Chapter Ten - A Sneak Peek

The brute raised his hand above the beggar. ''I told you to get out of my sight.''

''That's enough!'' Ailith shouted.

The man froze and slowly turned to see Ailith approaching him. She saw worry flash over his face before she got close enough to better compare their size. He absolutely towered over her. Lowering his oversized arm, he confronted Ailith as she continued walking towards him. ''Stay out of this, runt!'' He snapped with renewed buoyancy.

Ignoring his warning, she stood before him, staring up to lock eyes. ''They can't hurt you.''

''I know she can't hurt me. But, she touched me with those disgusting hands.'' He shivered and gave a revolted look. ''I told her I didn't want to pay her, but she kept nagging me. She had it coming.''

Ailith narrowed her eyes. ''Look at you compared to her. You don't have a reason to start a fight.''

''Why not? Isn't that why we're all here? Hey, maybe she's entering the tournament too!'' He threw his head back and let out a belly laugh.

Every muscle in Ailith's body screamed, wanting to crush this animal and throw him into the moat. By her feet, Ailith felt the beggar still searching for her coins. There was something about the woman's unruffled demeanour that left Ailith mystified. How could a frail, blind woman show no sign of concern when tossed to the ground by a muscle head with arms the size of her body?

There wasn't much time to think. The brute lowered his head, scowling and casting his huge shadow over Ailith. He tried to find a reaction from the young woman that was anything akin to fear. But, Ailith took another step forward.

''Are you entering this tournament?'' he questioned.

''I am.''

''You don't know who I am, do you?''

''Should I?''

He over-dramatically tilted his head. ''I am Anoke. Three-time national fighting champion back in my home country.''

Ailith scoffed. ''I'm not impressed by warriors who think they can spout their name and expect their opponent to surrender.''

His face twitched at the gibe. The overconfident smile he displayed quivered back into a scowl. Ailith was unflinching, even when Anoke grabbed the collar of her shirt with his right hand. His palm was the size of her head. Everyone who was watching anticipated an inevitable outcome. To make matters more sinister, Anoke raised his other hand and gave the crowd a spectacle as his tanned skin shifted into a grey metallic coating, resembling the steel on his armour. The silver layer washed up his arm, all the way to his shoulder. With every twitch of a muscle, the left side of his body hissed like a metal sword being unsheathed.

Through all this, along with being lifted off the ground, Ailith kept an unwavering manner.

Anoke leant closer and leered. ''I hope you're my first opponent in this tournament, because I'm going to enjoy destroying that smug look on your face. Trust me, worm. I'm the last person you want to pick a fight with...''

In the blink of an eye, Ailith grabbed his arm and stamped both her feet on the floor, causing cracks to appear beneath. Anoke flinched, still playing catch up. He couldn't retract his arm away in time before seeing the skin on Ailith's hand turn to diamond. Ailith tightened her grip before flipping him over her head and slamming him down into the ground. Stones scattered everywhere under the thunderous force. Anoke, lying in a him-shaped crater, stared up with wide eyes as a squeak slipped past his agape mouth. His metal skin morphed back into human flesh.

''You're right, you are the last person I want to pick a fight with,'' Ailith let go of his arm, letting it slap his drooling face. ''Because you're not worth my time.''

After that brief moment of action, Ailith heard a few faint cheers and amused chuckles from the other competitors. A few were now showing signs of hesitation about entering. Kneeling down to the same level as the beggar, Ailith gently took her hand and returned the half-broken mug. ''Are you okay?''

''Yes, thank you,'' her voice was delicate and muffled through the bindings around her mouth. ''You didn't have to step in like that.''

''Actually, I think I had to. I don't know if you could tell, but he was ready to attack you.''

''Was he? Oh, that's sad to hear.''

Ailith wasn't sure how to react. She wanted to smile at how casually this woman was taking everything, but there was a feeling of sorrow. She dreaded what would have happened if she hadn't stepped in when she did. 

Dragged out of her thoughts, Ailith saw that she was struggling to find her absent coins. ''Here, let me.'' She retrieved all the coins and filled the mug with them.

Each jingle caused an elated gasp to escape from the beggar. The frail woman stirred when it became silent and Ailith helped her to stand. Despite being knocked to the ground, Ailith couldn't find any noticeable injuries. There wasn't a limp or stumble to her step. The beggar turned to leave, hesitating when she realised the mug was heavier than before.

''You take care of yourself, okay?'' Ailith said kindly, strapping her pouch back onto her belt.

''Bless your heart, kind soul. Bless you.''

After watching the woman leave and quickly returning to her spot in the queue, Ailith's gaze darted towards Anoke. He crawled out of the rubble and scampered away the moment he saw her looking at him. She smirked, feeling confident that she wasn't going to be seeing him in the tournament. Ignoring the looks from the other participants, Ailith returned next to Jozi.

The woman seemed ready to burst into a fit of laughter. ''I should warn you. You've shown your cards before entering the game.''

Ailith shrugged. ''It just means I have more opponents lining up to fight me.''

''You're a strange one, and I mean that in the best of ways. I confess, after that display, I fear facing you in this tournament.''

''You never know, I'm sure you have a trick or two up your sleeve.''

''You could say that. In fact, to make things even between us...'' Jozi grabbed her shawl and lifted it over her shoulder.

Attached to Jozi's arm was a spring coil, wrapped all the way around her limb and hooked onto a shoulder plate. At the other end of the spring coil, dangling above her hand, was a brass jaw the size of a domesticated house cat. Jagged teeth gleamed under the sunlight. The miraculous contraption caused a twinkle to shine in Ailith's eye.

Jozi winked before twisting her body and thrusting her arm outwards. Suddenly, the spring coil extended and the jaw opened wider and wider the further it reached. Ailith observed with awe. The weapon sunk its jaws into the ground, right in front of retreating Anoke. The brute yelped and froze in fear, watching the device tear into the marble stone like it was nothing. He trembled watching the jaws sink into the ground. With a quick jolt of her arm, Jozi retreated the jaw back towards her. Taking his chance, Anoke ran away screaming at the top of his lungs with tears running down his face.

''That is amazing!'' Ailith's eyes followed the jaw until it nestled back over Jozi's hand. ''Did you invent that?''

''I studied at Astington Academy.'' She grinned proudly. Ailith appeared lost for a moment with her grin wavering slightly. ''It's one of the finest technological academies in the world. The tuition was high. But, depending on how things go during this tournament, it'll be worth it.''

Giddy with excitement again, Ailith bounced and beamed with a blossoming glow. ''I confess, after that display, I hope I face you in the tournament.''

Jozi eyed her curiously. ''You are a very strange one.''

''You there!'' a sharp voice called out. Looking over, Ailith and Jozi saw a fat, female Knight with rick dark skin approaching them. An unsheathed broadsword grasped in one hand. Attached to the vambrace of her other arm was a small shield with the Knight's crest. ''If you don't want to be escorted away, I suggest you conceal all weapons until the tournament starts.''

Fearful of missing out on the tournament, Ailith planted her hands on her sides and bowed stiffly. ''I'm sorry. It won't happen again.''

Taken aback by the easy compliance, the Knight shuffled and cleared her throat. ''Good. Let's keep things orderly. I don't need any rabble-rousers like you causing trouble.''

Ailith nodded frantically. As she straightened her body, Jozi smirked at the Knight and gestured to the crater left by Anoke. ''By the way, nice work protecting the commoners. Tell me, were you going to step-in during or after the beating had commenced?''

Ailith's body scrunched, afraid that her new acquaintance's sarcastic tone would cost her.

The Knight glared and stepped closer to an unflinching Jozi. ''I should add, conceal your weapons and hold your tongue, or I'll escort you away.''

''Do you really have the authority to do that?''

''Why wouldn't I? I am a Knight of this Kingdom, after all.''

''True.'' Jozi eyed the woman from helm to boot. ''Though, some Knights carry more...dents in their armour than others.''

Ailith also began inspecting the Knight's armour, noticing how clean and prime it was. The composure she usually associated with Knights was off with this one, who baulked at Jozi's taunt. Before things escalated, Ailith placed her hand on Jozi's shoulder, nudging her away and facing the Knight. ''I don't mean to cause any trouble. I saw someone who needed help and reacted, that's all. I know that this event must be hectic for you to manage, so I don't want to make things difficult. Please, I promise nothing more will happen.''

The Knight blinked. Her gaze switched between the pair. Jozi pouted and looked away, keeping her lips sealed. The Knight bobbed her head once and turned to leave. ''Good, that's what I like to hear.''

It might have been a trick of the mind, but before departing, Ailith thought she saw a smile from the Knight. Ailith's heart swelled at the notion.

However, Jozi scowled and stared at Ailith in an unimpressed manner. ''Bow before a Knight and they'll step all over you.''

''That's not true.''

''For someone who was born here, you do seem to idolise the Knights considerably.''

Ailith's eyes narrowed. ''Why wouldn't I?''

Before she could get her answer, an aggravated voice called out from behind. ''Next!''

Turning around, Ailith found no more queue. In all that exhilaration, she'd almost forgotten about the line. Dashing forward, she grabbed her pouch and placed it on the podium. With a disinterested look, the woman opened the pouch and poured the coins onto her desk before counting. ''Name and country of birth?''

''Ailith Natia of Arsalan!''

After counting, the woman scooped the coins into a large sack sat next to the podium stand. Slouching against her chair, she grabbed a stamp. ''Hand.''

Ailith obeyed, thrusting her hand out and allowing the woman to stamp an imprint of the Arsalan flag onto her knuckles. She pulled her hand back and stared at the imprint for the longest time, grazing her finger over it. Goosebumps erupted over her body and her beaming smile returned in full force. She was another step closer to her dream.

''Hey, move along,'' the woman barked. ''I don't get paid by the hour.''

Ailith quickly ran to the side, allowing others behind to enter. Staring ahead, she saw those with the imprints filed into another line and led inside the castle. Knights herded them along like cattle and Ailith followed, trailing at the back of a group.

Iron chandeliers hung above them and light from the outside poured through windows. Ailith gazed out of the windows that overlooked what she assumed was one of the many courtyards. They hurried along before coming to a red steel door. The participants watched a Knight salute towards two more guarding the door. One pressed his hand against a metal panel on the wall. He hooked his fingers into the tiny openings and began twisting his hand clockwise.

The sound of metal banging above caused Ailith to glance up and see two separate chains pull the doors open. Compared to the grandeur they had caught a brief glimpse of until now, this room was fairly dull and quaint. Unsurprising, given it was only meant to house the participants.

A chill ran up Ailith's spine as the doors closed behind her.

A/N: Not long now until the tournament starts. Can Ailith win it? And will this be the last we see of Anoke or Jozi? Only time will tell. Please don't be afraid to leave a comment to let me know what you're enjoying, or areas where I can improve. Any help is appreciated. Thank you all for your time, and until the next chapter, take care.