The Enchanted Greenhouse

Yarrow’s entire family arrives at the docks aboard Marin’s ship. Terlu is astonished because her letter requested the help of “a gardener, singular, if anyone could be spared” (233). Yarrow is standoffish towards his relatives, and Terlu acts as an intermediary. His sister, Rowan, reveals that they’ve all come back to Belde because the revolution has thrown Alyssium into chaos and they have nowhere else to go. Terlu learns that the library was damaged during the revolution and realizes that Rijes used the chaos to sneak her out. Overwhelmed with gratitude, Terlu asks Marin to look for Rijes in Alyssium and bring her somewhere safe. The sailor promises to do her best and to return in time to deliver supplies for the Winter Feast.

Yarrow’s relatives need to repair their old cottages, so Terlu invites them to stay in Laiken’s study for the time being. At the tower, the new arrivals’ meeting with the sentient plants is joyful because many of the adult gardeners were friends with Dendy and the others. Yarrow’s father, Birch, confides to Terlu that he advised his family not to inform Yarrow that they were all coming out of fear that he might revoke his invitation.