Varian and the Seven Kingdoms (Varian's Seven Trials)

The Happy Halberd

They walked through the village towards the pub. The sign hanging on the building read;
'The Happy Halberd'
"The Happy Halberd." Yong smiled, "Sounds nice!"
"Uh, Yong- do you know what a Halberd is?" Nuru asked.
"Nope."
"I...didn't think so."
When they walked inside and a halberd flew past Varian's head and wedged itself in the wall beside him. The boy slowly turned his head to look at it, his eyes widened,
"That's a halberd." He said, stiffly.
The pub had been very loud as they entered, but the noise died down once the people inside saw the group. Hugo nudged the others inside, letting the door close behind them before leading them all over to the bar.
"Nothin' t'see here, folks!" He smiled causally, and there was a moment's silence before the noise continued. The pub was filled with an ocean of all kinds of different people, all seemingly having a great time chatting, drinking, and playing cards or darts among other activities. One group of large men and women had hoisted a scrawny-looking man onto the end of the bar, and counted down before skidding him across it. He knocked drinks to the ground as he went and landed in a barrel with a thud at the other end of the bar.
"I think we should leave." Nuru whispered to Varian.
"Huh!?" Varian yelled.
"Don't you think it's a little...inappropriate for Yong to be in here?" She raised her voice above the noise.
"He looks like he's having fun!" Hugo leaned against the bar and watched Yong talking to a big man with black tufts of hair on each side of his head, and a hook for a foot. The man put his foot up towards Yong, and Nuru and Varian ran over, Hugo following slowly behind. Nuru pulled Yong away by his shoulders and Varian laughed nervously when the man looked at them.
"Uh- hi, sir. We're sorry if our friend here is bothering you."
"He's not bothering me. Just wanted a look at my foot- I get that a lot." He explained. Another, bald man, slammed down a tankard on the table which made Varian and Nuru yelp.
"Who're these kids, Foot?" The bald man asked, showing off his hook hand.
"Dunno." The hook-footed man looked to Varian.
"Uh, I- I'm Varian. This is Nuru, Yong and Hugo." The boy explained, tensely.
"Varian...Feel like I've heard that name before. Name's Hook Foot, this is my brother Hook Hand."
"That's creative." Hugo joked and Hook Foot glared.
"Hey- you're from Corona, right? You went with Rapunzel to follow the black rocks a few years back! A- And then you went on tour- I remember hearing about you." Varian said, recognising the Hook Brother's.
"You know the Princess?" Hook Foot asked.
"Well, any friend of the Princess, is a friend of ours." Hook Hand smiled widely, "Pull up a chair!" He laughed.
Varian laughed too and Nuru smiled shyly, sitting beside Yong, who sat next to Hook Hand. Varian sat between Hugo and Hook Foot, and they all talked, Yong strangely fascinated by Hook Hand's hook, and gladly listening to his stories. Nuru was warming up to the men and quite enjoying herself. Hugo floated between conversations, mostly making remarks that earned a few laughs.

"So, how is Rapunzel?" Hook Foot asked Varian when they got talking about Corona.
"She's good- after you left, there were...a few complications, but everything turned out in the end, and now there're no more black rocks, and no more indestructible hair." Varian laughed and Hook Foot raised his tankard,
"I'll drink to that." He smiled, and Varian raised his own tankard and clinked it against the man's. They both took a swig, and Hook Foot lowered his cup before Varian had finished.
"Hey, I know where I remember you from- you were the kid who threatened the kingdom then helped the Saporian's take over." Hook Foot narrowed his eyes and Varian choked on his drink, coughing and spluttering, catching everyone at the table's attention.
"Hah- I'm fine." He told everyone and they continued their conversations. He looked at Hook Foot, lowering his voice and speaking desperately, "Could you not mention that in front of my friends? I...don't want them to know about the bad things I've done." Varian frowned and Hugo discreetly listened in, "You're right...I helped the Saporians- but I chose the right side at the end...Please don't mention it?"
Hook Foot stared at Varian with stony eyes for a moment, then suddenly his eyes softened and he smiled,
"I know all about being given a second chance, kid...You can count on me." He winked and Varian smiled in relief.