To Protect Dragons

2. Silver

It was day three of riding to the Southern Kingdom. I was exhausted and I think my horse was just as tired as I was. I could start to see the top of the gold and white castle that was in the distance. So this was the Southern Kingdom.  

The horse made a whinny noise and I patted it's sweaty neck. "I know me to buddy, we're almost there." It was sweltering at this point. So far on my journey I had only passed a few travelers looking for the next place to settle down. I had expected my journey to be relatively easy getting here, it was the kingdom itself that I was worried about. 

As I came closer and closer to the entrance gates my palms started to sweat. I put my cloak on my head once again making sure to cover all the silver strands that were poking out of my cloak. It was a beautiful place, I was at a loss for words. I tugged my hood up over my head once more , not wanting my hair to drag any attention towards me. While the South seemed welcoming here my silver hair does attract unwanted attention occasionally. Riding through the gates was both petrifying and exciting. I gripped the sword strapped to my waist out of reflex. It was bustling with people walking around and selling food, clothes, and weapons at markets everywhere. I gave my horse to a stable boy who was wearing ragged clothes with rips and stains. 

My Father never told me the people in the South were struggling?

I started to relax more as I walked through the city. Suddenly I saw a lady selling flowers at a stand. An Eedlant herb being sold here? These flowers are so rare back in the North, I have to get one to bring home. They didn't have many medicinal effects besides the fact that they could be used for pain reliever. Personally I just wanted one because they were incredibly beautiful. Amree would love this flower with its purple, orange, and magenta colors bursting from the flower. 

I walked up to the old women who was selling the flowers, "Hi, can I please purchase the Eedlant flower?" I said a little to excitedly. 

She chuckled and nodded, "A beautiful young lady like you doesn't have to pay me for a flower. Consider it a gift for the ball tonight." She grabbed my hand and placed the flower in it.

I smiled and laughed while handing her 15 schillings, she was too skinny and her dress was torn, I hoped she could at least buy herself some food with this. "Consider this my gift for the ball tonight then, this flower is too special to take for free. At my home these are very rare!" 

I had completely forgotten about the ball. I was suddenly reminded of my dirty and plain black pants, shirt, and cloak. Somehow I didn't think that was the right attire for a ball honoring the kings passing. 

"Do you happen to know anywhere I can buy a dress around here?" I asked the women, she pondered for a second before telling me that a dress shop was a few streets forward, closer to the castle. I thanked her and walked away. I carefully tucked the flower into my satchel and headed towards the direction that the women pointed too. 

I felt someone tug on my sleeve and instantly reached down to my sword. When I looked down I released it quickly as I saw a little girl with short brown hair looking up at me.

"Would you like to buy some bread?" She was wearing brown cloth and looked hungry. 

"Of course" I smiled and handed her four schillings even though I already had bread leftover from my travels. Her eyes went wide and she grinned.

"Wow thank you! My mommas going to be so happy!" She then cocked her head to the side and made an awed expression. I realized my hair was sticking out of my hood and quickly tucked it back in.

"Woah you're hair so so so so pretty! I have never seen hair look like that before" I knelt down on my knee so I was eye level with her.

"It's strange right?" I smiled. She nodded her head while still trying to look at it. "How about we keep this a secret for now okay, just between you and I?" I couldn't hide my hair forever, but I wanted to at least wait till I got to the castle so I could explore a bit more on my own. "I'm so good at keeping secrets!" She nodded excitedly which made me laugh. 

"You are very pretty too! I wish I had your hair.. what's your name?" 

"My name is Orella." She said while tucking the schillings into her small bag.

"I'm Kana, I was wondering if you happen to know where I can find a dress shop around here, someone told me it was in this direction?"

Suddenly she grabbed my hand and nodded pulling me in this direction. "That's my momma's shop they were talking about come on!" She stopped suddenly, "Are you gettin' a dress for the ball tonight?" 

"Yes" I sighed, "I forgot to bring one with me here anything will do really, as long as I look a little more presentable than I do right now." She giggled and we walked through an old wooden door and down a small hallway. There weren't many dress selections here but I wasn't very picky about what to wear. 

"Momma, Momma!" Orella yelled, "I brought back a customer, she's goin' to the ball tonight!" A women in a green silk dress came out from behind the kitchen. She was young, probably in her mid 30's and looked as if she was better off than most of the people I had seen in this town so far. She waved at me as Orella went up to her tugging the bottom of her dress. 

"How are you, my name is Gennevote, do you have a specific kind of dress in mind?" 

"My name is Kana" I looked around at the dress options, they were all plain but beautifully made. I could tell she had spent a lot of time on them. "How about you pick one out that you think would look good on me Orella? After all you probably know dresses more than I do" I said smiling. My heart jumped at how excited she looked. Gennevote grinned and motioned for her daughter to pick out a dress for me.

"I know just the one! Follow me!" She pulled me along to one of the dress racks and whispered, "Because of your hair purple would look really good!" She sorted through the dresses for a moment before picking out a plain purple dress. It was smooth and silky with the bottom of the dress flowing down from the waist. 

"This is perfect". It really was, I didn't want to be too extravagant with my dress choice, and fashion wasn't the biggest concern on my list right now either. It was getting later than I expected and I was hoping to to be able to explore a little bit more but I wanted to get to the ball as soon as possible in hopes of finding the prince before the council meeting tomorrow. If I could just talk about the matter without his executives breathing down his neck. No, I have to find him tonight.  

"Would you mind if I changed into this here?" She nodded and led me to a small changing room. I quickly put my clothes in my bag except my cloak and slipped on the dress. I felt uncomfortable not being able to bring my sword in with me but I knew the guards would never let me walk in with one and I had no where to put it. I had accommodations at the palace but they weren't expecting me until tomorrow. I walked out of the dressing room and went to ask Gennevote to keep my things here until I could pick them up tomorrow morning after the ball. 

She happily agreed and I payed her for the dress. "You're hair is very beautiful, the dress looks amazing on you" Gennevote smiled warmly, "Not from around here I assume." 

"No, I'm not." My mind was running with thoughts about how to approach this issue with the prince. Did my father really think I could handle this? "How is the prince? Becoming King at such a young age can't be easy, especially with his fathers passing." 

Gennovete sighed, "Prince Kazuto is his name, he has been a commander in the military since the age of 16. No one really knows much about him." She frowned, "There have been rumors about him being ruthless and burning villages out of pure spite." She shook her head, "But hopefully just rumors, after all he is going to be coronated very soon." I nodded suddenly questioning once again if I could truly pull this off. 

They were all depending on me. I had too. I was going to be Queen one day as well. We were going to have to meet eventually once I became Queen, meeting now is just getting it over with sooner. 

"I will see you both tomorrow, thank you so much for the dress." With that, I headed towards the castle with my hands shaking and uncertain about what would happen.