Chapter 5
Katrina wondered what the hell she was doing. She glanced at Justin again and felt a tug on her heart. She had just met him yesterday morning for goddess's sake, and she just abandoned her inn like it was meaningless to follow him. Like she hadn't poured her heart and soul into it, and fought hard to keep it after her parents passed. How did that make sense?
She had seen a sense of loss in his eyes at the idea of leaving her behind, and something inside of her had echoed that back. It had been a spur of the moment response to that feeling. She found that even now, thinking about how stupid it was, she couldn't bring herself to regret the decision. She also knew if she hadn't come, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.
What was bothering her is she couldn't figure out why. She didn't love him, not yet. She knew the potential was there for it though, and everything about him seemed to stir something within her. She finally gave up, deciding to just go with it and see where it led. She was also hoping they stopped soon, she had an unbearable urge to go for a walk in the woods with him, alone.
Speaking of alone, or not being alone, Nora was a mystery she wanted to figure out. The young woman had her whole life ahead of her, yet seemed focused on revenge, and dying. It would be impossible to hold a conversation at this speed though, so she pushed it to the back of her mind.
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They were jogging at a speed that was incredibly fast due to Nora's talent. She was in a hurry to get things done and was surprised when Justin agreed so quickly, doing nothing but look trusting. It was strange, she was all ready to argue with a thick witted male and his simple and trusting acquiescence had taken the air right out of her sails and she was caught openmouthed for a moment. It was almost as if he thought her competent and accepted her word without question.
Admittedly what she was doing was very dangerous, she had to push and cushion all three of them separately in her mind, it took a lot of concentration. She was more than up to the challenge of course, but they wouldn't have known that. Most air talents would have killed them by accident by now. Still, she needed to get this done and get back to her revenge.
When she had thought death imminent it hadn't really bothered her, she missed her sisters dearly. But when she felt his flames cradle and protect her she immediately knew he was a Flame of Cytherea. Most people didn't even believe in the old legends of the Flame. Yet, there she had been, protected and rejuvenated by it.
She had no choice, duty once again trumping her desire for revenge. Worse, she had the feeling she should stick around to protect him. She snorted. Why the goddess chose a male was beyond her. She knew her opinion of men was overly harsh, but she couldn't help herself.
It was stupid, them thinking women were less than they were, when she was a case to prove otherwise, yet they still persisted. She looked at Justin again thoughtfully.
That was another thing that freaked her out about him. He didn't try to talk down to her, at all. In fact he had seemed a little scared of her at times when she went off on a rant. She frowned at that, perhaps she ought to tone it down a bit. She had been so focused on revenge and the thought of joining her sisters that all the social niceties went down the toilet. Well, at least the ones that she did follow.
She estimated the military was a normal day's march south of the capital by now, she couldn't go nearly as fast while pushing two people with her, so they probably wouldn't meet up until tomorrow, sometime mid morning maybe.
She sighed, finally admitting to herself that keeping him safe was her duty. Her mind had been mulling it over non-stop since he had saved her life. If the goddess thought the Flame was necessary, they would probably lose if he died. Not that she knew Cytherea's mind, it just made sense. If a talent shows up that hasn't been seen in a thousand years, the goddess probably only gives it out reluctantly in special circumstances.
She did cheer up when she considered, that perhaps with him she would get to kill more Egerian bastards before dying, than she would without him. Maybe staying to protect him wouldn't be such a bad thing after all...
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Nicole Christina Althone, princess of Abelaweth was somewhat of a rebel. She didn't think her father would mind... too much. Ok, she was lying to herself, but she knew at the worst she would be punished by her father the king as a dad, not accused of treason by disobeying his orders.
She was determined to fight. She had been present early this morning when poor Nora came back alone with a horrific tail of death and invasion. She had tried to join the elite women warriors in the past, but her father had told her no, and she didn't understand why. She was a princess, but so what? It wasn't like she would ever rule, could ever rule. Plus she had two older brothers for that anyway.
She was just... an ornament. She hated it.
She understood after a fashion, it wouldn't look good if the king's daughter joined what amounted to the misfits of society... except that was where she fit in. The royal family had always been among the most powerful of the shape shifters. The founding king had actually been a dragon, although there currently weren't any in her family it still cropped up from time to time. Still, they were strong, and had secondary talents based off of what they shifted into.
She was determined to fight... all she had to do was sneak out of the castle. She looked into a mirror and saw green piercing eyes, fair skin and long curly hair the color of fire. She frowned looking at her elaborate dress, that wouldn't do for traveling, or fighting. She didn't have much of a choice though, all her closets had in them were silly dresses. Whenever she had asked for simpler clothing she was denied.
It wasn't that she didn't love wearing a dress, she did, but having something else for riding or weapons practice would be nice, of course, she wasn't allowed those activities despite her begging.
She looked out the window and considered it. There was just no way she could leave that way, her other form wouldn't ever be missed by the guards and her father would be after her in moments. She considered for a moment in anger, so what, she was more powerful. Then, overcome by shame at the thought she dropped her shoulders and felt helpless.
She looked in her closet one more time in miserable desperation, knowing she wouldn't find anything. To her shock she saw a leather riding outfit. Excited, she grabbed it then changed. She looked into the mirror and blushed.
Her large breasts looked squeezed together and lifted, showing way too much cleavage. She was also a little uncomfortable at the amount of skin showing, and the womanly curves that the dresses hid so well were in plain sight. Then she got angry with herself. Yes, it showed too much for a princess perhaps, but it was not too much for a warrior. In fact the leather looked a lot like the uniforms the warriors she had wanted to join wore.
She realized despite being eighteen, she was not used to others seeing her body, and she was... nervous about it. Yet, war was coming, and she wanted, no needed, to help. She was not just an ornament and she would prove it. She slipped on the calf high leather boots she found with the clothes and headed for the secret passageway.
It wouldn't do to get caught now after all.
She slipped out near the armory and grabbed a leather helmet. Even in these clothes she would be immediately seen for who she was by her hair. It was unique to her across the kingdom after all. She put her hair up in a bun, then covered it with the helmet. Almost as an afterthought, she looked through the weapons and grabbed a long dagger and sheathe, attaching it to her uniform.
She took the passages again as close to the castle's servants entrance as she could, then boldly stepped out and walked toward the door, acting as if she belonged there. The guard didn't say a word as she walked by. She blushed in embarrassment. The guard's gaze had not gotten any higher than her chest...
