Blood & Honey
The Funeral: Reid
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Reid observing the somber funeral procession for the Archbishop amidst a cold, relentless rain. The streets are lined with Constabulary and Chasseurs, while allies like the Dames Blanches and loup garou lie in wait for Morgane. Reid and Lou are forced to remain hidden at Deveraux’s insistence, though Reid chafes at the passive role. The scene is heavy with tension, as Reid reflects on the Archbishop’s complicated legacy and his own conflicted emotions about the man who was both his father and a figure of authority.
Reid grapples with grief and guilt, questioning whether anyone truly loved the Archbishop. He acknowledges the Archbishop’s flaws, particularly his relationship with Morgane, which led to Lou’s birth. Lou offers comfort, reminding Reid that mourning requires accepting the deceased as they were, not as idealized figures. Their shared silence underscores the weight of their losses—Reid’s father and Lou’s chance to know him. The rain and distant liturgy from Saint-Cécile create a haunting backdrop as they await the procession’s passage.
Reid’s internal struggle deepens as he confronts his lingering resentment toward magic and his own identity. He recognizes Lou’s unwavering support despite their painful history and realizes that magic is an inseparable part of them both. This moment of clarity strengthens his resolve to move forward with her. Outside, the procession grows louder, with clergymen, Chasseurs, and the royal family paying hollow tributes. The appearance of the Archbishop’s ornate casket—closed due to his gruesome death—triggers painful memories for Reid.
The chapter closes with Lou drawing Reid’s attention to the casket, a stark symbol of finality. Reid’s grief is compounded by flashbacks of the Archbishop’s violent end at Morgane’s hands. The scene captures his turmoil—love, guilt, and the burden of hatred—as he stands at the crossroads of his past and future with Lou. The rain, the crowd, and the closed casket mirror his unresolved emotions, leaving readers with a sense of lingering sorrow and the fragile hope of reconciliation.
FAQs
1. How does the setting of the funeral procession reflect the emotional tone of the chapter?
Answer:
The funeral procession is marked by heavy rain described as “icy” and “sharp like tiny knives,” which mirrors Reid’s internal pain and grief. The sea of mourners in black, the drawn faces of the Constabulary and Chasseurs, and the somber chanting from Saint-Cécile create a bleak, oppressive atmosphere. This setting underscores the weight of loss and the unresolved tension surrounding the Archbishop’s death. The rain also symbolizes purification and renewal, hinting at Reid’s struggle to reconcile his past hatred with his present acceptance of magic and Lou.2. Analyze Reid’s complex feelings toward the Archbishop. How does his perspective evolve in this chapter?
Answer:
Reid grapples with conflicting emotions: respect for the Archbishop as a father figure, anger at his flaws (such as his relationship with Morgane), and guilt over his role in his death. He acknowledges that the Archbishop “wasn’t perfect” and made his own choices, which helps Reid release some of his self-hatred. His realization that “a small part of me did resent her magic” shows his growing acceptance of his and Lou’s magical heritage. By the end, he resolves to move forward without the “millstone” of hatred, choosing love and reconciliation instead.3. Why does Deveraux insist that Reid and Lou remain hidden during the procession? What does this reveal about the political tensions in their world?
Answer:
Deveraux claims their absence will deter Morgane from causing chaos, but his true motive is to shield Reid from the Chasseurs and king, who would target him if spotted. This highlights the dangerous divide between factions: the Chasseurs’ lingering hostility, the king’s hypocrisy (publicly mourning while privately celebrating the Archbishop’s death), and the witches’ precarious position. Deveraux’s actions also reflect his tactical understanding of Morgane’s methods, as she “thrives in chaos,” making secrecy a strategic necessity.4. How does Lou’s presence and support during the funeral procession demonstrate the theme of reconciliation in the chapter?
Answer:
Despite her complicated history with the Archbishop (who was also her biological father), Lou stands by Reid, offering comfort: “Sometimes it hurts to remember the dead as who they were, rather than who we wanted them to be.” Her empathy bridges their past conflicts, showing her willingness to support Reid even when his grief involves the man who persecuted witches. Their intertwined fingers and shared heartbeat symbolize their commitment to move forward together, embracing both love and magic despite societal divisions.5. What significance does the closed casket hold, and how does it connect to Reid’s unresolved trauma?
Answer:
The casket’s closure reflects the horror of the Archbishop’s unrecognizable corpse, a detail Reid avoids picturing because it triggers memories of his violent death at Morgane’s hands. The engraved angels and skulls juxtapose sanctity and mortality, mirroring Reid’s struggle to reconcile the Archbishop’s spiritual role with his human failings. This imagery also underscores Reid’s guilt—he cannot face the physical reality of his father’s death, just as he struggles to fully confront his own complicity in the cycle of hatred.
Quotes
1. “Sometimes it hurts to remember the dead as who they were, rather than who we wanted them to be.”
This poignant reflection by Lou captures the chapter’s central theme of grappling with complex grief. It highlights Reid’s struggle to reconcile his idealized image of the Archbishop with the flawed reality of the man who was both his father and a deeply problematic figure.
2. “I’d chosen this life. This love. And with my fingers trembling in hers, with her heart beating alongside mine, I still chose it. I still chose her.”
This represents a key turning point in Reid’s internal conflict, showing his conscious rejection of his past prejudices. The quote powerfully encapsulates his transformation and commitment to Lou despite their differences and the weight of tradition.
3. “Magic was just one part of her. It was part of me. And we would find a way forward together.”
This insight marks Reid’s acceptance of both Lou’s magic and his own latent magical nature. The quote demonstrates his growing self-awareness and determination to forge a new path that embraces rather than denies this aspect of their identities.
4. “That hatred could crush a person. Even now, it weighed heavily, a millstone around my neck. Strangling me. I couldn’t hold it much longer. I didn’t want to.”
This metaphorical reflection reveals Reid’s emotional breakthrough regarding his internalized self-loathing. It shows his realization that clinging to hatred (whether toward himself, Lou, or magic) is ultimately self-destructive rather than redemptive.