Summary

In Chapter 23, “Wizr,” Owen hides as Mancini and Berwick leave Ankarette's room. Mancini asks how Ankarette tricked Berwick into helping her. Berwick says his daughter was in distress during a difficult labor, and Ankarette saved his daughter and her twin babies. Berwick says Eredur was king, and he told his wife who sent Ankarette to help. That action has “given me years of glee” (190) and earned Berwick's loyalty to Ankarette above everyone else, including Severn.

When Owen enters Ankarette's chambers, he discovers that she is in distress, breathing heavily and looking disheveled. He helps her to bed before relating how he told Severn about his “dream,” and the reactions of Severn and Ratcliffe. Owen asks if he can tell his secret to Evie. Ankarette believes it is a bad idea, but agrees to meet Evie in order to decide for herself if Evie...