Prologue: What Happened
The world was grey. Even a beautiful, shining sunrise or sunset was of no
color but a grey blur. Estella Bolger pushed herself up every morning for
the same routine everyday with barely a chance to see the sun.
The daughter of Odovacar and Rosamunda and sister of Fredegar, Estella's
family was not a prominent family, but high up on the status scale.
Rosamunda died of the Winter Sickness when her children were in their
late tweens - Fredegar being two years from his coming-of-age. Odovacar
had, had some good years with his children, but the last couple years,
he'd taken ill and never recovered. He soon became bedridden, and was so
weak he needed constant care
Fredegar insisted hiring a full-time nurse, but Estella objected. "He's
our father. He wants us with him, not a stranger."
Fredegar had avoided the care of his father at all cost. During the last
year of their father's illness, Fredegar had been imprisoned in the
Lockholes of Michel Delving for many months during the ruffian invasion.
He was rescued; though so weak he had to be carried out. It was weeks
before he had the strength to walk again. Estella took care of him as
well in that time. After Fredegar recovered, he was off again staying
away as often as he could.
Estella remained at her father's side until the very end.