Chapter 43

Trystan enters the village festival in a foul mood, hiding beneath a hood while lanterns, music, dancing, puppet shows, and romantic playacting fill the streets. While searching the vendors for anyone selling portrait frames, Trystan overhears villagers gossiping that The Villain killed Otto Warsen and that Evie Sage betrayed the village after working for him.

Trystan forces himself not to draw attention, but Rick, Evie’s former paramour, makes a crude remark about Evie. Recognizing Rick’s voice, Trystan lets his magic strike Rick’s injured knee, causing Rick to collapse screaming while Trystan walks away satisfied.

An elderly face painter named Edna asks Trystan for business. Though exposing his face is risky, Trystan agrees out of pity and asks to be painted as a wolf. Edna’s work is unexpectedly masterful, transforming Trystan’s face into an effective disguise, and Trystan rewards her with a pouch of thirty gold pieces while telling Edna that art is invaluable.

Edna becomes emotional, thanks Trystan, and then reveals she has recognized him by tearing down and destroying his wanted poster. Grateful and newly concealed by the face paint, Trystan continues his search with less fear of discovery.

After asking a boy for directions, Trystan learns that the portrait-frame vendor is Mr. Gully and heads toward Gully’s cart. When Trystan arrives, a silver-haired young woman with butterfly combs and rabbit face paint is already questioning the vendor. Trystan recognizes the woman as Evie Sage, who has defied his order and reached the lead before him.