Certhia was seventh wife of King Mergus of Avornis and mother of Lanius. Certhia had begun as Mergus' concubine. In the 30th year of Mergus' reign, she informed him that she was pregnant. As Mergus had no male children at this point, even after marrying six wives, Mergus was determined that, if Certhia's child was a boy, it would be legitimate, and promised to marry her on that basis. However, he needed to first confirm that Certhia was carrying a son. Fearing that court wizards would not be able to keep quiet, he arranged to take Certhia to an unused area in the royal palace to meet a witch who called herself Rissa. Rissa confirmed that Certhia was carrying a boy. No sooner had she pronounce this, Rissa was taken over by the Banished One, who attempted to curse the unborn child. When Riss