The Gate to Women's Country: Chapter 20- 22

The Holylands (as referred to by those within them) or the badlands (as referred to by those from Women's country) are introduced. The Holylands have what seems to be even stranger customs than Women's country.
Women are very objectified in the culture of the Holylands. They are pieces which can be traded away for other. At the age of 14, the woman is often given to a man in marriage. Often the man is much older than her, and if the woman is widowed and childless, she is given to a younger man. However if she is widowed and had a child, then the woman lives out her life on her own. Apparently the old men do not enjoy being married to someone "after another had had her." In Women's Country, there is no mention on what happens during women's periods. However, menstruating in the Holyland merits being called unclean, and the hanging of a red kerchief. Once married, women's hair is shaved off, which makes no sense. The women's sole purpose is to produce more sons. Susannah was pregnant 11 times in 15 years.
Female infanticide seems to be extremely common in the Holyland. However, the result of such actions is beginning to cause problems when there are not enough wives for the bachelors. Girls were often left for the coyotes, and the occasional weak boy too.
The Holylands are regulated by a set of laws called the Scriptures. While the women in Women's country pray to the Lady, the only god figure in the Holylands is All Father. It gets to the point that Susannah wishes for a female deity to pray to.

Chernon and Septemius interact. Septemius tries to point out the flaws in Chernon's logic about how the Council is secret, by pointing out how in the garrison many of the same practices are exercised  yet Chernon accepts them.

Stavia seems to be close to interacting with the people of the Holylands. Dogs from the Holylands had joined the flocks of sheep, protecting the sheep from the coyotes. After the sons in the Holylands suggested breaking a woman's legs after taking her from Women's country, I am extremely concerned for what will occur in the future. Someone is going to die, however it will not be Stavia as 1) the twins specified so 2)Stavia is still alive at the age of 37. Chernon seems like a likely person, however Septemius and the twins, or perhaps if Stavia befriends Susannah, Susannah may be killed.