Capítulo 6: Encounter {pt 2}
Alyosia had noticed the Prince in the Tavern, but what the hell was he doing there?
She rolled her eyes under the mask of her hood embracing her head.
"Oh young Prince, what have you got yourself into now?" She muttered to herself, grinning, while slowing her pace to a wickedly stroll.
Her arms swung, brushing her hips as she sauntered down the street; still able to feel, sense him following her in his cloak.
She could picture his body idly piercing her hood with his 'irresistible' eyes; trying to delve deeper into who she was. Who she really was. Foolish, foolish man.
This is not a game, and he was certainly playing with fire. The sparks were dancing and teasing him, ready to alight in just one error of judgment.
What did he want?
Trailing the most dangerous person in all of Caswor is bound to lead to trouble.
She chuckled in her thoughts, only to eye an exit, and upon coming in sight of an alley, she abandoned the streets once again to fall to the shadows; swift and quickly.
The prince saw her turn into an alley, the dark dingy alley.
He halted, eyes zooming around the alley like a prey surrounded by danger.
She knew.
She was leading him.
This was a trap.
It had to be, but would he get another chance? Frustration crawled the length of his neck as he knew he was playing into her trap. A fly caught up in a spider's web.
He gritted his teeth and blindly followed suit, removing any discouraging warnings on how many ways this could go wrong; he ignored his body shaking, his insubstantial body screaming at him to run.
The night was harsh, temperature dropped below freezing, enough to alter anyone's mood to anxious.
She stood, fiercely at the end of the dingy alley surrounded by abandoned objects within tons upon tons of mud. The filth was revolting, but she knew she would not be here for long.
She eyed the prince emerge from the busy lane as expected, wearing soiled riding gear; matching his cloak, of the velvet variety, yet brought to shame by mucky alcohol stains spoiling his look. Convincing.
His walk was paced, cautious but ultimately ran to a halt when out of the dense darkness he had spotted her perched at the end.
To watch the horror and the dread skulk its way to his head, where his eyes had no trouble identifying her as he examined the surroundings, was liberating.
To know that the Prince of the Southern Kingdom would flake out and panic in her presence sent her blood spinning.
"What are you doing here princeling?"
She had a harsh tone, driving chills down his already slithering back. His fear had consumed his voice, shrinking his confidence.
"How did y-"
"It was blatantly obvious", she tilted her head, side glancing his confusion as a smirk etched a way to her hooded face.
"I don't know what you think you are doing, but surely a man of your stature would have decency as to properly greet a lady like myself? No matter how my reputation proceeds me?"
Her voice had a sharp sting to its end, bowing in mockery of a court lady.
"Don't call me Princeling" he stuttered, instantly regranting his tone of choice.
She crossed her arms, shrugging her shoulders, "What do you want me to call you then-" She leaned forward, "-Princeling?"
His eyes narrowed. Annoyance. Oh, how exhilarating to rile up the Prince? This would be a new experience.
A smirk inched its way on her flawless face. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it again, gawking at her. He was honestly out of his mind.
"Liam Theoden, my name is Liam Theoden" he muttered.
Her smirk faded, "Liam?"
She chuckled, his face in reaction revealed agitation to be laughed at. So much so that he took a shaky step towards her, gulping slightly as if approaching a wild lion.
She composed herself.
"I don't mean to be rude, Liam"
She sniggered. He huffed.
"It's just not, very royal"
He rolled his hazel eyes, dragging a hand through his fluffy hair to remove his hood; ruffling it even more. He had to be calm, relax, she wasn't dangerous. She wouldn't dare try anything on him. No. She was smarter than that.
Breathing deeply while focusing to not reveal his skittish emotions he said in the calmest voice he had, "What's your name then, what do I call you? Besides The Shadow of course?"
He knew already, he just wanted to be sure.
Nosy Prince, very nosy.
"Lady Aloysia Tamala" she boomed, smiling wild and cockily, dipping her head.
His eyes widened, he didn't think he would get a straight answer, not this quick anyway.
Liam's heart rate was picking up, what was he doing talking to an assassin?
"Well Aloysia-" He nudged forward, only a few meters between them. "I have a question"
She raised her eyebrow, yet it was hidden from sight. What did this daring, idiotic Prince want?
But before she could listen to his death wish of a question, she interjected, "Why are you not afraid of me?"
He stifled. Which was the only answer she needed.
He swallowed his urge to scream, his body becoming feeble at the attempt to hold back from his natural instinct. To run!
She was lethal, living death, yet somehow, she had not acted as harshly as he had expected. Cold, yes, but not threatening.
"Why do you hide your face from people, why do you kill? why Aloysia.." he breathed, "why?"
She let her hands droop to her side, utterly gobsmacked. Emotions began to surface as to why, but a hard swallow sealed them away. She was stronger than people thought.
"And why should I concern myself with you?" Aloysia questioned, taking in how the Prince looked at her; petrified, disgusted at the amount of red soaked her history... and... something unknown lied behind those hazel eyes.
Liam shook his head, turning to peek over his shoulder before returning his gaze on her.
The street lingered behind him, illuminated by the moon, but here... everything was hidden.
"I don't understand why you travel to every kingdom, killing people. It does not make sense? Why kill at all?" He asked, confidence oozing back into him slowly, yet his words were still a struggle to formulate.
"Make sense?" She laughed, swivelling in disbelief.
Aloysia cupped her stomach as she bent over laughing sinisterly; Snapping back to standing within a few seconds, her palm now in possession of a blade.
"Nothing makes sense in this cruel world, and I didn't take you for a naïve idiot to not realise that!" her voice became hysterical sounding. He grimaced.
"It still doesn't answer my questi-"
"All 4 kingdoms want my head, including your own, and you are here to discuss as to why I kill?! You truly are naïve, or just down right stupid"
Liam sighed, hurt and disappointment screamed from his body language; still in shock for having this conversation with an assassin. He had to keep reminding himself who he was dealing with.
Needing to keep up a facade, his mind sought out a way to tangle her emotions; make her confused enough to get answers; she may be trained in combat warfare, but he was intelligently smart.
Liam exhaled.
"I, unlike other kingdoms do not want you dead" his voice was calm, composed, not allowing one inch of a hint to be dropped; his kingdom relied on it, they all did.
Aloysia chuckled, shrugging her shoulders in amusement.
"Thanks" she spoke sarcastically.
Liam trudged forward while speaking, approaching cautiously, his boots scratching the hard concrete.
Her eyes darted to his feet, hesitantly stepping back in response.
"Unlike others, I do pay attention to who dies as well how"
Closer.
"Unlike others, I don't flee at the sight of you, or rush blindly into confrontation"
Closer.
"Unlike others-" closer, "-I see someone with skill, that if assisted could make better. All. 4. Kingdoms."
What game was this? Aloysia didn't know how to react, her body unresponsive to any signals. Why were his words resonating?
"I do not believe in war, or violence. No matter what, no matter how dim the light may be, peace is always a possibility- there is always a diplomatic solution rather than bloodshed."
A breath away. Only a mingling breath stood between them. The surrounding bitter wind blew through his messy hair, intertwining strands as the stars above sparkled in the endless void of darkness. Hazel eyes surveyed her stunned face up close.
Here, he identified a scar from her lower lip, it appeared to be covered up, but the truth always broke through barriers; a beautifully shaped nose, hidden eyes, trapped in a shadow; and a tremor from her upper rosy lip.
Alosyia was frozen, stunned in place by his words. The Prince was in such proximity yet she didn't care, the blade in her palm rendered useless without the function of her brain.
That was until Liam reached for her arm, when reality smacked her, breaking free of the Princes' god-forsaken trance; almost like jolting back into your own body.
On rection, she snapped her arms out of reach, pushing the Prince; feeling threatened; something she revolted.
"You don't know what your taking about, the 4 kingdoms are set in their ways, all transfixed on this ideology of perfection, of power!"
She snarled at him, "and you're no different"
Her body turned cold toward him and the tension grew.
Liam's smooth demeanour vanished, rather, a bleak sweat beat at his head, trailing down to his neck. The will power required to hold up courage was now depleted; so this time, the adrenaline won.
It flurried through his veins, impulsing him to run, but couldn't move. He squirmed and jabbed at his ankle glued in place, but nothing gave way.
Breathing intensified as he realised he was stuck by something unknown, an unknown force, at the mercy of an assassin.
"You are a fool to dip your spoilt little toe into dangerous waters, Prince!" She hissed at him, anger and a strong, powerful emotion surging through.
He... he dare distract her; to try and sway her into something...
His face dropped, unruly terror shone from his face. Did he play his cards right? Was he about to die by the hands of The Shadow? No. No. This...
"I may not be a warrior, or a king yet, but I am smart" He pleaded, eyes welling up, attempting to drown out his fright; Liam's arms swung in front of him, ready to block an unexpected blow that would end his life.
"Really?" She shot back.
She was mocking him now, arms flailing, an unreadable expression laid on her face.
"Smart enough to trail the most dangerous assassin in all of Caswor without a moments training?" she smiled sarcastically, "Oh how your wisdom and intelligence really do show!"
The night sky quieted out, settling the rage within her to sizzle out and die, causing a numbness all too familiar.
The cold grew colder, freezing each limb on its own; she wanted to leave, no longer craving her previous blood lust, only distaste.
Her hood was blowing in unison with her cloak, breathing with the wind.
Liam was in blade distance, his eyes glowing brighter.
With heavy hesitation, Aloysia blurted, "why are you really here? No more lies..."
Straightening his spine while lowering his arms, Liam remained silent, beaten at his own psychological game.
He didn't answer. He didn't know. His mind had been blank. If anything, he wanted freedom for his kingdoms and himself... just a little taste, and she would be the key.
Under the canopy of night, the stars were watching her, questioning her, guiding her.
A sensation of ice trailing her throat began randomly, eyes widening as it's frozen pain lingered all over her body. She was sure the Prince felt it too...
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