Daughter of Darkness

Chapter 2

Dinner was more pleasant than usual because Sir Ricard let Lucien join his family for dinner. Lucien took her usual spot next to her father, and she sat next to Lucien. However, that meant she was left looking at Lisha who was at the spot across from her.

Their father kept asking questions to Lucien about his time down south. Sal hung on his every word, and was having such a great time until Luc changed the subject. "So the new pages are coming to the palace, and Alex is starting his trip to becoming a knight." He said taking a bite of chicken.

"Yeah, Alex has great potential." Gregoire said.

"Alex is good, but you know has great potential?" Luc started which made Sal give him a quick kick in the shin, but he continued. "Sal is one of the best archers I know, and she's not to shabby with a sword. She would make a great page."

"It's too bad she's a noblewoman, and noblewoman are suppose to act like ladies." Lady Cescelie, Sal's mother, asked taking a sip of her wine. She was a beautiful woman, blonde curls, regal face, these beautiful green eyes, and she was tall. However, her personality didn't match her dainty looks, she was cold and conservative. She was the third daughter of the King of Leltal, the country to the west of Carlika, it was an arranged marriage to make peace for the two countries.

"I agree," Duke Greg said taking a bite of bread. "Sal would make a fine page, but-"

"But what?" Luc said.

"Girls don't become knights." Lisha sassed.

"There is no law against it." Sal pipped in before she could stop herself. Everyone looked to her. Lucien had a spark of pride in his eyes, Lisha looked disgusted, Cescelie looked horrified, but Greg looked almost curious which seemed to tell Sal to continue. "There is no law against a girl becoming a knight."

Gregoire seemed to think about it until he nodded. "You're right." He said almost impressed. "Do you wish to become a knight, Salinda?" He asked.

Sal scrunched her eyebrows not sure he heard him correctly. "You would let me?" She asked quietly.

"She is not becoming a knight." Cescelie said softly, but with a harsh cold tint to it.

Greg raised his hand to silent his wife, which just seemed to infuriate her making her purse her lips. "It will be hard work, and you can not expect any special treatment."

"I would not expect that." She said hope rising in her chest.

"You will be among boys who will treat you with little to no respect, and Lord Pillit will work you hard because he won't like it." He said leaning forward. "It will be eight long years of hard work."

"I know." She said.

"Is this what you truly want?"

Sal took in a deep breath and swallowed. "More than anything." She said in a strong voice while meeting her father's eyes.

"Very well," He nodded leaning back. "We will talk to the King tomorrow about allowing you in the program." Sal's face broke into a huge smile, along with Lucien, even her father had a small smile.

"Can we talk about this?" Cescelie asked stiffly.

"This is up to Sal, me, and the King." Greg said.

*****

Sal laid in her bed looking up at the ceiling unable to sleep. She was too nervous and too excited to sleep. What if the King said no, then all her hopes would fall to pieces, but what really made Sal nervous is if he said yes. If she was able to become a page, then her hopes could come true, but what if she became a page and failed, then she couldn't even look herself in the mirror let alone look her father in the face.