Graceling Chapter 32 Summary

  • Katsa sees the sea for the first time and is blown away. It's gorgeous.
  • She and Bitterblue, with the aid of clothing from their host family and a strategically placed eyepatch, have managed to navigate their way to the port without being spotted. That makes Katsa happy because it means she hasn't had to kill anyone. Score.
  • They scour the waterfront for a Lienid ship that hasn't recently been to Monsea (they can't risk traveling with anyone who's been tainted by Leck's Grace), and finally find one that fits the bill.
  • It takes a bit of doing—a few of the sailors on board think Katsa is a common thief when she shows them Po's ring—but the captain is savvy enough to recognize Katsa and guess at the truth of her story. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the captain herself is Graced—she has the ability to foresee storms, which makes her pretty darned effective at sea.
  • It's the captain that points out the true significance of the ring to Katsa: this is a ring of identity. It's extremely rare for a Lienid prince to give up an identity ring, for to do so is to give up his identity—to abdicate his throne. In giving it to Katsa, Po has given up his prince-ship and made her a princess of Lienid. His castle, along with everything else he owns, now belongs to her.
  • Katsa is horrified. Why would he do such a thing unless he thought he was going to die?
  • Bitterblue reminds her that when Po gave her the ring, he was headed off to assassinate Leck, and that's exactly what he thought might happen.
  • Oh right.
  • Katsa calms down a bit when the captain assures her that yes, she can give the ring back and Po will be Prince Po once again.
  • With their story told and believed, Katsa and Bitterblue are welcomed on board, and everyone begins to call Katsa "Lady Princess," which—of course—she hates.