Gwen and Diesel returned to the farmhouse to an angry Elisabeth waiting beside Diesel's stall.

"Uh, hello, Mother," Gwen nervously stated, dismounting.

Elisabeth smacked her head again. "What happened to plowing the field?"

"A wolf stole my hat. I had to get it back."

"A wolf?" Elisabeth pinched the bridge of her nose. "What are you talking about?"

"It was the weirdest thing. There was a mirror-like design on his forehead. He was like no wolf I've ever seen."

Elisabeth huffed and snatched Diesel's reins, leading him into his stall. "Do you see what all this musketeer training has done to you? You're starting to hallucinate."

"No, I'm not!"

"Shush, Gwen!" Elisabeth removed Diesel's bridle and shoved it into Gwen's chest. "When we return from the village tomorrow, you and Diesel will plow that field all day. For now, change into your dress. The carriage will be here soon."

"But—!"

"Now, Gwen!"

Gwen preferred plowing the field over meeting suitors but wasn't going to get out of this mess.

She went into her room to change into her town dress. It was a small but comfortable area shaped like a square. Her bed was next to a window, and a desk and bookshelf were off to the side. At the foot of it was a chest. Finally, she had a wardrobe. Its door had flower designs on it.

Gwen opened the bag and pulled out a pinkish-purple dress. She changed into it, along with a white hose and a new pair of boots.

Elisabeth came in to do her hair. She sat Gwen before her mirror and braided her silky locks.

Gwen paid no attention. She was too busy staring at her mirror. There was something in it—a face that looked somewhat familiar. The wolf! Did Gwen see things? She waited until Elisabeth left to rearrange dresses in her wardrobe before inching closer to the mirror.

Girl and wolf stared into each other's eyes, not making a sound. The mysterious design on the canine's forehead glowed up. Besides that, the back of Gwen's hand also shimmered. The same design appeared over it.

A voice spoke in Gwen's head. It was mystical and sounded like a woman. "Dear child, the time has come for you to find the other half of the Illusion. He waits for you at Jualaline."

"What?" Gwen silently asked, but Elisabeth had already heard her.

"Is everything all right, dear?"

"I'm fine." But was she? It was already such a strange day! Now, adding to the strangeness, a being was trying to tell Gwen something about the wolf. Also, what the heck was Jualaline?

The face in the mirror vanished, as did the design over Gwen's hand.

The carriage waited for her and Elisabeth once they made it outside. They jogged down the staircase and followed the front yard path to it. It was a small invention that had two windows. The front wheels were larger than the back ones, and string-like, golden designs were on them. Despite its wondrous appearance, it was a tight fit for Gwen and Elisabeth.

The footman helped Gwen in, and Elisabeth squeezed in next to her.

The carriage smelled new—like a fresh summer morning.

Elisabeth, who brought a book, nodded at the footman. "We're ready."

He nodded and flicked the reins.

The carriage jerked and started down the dirt road.

Gwen peeked out the window at her farm, which grew smaller and smaller until it disappeared altogether. After a slight delay, she and Elisabeth were off to Blacksmith Village.

The journey was quiet. For once, Gwen and Elisabeth did not argue with one another. Elisabeth read her book, and Gwen thought about all the strange things happening to her. The scenery outside was phenomenal—rolling hills, farmland, and tree groves.

Elisabeth eventually started up a conversation. "Why are you so quiet, Gwen?"

"Sorry, Mom. I'm just thinking."

"About what?" Elisabeth licked her finger and flipped to the next page in her book.

"The wolf."

"Oh, please, Gwen!" Elisabeth shut her book and slipped it under her carriage seat. "You did not see a wolf."

"I did, too!" Gwen complained. "Why can't you listen to me for once?" Elisabeth used to do so, but that was before the War and her father's death.

"Now, dear"—Elisabeth took Gwen's shoulders and lightly shook them—"I know you're nervous about getting married, but this is a huge step for us. Finally, our family will grow again."

Shivering, Gwen removed Elisabeth's hands. "But that's the issue. I don't think I should get married until I find the other half of the Illusion. In my room earlier, somebody visited me and said that I am one-half of it. The other is at someplace called Jualaline."

Elisabeth froze. All color drained from her face, and she clutched her chest.

"Mother, listen to me," Gwen said. "I know you want to protect me, but I'm old enough now to know the truth. Ever since I was little, I've felt like I am not the only heir of the family—that there is another. Mother, am I a sister?"

Elisabeth's breathing intensified, and she slumped in her seat.

"Please, Mother, I need to know," Gwen gently said.

"I know." A tear ran down Elisabeth's cheek, and she rose. "Your father and I made a promise. We knew this day would come. Yes, you are a sister."

Even though Gwen expected that answer, the news still shocked her. So, she was not the only child left in the Emberblight family. Then that meant that the future did not rest in just her hands.

Elisabeth took a deep breath and explained, "You have a brother, but the War destroyed him. When it came to the farm, your father tried to save him. You and I hid in a cellar, and he rode into battle, trying to find her—"

"Who?" Gwen interrupted. She seemed to vaguely remember the day she and Elisabeth hid from the War but never remembered a "her." What was Elisabeth hiding?

"I can't," her mother sobbed. "I need to breathe." She waved at the carriage's driver—a plump man with a beard. "Stop the carriage! Stop the carriage!!"

"Yes, ma'am," said the driver. He pulled back on the reins, and the horses halted.

"Mother!" Gwen yelled.

Elisabeth threw open her door and climbed out. They had stopped under a mass of trees, all of which had shimmering green leaves. Their branches formed an arch-like shape, and the sun's rays scanned the ground.

Elisabeth hurried to one tree and tried to catch her breath.

Gwen appeared beside her. "I'm sorry."

"It's not you, Gwen. It's the War."

Gwen clasped Elisabeth's shoulder and gave her a feeble smile. It matched beautifully with the sun's rays. "You may think my brother is dead, but I don't believe he is. I feel it. He's at Jualaline. I just know it. If I could find him, then I can fix everything."

"But he was only a few months old," argued Elisabeth. "An infant that small would have never survived the battle. It's all my fault!"

"Failure is just a word; it's not the end of the world. Please, Mother, let me become a musketeer. Then I'll be able to track him down."

"I can't, Gwen. I don't want to lose you, too."

"Hey, hey." Gwen patted Elisabeth's back. She rubbed tears from her cheeks and embraced her. "I'm here." There was a moment of silence, and then Gwen added, "Do you want to visit the graveyard before we go into town?"

Elisabeth nodded. "I do."

The graveyard where Gwen's father was buried was in the grove. It was itsy, but homely. It had six rows of tombstones, all standing in a perfectly straight line, and an old gate enshrouded it. There were also gardens that the gravekeeper, Brume, planted himself. He lived in a little log cabin just off the cemetery.

Gwen's father's grave was in the second row of tombstones. Colorful flowers surrounded it, but his name was faded. Gwen still did not know it, and her mother never told her. Her father himself was mysterious.

Gwen and Elisabeth looked upon the musketeer's grave, lost in thought. In the distance, the carriage hid under a large tree that looked a bit like an umbrella.

A medium-sized figure appeared at the graveyard's entrance: the wolf. He had followed Gwen from the forest to the grove, so he panted up a storm.

Crouching, he ducked behind tombstones and stayed out of sight of the carriage. He peeked out at the mourning family members.

"Everything is going to be okay, Mom. I promise," Gwen said. "Come on. Let's return to the carriage."

The wolf changed his tactic. He left the graveyard and tiptoed toward the wagon. He hid behind a tree and picked up a large stick in his mouth, chucking it.

The stick crashed into the woods and smashed into some loose branches of a tree, creating a loud sound.

"What the—?" asked both the driver and footman. They went to investigate, giving the wolf ample time. Gwen and Elisabeth were visiting the other graves of the Emberblight family: Gwen's uncles, cousins, and aunts.

The wolf trotted his fastest and didn't stop until he was under the carriage.

The horses didn't even flinch. They were too busy swatting at flies.

The wolf tucked himself in on the carriage's reach, right under Gwen and Elisabeth's seats.

They made it to their ride soon after his stealth mission.

"What are you boys doing?" Elisabeth questioned the driver and footman.

"We heard something," they replied.

"It was probably just your imagination."

"I hope you're right, ma'am," the footman said.

Gwen and Elisabeth got back into the carriage. Their weight pushed it down, almost crushing the wolf.

The carriage left the graveyard, but none of the humans aboard knew of the stowaway.

The rest of the way to the village, Gwen tried to figure out the "her" Elisabeth mentioned. Nothing came to mind, meaning she was nowhere close to living her dream. Sigh, why was being a woman so hard?

A feeling inside said something interesting would happen at Blacksmith Village, though. No, not the suitors—only another mystery for Gwen to solve.