Born on the 6th day of the month of Choren, year 984, I was the only daughter of a wealthy Illianer merchant and his lovely prize wife, a second cousin twice removed to one of the Council of Nine.

Growing up, my mother’s pastimes often bored me; I had little interest in court fashions and hardly the makings of a lady. I attached myself to my father’s coattails at a very young age and made every endeavour to learn all I could of his trade. As he had no sons, he permitted my interest and even encouraged me, in his own taciturn way.

As I got older he started teaching