Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary

Although the King has decreed neither princess should attend the Offering, Orual is determined to accompany Psyche and either free her after everyone leaves or to kill her to keep her from the Shadowbrute's clutches. Orual cannot force herself to eat, falls asleep, and is lifted into bed. Awakened before dawn, she howls with pain but does not weep for Psyche like the slaves who dress and feed her. Overlooking the pain, Orual makes her way to the staircase and sees Psyche appear, sitting upright on an open litter between the King in splendid robes and the bird-headed Priest. Painted, gilded, and bewigged like a temple girl, Psyche looks strange and lifeless.

The gods are not content just to kill Psyche, but make her father serve as murderer and turn Orual's last view of her into an ugly doll. Orual learns...