Aria stared down at the liquid in the cup before her, watching as it gently rippled from William's tapping fingers. They played a song against the wooden table, as he continued to tap them in a certain pattern. Taking the tankard into hand, she brought it to her lips and took a drink. Her mouth and throat filled with a burning sensation.

William's eyes quickly shifted towards Wolfram, watching as he talked with Sam. Aria watched as his shoulders rose and fell. His fingers stopped their beating. Reaching for the tankard, he took a quick drink and began to lean back in the booth. His finger went under the collar of his shirt, and he proceeded to loosen the strings. 

Aria placed the tankard back on the table. Taking a deep breath, she intertwined her fingers together while she placed her hands on the table. She straightened her back, lifting her chin as if to give an illusion of dominance.

"I know you didn't just carry me here to drink," she said. "You have a much better crowd than me."

"I don't know about that," William chuckled while he lifted the cup to his lips. "You're pretty pleasant company. Plus, Wolfram likes you."

Aria looked over at the child, noticing his beady eyes occasionally glancing her way. She gave him a smile, which he returned with one of his own. It wasn't until she heard the thud of William's tankard did she turn back to him.

"You're right," he began, "I didn't just drag you here to have a drink. But, I thought it would help lighten the mood. After all, you have calmed down a bit."

"Right," Aria said with annoyance. "But why did you come find me in the first place?"

"I heard about what happened at the town square today from Zaydn." Aria bit at her lower lip the minute the words left him. Zaydn's threat echoed in her ears, causing her to clutch her fist. "judging by you body movement from the mention of his name, you're not on good terms with Zaydn."

"He threatened me. Told me he would cut off my arms the next time I put my hands on someone who is higher than me." William busted into laughter, causing Aria to be taken back. He clutched at his stomach while his hand covered his eyes.

"What harm is he going to do," he jested. "The most he's ever done is hit someone with a book. Don't mind him. He doesn't have all the power he likes to fill his head with."

Aria lowered her head and noticed that she had loosened her grip. Strangely, she felt calm. Puzzled by his actions, Aria tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. William looked at her, raising one of his eyebrows.

"Sorry," she whispered. "I just...I thought you'd be a lot like your brother."

"Zaydn?" he scoffed while kicking up his boots onto the table. "We're similar in some ways but we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. He likes to see himself higher than a lot of people, especially halflings. That's why he doesn't like me being around you or good old Sam."

He raised his tankard towards Sam before taking a big drink of it. Aria looked over at Sam, her mouth agape as she twiddled her thumbs. Sam was simply cleaning the cups as he always did, while chatting with Wolfram about something. 

"I didn't know he was a mix-blood." William placed the tankard on the table, and Aria turned her head towards him. "He looks a lot like a petraium."

"He said he took more after his mother than his father." Aria drifted her eyes around, practically ignoring William's words. He clicked his tongue, and began to hit the heel of his boot against the edge of the table. "Hey, I didn't just drag you back here for idle conversation. There is something I do want to discuss with you."

"I hope you know that I didn't know some of the words you just said." Aria tilted her head while William dropped his into his hand. 

Dragging his hand across his face, he looked at Aria's shifting eyes. It looked as if she was trying to piece together what she just heard. William moved his feet to the floor, and scooted closer to the table.

"Which ones?" he asked, catching Aria's attention. She cocked her head with her mouth slightly parted. "Which words don't you understand, I'll explain them to you."

She began to feel a throbbing in the scars on her arm. Pushing up her sleeve, she ran her finger along the bumps in her skin. A constant, burning reminder. Even now, it was reminding her, triggering her.

***

A small girl with beady green eyes stared down at the pages of the book before her. Her tiny fingers traced along the lines of the letters as she whispered what they were. She rocked her bare feet back and forth making the chains around them sing, moving the brown cloth of her ragged dress. 

"Aria," a boy called out as he entered the tent. Spotting her on the floor, he jumped down to her side. With his grey eyes, he looked down at the book. "You been practicing?"

She nodded, while her face was plastered with a smile. The boy returned her one as well. He raised up and crossed his feet while he rummaged through a bag.

His hair was a moppy mess of a dusty brown color which complimented his eyes and olive skin. He was much taller than her, at least by a foot. Not only that, but he was also six years ahead of her, standing at thirteen while she was only eight.

"Aldrich," Aria said, catching the boys attention. Picking up the book, she pointed at the letters. "Can you make sure I'm saying them right?"

Taking the book from her hand, he held it up and pointed at the first letter. She looked down at the letter, and trailed the lines with her eyes. Closing them for a brief moment, she recalled what he taught her.

"Um, is...is it A?"

The boy nodded, and moved onto the next one, this time, challenging her by moving to a letter further down the page. Aria frowned, looking up at Aldrich who was chuckling.  She crossed her arms over her chest and glared.

"That's not fair," she pouted.

"Come on, I have to make it hard or else you won't learn."

"Uh..." She tried to remember, and countless times she traced the letter mentally. She could feel the word on the tip of her tongue, dying to burst through. Yet, in her mind it didn't sound right. "Is it T?"

"Sorry, this is L. But don't worry, you'll get it eventually."

Just as Aldrich finished, a man walked into the tent. Jolting to their feet, Aldrich and Aria looked up at the man. He had a long animal skin coat draped around his shoulders, with his hair cut short, and subtle wrinkles along creases of his skin. He stared Aldrich down.

"Go, you have training," he said to Aldrich. Setting the book down, Aldrich left the tent while the man's eyes turned towards Aria. "I don't mind you hanging around my son, but remember that you are a slave and before you can play these games you need to finish your work first. That's five lashes for both your arms, go seek Baldir"

She nodded her head, and quickly scattered outside of the tent. Met with throngs of people, she weaved through the ground, the chain around her neck rattling with every step. Looking around, she looked for a specific line of people before finally spotted the one where the children stretched out. She gazed down the line, seeing as a small boy placed both his arms across the table while the man raised his whip.

***

"Aria!" William shouted, causing Aria to snap back to reality. "Hey I'm talking to you."

Aria blinked a few times, looking him in the eyes noticing that he was standing from his set. She felt the chill of his fingers cupped around her face. Shaking her head, she pushed his hands away.

"I'm sorry," she said as she lowered her hand onto her lap. "I got lost in thought, what were you saying?"

William looked at her with wide eyes, before finally returning to his seat. Shuffling in the booth, he positioned his arms back on the table while clearing his throat. 

"Uh we were at words," he began. "You said you didn't know some of the words I said, I asked you which ones."

"Oh, right. Idle, conversation, and discuss." 

"Ah, well idle basically means without a point or reason, no real importance. As in, if I asked you how the weather was today." 

Aria nodded, to show him that she was listening. However, her fingers continued to rub at the aching scars on her arm. She did listen to him, or at least she tried, but there was the constant memory picking at the back of her head.

"Conversation is what you and I are doing, we're talking to each other. And as for discuss, it's like another word for conversation except were talking about a certain topic in an uh an important kinda way. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, thank you. You didn't have to explain it to me," she said while lowering her eyes. William merely shrugged his shoulders while leaning back into the booth. With a smile, he closed his eyes. "Wait, if you had something important to talk to me about then what was it?"

William's eyes shot open. He lifted himself towards the table, and Aria heard a loud bang as the table shook. She watched as his face morphed and his arms reached under the table. For once, a smile crossed her lips as she watched him slump his head against the table. Taking a deep breath, he raised his head, spotting Aria's smile for only a moment.

"I got so lost in our conversation that I kept forgetting the reason I wanted to talk to you " William said as he finally raised his hands back to the edge of the table. "You know Venom don't you? You worked for them and you were one of their slaves."

"Yes, I know Venom pretty well if that's what you're asking." Aria's finger twitched, which she held with her own hand. She could feel the scorching memory of it all, an active flame that produces a constant reminder. 

"Does this mean you would know their weaknesses? Fault in their men, their magic, and even the camps?"

Aria looked over at the tankard, watching as the fluid rippled as she thought to herself. She pictured the men, the magic they used, the armor they wore, and their weapons. For an instant, the slaves flashed through her mind. She returned her gaze to William, nodding her head.

"Let's come to an agreement then. Lukosea could use that information, more specifically we could use you. Give me information about Venom, and I will do whatever your heart desires...or wishes. Of course, you'll also receive pay for your work as well. "

"My heart desires or wishes?" Aria asked while she began to tap her fingers against each other. "Why? You've already said you'd pay me."

"Yes, but something tells me that won't be enough to convince you."

Aria watched as he leaned in, placing his knuckles under his chin while he smiled. Aria rolled her eyes, thinking to herself. He smiles a lot. Her eyes drifted down his body until they landed on the hilt of his sword.

"You're a knight, right?" He nodded at her question, and she watched as his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword. "Train me. Teach me how to properly fight."

Her words were followed by silence. William tapped his finger before nodding his head and rising from his seat. Strolling over to her, she raised from her seat as well and turned to him. He held his hand out to her, which she took firmly and shook.

"Then we have a deal," he said and he released his grip. "Good thing for you is I'm also training Wolfram today, so we'll start immediately. Go get everything you think you'll need and we'll leave for the training grounds."

Aria nodded her head. He turned on his heels and made his way towards his son. Slowly, she made her way towards the stairs, going up each step with her eyes fixed on William. You're not like your brother at all.

Hey guys! I finally updated, and I'm really sorry for the wait. I had to do a lot of prep work for the wattys, and I was also on vacation at the time. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. Thanks for reading and have a fantastic day!