Akata sat straight up in her bed, cold sweat dripping down her neck. She ran her fingers through her dark hair, working out some of the knots while wondering why she had been cursed with these unending nightmares. She glanced around at her room, finally settling her gaze on her weapons and armor.
Quietly, she got out of her bed and made her way first to her armor. The black mithril slid effortlessly onto her slender body, feeling like a second skin to the young warrior. She pulled her hair — which came a little under her shoulders when she let it down — into a tight ponytail. Her bangs framed her face, contrasting drastically with her pale ivory skin.
She looked over to her weapons, glistening beautifully in the moonlight. Walking over, she picked one of the two swords up, admiring its craftsmanship.
Akata called them Dawn and Dusk: one was a thin yet strong onyx blade with a soft black hilt; its companion was the same, thin yet strong, though this blade was more of a steely white, with a hilt the same color.
She clipped on her scabbard, which was black metal with silver leaves engraved into it. She snapped her swords into their respective places at her hips, then strode to the doorway, where she paused.
She pulled a black cloak — with the same silver engravings as her scabbard — from its stand, fastening it around her neck. She kept the hood down — it didn't look to her like it was going to rain.
Then, she continued down the hall, which had two bedrooms on one side and three windows on the other. Once she had passed through, taking care not to wake anyone, she paused again.
She was at a large intersection. If she kept going straight, she would eventually get to the kitchens and the servants' quarters. Turning right would lead her to the castle armory, training grounds and the noble family's living quarters. As much as she wanted to, Akata could not bring herself to say goodbye to Lady Cao Yi, and so she turned left, which would lead her to the castle courtyard and gates.
"Where are you going?" A high-pitched voice asked from behind Akata. She stopped dead in her tracks. She knew that voice, though she wished she didn't.
Cai Wenji stood just a few feet from Akata. "Where are you going?" she asked the young warrior a second time, stepping out into the night.
Akata thought for a moment, though Wenji hardly noticed. "I do not know," she admitted. "A walk, perhaps."
"Equipped for battle," Wenji said doubtfully, eyeing her, "In the middle of the night?" When Akata looked away, the princess continued. "Does Lady Cao Yi know of this? Perhaps I should alert Lord Cao Cao, that he may —"
Akata rushed her, grabbing a fistful of her robe. She easily lifted the smaller woman off her feet. "Lord Cao Cao will not notice my absence, nor will anyone bring it to his attention." Though her voice was calm as always, Akata's big emerald eyes burned with a fury Wenji had never before seen, not even on the battlefield.
To those not close to Akata, she was always calm, collected, and maybe even aloof at times — she had learned to be nothing but. Only her closest friends knew how she really was — happy, strong, and wise beyond her years. Akata very rarely — if ever — gave her opinion to a stranger, but it was a common fact that she strongly opposed Cao Cao, and some would even go as far as to say that she hated the man.
Which, she very much did.
"Well, um…P-perhaps Lord Cao Cao does not need to be troubled by such rabble…" Cai Wenji whimpered.
"See to it that he is not." Akata said, then dropped Wenji heavily on the ground. She turned away, but stopped suddenly. Looking over her shoulder, she told Wenji, "Give my farewells to Lady Cao Yi. Tell her…" she hesitated, then said more quietly, "Tell her that Cao Cao's ways were never my own."
Cai Wenji stumbled to her feet, nodding furiously. "Of-of course, Lady Akata…" she curtsied low, then practically ran back into the castle.
Akata sighed. Wenji could not be trusted, so the young warrior had to get out of Wei territory before morning, just to be safe. She then continued down the path to the castle gates. They were closed, so she took the ladder over the wall, avoiding the guards stationed there. Once she had slipped over the gate, she chuckled. What good would guards do if they couldn't even see someone who was only a few feet away from them?
Akata cast one glance back at the gates, then, deciding she was far enough, let out a loud whistle. Luckily for her, she had already prepared for this trip. A large shadow separated itself from the shadows of the woods, and within seconds, the majestic black horse was standing in front of her.
Akata ran her slender hand through his thick black mane, checking the saddle and the bags. They were both made of a tough brown leather, and Akata saw the saddle was still fastened properly and the bags were still filled with the food and water that she had saved up over the last month or so.
Akata smiled at the warhorse, his eyes possessing more intellect than any wild animal could possess. Pulling herself onto the saddle, she gently prodded him on. "Come, Shadow Runner. We must find somewhere safe. Somewhere far from Wei and Cao Cao's evil." the large horse whinnied, then picked up the pace.
Soon, they were flying through the night, making great progress. That was when Akata first felt the earth quaking.
( Author's Note: I'm sorry if any of you like Cai Wenji, I just needed someone to be the snobby princess.. R&R Please! (: )