All In Due Time

Chapter Two

A verbis ad verbera. It means from words to blows. That thought keeps running through Aeliana's mind after she bought the sword and went home with Adrian.

That's how I ended up where I am, isn't it? First there was only words, but then those words got me into fighting with others.

Aeliana glances up at Adrian, interrupting her thoughts for a moment, studying him. He seems to be deep in thought himself, about what? She couldn't even begin to guess, he never seems to let his guard down. Ever. She looks him up and down again, trying to figure out who he really is.

He says he is from the Eshacia Empire, but that's up in the mountains. There isn't anyone with that dark of skin from the mountains, seems more like he'd come from the kingdoms out in the desert.

Hm, Adrian's voice cuts through Aeliana's thoughts, "Hello? Anyone in that head of yours? I asked you about your past."

Aeliana lowers her head, her hair falling around her shoulders, and then looks up, and smiles, "What about your past? I know nothing about you."

Adrian runs his hand through his hair, frustrated, thinking. Aeliana smiles, glad that she got him to show some kind of emotion.

"I have to get going," Adrian says stonily, his voice capable of cutting steel like it was butter. "You have a good day then Adrian!" Aeliana calls after him, as he slams the door shut.

Aeliana breathes a sigh of relief, finally alone again. She gets up, opens up the door to see if anyone was around, and when satisfied, shut the door again. She goes over to her bed, and lays down on it right as there is a knock on the door.

"Who could it be?" she asks with irritation coloring her voice.

A voice pipes on the other side of the door, "My name is Caius, thank you very much, and if you'd like to see who it is, you would open the door."

Aeliana huffs, but opens the door, irritation written across her face, "What. Is. It. That. You. Want."

Caius stands there smiling at Aeliana, "You seem irritated. Like to point that out first," he pushes his way in and sits on the chair in the corner after righting it onto its four legs again, "And, I'd like to give a gift."

Aeliana looks stunned for a second, before closing the door and turning around, fire burning in her eyes, "Who the hell do you think you are? Just barging in here? Obviously I'm going to be irritated!"

She goes and sits angrily on the bed, "But depending on the gift... maybe I could forgive you, stranger." She pauses, and then gets angry again, "Wait, anyways! You are nothing but a stranger to me! How the hell do you have a gift for me, and how do you know I won't gut you like a fish?"

Caius stands back up and leans against a wall, arms crossed, "Hey now, those are all very good questions. I am saddened though that you do not recognize me, but it has been some time. As for the gift, well, I suppose I have my ways of doing certain things, and acquiring information. Of course, you very may have gutted me like a fish, if I didn't offer a gift, that caught your attention, didn't it?"

In a flash, the sword above the bed is gone, and nicking his neck, Aeliana holding the pummel, "You are much too confident in yourself, I believe, and if you want to live, show me the gift and proceed to leave."

He shrugs and within the folds of his cloak, he pulls out an item, making Aeliana gasp.