Overview

Six arrives at Coulson Faire, dazzled by its commerce and spectacle, but is quickly harassed by a merchant before Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious intervenes with dark humor. The Diviners drink and dance with the gathered knights, and King Benedict Castor proposes a public challenge to Rory. After One and Four fail to topple him, Six lifts and slams Rory to the ground, forcing him to accept a future Divination at Aisling. The night cements tensions and shifting dynamics between Six, Rory, and the king.

Full Summary

Six reached Coulson Faire ahead of Hamelin Fischer and was struck by its wealth and energy, noting the hamlet’s creed exalting coin beneath banners and the looming presence of Castle Luricht. Entranced, she wandered alone, stopping at a stall of finely carved stone busts. The desperate merchant recognized her as a Diviner, grabbed her, and begged for a sign or to see her eyes. Before Six could break free, Rory appeared, threw the man back, and menaced him with a joking threat of mutilation, unnerving Six before revealing his cruelty as staged bravado. Maude defused the moment with ale, chiding Six for going off alone and probing about Hamelin, as other Diviners laughed.

Hamelin reappeared, face reddened, then fled behind tents as Rory and Maude followed; Rory whispered a cutting remark to Six. One linked arms with Six and led the Diviners to a pyre where musicians played. Six reflected on knights’ decency versus the Diviners’ enduring sisterhood and, buoyed by ale and camaraderie, joined the dance. As the night deepened, more knights gathered, including Maude, Hamelin—now sporting a fresh bruise—and Rory, who for once smiled without derision.

In the renewed revelry, the Diviners shed cloaks, revealing white dresses that drew awestruck stares. King Benedict Castor asked Six to dance, thanked her for not exposing their possession of spring water the night before, and promised repayment with a “game.” He then publicly challenged Rory to a test of his craft per Traum tradition: withstand three assaults without losing his footing, or else submit to a Divination at Aisling; if Rory succeeded, the king would run naked.

Rory accepted on the condition he could choose his assailants and selected the Diviners, while the king had his hands tied for added spectacle. The Diviners huddled, quickly agreeing that One, Four, and Six would strike. Following Six’s whispered advice, One kicked Rory hard in his injured left ribs, hurting him but failing to topple him. Four tried seduction, kissing Rory deeply to unbalance him, but he held his ground.

Pushed forward for the final assault, Six faced Rory. They traded barbs—Rory inviting her to exploit his weakness, Six vowing to put him on his back. Six then drove forward, wrapped her arms around his waist, and heaved him off his feet, taking a step and slamming both of them into the grass. The crowd erupted; with his hands bound, Rory lay pinned beneath Six, stunned that she had felled him so publicly.

Lifted by One and Four amid cheers and music, Six looked back at Rory with chilly satisfaction and told him she would see him “in the spring,” confirming the forfeit: Rory must return to Aisling for a Divination. The chapter ended with the Diviners’ victory in the challenge and heightened personal friction and fascination between Six and Rory, as well as the king’s complicity in orchestrating the spectacle.

Who Appears

• Six — A Diviner and narrator; explores the Faire, is harassed by a merchant, dances, and ultimately topples Rory in the challenge, forcing his future Divination.
• Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious — Knight; intervenes at the stall with menacing humor, baits and insults Six, accepts the king’s challenge with hands tied, withstands two assaults, then is slammed by Six and must submit to a Divination.
• Maude — Knight; keeps order, supplies ale, explains Traum’s challenge tradition, restrains Rory from rash action, and encourages the spectacle.
• King Benedict Castor (Benji) — Boy-king; dances with Six, thanks her for discretion about spring water, and orchestrates the public challenge against Rory.
• Hamelin Fischer — Knight; arrives late and embarrassed, later seen with a new bruise on his jaw; otherwise recedes.
• One — Diviner; comforts and dances with Six, kicks Rory in his left ribs during the challenge.
• Four — Diviner; kisses Rory as a tactic to unbalance him, fails to topple him, helps lift Six afterward.
• Two — Diviner; voices reluctance but consents to the plan to challenge Rory.
• Three — Diviner; drinks, jokes about the challenge, supports the group’s decision.
• Five — Diviner; drinks, teases, and supports “flattening” Rory while avoiding direct involvement.
• Stone merchant — new; desperate vendor who grabs Six seeking a sign; is intimidated by Rory and released.
• Knights of Traum — group; gather at the pyre, drink, cheer, and enforce the terms of the challenge tradition.
• Instrumentalists/Dancers — group; provide music and set the festive scene at the pyre.