The first two weeks with Taron's street gang guild, was the hardest physical training Arya had ever done. Every day from sun up to sun down she had to run, climb, jump and learn every inch of the city. She had to fake stalk people and animals too. Learning to run barefoot was really hard. Her calf muscles hated her the first week. Then after she got use to it, her knees, hips, back and other joints felt good. It also helped her learn to run silently and land quietly when jumping. Taron explained that learning to pick surfaces to hide the sound of footsteps, like grass, enhanced the ability to stalk. It was exhausting and almost every night after dinner, she did her chant and passed out.

The next part of her training was with weapons. Sword and arrow skills were honed and mastered, then came using a dagger and throwing blades. The last part of that month of training was hand to hand combat. That's where she earned bruises and aches in places of her body, Arya didn't know even had muscle. By month's end, the only thing she hadn't learned was how to pick pocket, pick locks and use poisons. She was smart and learned quickly, becoming popular with the other gang members. Little by little she gained respect and found she was developing a crush on Taron. He gave few compliments, but when received, they meant the world to her.

Life had made her self reliant, but now she was cunning and a controlled hunter. Swimming she still struggled with, especially holding her breath for a long time. It was a young boy named Kit that showed her how to use a hollowed out reed or stick, to breath under water for long periods of time. He was the best swimmer among the group and could dive deep, remaining fully submerged the longest, by holding his breath. He often brought home fish and other sea creatures, for the evening meal.

As the months past by, Arya's womanly form became more pronounced. That's when she was taught by Sarra how to seduce a man. "First thing you do is make a lot of eye contact. Facial expressions also help make contact. A smirk or a smile, winking at them. Stuff like that." She watched Arya. "Umm, that looks like a grimace…. that's better."

Arya thought about Gendry with his shirt off and Taron complimenting her on hitting a hard target with her arrow. She'd love to seduce one of them. She smirked and a flush rose on her cheeks.

Sarra nodded, "that's better. Next you have to help him relax, with a massage or bath or even just cooking his favourite meal. If there's no time for that, rub his shoulder or neck, like this." Sarra demonstrated her technique on her. "I like to press my chest into his back or arm as I do this and if you lightly press your lips on the back of his neck…"

Arya squealed in surprise, "hey I am not a guy!"

"Shut up and learn. Guy or girl, you can seduce anyone and get what you want. There's no shame in using this art on both."

"Okay, sorry."

"Now what you wear and how you wear it, can be the key to a quick seduction. Show some skin, give them a quick peek. A bare leg, some cleavage, works wonders and how much you show at one time, will determine the speed of their responses." Sarra tugged at her clothing, demonstrating what she meant. "If you raise your arms to stretch, it also moves your breasts up and out."

"Do I say anything or look anywhere other than his eyes?"

"Yes. Compliment his muscular arms, follow it with a hand feeling his bicep or a pointed look of admiration. If you look at his… er… crotch, don't be surprised if he is all over you instantly. You don't want to be like their whores. Unless of course that's what you do want and plan on telling him what you expect."

"I heard one of those whores say licking her lips and looking up at her guy through her eyelashes, works every time." Arya confessed, slightly embarrassed.

Sarra nodded. "I imagine eating the best sweets and that usually enhances the effect, you mentioned."

The tips continued, some with demonstration and others without. Sarra had taught other members both male and female in her gang. Not everyone was given her top tricks of flirtation and seduction, but she told Arya. The red face that resulted, gave Sarra a smile of satisfaction. Then it was time to test her teachings.

"Get me one of those sausages, without paying a thing. You can only use what I've taught you."

Arya nodded. She pinched her cheeks to make them redder, licked her lips to make them wet and shifted her shirt to expose a white shoulder. Then she got to work. It was easier than she thought to get the man's attention, but to get him to give her something without paying, that was harder. In the end she got a sausage, but had to touch the man, to get it. He was old, fat and unattractive, but her willpower to succeed, overrode her disgust.

"Not bad, but since you're not as curvaceous as I am, we need to get you some different cloths."

"Have you ever tried seducing Taron?" Arya asked shyly.

Sarra laughed, "who do you think taught me half of the things I told you? He can seduce women and men, but rarely uses this skill." She blushed a deep red and whispered, "he's the best kisser ever."

Shocked, Arya stuttered, "h..have you…have you done, I mean it's none of my business, but have you…."

"Not with him. He's very particular with whom he will lie with. He won't do that with anyone that's in the gang. It's to prevent favouritism and keeps the peace among the members. He doesn't care if we hook up with each other, but he won't." Sarra sighed regretfully. "Trust me when I say, some of us have tried."

Arya's respect for Taron just grew that little bit more. He had true honour, more so than most kings and queens, that ruled true thrones. So all she'd ever be able to have with him was just her secret crush? She'd never backed down from a challenge, but at the same time, she loved Gendry. But would she ever see him again or even find him? Would he expect her to stay loyal to him? She decided that what she expected of him would be true for her too. Living her life on probability was not who she was. And things always changed, maybe when they did find each other, who they had become by then, might make them just friends or even enemies. She wouldn't play the what if or what could be game. Survival for herself and new friends, was the only game she'd play. However her vow to get revenge, never left her one second. That was a promise she'd make sure was kept.