Part 2, Chapter 1 Summary

Within days of writing "no answer," Orual realizes she must correct points in her story but, knowing she is dying, appends them rather than editing. The first fix concerns Redival, when from the Great King comes a eunuch Orual recognizes as Tarin. Tarin is thankful Orual's father has castrated and sold him, because it set him on the road to fortune and greatness. Tarin says Redival had been lonely when the Fox and Psyche arrive and fail to love her. Orual has never considered Redival's feelings, being unable to get over jealousy for the golden curls. Orual's daily sifting and sorting of materials, separating motives and pretexts, inspire nightly dreams of sorting a huge pile of mixed seeds by kind, knowing if she makes a single mistake, infinite punishment will befall her. Sometimes, Orual is an ant pushing seeds larger than...