Chapter Two - The Promise

Overcome with rapture, Ailith raced down the stairs, almost missing a step. ''Mama! Mama!''

She found her conversing with another guest, refilling their beverages.

Ailith jumped, wanting to signal her but afraid to rudely interrupt. That was when she heard the door open behind the counter, leading into the kitchen. A small, rounded man balancing four plates along his arms with piping hot food eliciting a delectable smell.

''Papa!'' Ailith yelled and ran to him while holding out the coin. ''Papa, look at this! Look!''

Her father struggled onwards, lifting and lowering his arms as the plates tilted. ''Ailith, can this please wait a moment?''

Too late. Ailith had bounced too much and too close. Her father kicked the back of his own foot and stumbled forward. She ducked underneath and helped him over towards a table where four individuals sat. Father and daughter crashed into the side of the table as the plates slid off his arms, settling perfectly in front of the four men waiting.

Ailith's father sighed with relief at the fortunate mishap. He lifted himself up and patted down his clothes as he turned to his daughter. ''Now, what is it you wanted to show me?'' he asked with a delicate voice.

Before Ailith could speak, one of the men at the table raised his voice. ''Uh, this isn't the meal I ordered. That is.'' He pointed to one of his associate's plates.

''Oh, I am so sorry,'' he apologised and switched their plates.

After that, Ailith tugged on her father's sleeve and showed off the coin. ''A man walked into our inn and...''

Suddenly, the man spoke again. ''Actually, that was my meal.''

Ailith bit her lip and glared at him as her father swapped their plates back. As soon as that was sorted, she had his attention and continued from where she left off. ''There's a man who is staying tonight, and he was...''

''On second thought,'' the same man mumbled. ''His meal looks tastier than mine, could we...''

Everyone flinched when Ailith sprawled on the table, scowling at the man. She reached out and seized both plates, switching them to the guests' satisfaction. She grabbed her father's arm and dragged him away from the table, fearing more disruptions.

Assured that they were far enough, Ailith looked up at her father, who examined her. ''So, what is it that has you so troubled?'' he inquired.

''Mama let a man stay in room three upstairs and I helped him with his bag. Look what he gave me!'' She revealed the coin.

He blinked and reached out to stroke the edges of the coin. ''I don't see these very often. He must be a very wealthy guest.''

''He's a Knight!''

His eyes widened, and he threw a quick glance over his shoulder, checking to see if anyone around had heard her. ''Ailith, that's a very bold claim to make. You can't make assumptions like that unless you are sure.''

She threw her arms about in a frustrated manner. ''But I am sure, Papa! I saw his symbol. I've never met a Knight before.''

''Nor have I. Nor have I ever really wanted to.''

''Why not? They're heroes. They protect us. I hear stories of how they fight evil all the time. Me and all the other kids want to be Knights when we grow up.'' Ailith mapped the scene in her head. Going on incredible adventures and facing all kinds of frightening monsters, it was all she ever dreamed about. Despite her wild imagination, the astonishing feats in her dreams paled in comparison to what she had heard from traveller's stories.

Though charmed by his daughter's zeal, he still couldn't hide his concern. ''I know, I know. It's just that...they intimidate people.''

''What does that mean?''

A familiar voice surprised them. ''Sinley? Ailith? What are you two discussing?''

Ailith's father smiled and stood up, wrapping his arm around his wife's waist. ''Ailith believes that we have a...special guest staying with us.''

''He is!'' Ailith gushed. ''The man who just signed in. He's a Knight! I saw his symbol. Can I go talk to him, please?''

Her parents shared a quick glance. Their eyes locked, speaking without uttering a single word. It was rare that someone so high profile would stay at their inn, rarer to do so without a fuss or revealing their name.

Ailith waited for their answer, unable to read their expressions properly.

Finally, her parents kneeled down until they were on the same level as her. Demeka cleared her throat and spoke in a quiet tone. ''Ailith, I don't think that's a good idea. He's come to our inn for peace and quiet. It's best that we don't disturb him.''

The child couldn't hide her dejected look. ''But...''

''Ailith!''

''Tomorrow, I can...''

''No!'' Demeka growled in a strong voice, hushing her daughter. Taking a deep breath, Ailith lowered her gaze to the wooden floor. She fiddled her fingers, trying to stop her yearning heart from bursting out of her chest. Even when she looked up with pleading eyes, her mother kept a stern face. Firm, but not cold. ''He's going to stay the night and be on his way, understood?''

''Yes, Mama. Yes, Papa.'' She sighed.

A smile returned to her mother as she cupped Ailith's cheek. Her father comforting patted her on the shoulder.

Despite this, Ailith couldn't shake off the feeling of disheartenment. She wanted one chance to show the Knight what she could do. This might be her only opportunity. She couldn't afford to waste it.

~X~

Ailith tried to suppress her heavy breathing to the best of her ability. She knew what she was doing would get her in more trouble than she ever thought possible with her parents. Her sense of time lost to the world. All she knew was that it was well into the night by the two moons hanging high in the sky, surrounded by a sea of stars. At least the rain had stopped, leaving the ground so muddy that her feet sank deep enough for the sludge to wrap around her ankles.

She pressed onwards. Trekking around the inn, she valiantly, or stubbornly, fought against the bitter cold. All it would take is for one pair of eyes to stare out the window and catch her. If she wasn't recognised in the dark, she might be mistaken for a thief and find herself in a whole nest of problems.

The second floor was smaller than the first, making it easier for her to pick out the Knight's room. Light from the fire still poured out of the window, but she couldn't see him from her angle below. This didn't deter her. She figured that sooner or later, he would look out and spot her.

She took a stance, clenching her fists and closed her eyes. The shadowy image of a beast took shape in front of her, at least in her mind, closing the distance between them. She drew her arm back before unleashing a flurry of punches and kicks. Inspiring potency, decent force, but hardly any technique. However, she knew that she had to do better. She jumped upward as high as she could, spinning her body around and kicking out. The wind caused the fire on a nearby lantern to flicker a little.

She landed on the ground and prepared herself for another jump, higher than the one before. That would get the Knight's attention. She pressed her legs down and leapt up using all her strength. Unfortunately, one foot remained trapped in the thick mud and she faltered. Her arms waved to stop herself from falling, but it was no use. She fell into the mud.

Other than the quiet howling of the wind was the sound of Ailith grumbling and moaning as she sat up. She flapped her arms, hoping to get some of the mud off her clothes. No one seemed to have heard her scrap with the elements, including the Knight. Ailith conceded that he might have already tucked in for the night. A devastated sigh passed her lips.

The sudden sound of a bottle smashing caused her to turn, looking further down the street. Out of the shadows, a man staggered down the grubby pathway. His stumbled movements not helped by the mud entrapping his boots to the ground with every step. Ailith could only hear incoherent mumbles coming from him before he took a swig of a bottle in his hand.

His attire made Ailith unsure of what to think of him. The jacket and shirt were tailor-fitted and pristine. A herringbone pattern gave him a look of formality. His brown hair trimmed and well kept, until he brushed his wet hand through it, messing it on one side. The most striking feature that stood out was a long, red quarterstaff that he used to aid him whenever he got stuck. It was as tall as him, with markings unknown to Ailith carved all around.

Sitting out in the open, it was only a matter of time before the man spotted Ailith, and gawked at her. ''Are you lost, little girl?'' he slurred.

Ailith gulped. ''My Mama said I shouldn't talk to strangers outside our inn.''

He stumbled a little bit before eyeing the bottle in his hand. ''That's good. Very responsible. If either of my mothers were like that, I'd have never started drinking.'' He cackled and took a mouthful of his beverage.

Believing he was harmless to her as long as she ignored him, Ailith stood up and brushed more of the mud off her clothes. She waited a bit before staring back at the man. As her eyes wandered, she saw a familiar symbol stitched to the sleeve, and her heart soared with joy. ''You're a Knight too?''

He almost spat his drink out and shook his hand to hush her. ''Alert the assassins with a signal fire, why don't ya?'' he stumbled forward, using the staff to stop himself from lurching. As he was about to take another drink, he froze and turned to Ailith, acknowledging her for the first time. ''Too? You've seen another Knight?''

Ailith nodded and pointed to her home. ''Yeah, he's staying at our inn.''

''So that's where you're hiding, you sneaky goat,'' he muttered and took another guzzle. He had drunk so much by this point that Ailith could smell it on him. It was a foul aroma that made her nose wrinkle. The drunken Knight finished his drink and wiped his drooling chin with the back of his hand. ''So, girl, you know of the Knights?''

Another keen nod came from her. ''They're heroes! I hear of their adventures from travellers and in books. I want to be a Knight like you when I grow up.''

His body stopped swaying. He closed his lips and stared at his empty bottle. Something about his expression darkened, and his grip on his staff tightened. First, he looked at Ailith and then towards the humble structure she pointed too. ''You said this was your family's inn?''

''Yes, sir.''

''Common blood,'' he whispered to himself before addressing her. ''Tell me, what do you think it means to be a Knight of Arsalan?''

Ailith hesitated, feeling intimidated. ''To protect people and fight evil!''

She jumped when he burst into a fit of laughter. He used his staff to keep himself upright as he laughed for what felt like minutes. ''You naïve little fool!'' After that, his laughter slowed to a crawl before stopping completely. His lips twisted into a scowl as he glared at her with daggers in his eyes. ''You think you have what it takes to be a Knight?''

''I'm strong...''

''Let me enlighten you since your responsible mother seems to shelter you from reality.'' He replied coldly and staggered in her direction. ''Being a Knight is a privilege and a curse. It's a responsibility for those of Blueblood. Commoners like you, who only know of us through ink and whispers, can't begin to imagine what we go through. There are things out there that would make your heart wither. This isn't some childish game. People die doing what we do. And those who escape death's grasp can never get away from his call.''

Ailith wanted to run and hide, but she felt powerless to do so as the man now towered over her. She couldn't tear her eyes away, even when she felt tears building up. What frightened her more? This unstable man looming over her, or the words he stabbed into her gut? Either way, there was nothing she could do to stop her body from trembling.

A terrified voice shouted out. ''Ailith!''

Ailith turned to see her parents rush over and shield her.

The man nonchalantly waved his hand. ''Don't worry. I'm just giving your daughter a few informative words of what her future holds if she follows a Knight's path.''

''I'll give you some words of my own...'' Demeka hissed.

''Dear!'' Sinley cupped her arm, pulling her back as he took Ailith's hand and hid her behind his back. He bowed his head at the man. ''We are sorry for troubling you, we will go now...''

The man shook his head erratically. ''No, I still don't think she gets it. None of you do!''

Sinley wasn't sure where to look, at the Knight, or the weapon he was wildly swinging. ''Sir, I think you might have had too much to drink. You need to calm down...''

''Do you know how much it sickens me when I see commoners mock us?'' He choked. He was so close to the family they could smell the liquor on his breath. ''When I see children, like your little girl, playing on the streets pretending to be Knights? Being a Knight is a duty for those born and bred for it. A commoner like you can never understand what we go through.''

Without realising, his arm jerked to one side and the staff swung right at the family.

A strong gust of wind almost swept them off their feet and deafening noise crashed against their ears. Ailith stared in awe as the Knight, the stranger who took refuge in their inn, had emerged from seemingly nowhere and caught the staff in his palm.

The drunken man gawked before the Knight shoved him away. ''Jerimoth, that's enough. You need to leave before someone gets hurt.''

Jerimoth swallowed hard. Anger and bitterness in his eyes. ''You know something, Kuval? It's things like this that give common blood the idea that they can be like us. No, give them the idea that they want to be like us.'' He turned and walked away, wobbling from side to side.

Ailith was amazed by how effortlessly the Knight stopped that attack. Wondering if he had taken any damage, she looked at his open palm, gasping when she saw his skin shine like diamonds. No...his skin was diamond. His hand glinted with a purple glow before it morphed back into flesh.

Magic was common. If properly taught, it could be used for daily activities or businesses. However, there were some who pushed themselves to go beyond the limits of what magic could do. To see it up close, it left her speechless.

Kuval turned to them. Only then did they notice that he held his half-empty backpack in his other hand. ''I should go and make sure he doesn't create another scuffle.''

A heavy sigh escaped Demeka. ''Just because he's a Knight, it doesn't give him the excuse to threaten my daughter.''

''You're right, and I cannot begin to apologise for my friend's actions,'' Kuval said, regret evident in his hushed tone. He fell silent as if searching for the right words to end on. He glanced at their home and smiled. ''Your inn is delightful. I hope to return one day. Have a good night.''

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked in the direction that Jerimoth went. Demeka and Sinley seemed to be content to let him leave. But Ailith didn't want things to end like this. Despite Jerimoth's words, seeing Kuval step up to him filled her with more power than ever before. Her pulse quickened and her blood boiled.

''I can be a Knight...'' She said.

''Ailith!'' Demeka whispered.

''I can be one if I try hard!''

Before they could stop her, Ailith shouted out at the top of her voice, not caring if everyone in the kingdom heard. In fact, that's what she wanted.

''I won't treat it like a game. I want to be a Knight more than anything in the world. Just because I'm not rich or noble doesn't mean I can't do it. I can train. I don't care how tough it is. That just means I can become stronger and can protect more people. I'll prove it. I'm not only going to be the best Knight in Arsalan. I'm going to become the greatest warrior in the world. I promise you!''

A/N: Ailith has made a big promise, can she keep it? And what will it take for her to accomplish her goal? Can she prove Jerimoth wrong? And will she meet Kuval again? All these questions and more will be answered soon. I hope that you liked these opening chapters. I've updated this a day early because I'll be away from my laptop tomorrow and didn't want to keep you all waiting. I hope that you've enjoyed this start. Until next time, take care everyone. :)