The Believer

Prologue

Wilky spun in front of the mirror, admiring the way her emerald green dress fanned out around her ankles. Her own wide blue eyes peered back at her from the mirror, for once not shaded by unruly curtains of auburn hair, which was neatly pulled back away from her pale, freckled face and braided.

"I think I'm ready," she told her two younger sisters, Winifred and Willow, who watched excitedly.

"You look so pretty," Winifred gushed, beaming. Winifred was half Wilky's age, Wilky's youngest sibling, and by far the sweetest little flower anyone had ever known. Everyone called her Winnie, and together dreaded the day she outgrew the nickname. She was brightly coloured but delicate, like a butterfly, with short dark hair, freckled cheeks, and eyes that matched Wilky's in their shade of stunning blue and pure innocence.

"Thank you," Wilky replied, smiling.

"What if you don't like him?" Willow asked, fidgeting with a lock of her pale blonde hair. Willow was three years Wilky's junior, and at the age of fifteen, very cautious and suspicious about everything. Wilky knew that Willow was unsure about whether or not she wanted to get married, and for the past few weeks, had been peppering Wilky with questions about the process, about which Wilky didn't know much more than Willow did.

"Then I'll tell mother and father after he's gone." Wilky said simply. "I'm sure they'll understand."

"What if they don't, and force you to marry him anyway? Would you run away?" Willow challenged, a mischievous gleam flashing in her dark eyes.

Wilky laughed, turning away from the mirror and sitting down on her bed, bouncing a bit on the soft mattress. "If he was horrid enough, I'd run away."

The doors to the girls' bedroom swung open, and their older sister Weslyn, often nicknamed Wesley, stalked in. She was a year older than Wilky, and had only met with two suitors before deciding marriage wasn't for her, and turning her full attention to studying combat, a decision their parents accepted with some hesitation. At the moment, her pale skin glistened with sweat. She threw her twin practice swords to the floor and collapsed on her bed.

"Hard workout?" Willow asked, scrunching up her nose.

"No kidding," Wesley groaned.

"Wilky looks very pretty," Winnie told Wesley, hopping up onto the bed beside Wilky. "You should see her."

Wesley managed to sit up and shot a glance Wilky's way. Her sweaty face broke into a grin, and she wiped a hand across her forehead.

"You look nice! Good luck tonight, and let me know if he's too much of a jerk, I'll gladly take him out." she mimed a punch at the air.

"Hopefully that won't be necessary," Wilky laughed. "It can't be that bad, right?"

Wesley grew less serene.

"I've met some bad ones. The first wasn't interested in me, only the dowry and grand fortune involved, and the second was already in love with someone else. Gods, he would not shut up about this other girl who was apparently so perfect for him and all." she made a face. "If I ever get married, It'll be because I fall in love. There's no need to force it. Besides, with things as they are with the war in Cordia and Horitzor, they're going to need more border guards than babies."

"The war might be over before you get there," Willow pointed out, nudging one of Wesley's wooden practice swords with her toe.

Wesley sat up and shrugged. "Border guards are always needed. It can't hurt."

Wilky slipped on her green shoes and stood, striding confidently to the door. Winnie and Willow tagged along behind her as she left the bedroom and went downstairs to the sitting room, where their parents waited. Their mother was reading, and their father was writing a letter at his desk. Both looked up when the girls entered.