The twin blades whipped through the air with such pression, almost promising death to whomever got in the way of their dangerous dance.
Sweat adorned Akelas fair skin as she wielded her weapons with obvious admiration. "Yes, these will do perfect," she said grinning like a child on their birthday. She inspected the long, thin blades, googling at the Danbonain steel's razor sharp edges.
"I sure hope so Akela. Those blades are worth enough to support your fathers farm for years," said the blacksmith Akela had make her the swords. Instantly she felt a pang of guilt. He speaks the truth. Father barely has enough to buy seeds to plant in the spring. Yet here I am with money I have saved from doing extra jobs the townfoke need done for years and buying myself swords made worthy for a knight.
Akela just sighed. "He will not have to worry once I become a Rider. He shall have the nicest farm in Kalaera." The ruggish man just laughed. "Akela, I pray that you do just that," he smiled. His salt-pepper mustache covering much of his upper lip. Akela sheathed her new steel across her sculpted back and nodded toward the cheery blacksmith, "Gowden."
—-
Akela made it home just as the sun was escaping behind the Arögrog mountains. Enormous they were, covering the horizon with their snow covered peaks. The mountains could make anyone feel less than a speck of dust next to their stature.
Akela could see the smoke coming from the chimney of her family's small cabin. It wasn't much, barely fitting her three older brothers, her, and her father inside. It was a home though, nevertheless. It's comfort came from the love between them.
Before making her way inside she hurried to the barn, which held two of her favorites in the world, Crow and Vlad. The large Clysdale gave her a welcoming nicker and she made her way to him. "Good evening gentlemen," she said making sure to acknowledge her black gelding who layed sprawled out in the hay that adorned the floor of the small barn. "I see you are very tired from the exhausting work of eating grass and sunbathing all day Crow," she said, her tone laced with sarcasm. Vlad nosed the pockets of her tunic, searching for a sweet treat. "And you! I know you are most definitely drained from all that plowing aren't you?" Vlads velvity ears pointed at her as she hummed him a melody her father always sang as he worked in the fields, stroking his strong neck. "You of course deserve this," she said grabbing the sugar cube from her satchel. Vlad lipped the sugar cube immediately off her outstretched had which caused Akela to laugh. She turned to her gelding who had now gotten off the ground and looked expectingly at her for his sweet treat. She laughed again and grabbed another for him. "There you go lazy boy," she said and watched him amuzingling lick his wiskered lips after finishing. "Ok boys I must be off," Akela said as she planted a kiss of each of their muzzles.
She climbed into the loft above and hid her swords underneath the loose hay. That shall do it. They can't know. She thought to herself as she climbed back down and headed toward the cabin.
As she made her way inside, she was not greeted like usual by her father and brothers. Instead they're gazes turned toward her, all with worrisome looks in they're eyes. "What the matter?" Akela asked, her eyebrows forming a frown of worry herself. Then she noticed him.
Chainmail draped over his shoulders and down his body, accompanied by a two-handed hunk of a sword at his hip. His tunic showed the colors of the Riders. A rider. What was a dragon rider doing in her tiny cabin in the middle of nowhere?
All that escaped her lips was, "What the hell?"