Warrior's Mind (Book 2 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 64

It had to be one of the strangest things she had ever seen. Leyla watched from her room as servants rushed about the inner courtyard with strange stick-like contraptions. Whenever one was 'opened' it revealed a blue half circle opened from the top of the stick and floated up a few feat before hanging in the air. There were dozens of the half-circles now, placed all along the walkways between the gardens, hanging a little over the heads of those who walked beneath and protecting them from the drizzling rain.

After the last servant finished propping his rain protector into the air, Leyla moved away rom the windows. Before leaving the training field yesterday, Raphael asked her to join him for breakfast. A part of her wondered if he would actually be there; the same part of her wondered if anything that had happened yesterday was real.

Was she on good terms with him now? Was she really being accepted into the Light army? She looked at the outfit that her maid laid out for her earlier that morning and couldn't stop the smile of pleasure. A pair of white trousers, a white shirt, a long white double breasted coat with silver buttons and knee length military boots. The only thing that set the uniform apart from what the other Light officers wore were the beautiful silver flower motifs embroidered along the cuffs of the jacket and along the tops of the boots. 

Let yourself be happy.

Moving quickly, she put on her uniform, braided her hair and made her way down the stairs. On the ground floor, the guards at the door caught sight of her and were too surprised by her look to offer a greeting. She walked on with a grin, knowing they had probably never seen a female in trousers. A familiar smell she couldn't quite place tickled her nose as she reached the dining hall.

"There you are," Raphael stood from his seat at the head of the table, his eyes taking in her uniform with appreciation. "It suits you, Colonel."

Leyla's stepped faltered. Colonel. Although there had been no formal declaration, the appearance of the uniform showed her the council had approved of her position. And by wearing it, hadn't she accepted it too? It struck her only now what that really meant...hadn't she just agreed to stay?

"You look beautiful," Raphael added.

"Thank you," Leyla ran her hands over her jacket, feeling strangely shy and confused as she approached the seat beside him. She wouldn't think about the rest of it now. Nothing would be clear until the Leader returned from the mountain, so for now she would take everything one day at a time. "Was the uniform your idea?" 

His smile was answer enough as they both took their seats. Leyla ran her gaze over the pastries and jams on the table, and was about to comment on the surprising amount of food when she noticed the cup that had been placed beside her. "Is that...?"

Raphael laughed at her expression, "I was up until sunrise trying to make that, so take pity on me and judge gently."

Excitement now making her grab the warm cup with two hands, she looked down at the dark liquid before taking in a deep breath. That was the smell! "Is it really Vela?"

"Not quite," Raphael admitted. "Its as close as I could make it with what we have, but I've set our alchemists working to create a similar bean to the one they use in Asch. Just give me a little time, and I'll get it right."

There was no way to misinterpret this - he had done this simply to make her happy. Leyla looked down at her cup, closing her eyes before drawing in the dark aroma. The scent put a smile on her face, but it was Raphael's look that made her feel warm. "You're so busy. When did you find time to do this?"

Raphael reached out, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear. "I will never be too busy to make you happy."

Feeling her control over her feelings slip away, Leyla moved back from his touch and cleared her throat. "Let's see if this tastes as good as it smells." Avoiding eye contact, she took a sip of the hot liquid and almost sighed in pleasure.