Do as her mother had done? Maria’s daughter, Anastasia’s mother, had fallen in love with a Russian boyar, one of the princeling nobles in that land. She had died giving birth to his child, a child he would have kept if it had been a son. But he had no use for a daughter, and so Maria had been allowed to take her granddaughter and raise her.

Anastasia had never met her father, nor had she ever had the desire to. She didn’t even know if he still lived. She didn’t care. A man who had found no value in her was nothing to her. And if she carried a small bit of bitterness in her heart over his rejection of her, she kept it to herself.

Maria knew how she felt, of course. Maria knew everything. She could look into people’s eyes and know exactly what was in their heart. Nothing could be hidden from Maria. But Maria did not always have the answers to the questions that went against the natural philosophies of their people, which was when she would conveniently use the Russian as an excuse.

She did this now, reminding Anastasia, “You are different from the rest of us. Your father’s blood shows in this. But that is not a bad thing. You have never stolen, never told a Gajo a lie to fleece him of a few coins. These are natural things for us to do, and to brag of, making fools of Gajos, yet you scorn such behavior. In that you are your father’s daughter, too noble of blood to belittle yourself in what you would deem dishonorable ways. I never tried to break this in you or teach you any differently. It is a good thing to have qualities from both parents, if both parents had good qualities for you to inherit.”

“I never wanted to be different.”

“I know,” Maria said softly. “But one cannot help what one is born to be.”

“But won’t Ivan threaten to kill me if I leave, as he did my mother?”

“No, not this time. I will convince him that if he keeps you from your love, your broken heart will more likely bring him disaster, rather than good fortune. I will also remind him that you could divorce your Gajo at any time and return to the band. This is something you can do, Anna, so keep that in mind if you find yourself unhappy in your choice. And if you do return, you will not have to worry about Nicolai ever again. Your marriage to a Gajo will break your contract with the Lautarus. You can then do as you please, marry whom you please, marry no one if you please. The choice will once again be yours to be made at your leisure.”

“But I know nothing of bewitching men. How can I do this? You expect too much of me.”

“Do not doubt yourself, child. Look at you. This band has never seen a prettier woman. You have your mother’s glorious black hair with just enough curl to look wanton. You have your father’s purest blue eyes, his fair skin. You have your mother’s insight, her compassion. Many was the fight she got into with the band, to protect some Gajo she felt sorry for. You have done the same. You bewitch every man who looks at you. You just do not notice, because until now, you have not cared.”