Many years before Embra was born, her father, Angus Walter, was a student studying

abroad for a semester at the University of Edinburgh. He admired Edinburgh's castle and

cobblestone streets and was charmed by the cozy pubs where he and his classmates

enjoyed endless discussions over "hunners o' pints."

It was in one of these pubs that he first heard the word "Embra" spoken with a lyrical

Scottish accent, and was captivated by this simple word. When he asked a classmate,

he was surprised to learn that "Embra" was local slang for Edinburgh.

He recalled that word the moment his baby was born, delivered by his wife, Sally, who

smiled when he suggested they name their little girl Embra. To them, it had a soft, bright feel,

and oddly, it was unknown as a girl's name, or anyone's name, for that matter. And thus

begins little Embra's adventures.

Though no one had commented on the small child wandering the streets you could tell that everyone noticed her, either worried, perplexed, or indifferent.

But she was on a mission, to find a store selling rosemary.

This might seem like a simple task but after the riots with the farmers it’s been hard to find herbs in stores.

Her mother had specifically requested rosemary for her cooking the night before and since she’d been busy Embracing would have to do it herself.

Embra had walked until dawn, unable to find a suitable vendor. She had found a man hawking all manner of spices: thyme and tarragon and garlic and chili-peppers, but no rosemary.

And so, little Embra had trekked through town until her little legs ached. Eventually, a kindly old man spotted her and offered her a warm drink and a place to rest a while: his name was James, and Embra drank the mint tea he offered thirstily. She had been walking for a while.

While she sat on the soft feather-down bed, she came across a small book on the bedside table. ‘A beginner’s guide to foraging: from forest to table’. Little Embra palmed the paperback on her way out, an idea forming in her head: if she could not buy rosemary, she would find her own!

Embra ventured out into the forest, book clutched under her arm. But, unbeknownst to her, she had committed a grave transgression against the forest spirits: stepping straight into a faerie circle!