Ilona woke early the following day before the sun had risen. The breeze coming in through her windows was still cool and pleasant. The house was quiet, so she couldn't ignore her stomach growling loudly. She realized she'd barely eaten the day before. Quick to dress, Ilona pulled on her breeches and shirt before lacing up her boots and brushing out her long hair.
Pausing to look at herself in the mirror, Ilona couldn't help but think about her sister Lucia.
Her younger sister was beautiful and graceful with a slender build and quiet demeanor. She was everything Ilona wasn't. Men fell in love with Lucia. Ilona had barely ever had anyone show any interest in her.
She had always wondered if it was something about the way she looked. She worried it might be more to do with her personality. It seemed that her appearance might be the easier of the two to change.
