Ragna is in labor with her second child; it turns out to be non-identical twin boys, whom she names Hubert and Colinan. Wynstan wishes they would both die, so that Garulf can inherit their assets. Her first child is named Osbert. Elsewhere, Wynstan and Gytha discuss how to drive Wilf and Ragna apart.

Edgar is working when two passengers—Adelaide and Odo, who are also Ragna’s couriers—arrive to use the ferry. As they cross, they tell Edgar about the twins. Later that day, Edgar finds them naked after Ironface and another bandit rob them. Odo says the bandits had a boat. They take the unconscious Adelaide to Mother Agatha on Leper Island.

When Ragna hears about Odo and Adelaide, she makes the two-day trip to Leper Island where Adelaide is healing. While she is there, Edgar and Ragna strategize about how to identify and capture Ironface.

Ragna sees a group trying to wash Gytha’s new enslaved girl, a 13-year-old named Carwen. Gytha says Carwen is a gift for Wilf. Ragna knows this is part of Gytha’s plot to undermine her. Carwen spits in Wilf’s face. Wilf laughs and then slaps her before ordering his men to tie her up and put her in his house.