Sofina had all the advantages that accrue to an only child, but with the advantage of having an older sibling who could be relied upon to spoil her. Her mother had been widowed young and had married again some years later. Thus her son, Thaddan, was (as Sofina so wisely put it) blessed with the most charming and adorable younger sister.

Let us be fair here, Thaddan was suitably grateful for his advantages and could be relied upon to spoil his sister shamelessly. Given he was almost sixteen years older than her, this was entirely right and proper. If there was a fly in Sofina’s ointment, it was that Thaddan was a man-at-arms with Lord Cartin’s company. Now Lord Cartin was a true gentleman and a good employer. He had been known to grant his men leave so they could see their wife and babe in arms. But even Sofina…