A Witch Shall Be Born: III, A Letter to Nemedia; IV, Wolves of the Desert Summary

In "III, A Letter to Nemedia," seven months have passed since Tamaris' imprisonment. Astreas writes a letter to his friend and fellow philosopher Alcemides describing the situation in Khauran. Salome has not married Constantius. The kingdom is in shambles. Taxation hurts the people. Salome strips farms while merchants walk around in rags. Astreas writes that he does not exaggerate these conditions. Khauran is an agricultural community. There are farmers of mixed white and aboriginal race. They rely on the land's fertile soil, but now Tamaris (who is really Salome) has ruined everything. The people of Khauran are helpless. The prettiest daughters are taken and given to Constantius. Men are inhumane and ferocious. Many have been...