Warrior (book one of Kefale Academy series)

Chapter Five: New Aquaitences

I thanked the blacksmith once again, and paid him for the beautiful work he did with my sheaths. He had even carved them with intricate lines that looked like power flowing into the stones. Unfortunately I did not quite know how to access that power, yet. I had a feeling I might learn someday. I walked down the path that led to the barracks. Everyone else had gone back earlier with the things I had bought. I reached over my back and strapped the katanas on. It was comforting to have them against my back once again.
“Girl!” I heard a shout, “You! Girl!” I turned to look at the voice to find a woman selling jewelry. “You're going to meet the King, yes?”
“Yes, I am,” I stated, a questioning tone in my words.
“I see you love your katanas, but you won't be able to carry those in court. Maybe one of my concealed blades would suit you for that time?” She asked, beckoning me over.
“Concealed blades? All you have is jewelry.”
“Not all things are as they seem, girl.” she pulled out an ornate hairpiece and smiled. “This looks like any other hairpiece, doesn't it?” I nodded. “Good, but it isn't,” she continued, tugging gently on the end of the piece, revealing a small dagger.
My eyes widened as I said, “Those exist? I've heard about them in stories, but… I never thought someone would actually sell them.”
The woman smiled and pulled out a box. “This would suit you perfectly.” She opened the box and pulled out a beautiful black hair pin. She then pulled out the dagger, inserting into a small hole on the side of the hair piece. However, something flashing on the hair piece caught my eye. They were the same blue stones that were Imbedded into my katana sheaths. The woman walked around the stand that she stood behind, and pulled her hands up, using them to twist my hair back away from my face. She used the pin to hold it in place. “That contrasts the colour of your hair magnificently. Yet, it doesn't take away from your face. I was right, it does suit you.”
I reached up and gently touched it. “I imagine it does look beautiful, but I don't have any way to directly pay for it. The King is paying for everything I need.” I went to pull it out of my hair, but a sharp slap on the wrist from the woman stopped me.
“No, keep it. I have a feeling you'll find a use for it. And anyways, I've never found someone that suits it so. Especially with those stones.”
“They're Imusian stones right?”
“Yes they are. And full of energy too. Brimming with it, really. I didn't put energy in myself, however. They just naturally had it. I tried to add more, but couldn't,” the woman said, then smiled. “You know what? Keep that hair piece, Miss Alvundara. It will serve you well.”
“Wait, how'd you know my name?” I questioned.
The woman tapped her head with a laugh, “never underestimate our people, Alvundara. You've only seen the combat powers so far. But, there are a many powers that run deep within our minds and souls.”
I stood there, dumbfounded. “Okay, and, as for the hair piece, I'll cherish it. Thank you so much, …?” I dropped off at the end of my sentence, not knowing her name.
“Oh I forgot to tell my name. I am Gwyneth. I'm sure you'll see me in the capitol. Anywho, you'd best be going. Your friends are waiting for you back at the barracks,” she said, pushing the box into my hands. Even though the piece was in my hair, I imagined it would be best to put it back in the box.
“Okay! Thank you Gwyneth!” I turned and started back on the path to the barracks, reaching up to touch the hair piece again. It was beautiful. And now, it was mine.
A few minutes later I walked into the barracks only to find Captain Daruk waiting at the door. “The rest of your group came back over an hour ago. Where were you?”
“I got my katanas.”
“And?”
“And, on the way back Gwyneth at a jewelry stand stopped me and gave me this,” I said, showing him the hairpiece.
“Oh. Okay. Well, be careful of the time. It's almost getting to be dark out. Oh, and, the rest of the stuff you got is in your room. I also placed a couple of packing trunks in there so that you may pack your things.”
“Thank you, Captain,” I said with a small smile. I yawned shortly after and Captain Daruk laughed.
“Get to bed, Dara,” he said, calling me by my nickname. He had come up with that one the fourth day I was here, claiming it was too much of an effort to say my entire name.
“Mkay, Daruk,” I said, turning and sauntering down one of the halls to get to my room. Upon reaching the desired location, I opened the door and walked in, falling face first onto my bed and falling asleep.
I dreampt again. Of flying, and of dragons.
“Dara! DARA!” An unfamiliar voice screamed by my head. Opening my eyes, I came face to face with a silver haired boy with firey red eyes. “Dara! You fell again! This time I thought you'd died on me. Good lords, please don't do that again,” he said, wrapping his arms around me tightly and pulling me to his chest.
“I'm fine, I promise.” my mouth moved on its own, and my dream was more like a vision, where I did things, but couldn't control myself.
“You'd damn well better be fine. Next time I'm going to have to use my powers to keep you aloft. Because the dragons know you're going to do it again and go even higher.”
“Well, I like flying! Don't you ever get that feeling when flying around on the back of Marusio?”
“Well yeah, but watching you plummet a hundred feet out of midair won't help my nerves. Sheesh.”
I flicked his nose, pushing him away, “good dragons, if you keep acting like that, someone around here is going to think you love me. Even though I'm the only one you truely show your emotions to, you arrogant devil. Even your sister feels left out.”
“Well, insolent witch, next time I just won't check to see if you're alive!” he exclaimed with a small huff, getting up and stalking away from me. That is one nice ass. Wait. What am I thinking?!
I got up and sighed. “Oh, Young Lord! It won't do you any good to ignore me!”
He said nothing as he climbed back onto the black steed that stood munching on grass. My horse, another of the beautiful black horses that were native to his country, damn pompous lord, was standing next to his steed, munching on grass as well.
I walked over to my steed with a small smirk. I climbed up onto the back of the tall horse, getting its attention. “I'll race you back to the palace!” I exclaimed before taking off on the horse, my mind and body urging it to run at its fastest speed.
The young lord laughed behind me, spurring his horse into a full out run, shouting, “Never!”
“Always!” I shouted back, knowing I was already several strides ahead of him, and that his horse wouldn't catch up.
Suddenly, a black figure with red eyes dashed out of the trees and rammed into my horse with a force that could have taken down a mountain. With a scream from both my horse and I, we both fell to the demon’s attack, rolling across the ground.
I snapped awake, gasping. The dream had felt so real. It must be a vision. I wonder who the ‘young lord’ is who was with me. And somehow I learned how to ride a horse.
It must be a vision. They usually come in forms like this. However, I have a feeling I will and won't be looking forward to this. Will, cause that lord is hot. Won't, because I get attacked by a demon?
Rolling over to check the time, I notice it's still dark outside. Must be going back to sleep then, oh lord.
I have one day after today until I leave for the capitol.

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OOO WHO IS THE YOUNG LORD?! Imma leave it at this, cause you ain't gunna find out until later in the book. Tootaloo!