The cramped local bar was filled with peasants, both women and men alike. Gambling coins and drinking wine, cheerful laughter and deranged grins etched on their faces.
The bar was lit up with lanterns and fire torches, with the loud strings of instruments playing and commoners dancing, completely drunk.
"Hey garl, get me three cups of ale! A man screamed with the accent of that of a common peasant, hitting his half-filled cup of ale on the shaky wooden table, and some of the contents spilled on the table violently.
A lady with a loose scarf around her dark brown hair, dressed in a long, worn-out brown dress, makes her way with three filled cups. Freckles spread across her upper nose and face; she had thick eyebrows, making her face look slightly manly.
"That will be three silver coins." She says, dropping the wooden cups on the table, then using her dress to wipe the bead of sweat glistening on her forehead.
"Three cups! We're four! A man seated around the table of four screamed.
"Yes, Gambi, but you owe me thirty brass coins; you have surpassed your limits of credit." The woman says bluntly before turning around to leave.
"Credit your cunt! The man slams his fist on the table, saliva spewing from his mouth as he talks. His thick beard has crumbs of dried bread.
A man draped in a purple cloak walks through the shut wooden door of the bar. A little part of his short hair was peeking through the hoodie on his head, his scarred left eye showing just a little.
William strolled across the busy local bar, dressed like a commoner. As he sits down at an empty table, the lady with freckles glides across the room with two big wooden cups filled with wine and drops them on the table.
"Just how you like it, mixed spices and wines blended together." She says before turning around to leave. William grabs the handle of the big wooden cup before bringing it to his lips, his keen gaze sweeping through the room.
"A fine young man like you shouldn't be left mopping alone." A lady suddenly snakes around him, her hand rubbing his shoulders and gliding to his chest.
William nonchalantly grabbed her hand and yanked it away.
"Mysterious and arrogant, hmm? She then sits on a wooden chair around the table.
William simply stands up and glides across the room to where some men in five were seated around a table gambling with coins and making bets.
"I swear on my wife's cunt, I am going to win this round." A drunk man placed ten silver coins on the table, then he pushed it forward using two fingers.
"That's what you have been saying for a while now—your wife's cunt has no luck, unfortunate fool! Another man says his outbursts caused the atmosphere to be cheerful as the other men laughed at his words.
Suddenly William drags a man who was seated on a chair, his head on a table asleep, saliva dripping from his mouth. The man jolts out of his sleep but sees himself stumbling backwards, another man taking his seat.
Immediately William sat on the chair and dropped a bag filled with silver coins on the table. The other men at the table were stunned; compared to the little coins they were gambling, this was huge.
"This lad must be growing coins at the back of his house. Who in their sane mind gambles with so much money?" A man at the table whispered to his fellow friend.
The hooting of owls could be heard in the deep shadows. The sea wind caressing Leah's face, her violet hair dancing to its rhythm. As she made her way to the high tower of the palace. She had climbed numerous stairs to get there, but it was all worth it because the view from here was breathtaking.
The high tower was located at the back of the palace facing the sea; from where she stood, she gazed upon the seashore. She placed both her hands on the iron bar railings and leaned forward. Just then she felt a shadow creeping behind.
She turned around swiftly, but a hand flew to her mouth, preventing her from screaming. Her eyes bulged out, her pulse racing, but when her eyes rested on the familiar face of Vinson, she calmed her nerves, her eyes shutting in relief.
Her heart was still thumping in her chest as he languidly brought his hand down.
"I didn't mean to scare you; I was here first, just checking out my surroundings and the people trooping in." Vinson's voice was sinfully deep and low.
Leah batted her lashes rapidly before turning away from his intense gaze, instinctively placing her hand on her chest; she could still feel her heart racing.
"You scared me to death." She manages to mutter, but loud enough for Vinson to hear.
"What are you doing here? Vinson asked, crossing his hands behind his back, the sea wind blowing his long dark hair, which was now braided into long twisted locks.
"I come here when I need to think." Leah's soft voice penetrates the air. The whole place was dark; they could hardly see each other's faces. Only the moonlight reflected on their faces but was covered up by the clouds at intervals.
"Same." Vinson replied dryly, taking a stand beside Leah, who leaned on the railings.
There was silence for a while, as they got lost in their intrusive thoughts. Leah was overwhelmed by his presence, so she turned around to leave.
"Why did you do it?" He questioned softly, and she stopped in her tracks. She knew what he was referring to but still sought to ask…
"What are you talking about?" She didn't turn around; she didn't have the balls to look him in the face.
You know very well what I am talking about." Vinson's tongue cuts sharp.
"You saved me but betrayed your brother." He added, rubbing his lean fingers together, and turned around.
Leah was silent for a while.
"I did what I thought was right." She said, biting her lips, and then she shut her eyes. She could feel his gaze crawling up her spine, and soon she could also hear his footsteps approaching her from behind.
"What you thought was right?"
Scoffs!
"Look at me, Leah." He was now towering behind her, but she remained still.
He placed a hand on one of her shoulders and made her turn to face him.
"Thank you." He whispered in her ear, bringing his face to her neck. His face brushed past her cheeks. He then strolls away, leaving poor Leah dumbstruck and numb.
"I win…again! William said, dragging all the coins on the table to himself, ostensibly proud of his skills. But the deadly glares he was getting from the rest of the men at the table were fierce.
Suddenly a man grips William by the wrist violently…
"I want a rematch." He says, but William yanks his hand off irritably.
From a corner another man clenched his fist, and it came flying at William, but he had already seen it coming from his side eyes; he simply dodged it. Then he rose to his feet and turned the table over, the coins sliding on the floor.
The men grew in annoyance, fury brewing within their bones.
The second swung a fist at William's right eye and succeeded in hitting him. He tried to do it again, but William ducked, letting the punch crack into the post with a sick thud. Without looking, he drove his elbow backward into another's gut. The man folded, wheezing like a punctured wineskin.
The third came in with a broken bottle. William caught his wrist, twisted, and slammed his forehead into the man's nose. Blood sprayed, and the bottle clattered to the floor. The fourth grabbed him from behind, trying to pin his arms.
William kicked his shoe into the man's shin, then turned around and headed him on his forehead. The grip loosened, and William spun, sweeping the man's legs out from under him.
By now, the crowd had pushed back against the walls, mugs held high to avoid the chaos, but they hailed the fight. One of the downed men tried to rise, so William planted a boot on his chest and held him down.
"You can keep the coins." He says before walking out of the bar, a local champion. His face was still concealed with the hoodie of the brown cloak, but his right eye was swollen.
Leah was making her way to her chamber when she came across William entering his chamber. She froze on the spot for a while before diverting her steps.
"Where have you been?" She asked her hand, reaching out to take off his hoodie, and when it fell, she gazed at his swollen eyes with apparent dismay.
"None of your business! William shifted back before pushing the door to his chamber open.
Brother I know you are angry with me, but for how long will you nurture this malice in your heart?" Leah said, but William didn't even spare her a glance.
"For as long as I can." He says, trying to lock the door, but Leah shoved her hand between the double wooden doors. If at all he wanted to go ahead and lock the door, it would jam against her skin.
William grew irritated; he simply walked away from the door, and Leah walked into his chamber.
"You push yourself to the wall too hard. Don't try to be what Mother wants you to be." She says as she watched him take off the hoodie. Then he washed his face in a molded clay basin filled with water placed on a high stool.
"Leave my chamber! He groaned.
I will not leave until you tell me why you have decided to treat me this way. William I am your sister…
"Then why did you betray me? William shrilled, pushing the molded clay pot of water, and it fell, breaking into pieces.
Leah blinked her eyes, taken aback by William's abrasive outburst.
"I…I didn't mean to."
"Do you see how he looks down on me? How everyone in this palace looks down on me?" He sounded so pained.
"If I had managed to prove myself on the field that day, at least I would have earned a little respect." He spat out.
Leah nodded her head instinctively, biting her lips as she shut her eyes and then sighed.
"What is he to you, Leah? I have seen the way you look at him; he is betrothed to another…
"You think I don't know that?! Leah's voice was firm; as she gritted her teeth, she turned around and started walking away.
"You are lusting after your potential brother-in-law, Leah; why don't you just accept the reality?" William shouted behind her.
She still keeps walking away.
"They will be married soon, so stay away from him!
"And what if I can't?! Leah turned around, almost breathless, her violet-colored hair slapping against her back.
William scoffed.
"Why? Why wouldn't you be able to?
"Because I love him!