Prologue
I remember the day my sister was born.
I remember the midwife rushing out to hand her to me because my father was still in the west.
I remember how impossibly fragile she was as I held her in my arms.
I remember holding her to my chest because I was afraid to drop her.
I remember my joy when she opened her gorgeous blue eyes to look at me for the first time.
I remember my anxiety about not being able to see my mother.
I remember my despair when the midwife came out and told me that she was dead. And I remember holding my sister even tighter.
I remember waiting for my father to come back.
I remember the day I found out that he never would.
I took care of my sister. Even though there were adults there to help, I was her guardian. I watched her grow into a wonderful, smart woman.
I remember taking my oath of service to the king. I watched her as I rode away from Emily for the first time.
She always saw me off to my duties, and I always found her when I got back.
I remember telling her of the parents that she never knew.
I remember how eventually she stopped asking.
I remember how my family had meant everything to me.
