Overview

Sybil wakes bruised from the night’s encounter and the group confirms the intruder was likely the Heartsore Weaver. After Benji attempts to mend tensions and pitches a future with him at Castle Luricht, Sybil asserts her uncertain path. The hamlet’s gentle unweaving ceremony moves everyone, while Rory quietly chooses a future at Sybil’s side. When the Weaver fails to take their spring-water bait, the gargoyle leads them to a hidden cave, and Rory descends first, with the others preparing to follow.

Full Summary

Sybil wakes aching and bruised where the hooded intruder struck her. Maude, Benji, the gargoyle, and Rory are with her. Rory examines the bruise and vows to kill the Heartsore Weaver if she was the attacker. Sybil reports the Weaver’s inhuman, stone-like face and that the intruder said nothing. Benji proposes luring the Weaver with spring water during the ceremony, as with the Ardent Oarsman.

As Maude orders everyone out so she can dress, Benji asks Sybil to speak and tries to explain his association with Hamelin, Dedrick, and Tory as political. Sybil questions whether that should cost friendship with Rory. Benji admits he envies Rory’s freedom and rule-breaking and seems unsettled by it. Sybil reveals she has discarded her shroud. Benji reacts with awe at her stone eyes and speaks of using her presence at court, but when Sybil says she may not go to Castle Luricht after Aisling is dealt with, Benji presses the safety and prestige of staying with him, then assures her he would let her go if she wished.

The hamlet’s ceremony begins within a living hedge circle led by Brenna Bassett and four other weavers. Brenna speaks about love and heartbreak as ever-present signs, comparing love to a loom stone that keeps people rooted. The weavers each draw a thread from Benji’s specially woven tunic, tying them to their fingers and gently unweaving the garment without humiliating him. The tone is reverent and tender, impressing Sybil with its lack of spectacle or harm.

While the tunic unspools, Sybil anxiously asks Rory what comes after the mantle-taking and Aisling’s defeat. Rory replies that Sybil can choose any future and states plainly that he has already chosen her, prepared to leave the knighthood. Sybil worries about Benji’s reaction, but Rory insists Benji will understand. Sybil recognizes she is falling in love with Rory.

After the ceremony, Sybil and Rory set out a flask of Aisling’s spring water to lure the Heartsore Weaver, but nothing comes. Later, Benji, Maude, and the gargoyle join them with the Omens’ stone objects. The gargoyle claims they are searching in the wrong place and leads them to a coastal bluff he visited at dawn.

At an old gray stone, the group detects the sound of water below. Sybil and Rory lift the stone, revealing a narrow hole with darkness and seawater glimmering below. Sybil recognizes it from recurring dreams: a dark space lit by cracks, a stone bench, a tapestry with a loom stone, and heavy footsteps and clacking behind her. Rory admits he hates tight, dark places but insists on going first. After kissing Sybil’s gauntleted hand, he drops into the cave and calls up that he is safe and will catch them. Sybil prepares to follow—and the gargoyle excitedly shoves her in.

Who Appears

• Sybil — narrator/diviner; wakes bruised from the intruder’s strike, discards her shroud, is moved by the ceremony, discusses futures with Benji and Rory, sets a spring-water lure, identifies the hidden cave from her dreams, and descends after Rory.
• Rodrick “Rory” Myndacious — knight and Sybil’s lover; vows to kill the Weaver, chooses a future with Sybil over the knighthood, helps set the lure, detects the hidden cave, and descends first despite hating tight spaces.
• Benedict “Benji” Castor — king; arrives in a special woven tunic, explains his political friendships, reacts with awe to Sybil’s stone eyes, undergoes the unweaving ceremony, later joins the search with the Omens’ objects.
• Maude — knight; injured but resolute to attend the ceremony, later accompanies the group carrying the Ardent Oarsman’s oar and prepares to descend.
• The gargoyle — Sybil and Maude’s squire; present at wake, charms a child at the ceremony, leads the group to the concealed cave entrance, and pushes Sybil in playfully.
• Brenna Bassett — innkeeper and weaver; leads the ceremony, speaks on love and heartbreak, and oversees the unweaving of Benji’s tunic.
• The Heartsore Weaver — Omen; likely the hooded intruder who bruised Sybil; does not appear at the lure but is presumed to be in or linked to the hidden cave.
• Knights and folk of the Cliffs of Bellidine — witnesses; participate in the ceremony, dance with the tunic threads, and accept the gargoyle.