Chapters Seventeen through Twenty-Three Summary

Colin wakes Dunworthy very early on Christmas day and is pleased with his gifts. Dunworthy continues to deal with Gaddson, who Colin has begun calling Gallstone, and the bell ringers. Dunworthy goes to visit Badri who is still incoherent and then learns that two of the detainees have been brought in with virus symptoms.

There follows a section from the Doomesday Book. Kivrin has realized that she can't possibly find the drop on her own. She also talks with Rosemund about her approaching marriage to Sir Bloet. Rosemund says only that she knows her father won't allow her to come to harm. Meanwhile, Gawyn hasn't returned and Eliwys is obviously concerned about his absence.

That night there are additional cases reported. In chapter eighteen, Dunworthy leaves the bell ringers to practice in his room with the agreement...