Wet Magic · Chapter
The Under Folk explained
The children and the Mer Princess are imprisoned by the Under Folk.
What happens
The children and the Mer Princess are imprisoned by the Under Folk. They receive tickets-of-leaves and are shown the Underworld's wonders by Ulfin, the jailer's son. They learn of a captive king who became a Professor of Conchology. Later, they are brought before the King and Queen of the Under Folk, who force them to drink the Cup of Forgetfulness. Kathleen is affected and forgets her siblings, becoming a pet of the Queen. The others pretend the draught had no effect. Ulfin later takes them to an Iswater where the captive king resides, and the Princess realizes it is her lost father.
Themes in this chapter
Memory and Forgetfulness
The Cup of Forgetfulness is central to the chapter, causing Kathleen to lose her memories and become a stranger to her siblings.
Family and Loyalty
The Princess's loyalty to her country and family is tested; Ulfin risks his life for the Princess; Mavis's love for Kathleen is painfully evident.
War and Peace
The ongoing war between the Mer people and the Under Folk is discussed; the origins are lost in antiquity, and the children are prisoners of war.
Characters to notice
- Bernard
Asks questions about the Under Folk and the captive king; drinks from the Cup of Forgetfulness but pretends it had no effect.
- Mavis
Inquires about the war's origin; heartbroken when Kathleen forgets her; cries out to Cathay after the draught.
- Francis
Defiantly declares they were fighting against the Under Folk; drinks from the Cup of Forgetfulness.
- Kathleen
Drinks the Cup of Forgetfulness and forgets her siblings; becomes a pet of the Queen, called 'Fido' on a gold collar.
- Ulfin
The jailer's son who befriends the children; shows them the Underworld; reveals he knew the captive king is the Princess's father and risks his life for her.
- Maia
The Mer Princess; remains calm and refuses to betray her country; realizes the captive king is her father.
- The Under Folk
The rulers and inhabitants of the underwater realm; they imprison the children and administer the Cup of Forgetfulness.
Key passages
“Why don’t the King and Queen go and fight, like the Mer Royal Family do?”
Bernard asks why the Under Folk's rulers don't participate in battle.
Highlights the different customs between the two kingdoms.
“Administer the cup of forgetfulness.”
The Queen orders the children to be given the memory-erasing drink.
Key moment leading to Kathleen's transformation.
“Because you wished it, Princess, and because I would rather die for you than live without you.”
Ulfin explains his motivation for helping the Princess reunite with her father.
Reveals Ulfin's deep loyalty and love for the Princess.