I Want to Learn to Dance

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.

"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."