Damantha Makarova
In The Darkness
Little by little Kara used every day to sit in the tiny garden and work on her movement. With each day she felt more and more confident, and a bit stronger than the day before. Very soon, right after the healer examined her wound and found it healing quickly, she asked Inei to take a walk in the castle gardens again. The man thought for a few moments before nodding.
When they returned to Kara’s quarters, Ayame was waiting for them with a smile on her face.
«Nakano, Lord Ryuu invites you to join him and his war council for dinner tonight.» The woman said. «If you feel well enough to attend.»
«Tell Lord Ryuu I will be honoured to come.» Kara bowed slightly – her wound still hurt too badly when she tried bowing fully.
When the evening crept up, Kara was ready to come to Lord Ryuu’s dinner. Ayame helped her to get dressed in a new haorihakama. This one had plain black hakama and silk bloody red haori with dark red stripes that imitated a tiger’s. Kara loved the design, and felt good wearing it.
As they entered the dining hall, Kara saw a long dark table with fourteen people behind it. It was a mixed company – men and women, all dressed in fine silk haorihakama and with swords lying beside them.
Kara followed Ayame’s lead and bowed – as best as she could, even though pain was still quite strong in her healing side. But she tried her best not to show it to the others.
Ayame stepped forward and took her place on Lord Ryuu’s left hand side. To his right sat a handsome man – very tall, with wavy dark hair and blue eyes. Next to this man was an empty place, and Lord Ryuu gestured Kara to take it.
Feeling very strange and knowing that such places were usually kept for either guests of honour or someone very high in rank, Kara took the place and slightly bowed to the lord again.
Servants served food and drinks and filled the little cups with warm sake. As they left, Lord Ryuu raised his cup and others followed his lead. Kara decided to follow them without question.
«Let’s start!» Lord Ryuu nodded and gulped down the sake.
Everyone did the same, forcing Kara to take the full cup of burning alcohol without a doubt.
Lord Ryuu introduced her to his war council, starting from Ayame, naming her as Spy Master, and the blue eyed man to his right.
«Spy Master Itsuki.» Said the shogun and the man to his right bowed slightly.
Kara realised that she had already seen these intriguing blue eyes somewhere.
Whenever Lord Ryuu introduced her to another one of his counsellors, Kara bowed, and by the end she felt her side hurt more than when they began the introduction. She hid her pain, though, trying to seem better than she felt.
As they began eating, Lord Ryuu addressed her.
«I was told you were recovering quite fast.» He said to the woman.
Kara glanced at him, feeling a little angry that he brought it up.
«I don’t like being weak, Lord Ryuu.» She replied, trying not to sound rude.
«And that is worthy of respect of every warrior. You have shown yourself very strong in our last battle. Your help is greatly appreciated. And that is why I am putting you under the command of Itsuki. He will take you as one of his own and train you.»
«And here I thought I was quite skilful in my training.» Kara smirked, remembering the battle.
«True.» Itsuki smiled. «But there are things you need to learn to become one of us. Plus, we need to help you get back into form after the terrible wound you have suffered.»
«I am sure Inei will help me with my training.» Kara glanced at Itsuki, noticing a small smile on his lips.
«Speaking of…» Ayame reached out to take a piece of rice bread. «He told us a great deal of the tattoos on your skin.»
«Yes, I have quite a number of those.» Kara replied. «Each was done for a reason.»
«I was told you have a dragon on your back?» Lord Ryuu looked at Kara with interest.
«Yes. My protector.» The woman replied. «He keeps me safe.»
«We have a belief that one who bears a dragon on their skin can come down to its fierce soul and become one with the dragon.»
«Well, you could say he offers me his strength in battle.» Kara smiled. «I’m not very fierce in life, except when it is needed.»
«And the phoenix?» Itsuki asked, nodding to her left arm.
Kara pulled up her sleeve, showing the black and blue phoenix on the skin.
«She reminds me that I always have to live, no matter how hard life tries to kill me.» She said, running her fingers down the phoenix to another tattoo. «And this paw print is the mark of the beast, a reminder of a long lost friend that died years ago.»
She turned her arm and on the inner side saw the Latin words, which made her tense a little.
«Gods favour the strong.» Ayame said, surprizing Kara with her knowledge of Latin. «A reminder?»
«Yes.» Kara pulled the sleeve down, covering her left arm again. «A very long time ago I was weak and unable to stand up for myself. When I started to, I made it to remind myself that weak people do not get anywhere in life.»
She noticed a respectful smile on Lord Ryuu’s face.
«I believe you have a few others?» he asked.
«Yes. A raven…» she touched her right shoulder. «Munin, a raven in service of the gods, who watches over everything and tells the gods what I do. And a falcon…»
She touched her left shoulder.
«Collin, my faithful friend who lends me his swiftness and speed.» Kara said, then touched her right biceps. «And I also have some armour on my right arm, as a sign that I am always protected.»
«But there is a rune on the lower part of it that seems…» Itsuki fell silent for a moment, trying to find the words. «A little out of place.»
Kara pulled the right sleeve a little bit up to bare her intricate bracer tattoo, which surrounded a rune on her wrist.
«This rune is a sign of what my life was like. It means that I was meant to be a sacrifice. But I did not succumb to this and made my own destiny.» She replied, caressing the strange rune. «That is why I have a bracer around it, helping me battle any evil that I come upon.»
«From what I see, you are a warrior.» Lord Ryuu said with a smile. «And I am glad we found you, Nakano.»
Tea was served, and Master Ryuu summoned a servant, who brought a large lacquered box to his lord.
«Nakano, you were brave enough to jump into battle, even though you were unarmed at first. But after what I saw, I want to gift you something.» Lord Ryuu opened the lid of the box, showing Kara its contents and she saw two amazing katana inside. «These are very special. Their hilts and sheath are made from the demon’s horns. The very same demon you managed to kill on your own.»
Kara was left silent in surprise, and Itsuki took the box and handed it to her.
«May they protect you and bring you many victories.» Master Ryuu said and bowed a little.
Kara bowed down, feeling honoured and strange from all the attention she was given during this dinner.
«Thank you, Master Ryuu. It is an honour to receive such a gift.» She said, hoping her voice wasn’t trembling.
When she looked at the shogun again, he was holding up his cup with tea.
«To you, brave Nakano.» He said and others joined in to this cheer. «And to your future victories!»
* * *
When Kara returned to her room – grateful she no longer stayed in a cage – she first put down the box with the katana on the floor and sat in front of it. After a few moments she opened it and took out one of the katana, feeling the masterful work of the armourer, who made the sheath and hilt a true masterpiece. She ran her fingers down the polished sheath and grabbed the hilt, freezing for a split second before taking the katana out.
It felt very well balanced, and fit her hand perfectly.
The metal of the blade seemed darker than what she had seen in museums in the ancient Japanese sections, and she suspected that it might be some kind of a special metal used for a very tight circle of warriors. She remembered that she saw similar blades in Lord Ryuu’s hands and the shinobi Inei.
«I suppose, you both need names, since you are to be my partners…» Kara whispered, feeling Inei walk into her room silently.
She looked at the blade and sighed, caressing a dark grey stone in the hilt.
«Kage. Shadow.» She said and smiled. «To remind me of my own shadow, who follows me all the time.»
She glanced at Inei and noticed him chuckle. She returned to her swords and put the katana back into the sheath and took the other one.
This one had a black stone in its hilt. She repeated her little ritual and realized that she has a perfect name for the second sword.
«Kurayami. Darkness.» She smiled. «Because I fought my first real battle in the dark…»
As she set the swords back into the box for the time being, she already knew that having them in her life will certainly heighten her chances of survival.
«So, Master Itsuki…» Kara stood up and looked at Inei. «Are you ready to have a real conversation?»
She heard the man chuckle again, before he raised his hands and took off his mask and hood.
«If you wish, Nakano.» He replied with a charming smile.
«Tea or sake?» Kara asked, tilting her head to the side.
The man stepped back to the door and knocked on it. A servant slid it open a bit and Itsuki whispered something. The servant nodded and closed the door.
«Might I suggest talking in the garden?» Itsuki gestured towards the opposite door and Kara nodded.
They settled on the patio, and a moment later the servant appeared with two cups and a clay bottle. Setting the tray between Kara and Itsuki, the servant bowed and left. Itsuki poured the fragrant wine into the cups and offered Kara one of them.
«I always wanted to ask why do you stay by my side? There are other shinobi to look after me.» Kara took the cup with a shy smile.
«I was assigned as head of your safekeeping. Even though you didn’t need me all the time.» Itsuki replied.
«You did help a lot, however. And I am grateful you were there for me.»
«Of course.»
«But was duty the only reason?»
The man sipped his wine before answering:
«No. You… intrigued me. You are different. And I was trying to get to know you better.»
«You know, usually people talk to reach that goal. You, on the other hand, were as silent as a mute.»
He chuckled again:
«I find it easier to know people by what they do and how they act around others. You have shown a great deal without words.»
Kara took her time before saying anything else.
«I am sorry.» She said finally, looking into her cup.
«For what?»
«For my actions in the battle. I was unarmed and should have stayed out of it.»
«You did what you thought was right. Though unarmed, you helped. And you saved my life…» Itsuki smirked. «Twice.»
«And you watched over me when I was wounded, so don’t mention it.» Kara winced.
«It’s not the same thing, Nakano. You saved my life twice.»
«And you haven’t?» Kara glanced at him. «The two starving men at that window, remember? And the three men that tried to rape me later that day…»
He shook his head with a stern expression on his face.
«That was different. The first ones would hurt you, but were not about killing you. And the three… Well, they were after your body and not your life.» He said.
«Still…» Kara reached out and touched his hand. «Thank you for being there for me then.»
To her surprise, he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
«I still owe you a debt.» He said. «Thank you for saving my life.»
«It would have been easier if I had a weapon from the start.» Kara tried to joke, though she felt strange after such a gentle sign of affection from him.
She wanted to free her hand, but he squeezed it a little and smiled.
«I hope I will not make you uncomfortable, but I have a question about that rune of yours…» he set down his cup of wine and pulled Kara’s sleeve up, showing the bracer with the red rune in it.
«Yes?»
«You said it was a mark that you were meant to be a sacrifice?»
Kara tensed up a little, before answering:
«Yes. My world is different from this one. I was meant to listen to others, follow what they think and do what I am told. I was raised to sacrifice anything I want for something I did not need…» she said with a sigh. «I was not looked at as a person. Rather than… someone’s property…»
She noticed that Itsuki narrowed his eyes and for a split second he looked very shocked and angry.
«Seems to me you have escaped from all that.» He finally said.
«I did. But it cost me a lot.»
«Your family?»
«And my so-called friends.» Kara shrugged her shoulders. «So I was very used to living on my own even before the portals sent my world falling down into the abyss…»
«I am sorry.»
Kara glanced into his eyes and noticed his sad look.
«For what? I was never really a part of the family, nor was I ever a great friend, according to those guys. What I lost… is what I did not need.» She answered with an awkward smile.
«Still… To live through something like that – it’s… ghastly.»
«True. But I try not to think about it. If it weren’t for them and their despicable ways, I might not be here today. And who would be saving your life then?»
Itsuki chuckled.
«Destiny has its own ways, I suppose. And you are right. If it weren’t for you, my life could have ended… And the castle might have been overrun with demons.» He smiled at her.
«You give me too much credit.»
«I’m serious. The oni you killed last… it was a demon lord.»
Kara frowned, surprised, and shook her head.
«No way…» she smirked.
«It’s true. While everyone was busy with the horde, the demon lord could have opened a few more portals. And we would have lost the battle. But you called him to a duel and he couldn’t resist.»
«Wait… you mean to tell me that not everyone can put those down?»
«Well, yes. Lord Ryuu and a few other warriors could, but most samurai in the castle are unable to face a demon lord one on one and win.» Itsuki shrugged his shoulder. «You surprised us all there.»
«Oh.» Kara froze, looking away. For a couple of minutes she sat there, thinking over what he just said and drinking wine to settle her nerves.
«Do you remember the drum?» Itsuki suddenly asked.
Kara glanced at him and raised her eyebrow:
«At the pagoda?»
«Yes. I’ve spoken to the monk after your little prayer and the storm…» Itsuki said with a gentle smile. «The man thinks you’ve been heard by the gods no less.»
«I’m not sure if I really believe in gods, Inei… Itsuki…»
«Call me whatever you like, Nakano. They are both my names, as are many others.» Itsuki chuckled. «As for the gods… I think you are twisting the truth a little. After all, you have so many on your body. Dragon, Phoenix… they are gods… Your raven is also a servant of the gods… and the phrase on your arm…»
«Yes, you’re right… Gods favour the strong.» Kara sighed, looking down. «I guess… I look up and see the skies, wishing the gods could hear me? Or, maybe… I don’t know…»
She suddenly pulled her knees up to her chin and hugged her legs, shrinking to a little ball as if to protect herself.
«You know, I’ve had a lot of time to watch you, Nakano. You have more strength in you than many other people I know. I understand why Lord Ryuu took you here. I understand what demons might haunt your soul.» Itsuki smiled gently. «And I want you to know that if you need, I am always here. You can always talk to me.»
«I have. Though, we didn’t use words before.» Kara smiled back.
«Ah! Well, that would be my fault.»
«Don’t. Everything is alright. I enjoyed your company nevertheless.»
«I hope you won’t get tired of me, because from now on we are going to be spending much more time together. And I must warn you – I am a very strict teacher.»
«I don’t mind, Master Itsuki. I love learning new things.» Kara smiled again. «I just hope I will be able to keep up, considering I am not fully healed yet.»
«Don’t worry. At first I will be teaching you some things that are not as physical.»
«If you are about what a real shinobi actually does, I know some of that…»
«Oh, really? Enlighten me.» Itsuki sounded flirty, when he wasn’t hiding behind that mask of his, and Kara liked his expression. He seemed open, happy even. It could be a result of him being a little drunk from sake and wine, but he looked genuine.
Kara laughed with him and told him everything she knew about the shinobi she read about in her world, and very soon she found out that for the most part her knowledge was quite extensive. But he still corrected her on some things and started telling about others that she knew nothing about.
In that long and deep conversation they spent most of the night, before Kara started dozing off. Itsuki convinced her to go to bed and returned to his usual self – a masked and hooded silent warrior who will be looking after her while she slept. Though Kara didn’t know – he actually slept through the night, although he stayed vigilant even in his sleep. He was used to staying in the far corner of her room, hidden in the shadows and ready to come to her aid if anything happens.
He also knew that this would be the last night he would be able to spend next to her, and this brought a faint sense of dread into his soul.
4
* * *
The next morning Kara woke up to a neat stack of dark shinobi clothing next to her bed. Itsuki sat in the corner – just like before, but this time he seemed sleeping, because his eyes were closed. As Kara stood up to get dressed, the man opened his eyes and jumped to his feet. The young woman noticed that he was about to leave and smirked.
«Stay. You’ve already seen me naked. What’s the point in leaving, if you’ve seen it all…» she said to him.
Itsuki, however, turned away.
«It doesn’t mean I shouldn’t respect your privacy.» He said.
«I don’t mind.» She shrugged with a smile on her lips. «Unless, of course, my ugly scar makes me less attractive than before…»
Itsuki didn’t answer and Kara dressed up in silence. When she finished, she felt Itsuki near and turned to him.
With a strange expression in his eyes, he checked her clothes and nodded.
«Let’s go and find out how well you are with your body.» He said and walked out of the room.
Kara followed, feeling very strange.
He took her to the gardens again – to the parts that had lots of various stones and paths that could be easily used for training.
For the next few hours he demanded she would balance and jump and run, showing him how well she knew the basics and what she could improve. Even though her wound was still giving her a hard time, she didn’t complain once.
As they returned to the castle, Itsuki was silent, but Kara knew – there was something more behind that silence than just her performance during what he called assessment.
«So did I do good?» she finally asked, tired of the silence between them.
«Better than I anticipated. Tomorrow we will try sparring.» Itsuki replied. «I’ve seen you in battle with a demon, but I must know how you fight a human as well.»
«Can I ask you something?»
«Sure.»
«Did Lord Ryuu tell you what he saw when he met me?»
«Yes. He was surprised when you asked him and his men to leave. Most people he encountered – either ran, or attacked. He also told me how you killed one of his men with a drumstick. And then how you killed three others in various ways. He was quite impressed.»
«I’m able to turn almost anything into a weapon, when my life depends on it. Even a drumstick…» Kara sighed.
«I believe you. Lord Ryuu, by the way, kept the second one as a memento of your first encounter.»
«Did he?»
«Like I said – he was very impressed.» Itsuki glanced at her with a twitched eyebrow.
«That’s strange, because you don’t seem to be.» Kara smirked, trying to get some emotion in reply.
«If I don’t show it, it doesn’t mean it’s not there, Nakano. You will have more opportunities to impress us all, I assure you. But for the moment, we must concentrate on your training.»
«So what’s next then?»
«Well…» Itsuki turned to the far corner of the courtyard, which was out of limits for her before. «Have you ever ridden a horse?»
«Frequently. Before my world fell.» Kara saw the stables with many different horses that varied in height and colour.
«Good. Then you will choose yourself one.» He led her past the stables behind the building where they kept horses in small paddocks.
One of those stood a little way off from the others and contained one single horse – a giant black stallion. Intrigued, Kara headed toward him, but Itsuki caught her by the arm.
«He’s off limits.» He said firmly. «He already killed three men. We keep him for breeding, not for riding.»
«Let me see him, please.» Kara replied. «In all my years as a rider I have never met a horse who couldn’t be tamed. I have worked with so-called killers and turned them into fine companions each time.»
«Fine.» Itsuki sighed.
They walked up to the paddock, and Kara noticed the stallion tense up and run at them aggressively. He couldn’t reach people behind the tall fence, but he was obviously not happy with them being there. She watched him for some time, and climbed the fence before Itsuki could stop her.
Walking towards the stallion, she showed the animal her empty hands as a sign of peace.
The horse snorted and jumped, furious at the intruder, but Kara stopped in the middle of his paddock and froze, looking straight at the stallion.
«Nakano! Get back here now!» Kara heard Itsuki calling, but ignored him.
«Hello, handsome.» She said to the horse and noticed the stallion jump to her.
She didn’t move, when the stallion ran up and dug into the ground, stopping himself. She didn’t move when he tried scaring her by stomping and kicking near her.
Kara let him thrash around, until he finally stopped and looked at her in confusion.
«Your tricks won’t fool me, pretty boy.» She said calmly, feeling that this horse was never spoken to or treated with kindness. «Would you like to be my friend?»
She slowly reached out her hand and the stallion snorted angrily, stomping his hoof onto the ground. But she didn’t flinch, staying still and looking at him expectantly. She watched him, as he flinched and jumped nervously, too afraid to approach her. But she was patient and kept smiling, catching every move and glance that he made.
A long time had passed before the stallion reached his neck out and sniffed her palm – not even touching her, but getting acquainted to her smell.
«See? I’m not that bad.» Kara whispered. «And so are you.»
She slowly turned her back to the stallion and stood like that for a couple of moments before taking a careful and slow step forward.
Kara could hear the stallion stepping behind her – attentive, tense and ready to jump away. But he was intrigued and wanted to know more of this strange human who wasn’t afraid of him.
«I’ll share an apple with you tomorrow, if you let me touch you today.» Kara smiled, noticing Itsuki and a few other men frozen at the fence with their mouth open from shock.
She stopped, not reaching the fence, and let the stallion walk up to her. He first sniffed her back, then stepped a bit closer and sniffed her shoulder and head, brushing his nose against her cheek.
When he reached over her shoulder, glancing at her with curiosity, Kara slowly raised her hand and let him sniff it again, before gently touching his nose.
The stallion flinched for a second, snorting with surprise, but then approached again and let her touch him once more.
«There you go.» Kara smiled and turned slowly to face the stallion. «See?»
She caressed his forehead, while letting him sniff her clothes. She reached up to scratch under his mane and noticed a small red star-shaped scar on his forehead.
«Did someone hurt you? Is this why you’re so angry all the time?» the young woman asked, gently petting the horse.
The stallion shook his head and turned away, looking at the people watching them.
«It’s okay. Go. I’ll see you tomorrow.» Kara smiled and caressed the stallion’s neck.
He stepped away and calmly walked off, leaving Kara by herself. The young woman chuckled and went back to Itsuki. As soon as she jumped off the fence, he looked at her with awe.
«I have no idea what magic you used with that beast!» he said. «And I don’t even want to know.»
«You said I have to choose my horse.» Kara smiled. «I want him.»
«Akuma?! You want Akuma?» one of the men asked in shock.
«I don’t know how you tried to tame him, but he seems quite tame to me. Perhaps, you just don’t understand him?» Kara shrugged her shoulders. «Of course, I won’t be able to ride him straight away, but give me a little time and he will become a perfect friend for me.»
Itsuki exhaled, shaking his head.
«When will you ever stop surprising me, Nakano?» he whispered.
Kara shrugged her shoulders, feeling quite confident that Akuma can become a perfect horse.
«Oh, did I miss it already?» suddenly they heard Ayame’s voice. «I was told Akuma was killing our guest.»
«He didn’t even try, Ayame.» Kara replied with a smile.
«She’s a wonder! He tried scaring her and she didn’t even flinch!» Itsuki replied. «You should have seen it! He even allowed her to touch him!»
«Nakano, I hope you won’t mind if I join you some time to see what you have done to this demon of a horse?» Ayame glanced at Kara.
«You can join me tomorrow, when I’ll try and work with him trusting me a bit more…» Kara replied with a chuckle. «If I will be allowed to take him, of course.»
«I am sure Lord Ryuu will agree that there can be no other way, Nakano.»
«Meanwhile…» Itsuki said with a sigh. «I wanted to see how you do on a horse, not next to it.»
«We can offer a couple of training horses, Master Inei.» One of the men said. «But I’m not sure if Nakano would want to ride them.»
«Oh, I can ride any horse. I just love mine with an attitude just like mine.» Kara smiled.
«Saddle Sakura for her.» Ayame smiled. «I am sure she will suffice.»
«Yes, Spy Master.» The men bowed to Ayame and ran off.
«Take care of my mare, Nakano. She has a temper, but I am sure you will find a way to negotiate with her.»
«I will do my best, Spy Master Ayame.» Kara bowed slightly.
«And you…» Ayame turned to Itsuki. «Take care of Nakano. Lord Ryuu will be furious if our wounded hero will get hurt riding a horse.»
«Some why I doubt she will be the one hurt.» Itsuki chuckled.
«I’ll look after him, Ayame.» Kara winked at the woman.
Within minutes the horses were ready and Itsuki jumped into the saddle. He was riding a big stallion – black and with a very lush mane and tail. If Kara wouldn’t know better, she would have said this stallion was Akuma’s brother, no less.
Sakura, on the other hand, was a beautiful mare – long-legged and fair, she would be perfect for a queen. The mare’s coat was a rare cream colour, making her stand out from all the other horses in the castle.
Kara admired such beauty, as well as the strength of these wonderful creatures, and Sakura definitely seemed like a strong and resilient horse.
As soon as she got onto her back, Sakura tensed up and beat her front hoof on the ground – she was obviously looking forward to have a good time.
«Take care of her, alright?» Ayame caressed her horse on the neck.
Itsuki led Kara out of the castle and they set off through a picturesque road that curved through the forest.
Kara felt that Sakura could do better if she were to let go, and so she allowed the mare to quicken her pace and burst into an amazing gallop. Itsuki followed, knowing both horses better than Kara, and easily keeping up.
It was obvious that these horses knew each other well and worked perfectly in tandem – they ran in unison, turning and slowing when needed.
Feeling the freedom of galloping on a road again, Kara started smiling, happy to be on a horse.
* * *
Kara started her days with training – Itsuki was relentless when it came to her and it helped her return to her form after the wound she suffered in the battle. After her usual morning training sessions she went to the stables to spend some time with Akuma.
As the days passed, the stallion was becoming more and more susceptible to her. He stopped being angry and nervous all the time, turning out to be a very calm and confident horse. And with each new day he started waiting for her to come to his paddock and greeting her at the gate.
And it wasn’t because she had a couple of treats ready for him, he wanted to receive her gentle touch and feel her combing his mane and tail. Very soon she managed to put a special bridle she had made. It was different from the usual bridles that others used, and the leatherworker was surprised to make such a thing at Kara’s demand. But he dared not refuse – after all, Kara was favoured by Lord Ryuu, and the master leatherworker feared his wrath.
Akuma received the bitless bridle with ease, and the very same day allowed Kara to get up on his back. The young woman took a short ride, showing the stallion how to react to her subtle commands, and let him be. She didn’t want to rush him into anything, and proceeded with caution.
When she worked with Akuma in the paddock, others would sometimes come and watch. Ayame and Itsuki were the most frequent witnesses of her «magic’, but Lord Ryuu visited them as well. He never said anything, but whenever Kara noticed him among others – he was standing there, watching her closely with a very concentrated expression on his stern face.
By the time Kara felt confident that Akuma will be able to behave outside the paddock, she saddled him up and opened the gate.
The people who were watching scattered aside, fearing that the stallion would bolt through them, but Akuma stayed by Kara’s side – she wasn’t holding the reins, and yet the stallion was listening to her. All he did was look out with a curious gaze.
Kara finally took the reins and calmly walked out of the paddock with him.
Surprisingly, Akuma listened to her every move and did not even try to run or hurt anyone. Instead, he reached to the other horses he was passing by and seemed to be greeting them – relaxed and calm as he could ever be.
Kara checked the saddle and jumped onto Akuma’s back.
The stallion stood still, looking around with wonder, and by the time Itsuki and Ayame got onto their horses, Kara was ready to take Akuma for his first ride outside the castle walls.
«Are you sure about this?» Itsuki asked her, while they led their horses to the gates.
