Till We Have Faces

When Orual returns to the palace, she discovers her father is still away hunting, but she is more concerned with hiding from the Fox. Orual hides her arm and her method of coercing Psyche from him, knowing he would not approve. She also decides not to tell him about the god—he wouldn’t believe her—so she just tells him about the great storm that made the river impassable and the sound of Psyche leaving Glome, weeping.

When he learns about Orual’s test, the Fox is distraught, pointing out the danger to Psyche had her husband been a murderous criminal, and Orual wonders how she failed to consider that. The Fox then asks how Orual persuaded Psyche to perform the test, but she refuses to tell him. He accepts that she has a secret from him and reassures her that he still loves her.

Before she sleeps, Orual resolves to always remain veiled, against the custom of her country, where women leave their faces bare. The Fox is the last man to see her face.

Orual’s arm heals well and, when the King returns seven days later, she joins her father and the Fox in the Pillar Room.