The River Has Roots

In the morning in Arcadia, Agnes Crow knows something is wrong when her water mill stops turning. The River Liss flows in the wrong direction. Then, she and her daughter, Rowan, find a swan thrashing in the river. Agnes sees the silver band around its neck and knows that it is Rin’s betrothed, though she is careful not to speak her name. Rowan does not understand why Esther is a swan. Agnes explains that it is a trick of the river’s grammar: Rin gave Esther a signet ring, so the river turned her into a cygnet, a swan.

A moment later, Rin appears as a storm, threatening Agnes. Agnes explains that she did not do this to Esther but merely saved her from the river. Rin calms down, apologizes, and tries to soothe the panicking swan. Agnes warns Rin not to speak Esther’s name yet because she will have a choice to make.

To help Esther remember her own shape again, Rin sings one of her riddle songs. The swan sings the response verse, and Agnes uses grammar to help her shift back into her body. Frantic, Esther explains that Pollard tried to drown her and that she must return home to warn Ysabel.