The Familiar
by Leigh Bardugo
Contents
Chapter 13
Overview
Santángel carries out Víctor de Paredes’ cleanup, going to El Rastro to silence Garavito, whose loose talk has endangered Víctor and revealed rumors about a milagrero now tied to Beatriz Hortolano. Santángel kills Garavito in a brutal, demonstrative way that exposes his unnatural inability to die, then releases the trapped animals and spares Garavito’s abused son, Manuel, despite knowing Víctor would not. Back at the palace, Santángel reports success and lies that Luzia is hopeless, while an unexpected surge of rage toward Víctor hints at a shift in Santángel’s long-dormant will.
Summary
As Madrid cools, Santángel walks into the foul, working-class district of El Rastro on an errand he cannot delay without feeling the tether that binds him to Víctor de Paredes. He reflects on Luzia’s intelligence and secrecy, suspects she may be a conversa or morisca, and notes how working magic with her has made him feel sharper and stronger, with both pleasure and danger in the shared possibility.
Santángel reaches the trapper Garavito’s workshop and kennels, where animals shriek from cramped cages. He knocks instead of sneaking in and meets Garavito’s son, Manuel, visibly maimed from past abuse. Santángel lays down silver reales and orders Manuel to leave and start over; Manuel asks if Santángel will kill Garavito, but Santángel refuses to answer.
In the courtyard, Santángel confronts Garavito about talking too freely—especially about Víctor and Santángel’s inquiries regarding a rumored milagrero, now in Beatriz Hortolano’s possession. Garavito attacks, and Santángel deliberately allows the knife to lodge in his gut; when Santángel pulls it free, unharmed by anything but pain, Garavito panics and calls him a devil. After letting Garavito stab him repeatedly to drive the point home, Santángel ends the fight by stabbing Garavito in the stomach and slashing behind his knees so he cannot rise.
Santángel opens the cages and releases the trapped creatures into the courtyard, watching as some flee and some creep toward the bleeding, moaning Garavito. Passing through the apartment, Santángel finds Manuel still watching; Manuel begs for his life. Santángel tells Manuel only to be gone before the authorities arrive, knowing Víctor would prefer the boy dead, but choosing otherwise.
Santángel returns to Víctor’s new Italianate palace, cloaking his ruined clothing in the crowded streets. He reports that Garavito will gossip no more and dismisses Luzia as “very much” hopeless when Víctor asks about her progress. Though Santángel believes himself long emptied of feeling, watching Víctor write stirs a buried rage he thought the curse and years had extinguished.
Who Appears
- SantángelVíctor’s bound agent; kills Garavito, spares Manuel, lies about Luzia, feels old rage return.
- GaravitoTrapper and informant who gossips; attacks Santángel and is brutally put down.
- Víctor de ParedesSantángel’s master; orders silence, questions Luzia’s prospects, and unknowingly rekindles Santángel’s anger.
- ManuelGaravito’s abused son; takes Santángel’s money, witnesses his father’s death, is spared.
- LuziaThe scullion-trainee; not present, but Santángel assesses her secrecy and reports her as hopeless.
- Beatriz HortolanoReferenced as the person who now possesses the rumored milagrero Garavito spoke of.
- El PeñacoVíctor’s massive bodyguard stationed outside the library when Santángel returns.
- Antonio PérezReferenced as the Torneo Secreto’s patron; the contest Santángel is preparing Luzia to enter.