Free Dark Feather: A Dark Post Apocalyptic Romance by Alta Hensley Page B

claimed, taking a step back.
    I let out the breath I had been holding and tucked the blade back into the sheath on my back. “My apologies.”
    The girl looked surprised that I had softened so easily.
    “I-I am here to pick you up for the celebration dinner tonight,” the servant said quietly, still seeming a little frightened of my blade.
    I nodded and wiped a bead of sweat from my face. “Where are we going?”
    She calmed down a little and looked more at ease. “We are going to Rigby’s home, where I and a few other servants will help prepare you for the dinner.”
    I nodded again and left the training area with her. As I walked, I kept my distance from the servant who was so prim and proper in her female attire. While I wore blood-stained, loose fighting clothes, she was draped in thick layers of elegant cloth in vibrant colors.
    “What do you guys plan on doing to me once I reach Rigby’s home?” I questioned as we slowly left the training center.
    “You will have a team of his attendants who will tend to your needs,” the girl said. “We will help you bathe, dress, and paint yourself so you will look acceptable for the dinner.”
    I silently nodded in acceptance, though her words seemed totally foreign to me.
    After about twenty minutes of walking in a light snowstorm, the house appeared in my view and I almost stopped in my tracks. It had been a while since I had seen a house of such grandeur.
    “The house is made up of three main parts,” the girl explained. “There is the main building, which houses the large dining hall and several small meeting areas. There is the bedroom wing, which molds in a U-shape around the main building and contains several lavish bedrooms. The final area is the courtyard, which is sectioned off by stone walls and allows members of the household to enjoy themselves outside while never actually leaving the protection of the grounds.”
    Every building in the grounds appeared to be made with the purest stone, which was of a rich, snowy color. It was strong enough to keep out anything or anyone, and reflected the light of the sun, causing it to almost glimmer during the daytime. Intricate carvings were made into some of the stones, displaying detailed patterns and shapes.
    “Is everything all right?” the girl asked, noticing my surprise.
    I blinked and nodded, catching up to her. “Everything is just fine. The house seems a little larger than I expected.”
    The young servant smiled softly as we approached the gates to the courtyard, where several guards were waiting for us.
    “Yes, it does have that effect, doesn’t it?” the girl said as we approached the guards. Facing them, she said, “I have Tudor Dane, an invitee of Rigby’s. She’ll attend the celebration dinner as a guest, and she’ll receive honors for contributing to our latest victories.”
    The guards nodded and allowed us into the courtyard. My brows furrowed together tightly and I gripped the servant by the shoulder. When she winced a little, I dropped my hand. Sometimes I hardly remembered how strong a grip I had.
    “I am receiving honors tonight?” I asked in confusion.
    The girl rubbed her shoulder and nodded. “Yes. Rigby has deemed you a great asset to our army and has named you as one of the reasons why we have achieved victory. You will receive honors before General Becker himself.”
    The courtyard was massive, housing hundreds of small benches and community settings. Several people wandered around, talking amongst themselves. When the servant and I passed, the conversations dropped and everyone seemed to look at me.
    While I was usually proud, and held my head high, I now felt a little out of place as everyone could clearly see my difference, and take note that I was obviously a woman in men’s clothing. I could also see they were all trying to see my feathers for themselves. Luckily, they were mostly concealed, and you would have to be up close to see them.
    I followed the servant down the