The Water of the Wondrous Isles · Chapter
XV: Birdalone Weareth Her Serpent-Ring explained
Birdalone continues her routine of fishing and swimming, but also secretly visits Habundia in the wood.
What happens
Birdalone continues her routine of fishing and swimming, but also secretly visits Habundia in the wood. One night, she observes the witch wife performing a blood ritual on the Sending Boat, using her own blood to animate it. Birdalone, wearing her serpent-ring for invisibility, follows the witch to the creek and witnesses the boat come to life and depart. She returns home safely, removes the ring, and sleeps peacefully, free of the witch for the night.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Sorcery
The witch wife's blood ritual on the Sending Boat demonstrates the dark sorcery that powers the boat and her control over it.
Female Agency and Autonomy
Birdalone takes initiative to secretly follow the witch, using her ring to observe and learn, asserting her own agency despite her servitude.
Characters to notice
- Birdalone
Birdalone secretly observes the witch wife's ritual on the Sending Boat, using her serpent-ring for invisibility.
- The Witch Wife
The witch wife performs a blood ritual on the Sending Boat, animating it with her own blood and a song.
- Habundia
Birdalone visits Habundia in the wood, spending a happy hour with her and receiving a fawn.
Key passages
“The red raven-wine now Hast thou drunk, stern and bow; Then wake and awake And the wonted way take! The way of the Wender forth over the flood, For the will of the Sender is blent with the blood.”
The boat has drunk the blood (raven-wine) at bow and stern; now awaken and take your usual path across the water, for the sender's will is mixed with the blood.
The witch's song animates the Sending Boat by blending her blood with the boat, commanding it to move.