"The Time Before" is the second book in the Sacred Water trilogy. In the first book the world of Daniel and Heather is introduced as well as the importance of the Sacred Water, which contains iodine which prevents the development of deformed babies. These iodine deficient babies are referred to medically as cretins, but in the world of Daniel and Heather they were called half brains. Their status was as sub-humans and slaves. One of these half brains is Betty, who is blessed with a way of knowing things and becomes instrumental in protecting the Sacred Water. Others had learned of the power of the Sacred Water and tried to capture the source, which was located in the Forest-which is as much a living thing as it is a place in the mountains. It is the efforts of Daniel and Heather with those of the Forest who defeat those who would have captured the spring of their Sacred Water. The story opens with the formal celebration of the wedding of Daniel and Heather.