Chapter 14 Summary

Yul accompanies Birle when she goes into the dirty, squalid Old Town to market. There, Birle learns how much Corbel is feared in his land. The fishmonger refuses to name a price when she sees Birle's collar, which identifies her as a slave of Corbel's household. Instead, the merchants all tell Birle to pay whatever she thinks is right.

Birle learns why when she passes a spike in the center of the market. There, a man's severed hand with a gold coin is impaled on the stake, for all to see. Another is on the other side of the small square. They belong to Ker and Torson, who were murdered for cheating Corbel. Their hands are displayed as a lesson for all.

Returning from market, Birle learns that Joaquim plans to plant an herb garden. He will continue his studies of medicine, detailing...