Cordelia insists on being the one inside the spell circle, arguing that Falada cannot harm her because Evangeline's plans depend on her safety. After protests, the others assign roles: Hester takes water, Imogene salt, Evermore wine, and Willard will draw the triangles. They plan the ritual for late evening at the stable entrance, with three stablehands cleared in to help wrangle Falada.

An old, sharp-eyed stableman named Bernard discovers the plan and confronts Evermore. Reluctantly trusting his lord, Bernard insists on bringing Falada out himself. Falada senses the reagents and growls unnaturally, then bites off Bernard's ear in a horrifying, unhorselike movement. Cordelia throws herself over Bernard to shield him, then wraps her arms around Falada's hind leg, pinning him because the familiar dares not hurt her. With Bernard's bloodied help, she ties a rope to his leg, and the men secure Falada with ropes from leg to neck.

Bernard, finally convinced Falada is no real horse, is sent for a doctor. Cordelia whispers her hatred to Falada for betraying her to her mother. Willard draws the circle and triangles with darkly comic propriety. The sentinel geese arrive and stand guard outside the circle. Cordelia recites the alchemical incantation invoking Hermes Trismegistus.

Hester sips water and a powerful resonant "note" pours out, striking Falada and revealing Hester's fear of losing herself. Imogene's salt-note joins, harmonizing and exposing her hidden ruthlessness. Falada thrashes in agony. But when Evermore drinks the wine, almost nothing happens—his soul tastes of earth and stone and a hopeless love, not wine. The two notes fade without the third. Falada stills, then begins to laugh, the ritual having failed.