Authors: Wanda Wiltshire
Betrothed (42 page)
She was making excuses for him! How could she, after all the lives he’d ruined? Mine, Leif’s, my parents’, her own—the list went on. Why should he get away with it? The assembly had granted me my freedom, they had voted to allow me to live my life in Faera. The depths to which King Telophy had sunk to have his way were terrible. The injustice of it made me furious. I
needed to vent, freely and openly and to people who loved me and wouldn’t try to defend him.
‘Can you please take me home now, Atara?’
She helped me gather my possessions. I paused only to stare long and hard at the beautiful portrait of my betrothed, then I tucked it into my bag along with my jewellery box and clothes before quickly wiping away the tear that was threatening to spill.
‘I’m ready, Atara,’ I said, my voice breaking.
‘Come then, Marla,’ she replied with a sad smile. Then she took my hand and led me away from Faera.
Away from my home.
When I arrived back in Caringbah, I went straight to my room to call Jack. I punched in the number and waited impatiently for him to answer.
‘Marla, hey.’
I was silent for a long moment as the relief at hearing his voice overwhelmed me.
‘Jack,’ I whispered. It was almost impossible to speak.
‘What’s wrong?’ I could hear the panic in his voice. ‘What’s happened?’
‘I need you.’
‘I’m there,’ he said and hung up the phone.
While I waited for my best friend, I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the envelope Atara had pressed into my hands as she said goodbye at the front door. It was small and square, the paper—I’d learned from my grandfather Leander the day he’d shown me his poetry—made from the silky cream bark of the saftir tree. In the centre of the envelope, in Leif’s elegant script was one word,
Marla.
I ran my finger slowly across my name, wondering what Leif had been feeling when he wrote it there. Had he been sad that he was losing me? Angry that I had chosen to put my life on Earth above him? I didn’t know. I turned the letter over, swallowed a moan at the sight of his emblem—mark of his royal birth pressed into the pale sap of the Endolan tree—mark of the impossibility of us ever being together. For a moment, I thought I might actually break the seal. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’d cried all the tears I wanted to cry today, and I knew that whatever was written inside would only make me cry some more. Maybe I would feel more able to face it in the morning—or maybe not. I sat staring at the letter for a while longer as the memories of that last meeting with Leif swirled in my head. How had he believed my lies? Tears filled my eyes again. This pain was unbearable, and so heavy. It was as though weights were attached to my soul, dragging it into darkness, taking my body with it. How could I possibly survive it? Somehow I had to shut Leif from my mind. But then a sickening reality occurred to me—to lose Leif was to also lose Lysander. For how could I find my twin without the help of my betrothed? And oh, what would become of him? A sob broke free of my throat as more tears slid from my eyes. I dropped my face into my hands to muffle the noise and gave into a fresh round of crying.
I didn’t know how much time had passed when a gentle knock roused me from my sorrow—Jack. I quickly dried my eyes with the corner of my quilt. Then I rose from the bed and took my jewellery box from the bag I’d brought with me from Faera. I placed the box in the centre of my dressing table, folding Leif’s letter inside, together with the one from my missing parents. Then I closed the lid and turned the key, locking them both away before opening the bedroom door and falling into the open arms of my best friend.
First, I give my most fervent thanks to God for using the foolish things and answering prayers.
Now for the humans, and I must take a deep breath as there are so many who have supported me on my journey to publication. In order to reduce the chances of leaving anyone out, I will start at the beginning and work my way through. I give my thanks to:
My father, Alan, for the books he read to me as a child and the stories he tells me to this day. My mother, Pamela, for her warm heart and provision of a secure place to run to. Sharon, for being the best sister in the world and making my life less lonely. Margot Dwarshuis, for choosing the awkward girl and for the fun and adventure that followed. And Kevin, for that all important introduction.
My children, for the joy they have brought me, the love they have surrounded me with and the lessons I have learnt from them. Declan, for introducing me to the overpowering sensation of mother love. Bridget—girl whirlwind—without whom my writing career might not have begun. Patrick, for infusing me with peace from the moment of his birth. And Connor, for being such a little trouper whenever his mum is lost in her world.
Genevieve Anderson who came into my life at the precise moment I needed her, and who supported me through the darkest, most trying time, helping me finally to find my way into the light.
Christine Rowley Gollan, my first reader, who loved
Betrothed
passionately and found not a single fault with the mammoth and infant manuscript—Music to a new writer’s ears!
Anna Gunning, wonderful friend, personal organiser and early reader, her husband Paul for mountains of printing and their daughter Jacinta for being such a help with her little God brother.
Anne Dale, good friend, fellow lover of writing and early reader and editor of Betrothed.
Pamela Cook, teacher, friend and author extraordinaire, for gentle guidance, patience and a wealth of writing knowledge, and her daughter Georgia Nelson for early feedback.
Krystina Pecorari-Mcbride, fabulous friend and talented writer, for endless and perfect understanding, unfailing loyalty and wonderful ideas. And emails—days and nights of emails!
Kerry Rogerson, great friend and gifted writer, for crystal prayers, noticing the little things and nights of merlot laughter, and for that necessary and wondrous road trip.
Sharon Ketelaar, for fabulous editing skills.
B. Michael Radburn, excellent author and good kind man, for his generosity of heart, great advice and of course an invitation to the launch of his first novel.
My consultant, Alex Adsett who helped me to unravel the mysteries of becoming a published author.
My editor, Kylie Mason, who taught me the importance of not gazing through ones eyelashes and committing other such clichéd writing offences.
Desanka Vukelich for sharp eyed proof reading skills, my typesetter Graeme Jones from Kirby Jones for putting the finished manuscript into book form and Karen Young for her work on print production.
Hannah Robinson and Jon McDonald from Xou Creative for creating a truly enchanting cover, Trudy Johnston for organising publicity, and media agency AMBA & Media 20/20.
My makeup artist Emma Sportswood for doing such an amazing job with what she had to work with and my
photographer Cowan Whitfield for making me laugh and producing some beautiful shots.
All who have called me friend over the years and everyone at Pantera Press for the support they have given me over these past long months.
Finally, to my brilliant and supportive publishers, John Green and Alison Green—granters of wishes, makers of singing hearts and enthusiastic
Betrothed
lovers. Thank you for your patience, graciousness and warm welcome to the Pantera Press family. Also to Alison for a smile that hints at fae origins, radiating enough warmth and light to put the most nervous person at ease.
If you enjoyed
Betrothed
then look out for
the next book in the series
coming in 2014
ALLEGIANCE
For more information, please visit:
Wanda Wiltshire has long been a lover of reading and writing. As a child she was often found spellbound by a novel stashed beneath her desk or tucked between the pages of her geography book. Alternatively she could be found sketching or penning poetry during maths and science lessons.
Wanda has also always been an incurable dreamer, each of her school reports a testament to her pastime of staring out of classroom windows. But now that she is long grown and has finally found her passion for writing novels, Wanda puts her daydreaming to good use, spending many long and satisfying moments gazing across the sea cavorting with fairies and other magical creatures as she develops scenes and storylines for her latest work.
Betrothed is the first in Wanda’s young adult fantasy series. It is the exciting story of a girl caught between two worlds—Earth and the enchanting land of Faera.
First published in 2013 by Pantera Press Pty Limited
This book is copyright, and all rights are reserved.
Text copyright © Wanda Wiltshire, 2013
Wanda Wiltshire has asserted her moral rights to be identified as the author of this work.
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This is a work of fiction, though it may refer to some real events or people. Names, characters, organisations, dialogue and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, firms, events or locales is coincidental or used for fictional purposes.
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ISBN 978-1-921997-24-2 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-921997-25-9 (Ebook)
Cover and Internal Design: Xou Creative
www.xou.com.au
Editor: Kylie Mason
Proofreader: Desanka Vukelich
Author Photo: Cowan Whitfield
Typesetting: Kirby Jones
Printed in Australia: McPherson’s Printing Group
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