The witch-wife took Birdalone from her mother when she was young, and raised the girl-child well enough, if not altogether happily. And perhaps there was a reason for all those things: as Birdalone matured, she took counsel from Habundia, a woman of the wood where the witch-wife feared to follow. She warns Birdalone that the only hope of escape is by water . . . and soon enough, Birdalone will escape from the witch-wife. And the act of that escape will begin a quest by sea . . .