Summary

In Chapter 22, "Of the Crooked Man and the Sowing of Doubt," David and Roland prepare to leave the village the following morning. The villagers are rude even though it was the bravery of Roland and David that saved them from the beast. They blame Roland for burning down part of their village and they are suspicious because they noticed that the beast focused on David. Fletcher says the villagers will soon forget any anger they feel toward Roland and David. He wants to give David something but the villagers have little food and few extra items available. He gives David a large “blackened hook,” a claw he took from the beast. He says David can always look at this claw and remember his courage when facing the beast.

As they travel, David learns more about Roland's past, including that his father sent him...