House of Salt and Sorrows

Annaleigh, Camille, and Morella go to a dress shop for their final fittings. Camille is ecstatic for the ball, which will be full of suitors, but Annaleigh is nervous; she would only be interested in Cassius if he attended. Annaleigh’s seafoam green dress is lovely, but she feels the strapless top is immodest. Camille, Morella, and the dressmaker assure her that she looks fashionable. When the dressmaker claims Pontus may take her away himself, Morella confirms that mainlanders worship other gods:

Vaipany, lord of sky and sun; Seland, ruler of earth; Versia, queen of the night; and Arina, goddess of love. There were dozens of other deities—Harbingers and Tricksters—who ruled over other aspects of life, but for the People of the Salt, Pontus, king of the sea, was the only god we needed (64).

The dressmaker implies she makes dresses for Arina herself. Outside the dress shop, Annaleigh spots Edgar, one of Eulalie’s suitors. She tries to engage him in conversation, but he clearly needs to leave. However, Camille makes pleasant conversation about his clock-making business. Annaleigh notes his light blonde hair, which matches the lock in Eulalie’s locket, before he rushes to work.