Contents
Chapter 19
Overview
Maevyth, running errands, is drawn to the Crone Witch, who claims Maevyth now walks between the living and the dead after bonding blood with the raven. The witch reveals she discovered Maevyth as an abandoned infant by The Eating Woods and recounts a beast and a shimmering veil beyond the trees. She warns Maevyth to avoid the forest. Maevyth conceals Raivox’s existence and returns home unsettled.
Summary
Maevyth leaves Raivox hidden in a crate behind the Mortuary and walks to the village market to fetch figs for Lolla. On her route, she brings food to Mrs. Chalmsley and notes the absence of the newly banished mother and child. Passing The Eating Woods, Maevyth is shaken by visions of the Banished Man and the Lyverian girl, struggling to dispel them.
Near the meadow hovel, the Crone Witch beckons Maevyth over. The witch asserts Maevyth’s recent “fever” did not pass but became part of her, claiming Maevyth now shares blood with the dead due to the raven ritual. She frames this communion as both burden and possible gift, declaring the gods chose Maevyth as a vessel.
Fearing village suspicion, Maevyth protests, but the witch reveals intimate knowledge of Maevyth’s origins: as a babe abandoned at The Eating Woods with a black rose, found by the witch. The witch then recounts entering the forest as a youth with her brother, witnessing a bark-skinned, black-eyed beast devour him, and fleeing before a shimmering, liquid-glass veil—an apparent gateway she was too terrified to cross.
The witch derides the governor’s slanders calling her a child-luring “Crone Witch,” yet still warns Maevyth to stay away from the woods. When asked about the egg, Maevyth lies that she released the creature, avoiding mention of Raivox. The witch suggests Maevyth’s grandmother Agatha would have destroyed it.
Maevyth offers the witch some figs and departs, burdened by the revelation of her abandonment, the claim that she walks between realms, and the ominous warning about the beast and the hidden veil. She returns toward home, still concealing Raivox.
Who Appears
- MaevythProtagonist; runs errands, experiences visions, learns she was found as an infant, and is told she now bridges life and death.
- The Crone WitchRecluse who reveals Maevyth’s origins, explains her bond with the dead, recounts a forest beast and a shimmering veil, and warns her away.
- RaivoxNewly hatched creature hidden in a crate; Maevyth lies about releasing him to protect his secret.
- The Banished ManHaunting vision that unsettles Maevyth near The Eating Woods, reinforcing her connection to the dead.
- Lyverian girlGhostly figure seen watching from the trees, part of Maevyth’s troubling visions.
- Mrs. ChalmsleyVillager aided by Maevyth with food; her scene underscores Maevyth’s errand and compassion.