III
I dreamt of Victoria that night. Gentle, breathtaking Victoria with sparkling sapphire eyes, fair skin, and almond hair that waterfalled down her shoulders in loose ringlets. The place she called home- Lorelyn- lie far north, within the Isten Mountains. Jeremi met her on a leisure trip and they fell in love within the few days they spent together. Her beauty brought many sidelong glances from the men of Anastas, but she only had eyes for Jeremi and myself. I loved her with all of my heart.
My dream was of a nigh forgotten memory, safely tucked away in the depths of my mind.
Since the age of thirteen I had served the Terryns; cooking, cleaning, tending to the gardens, and responding to their every need. By my twenty-third nameday they had given me my own room, supplied me with a full
