When Taris left, Aera pulled her knees up and rested her head against them, fighting tears. Taris had admitted that he'd kill her. Or at least that he was told to. She was sure he'd do it.

"I wont be a game." Aera said with a determined voice. Scribbling a quick note about visiting a trusted doctor, she got up and went to the far corner of her room, where a large tapestry of a forest scene hung on the wall. She pushed it aside and unlatched a hidden lock, disappearing behind the false wall.

There was more than one reason why Aera had specifically requested her bedroom. Not only did the window overlook the city but there was a secret passage that led to one of the houses Envy owned. It would connect to another passage and lead her to the tunnels in which she'd lived. 
A while later, she stood in the shadows, her purple eyes on one of the small orphan boys. It had been so long, but she remembered him. His name was Roeb. He had a twin brother, Maks, who was sitting some feet away playing with a wooden sword. They were about six. 
"Aera!" The elf turned at the sound of Envy's shocked voice. He stood there, dressed in soft green robes, his hair braided and stubby, showing his maimed ear. His face was sad. "I was just coming to fetch you. Oh, our Father, come here." Biting back tears, she went into his embrace, laying her head against his neck. "I know what you need."
He took her hand and pulled her into the large dome chamber they used as a practice room. He picked up a bow and pressed it into her grasp. "Work."

"Envy, I-"
He held up a blue-grey finger. "Work."

Aera sighed and gathered a quiver and took her position, aiming the to straw dummy on the far end of the chamber. She held, her arms tense, waiting. "Relax." Envy commanded. With another sigh, her arms listened. "What did Roeb eat?"
Aera pictured the child in her mind. "Goat cheese. It was in his teeth."
"Shoot." Aera shot and reset. "Which one is left handed?"
"Maks."
"Shoot. How am I?"
Aera thought. "Your arm bothers you. You're moving awkwardly, so you're sore. The crease above your eyebrow is back, so you're distressed. Your eyes are wide, so you're trying to be more aware, something is frightening you."
"Shoot." Envy commanded, after a moment. "And?"
Aera aimed for the dummy once more. "You want to once again remind me how I should have stayed here."
"Aera.."
The pale elf released the arrow and glared at him. "Don't deny it, Envy." With a desperate gesture, she threw her bow down. "And you're right! I should have stayed! I had to fall for that bastard and his silver words, and now they all want me dead!" Tears ran down her face again, and she felt everyone staring at her, caution on their faces. "I am just a stupid girl who got thrown into the wrong city." They stared at one another, both their faces stern. 
"How many children are here." He asked, his voice steady. Aera opened her mouth and argued that she was done playing and he repeated the question, louder. 
Angry, Aera picked up her bow and aimed again. "Eleven." She growled as she shot.

"How many were here when you left."
Wiping a tear away, she aimed. "Eight."

Envy grabbed her hand and turned her toward him, his face soft. "Life goes on. It keeps moving. If you don't want your life to be where it is, move it." He cupped her face. "You owe these people nothing. You've never done anything to wrong them. The only person you owe anything to is me." He cracked a smile, his white teeth sharp.

Despite her fear, she smiled at him. "What do I owe you?" She asked, knowing he's reply with something cheeky. But he shocked her, turning her to face the dummy. 
"You haven't practice in almost a year. You owe me at least fifty marks, dead center, with excellent form."

She laughed and lifted her bow again.