there is a tale surrounding how ester came to sen mor, and how they were given the spot as the queen's second; it was a stormy night when queen larmina and a handful of soldiers patrolled the border together, until there was a loud crack of thunder, followed by the sounds of someone crying. the queen followed the cries into a cave, where she found a young child hiding from the rain, frightened and sobbing in the corner. they were either orphaned or abandoned, unable to say which, so the queen took the child back to sen mor to give them shelter and food. 

upon discussion between her and the elders on what to do with the child, the queen and her husband decide they would take care of them and gives the child the name oristina — despite protest from the elders, who insists a child not of her blood should not carry the royal family's name. larmina, however, always cared little for what the elders had to say, much to their chagrin. the elders still have little idea how much of a thorn in their side ester would become. 

larmina considers ester to be her first child, however the elders make sure they would not be named heir. she finds a loophole, however, and declares ester to be the direct adviser to the throne, the closest they could be to royalty. it is a position that had long went unfilled, and the elders are especially upset with this decision — because now that means ester holds more power than them. 

although even the elders would have to admit that ester is a good fit for the role — they are intelligent and cunning, and the ruler’s second has to be the perfect warrior and tactician. though the elders would say they lack respect for their leader, but ester is more effective when they feel they can speak freely. the elders, of course, disagree, but they rarely leave the church, and know little of politics or war in any case. flattery did not win battles. 

ester remembers xerxes' birth, the death of the king following shortly after. larmina raises them and xerxes together, and they think of xerxes as a younger brother. even when at war, the oristina family seems at peace. 

the death of larmina puts an end to that. 

the elders become more bold with undermining ester, now that larmina is no longer there to put a stop to them, and xerxes is too caught in his own feelings to notice.