Chapter 17

Four months later...

Sig's wife Leida was heading back from a long day in the market on the outer walls of Rumstead. It was a long wagon ride to and from their home in North Woods. But Leida had had a successful day in the market, selling nearly all of her confectioneries and pocketing a purse full of money. Typically she and her wizard husband would go to the market together but Sig had to remain at home to spend the day gathering the plants he needed to sell.

Now bulging with pregnancy, it had become very difficult to stay on her feet for such a long time and she was definitely feeling exhausted. Sig was constantly scolding her for not slowing down and taking it easy. In fact he was trying to get her to stay home while he went to the market and sold his poultices and herbal remedies. But Leida was far too independent and stubborn to give up her trade. She was pregnant, not infirm.

She traveled the roads alone, not seeing a soul as she neared the border of the North Woods. No one liv