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Eighteen years before Damon left on his quest for the Dwarfslayer’s sword, Delia Baker gave birth to her second daughter, Catherine.

She had seemed normal, until Alastair had turned her and saw the parallel vertical white lines set between her shoulder blades. They were soft to the touch.

While deeply confused by this, the Bakers continued with their lives.

At two years old, the lines had grown to the point where it appeared as if Catherine had four shoulder blades.

The Bakers became worried and, somewhat ashamed by their strangely deformed daughter. They made sure her back was covered at all times, and they told no one about it.

When Catherine was five, Delia had started out of sleep one night with a frightening revelation. She had shaken Alastair awake, and dragged him half-asleep into the children’s room, weeping.

She had plucked Catherine up, and took her nightgown off, leaving her back exposed.

In that moment, Alastair, too, understood that their daughter was cursed, for Catherine Baker was growing wings.

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