Chapters 23 through 25 Summary

They name the child Bryce, and Maida is often seen observing the child. Meanwhile, the preparations of food for the coming winter takes most of the time. The harvests are rich and the larders stuffed with sausages, sweetmeats, honey and more. Haylan is in demand for her knowledge of food storage, and she remains busy, having removed herself from Gwyneth some time before. Miles, Haylan's son, often spends time with Sweyn, learning the ways of the wildlife. One day, he ventures into the swamp to check a trap, slips and falls into the cold river, where he is trapped for hours. Haylan refuses to have Aislinn near, saying that the lady of the manor is a witch and using the fact that she blinded Wulfgar to anyone else as proof. Sweyn, returning from errands of his own to discover the situation...