Summary

An unnamed girl attempts a hunt in the middle of winter. Her family of four is starving and only she can get food for them. However, threats of wolves and faeries means she must move quickly. She finds a deer just as a wolf attacks it. She kills the wolf, skins it and takes the wolf’s pelt and the deer home.

At home, the reader learns the girl’s name is Fayre and she has two older sisters; Elain and Nesta. Nesta is rude to Fayre while Elain is unknowingly lazy. The reader also learns that Fayre loves to paint, but is forced to spend her time doing chores her sisters will not do. Their father, formerly a wealthy merchant, was beaten by creditors who broke one of his legs. Meanwhile, Fayre learns that Nesta is going to accept a marriage...