Raina looked out the window of Emperor Mordakai's study, watching the practice grounds outside . Men clashing swords spinning like dancers as they tried to disarm each other . There was a elegance to it that captivated her in their bloodless fight . She remembered watching Kyera as she spun and slashed with that sword at the wedding . Her little brow furrowed as she looked at the weaving under her fingers .
It was a beautiful peace made of leather strips in different shades to create a tiger streak pattern, but it was also useless . Well it could be made into a bag or placed on a table for looks, but not much else . Cloth had its uses, but not the kind she wanted right now .
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"What is that expression, Little Princess? I recognize that deep look from Lady Kyera . " Mordakai asked, standing a couple feet behind her watching out the window . Raina looked up at him and offered one of her most Dazzling smiles hoping he would chukcle and leave it be . However, Mordakai knelt down to her level .
"Princess, I love your smiles, but I know the difference between a fake smile and one that comes from here . " he delicately poked over her heart . She chuckled with a much smaller smile . "Now tell me little one . "
"I make pretty things, but I want to learn more . I want to learn to dance like them . " Raina replied pointing out the window at the soldiers hard at work . Mordakai frowned looking out there as well . This child was too smart for that kind of mistake . He stood and walked to his desk considering this carefully . He didn't necessarily want to die at the hands of a woman he called daughter .
"Raina, learning self defense here for women and for men is respectable . Even for Princesses, its expected . I'm just curious as to why you feel you must lie to me . " Mordakai replied carefully . She looked surprised as he accused her of lying . There was some shame in her eyes as she recognized her mistake . "Wanting to learn is a good thing . However learning under false pretenses is bad . It means your taking advantage of your teacher's trust . "
"I didn't mean to lie . I just… I don't want to be a princess in a tree anymore . " Raina told him her lip quivering . Mordakai felt two things then, confusion and heartbreak . Both were things he use to call weakness before these three women waltzed into his life .
"What do you mean, Dear?" he asked scooping her up and sitting her on his lap at his desk .
"I don't want Mom to have to put me in a tree and fight the bad guys by herself . She's always so brave . I want to be able to help and if they can't protect me, I want to be able to protect myself . Daddy and Mommy have spent a lot of time protecting me… I want to be able to protect their backs too . " Raina admitted fretting as she fiddled with the hem of her dress . Mordakai looked down at her, for a few long moments before setting her on the desk .
Walking over to the cabinet behind her, he took down a wooden box, long and slender made of a warm brown wood and silver fastenings . He handed it to her before sitting back in his chair . Raina unlatched the box, looking at him for reassurance before opening it . Inside was a beautiful purple cloth wrapped around something . As she stared at it, she realized it was a dress . Pulling it out she seemed surprised that it was about her size and had lacing all over it to adjust the fit .
"The last person to wear that, was your mother, but not the first . It is something My grandmother had made for her daughters and passed down through the years . And that is a practice sword . " he said as she pulled the light weight blade out of the case . The edges were dulled but the blade fit well in her hand . She stared at it in wonder, before glancing at the dress then back to Mordakai . "Let's start your training, little Warrioress . "
Chapter end
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