge and Power – The eithral scale and Skyward coins represent dangerous knowledge that must be hidden from Bade and Alva. The chapter explores the allure of power that comes from possessing what is taboo.
Music as Magic – The Skyward coins release fleeting, emotionally potent music when burned. This music is a form of divine magic that Matilda cannot cast but can experience, symbolizing a bridge between realms and a source of desire.
Control and Cruelty – Dacre’s method of controlling eithrals by wounding and healing them mirrors the broader power structure of the under realm: fear and pain enforce loyalty.
Secrecy and Trust – Matilda is drawn into a web of secrets between her mother and Phelyra, forced to choose loyalty to family over transparency with Bade. The dream scroll from Alva hints at another layer of hidden communication.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 6 deepens the political and magical intrigue of the under realm. It confirms that the Skywards and Underlings engage in a forbidden trade that could destabilize the fragile balance between realms. Matilda’s internal conflict—yearning for freedom and beauty while bound by fear and duty—becomes central. The introduction of dream scrolls as a narrative device (Vincent’s dreams) ties Matilda’s story directly to the mortal realm and foreshadows a romantic or fateful connection. The revelation about Dacre’s cruelty also begins to humanize the eithrals and question the morality of the lord’s rule.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Zenia ask Matilda to keep the eithral scale and Skyward coins a secret from Bade and Alva?
Zenia fears that if Bade learns of the trade, he will tell Alva, who would then inform her half-brother Dacre. Dacre would likely punish those involved and end the lucrative but forbidden exchange. Keeping the secret protects Zenia, Phelyra, and their private arrangement.
2. What does the burning of the Skyward coin reveal about the nature of magic in the under realm?
The coin’s music is a form of magic that Matilda cannot perform but can feel deeply. It suggests that divine magic is not confined to one’s own abilities—objects from the sky realm can channel emotional and sensory power. This hints that power can be accessed through trade and theft, not just innate talent.
3. How does Matilda’s reaction to the wounded eithrals differ from her mother’s, and what does this say about her character?
Matilda feels pity for the eithrals when she learns Dacre wounds them to maintain control. Zenia dismisses this empathy as wasted emotion. Matilda’s compassion sets her apart from the ruthlessness of her elders, indicating she may not fully embrace the under realm’s cold pragmatism.