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her left hand and picked up a blue silk scarf from her dresser top with the right.  She used the scarf to tie back her hair as she had done countless times before.  If it wasn’t in her hair it was up her sleeve or in a pocket.  She had kept it with her every day since it was given to her as a going away present.  It was a reminder of the young man who had been such a part of her life, and as long as she had it with her, she believed that someday he would return.  It was a child’s foolishness she knew, but she needed something to believe in.
                  She had changed quite a bit in the last year and more.  That much was obvious by the stares of young men who now showered her with their attentions.  She wasn’t the same gawky girl who preferred swords and horses over dresses because she believed that she could never equal her sister in grace or beauty.  It was her sister who had proved her wrong.  Margery had taken her aside after he left and pointedly informed her that it was time she grew up.  So she had placed herself in her mother’s delighted hands and with Margery’s help learned how to be a lady.  Not that she gave up sparring with Hormil, the arms master, or her father when she could steal one of them away for a time.
                  A knock on the door preceded a beautiful young woman in a yellow dress, her golden hair hung loosely about her shoulders.  “Did you hear?” Margery asked.
                    “Hear what?” Katelyn replied, unsurprised at her sister’s entry.  They routinely walked in on each other as sisters who were close normally did.
                  Margery was looking at her dress.  “Blue?  I haven’t seen you in anything blue except that scarf in months.”  She was prying for an answer, otherwise, she would not have asked.  They both knew why she didn’t wear that color.
                  Katelyn shrugged.  “It felt right.”  She couldn’t explain why, but when she woke up the dress seemed the only choice.  “What is it I should have heard?”
                  “Torvilin arrived last night.  He is here for your birthday.  Or so he says.”
                  Dresses and the reason for what color they were flew from her thoughts immediately.  “But that’s not for another two weeks.”  She tried to think of why he would be here now.  She had been taught how to read people’s expressions and actions, and the reasons for them.  Only one idea came to mind.  “He is here to speak with father, isn’t he?”
                  Her sister nodded.  “This morning he sent a message to father requesting an audience.”
                  Katelyn never thought anything could come of Torvilin’s spurious announcement, but the Prince of Voltia was taking it seriously.  Surely her father would never force her into such an unwanted situation.
                           Margery put a comforting arm around her slender shoulders.  The older sibling stood a few inches taller.  “Do not worry too much about it.  Father will take care of everything.  No matter how much Torvilin pushes, any decision can be put off until you are eighteen.”
                  “Of course,” Katelyn agreed.  Her sister always knew the right thing to say.  It was too bad that she knew the truth of the situation.  A decision could be held off, but only until Margery turned eighteen, not her.  That would be the middle of this summer.                                                                 
                  The older sister waited a moment before speaking.  “Did you speak with father last night?”  When Katelyn nodded she continued.  “When did he say you are to leave for Westland?”
                  “He didn’t say for certain.  Only that it