The chapters Betrayal and Departure connect elements of merfolk and mermaids seen in previously encountered stories: knowledge, the unknown, and the familiar.   Raymondin and Melusine’s heirs while revisiting some cyclical elements from the Melusina story from our previous penguin books. Urian and his brother mingle in the world of power and knowledge, having become monarchs in Armenia and Cyprus while allying themselves with ruling powers across other Old World continents. Even then, they plotted to adventure into newer territories and to gain more knowledge. Their and Raymondin’s accomplishments in such little time inspire unease and desire in Raymondin to pursue further knowledge; to breach his contract with Melusine—by any means. 

The most interesting part of these chapters for me is Raymondin’s reactions to both the mystery of Melusine and his discovery of her true form. He is full of doubt, rationalizes it with his Christian beliefs, attributes her alien-ness to the Devil figure, and uses scripture-adjacent logic to justify his trespasses—such as “one body” referring to marriage. She comforts him—a gendered response women may have under patriarchy, even when wronged—then delivers her farewells and leaves gifts before committing to her exile.