Flashback

Many Years Earlier

Anaisa tossed her fiery hair, glad that her father was once again going far away. Foundrel had always threatened war, but never followed through. It was a ridiculous notion.

At thirteen, Anaisa had the entire world figured out. She felt she knew everything there was to know. Her father was a monster. Her sister was the only person she could trust. 

The servants were mostly either useless or tattle-tales.

Today, however, the king was sending her father and his cousin on a far-away mission. Barnabas would venture with Anaisa's father into the terrible foreign land to attempt negotiations on some sort of peace treaty. If they were successful, at least one of the two men would begin a stint as a guard along the border to help enforce the agreement.