Ana's childhood was marked by an unstable, sickly mother and devoted but overworked father. While both parents did love their children, they ultimately did little to raise them and caring for the household fell on their eldest child, Bríghid, instead. The forced responsibility sat poorly with Bríghid's anxious disposition, however, and she often ended up neglecting Ana and their youngest sister Sadbh. After years of disorganised upbringing, Ana stepped up to help look after the family. It should have been a relief for Bríghid but Ana's brusque attitude - partly natural and partly born from frustration at Bríghid's poor handling - only worsened her feelings of inadequacy, and she and Ana never really got along.

All three sisters were quick to find work once they were able to, in order to take the burden off their father. Getting out of the house and away from their gloomy mother did them all good as well - Bríghid and Sadbh blossomed under the attentions of friends, while Ana found mentors, pets and inspirations. Around this  time, a late addition came to their family in the form of a brother, Éimhín, but the vast age gap and jealous ministrations of their mother - who seemed to be trying to prove she could parent now - kept them from seeing him much. Ana worked first at a silk farm, then a library. She consumed history and crime books as a hobby, and considered being a  historian or hunter before setting her sights higher - she wanted to punish crimes and bring justice herself. She began to study law and combat seriously and then, in a spur of determination, approached a retired judge she admired to ask them to tutor her. She was turned down twice but tested on her third try, and ended up being referred to an old student of theirs for tutelage.

Becoming a judge of the Red Court, Iadlain's judicial body, was a long road but Ana was prepared for it. She remained disciplined and driven throughout the years of heavy studying, training, tests and apprenticeships, and learned to curb the angrier and over-controlling parts of herself. By her 30s, she was fully qualified. During this time, Iadlain's leadership changed hands and she began to receive small, curious visits from the new Count, Cassair. Having been warned by her mother all her life not to get involved with the Ó Faoláin main family, and generally unwelcoming of social interaction anyway, Ana was frosty with him. Unperturbed, he asked her for advice on various legal matters with surprising openness. For the sake of those who would be affected by his decisions, Ana gave him sincere answers, and later noticed him putting her words into practice. Soon enough, it became a routine for him to seek and receive help from her, and he became an unwanted regular at her place. In this way, Ana also became part of Cassair's Grey Coven - not for him, but for others.

Cassair seemed to favour her lack of true interest in him and politics though, and often - to her aggravation - he would leave her the authority to oversee Iadlain while he was abroad. Outwardly, it was a natural enough move due to their blood relation and Ana's occupation, but Ana made no secret of her displeasure in this. While she did want to protect Iadlain and would do a job properly if given it, she had no desire to actually govern. She came to be known as a very competent but very sour second-in-command.