This story takes place before the events of the book Prince for Sale, when Vell was still a prince of Otharn. It was inspired by Vell’s telling of his past with the mysterious ranger in the forests of Otharn:

Vell lay back and stretched out on the bed, damp hair spread out on the pillow. “When I was younger, I often explored the forests of Otharn alone, looking for herbs and springs, ancient trees and secret places. I met a forest ranger, much older than I, he found me bathing in a pool. He looked at me as the hunter looks at the deer, and we came to an understanding. I ran from him, naked on my bare feet. He hunted me through the forest, and brought me down, bound me and kept me at his camp. He had me as he wished, and called me Vatnsandur, which means water spirit.”