Overview

At Aisling Cathedral, Six and her fellow shrouded Diviners watch the arrival of the new boy-king, Benedict Castor, and his knights. After a teasing exchange with a hostile, unnamed knight, Six is chosen by lot to perform the Divination. Guided by a talkative gargoyle and overseen by the icy abbess, Six enters the cathedral’s spring as the king presents his offering and request.

Full Summary

A talkative gargoyle, distracted by lecturing a trapped fly, allowed the narrator to slip away from dusting pews and run outside to view an approaching royal procession. In the courtyard, she passed five hooded limestone statues bearing a coin, an inkwell, an oar, a chime, and a loom stone, and continued through an apple orchard to a high stone wall where five other shrouded maidens—Diviners—waited.

The six women, known only by numbers One through Six (the narrator), perched to watch purple banners crest the hills. They speculated about the young king, Benedict Castor, and the size of his escort. Following tradition, they drew straws to decide who would dream in the cathedral’s spring for the royal Divination. After several rounds, Six drew the short straw and accepted the role, while the procession neared.

As the knights rode beneath the wall, many removed their helmets and pleaded for the Diviners’ attention. One final knight lingered when his horse stopped to eat the apple Six had discarded. When he removed his helmet, Six observed his severe features and charcoal-rimmed eyes; unlike the others, he met her gaze with cold disdain and a sneer. Their brief exchange turned sharp, ending when a gargoyle called Six back to the cathedral.

Six descended and followed the same peculiar gargoyle—who calls everyone “Bartholomew”—through the orchard and courtyard to the cathedral doors, where the shrouded abbess awaited. The abbess confirmed Six would dream and admitted them inside as evening fell. Six disrobed to her shroud and donned the white silk Divining robe marked VI, then allowed the gargoyle to lead her to the spring fissure at the cathedral’s heart.

Standing waist-deep in the cold, oily water that smelled of rotting flowers, Six looked up at the stained-glass windows showing the five stone objects and the large rose window shaped like a moth-like flower. Six additional gargoyles emerged to ring the spring, and the cathedral doors opened to admit the hushed knights, followed by King Benedict Castor with the abbess.

Before the assembled court, the abbess conducted the ritual’s opening. The nervous young king offered twenty gold pieces and haltingly requested to know whether “they”—the Diviners—favored him now that he was king. Without visible emotion, the abbess handed the king a knife and told him to begin, signaling the imminent start of the Divination.

Who Appears

• Six — narrator and Diviner of Aisling Cathedral; chosen by lot to perform the Divination; confronts a hostile knight and enters the spring.
• One — senior Diviner among the six; organizes the straw-drawing; teases and leads the group.
• Two — tall, solemn Diviner; initially spots the banners; competes in the straw game.
• Three — flat-voiced Diviner; skeptical and sardonic during the straw game.
• Four — black-curled Diviner; nearly chosen but relieved when Six draws the short straw; flirts with knights.
• Five — orange-haired Diviner; discards Six’s apple; joins the viewing on the wall.
• The Abbess — shrouded leader of Aisling Cathedral; cold and exacting; oversees the ritual and hands the king a knife.
• Peculiar gargoyle — talkative limestone gargoyle who calls everyone “Bartholomew”; escorts Six, prepares robes, and conducts her to the spring.
• Other gargoyles — six additional gargoyles; silent guardians who take positions around the spring.
• King Benedict Castor (the Third) — seventeen-year-old, newly crowned king of Traum; arrives for an unexpected Divination, offers twenty gold pieces, and reveals fear and uncertainty.
• Unnamed hostile knight — dark-haired knight with charcoal-rimmed eyes; confrontational toward Six; singled out by his disdainful demeanor.
• Royal knights and bannermen — mixed company accompanying the king; many seek the Diviners’ notice.