A common loon swoops down in front of a full moon. It is a black bird with pointy wings and beak, covered all over in white speckles. Everything in the picture is in shades of gray, and an irregular mountainous landscape is visible at the bottom of the card. A triangle of light comes out of the loon’s beak, extending to the bottom of the card. It has a line down its middle, somewhat resembling a sword blade. Eleven light gray S-shapes are visible around the loon’s head in front of the moon.

The Ace of Swords features the diving loon of “Anecdotes,” an homage to the album’s title. It is swiftness and precision, plunging straight to its target. It can also mean more generally a descent or fall. Another interpretation of this card is exposure: starkly silhouetted against the moon, the loon is alone and highly visible to friend and foe alike.

This card links to the Ten of Swords, which shows another, more reflective, mirror.