Chapter Three - Twelve Years Later

Standing upon a hill was a small cottage with smoke puffing out of the stone chimney. The brown, crackling leaves were plucked off the trees by the wind and drifted across the grassland, down towards the grazing horses.

Ailith walked up from the bottom of the hill and through the herd. Her short-sleeved vest clung to her sweaty body. This proved to be more of an annoyance to her than the towering stacks of hay she carried to the cottage. Using only one hand to hold the strap against her shoulder, she took a moment to enjoy the warm sunrise.

Once she reached the wooden porch, she rolled her shoulder and placed the hay on the ground. She sighed with relief as the tension left her arm. After setting the stacks down, she noticed that one of the horses had followed her. It chewed through the straps to devour the straw. 

''Couldn't wait, could you?'' she giggled and patted the stallion's sturdy hind leg.

Mamethshire were a rare breed. Twice the size of regular horses, they roamed forests, blending into the shadows. They were hard to find and harder to control, preferring solitude in the wilderness. Unlike the other horses' black manes, the Mamethshire's was shimmering silver, which Ailith found bewitching.

She heard the cottage door open, and a white-haired man stepped outside. He fumbled with the loose string tied around his robe and turned to Ailith with an amused smirk. ''She's taken a liking to you.''

Ailith chuckled. ''Only because I must smell of hay and grass.'' She reached for a dented, metal flask strapped to her belt. Using her thumb to spin the top off, she splashed some water on the back of her neck, causing her to shiver. She glanced back at the elder farmer. ''Oh, this is the last stack!''

''Already? My word, I wasn't expecting you to finish until later today. Have you been working all night?''

''More or less,'' she replied. ''I couldn't get much sleep last night, so I kept myself busy.''

''Well, I appreciate your help. I don't know how long it would have taken me to move everything from the barn to here,'' he said with a grateful grin.

Shaking her flask to see how much water she had left, Ailith splashed some over her right arm. She rubbed the cool liquid against her firm bicep, cooling her body and washing away the sweat. ''It's no trouble at all.''

''Will you be returning to your camp now? Or...''

She nodded. ''Yeah, I can't stay for long. Sorry, I like to keep moving from job to job.''

''I understand,'' he stepped back towards the door, gripping the frame and faced Ailith. ''I will get your pay now.''

''Thank you, Jarr.'' Ailith called out.

He stepped inside while Ailith remained outside and enjoyed the cool breeze. Bending forward, she shook the flask over her head and relished the delightful feeling of water running down her head and back. Her fingers ran through her short, spiked hair. What she wouldn't give to be back in Arsalan right now, where rain was never-ending.

She felt something scratch the back of her neck. Smacking her hand over it, she felt it crumble into pieces and stick to her wet skin.

Glancing over her shoulder, she saw hundreds of leaves shower off the branches of the trees. The quiet howl of the wind swept through the forest, sending an ominous chill down her spine and causing the hairs on her body to prick. Narrowing her eyes, Ailith looked onwards. The thick branches entwined together made it impossible to see past the greenery.

Before long, she heard the sound of rapid footsteps coming from inside the cottage. A young boy and girl, half Ailith's size, rushed out of the door and towards her.

Ailith kneeled down to lock eyes with them, half-facing the sea of trees past the cottage, giving them a friendly grin. ''I don't think your grandfather will be happy seeing you two awake this early.''

''We wanted to see you before you left!'' Rojan chirped.

The girl walked around Ailith, towards the stacks of hay that the Mamethshire gulped down. She marvelled at the size, realising that Ailith somehow carried it. ''How did you get so strong?'' Maas asked zealously.

''Training. Plenty of it.''

The young girl bounced. ''Were you trained at a school?''

Ailith shook her head. ''I learned what I could from other travellers. Then, when I was ready, I set out from my home and journeyed across the land.''

Rojan tugged on her long pants, earning her attention. ''Did you ever travel over the ocean?'' he swayed his body, mimicking the movements he would make if he were sailing. Becoming so transfixed with his fantasy, he tilted his body too much and almost lost his balance.

''I haven't yet. But, I want to. I can imagine there are other strong warriors and heroes to meet.'' Ailith folded her arms and became lost in her own fantasy. She could only map the landscape of foreign countries in her mind from stories she'd heard over the years.

''Have you been in battles?''

''Many of them.'' She smirked. Her eyes gleamed with the memory of her fights throughout the years. From greedy bandits to hungry beasts, she had no shortage of excitement since setting out for adventure.

Once again, she felt someone else pull the fabric of her clothing. She turned to Maas gazing at her. ''Why do you want to meet other strong warriors?''

The boy threw a sour look towards his sister. ''So that she can get stronger!''

She retorted by sticking her tongue at him.

''Actually,'' Ailith interrupted with a smile, catching their interest. ''I don't just want to become stronger. I want to become the strongest. It's my dream to become a Knight.''

A harsh stamp on the porch caused the siblings to flinch. ''Maas! Rojan! You two should be in bed!'' Jarr barked as he stepped out from the cottage, clutching a small pouch in his frail hand.

The two dashed around him and inside their home, receiving a mild slap on the back of their heads for their troubles. He mumbled under his breath in a tongue that was somewhat unfamiliar to Ailith. She could understand small portions, but the rest was unknown, and probably best left like that. Jarr waddled nervously towards Ailith. ''I apologise if they bothered you...''

''No, no, they were fine,'' she raised her hands.

He was quiet, still holding the pouch in his hands. Ailith could hear the coins clinking together inside, and yet, he seemed reluctant to hand it over. Her smile disappeared when she saw the worried look in his eyes. ''I'm sorry...''

''Is everything okay?''

''I know that the agreement was Forty-Ark, but...'' he paused, licking his dry lips. ''I should have told you this sooner. My trade has fallen this past season, so coin has been scarce. I've tried to save up as much as possible, and I thought I had enough to pay you, but I...''

Ailith shuffled. ''How much can you pay?''

''I can only spare Twenty-Three Ark.''

It was as if his feet were sinking into the ground and his insides twisted, fearing her reaction. It was clear to him that she was disappointed. ''Why didn't you tell me this earlier?''

He released a shaky breath. ''I was afraid that no one would help us with this meagre amount. It was selfish of me to not say anything. I am truly sorry.''

He couldn't bring himself to face her. Ridden with shame, he stood in silence. Ailith rubbed her dripping forehead and bit her bottom lip, staring long and hard at the ground as she calculated the loss.

After a moment, she reached for her belt once again, this time pulling out a scroll and thin quill. Jarr watched apprehensively. A feeling of dismay gnawed when he recognised what she was retrieving, unfolding it to reveal his job proposal and the payment offer. ''I know, I know, I'm supposed to pay you more, but I...''

''No, no,'' Ailith cut his protest with a soft voice. ''I just need your signature at the bottom. It's to show that I've completed the job and received my pay.''

Ailith saw his body freeze, no longer trembling with fear. He stared at her with wide eyes while she waited patiently. Jarr swallowed at the lump in his throat. ''I don't...I can't...''

''If that's all you can spare, then there's not much more that can be done.''

Finally, he stepped forward, lips quivering. It seemed like he wanted to break into a smile, but was too shocked to hold it steady. ''I don't deserve your kindness.''

''Don't say it like that,'' she responded. ''It's strange, though, I would have thought vegetation would sell plenty this summer season?''

He nodded. ''Usually, yes. However, shipping has stalled with these riots around the country. I'm not the only one affected. When I travel to the market, I hear similar stories. This year has been very taxing for Padril.''

''Shouldn't Arsalan be assisting neighbouring countries with problems like that?''

''They should!'' A stern expression flashed across his face. ''Apparently, they have more pressing matters, like pampering their Bluebloods.''

Ailith cringed at the sudden venom in his tone. ''I've heard that things have gotten better.''

''I've heard the opposite,'' he said coldly. ''Their Knights are spread far, and the people are left to suffer. All the while, the King hides away in his castle, sipping a warm beverage from silver chalices."

Throughout his entire rant, Ailith remained silent and still. It wasn't the first time, even recently, that she had heard harsh words about the Knights. She bit the inside of her lip, supressing the need to argue and defend the people she saw as righteous in this misunderstanding.

''Ailith wants to be a Knight!'' A small voice said behind him.

The rattled farmer twisted to see the two children leaning on the doorframe. ''I told you both to get back into bed!'' He snapped.

''We're sorry, Grandfather,'' Rojan replied.

Ailith couldn't hold back a small chuckle, entertained by the children's antics. The sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach returned when Jarr returned his gaze to her. ''So, you wish to be a Knight?''

Without any hesitation, she nodded. ''I do. Yes, sir!''

After making his feelings about the Knights evident, her affirmative answer surprised him. He saw the fire burning in her eyes. Under her gaze, he felt something akin to pride. His expression softened before taking the quill and scribbling his name on the paper. ''Honestly, I doubt someone like you could join the Knight's rank, but if it were to happen, then there might be hope for them yet.'' He handed them back to Ailith, along with her pay.

Ailith eagerly accepted the pay, but the comment, less so. ''Thank you.''

''Are you sure you don't want to stay a little longer? At least to have something to eat?''

Ailith rolled the paper back up and set it in her pouch. ''No, I really should be setting off now, thank you for the offer.''

''Well, if you ever return to this part of Padril, please be sure to stop by, and we can find another way to repay your kindness.''

''Of course.''

After binding the stuffed pouch to her belt, she marched towards an uneven patch of grass. Reaching down, she tucked her fingers under the damp soil and lifted it to reveal her belongings. When arriving to accept the job, it was agreed between her and Jarr that her armour and weapons were to be kept away from the children.

While the armour was not up to the standard of the finest warriors, it suited her fine. Her arms were protected by robust, damaged vambraces. A long sleeved, velvety jacket covered the top half of her body. She stamped her feet on the ground, settling into her large, worn-out boots. But the main attraction was her broadsword that she attached to her belt.

As Maas and Rojan admired the weapon, Jarr stood puzzled to see the sword was unscathed for one who claimed to be a warrior.

Once Ailith was equipped, she turned to the family one last time and bowed. ''Goodbye.'' She turned and walked off into the distance.

''Safe travels.'' Jarr called out, while the children waved frantically, competing to see who could wave the biggest.

Seconds turned to minutes as they watched her leave, disappearing from view over the horizon. The sound of Jarr's deep breath drowned out by the quiet call of the wind.

Just then, he looked to their Mamethshire, noticing how still it was. The steed's ears pinged and its head turned towards the forest. Curious, he walked over and stroked his hand over its muscular neck, feeling the creature's body turn rigid. Wondering what had the creature spooked, he surveyed the area and listened. Behind him, the other horses noticed something was amiss and turned in the same direction.

For a moment, the wind stilled and things were silent, until the snapping of bark rang through the air.

Jarr's blood ran cold. ''Children, get inside!''

They exchanged a confused glance with each other.

''Do as I say! Now!'' He yelled and raised his hand to smack the Mamethshire's backside, causing it to turn and gallop away. The other horses followed the larger stallion's actions, scattering in many directions as something launched out from the trees, slicing through the air.

A/N: Hello, I hope that you're all doing well. I want to thank everyone who has read and voted on this story so far, you inspire me to continue to write and improve and I hope that you continue to enjoy this story. What is terrorising the family? And can they be saved? Find out in the next chapter, coming soon. Until next time, take care everyone. :)