She needed this. Needed a good spar to calm those unravelling nerves that drove her mad; releasing emotions in each stroke so she wouldn't randomly snap... it frustrated her to hell and back.
"Don't hold back Aloysia" Zillah lured, ushering her to use more force in each kick masterfully performed, yet it wasn't perfect.
Aloysia huffed, spinning on her left foot to sidekick her other in the air sharply, twisting her body with a powerful force; a strike that would knock anyone unconscious in an instant.
To a spectators eye, they would have cowered, but to her sister, she arose from ducking, hands plastered on her hips as she looked to Aloysia with dismay.
"You're distracted"
Aloysia grunted, dropping her fighting stance to eye roll, obvious annoyance edging into a frown.
"Says who?"
"Keep rolling your eyes, maybe you'll find a brain back there" Zillah mocked, well aware of her actions as she saw Aloysia stiffen.
"I didn't ask for an opinion" Aloysia replied, irritation lathered in each word.
"What's on your mind?"
Aloysia shook her head, bringing her fists to her front again, bouncing lightly on her feet.
Without warning, Aloysia struck true, punching the space left by her sister as Zillah dropped to the mud, rolling through it to stand upright again; avoiding the advance.
Repeating her question breathily, but not entirely unexpected, Zillah goaded "What's annoying you?"
Aloysia grunted, pulling back at the obvious advance, arms shielding the wave of aggression swung at her brought by Zillah's leg.
It hurt like a female dog.
Biting back the pain and frustration, she reached for Zillahs wrist, snapping her grip tight like a lock and key; yanking it downwards as she arose her knee to slam her head.
Zillah missed it by a hairs length, panting heavily as she used the hold on her to twist under her arm and avoid the knee.
"Sloppy!" She shouted between breaths. "Why are you so angry?"
"Because I'm pissed off"
"Well that's nothing new"
Aloysia growled.
Zillah grimaced.
By the look on her sweaty face, she thought it best to drop it, knowing full well you could get no information out of an unwilling assassin. Especially not her.
Zillah shook her head, "Fine... go again"
Aloysia eagerly leapt at the request, re-taking the stance. This time lunging at her sister, using the power in her back legs to propel her forward, arm pulled back for a punch.
Zillah dodged it intebtially, this time nodding her head in approval.
"Better. Now, again"
Aloysia roared, pushing off a nearby tree; backflipping gracefully with her fists clenched as she landed swiftly; continuing the momentum of rotation as she slid with her feet at Zillah's, knocking her legs to fall aimlessly to the cold ground while pulling a blade and aiming its tip to the back of her head. Aloysia towered over her.
Zillah laughed, spitting mud that had clawed to her face as she lay face first, wiping her now filthy hands on her clothing.
"That's better"
Aloysia dropped her guard, tucking the blade back into its correct slot, her thigh; a smug look plastered on her face.
Zillah stood up, being a trainer, she was definitely not finished yet, wanting to get a taste of revenge.
"Now, defence!"
She didn't allow her a second to breathe as she plunged her foot directly at Aloysia's face.
Unsuspecting any retaliation, Zillah pushed all her force into her heel, yet did not expect Aloysia to react. Faster than comprehension, Aloysia's eyes locked on to Zillahs, sending a spine chilling glare; her torso leant back dodging the attack while her leg, kicking in the opposite direction to her opposition flew directly at her stomach, whacking so hard that Zillah became winded, plummeting her into the closest tree, all while maintaining a stoic face, -as if this was nothing-.
The action... was monstrously quick, earning a smirk on her face as she watched her sister slump against the bark.
The vibration hollowing up the tree rattled at the birds who flew away hastily, filling the warm air with the sound of flapping wings.
"Not expecting that were you?" She teased playfully, wiping her sweaty brow from the mid morning sun; hands plastered in stolen bandages as well as her ankles to prevent injury.
Zillah grunted, broken laughter came out in waves as she clutched her stomach, trying to laugh but in too much pain to do so.
"No, I was not" She drawled, face contorting in pain with each finger touching her bruising ribs.
Aloysia laughed, true relief in each echo leaving her lips. She felt lighter, more agile for things that would come.
She really did need that.
~
They travelled day and night since discovering they were close, camping under the night sky and among nature's forest, avoiding the keen civilian eye diligently; yet no word or message travelled through to other kingdoms, through the borders separating them.
The only information they were sure on by eavesdropping on denizen conversations, was that the king kept her identity a secret, under-raps for his own reputation.
To be living with the Shadow and not know... would cause backlash, that the king, seemingly, was currently trying to avoid.
So in her eyes, The southern Kingdoms was a prison, and the borders around the kingdom a barricade to the truth spreading.
No other kingdom knew of her double life.
She was sure of other rulers becoming suspicious with his activity, locking an entire empire in secret; Only allowing northern troops and messengers to pass so he could rule two kingdoms at once.
At least she could choose who to be, Aloysia, or Elianna without the judgement of people in her usual attire... just as soon as she crossed the border...
~
Nightfall quickly fell, and for once, she was sleeping peacefully, no clouds of doubt to occupy her spinning mind, or chill her fatigued bones; just the clear streams of assurance wrapping around her like a warm blanket.
But it was always at this hour that she awoke, so without disturbing the others sleeping soundly, Aloysia tip-toed quietly away from her friends to walk in silence, the only noise being the humming of nature surrounding her.
They had stopped near a mountain top, good sight lines as instructed by Zelek.
She internally rolled her eyes, feeling calm and content at her brothers fanatic insecurities.
Along the hilltop edge Aloysia sat, knees crunched up to her chest alone with her thoughts and the stars.
Everything was overwhelming when she actually processed things, but she, after many thoughts, had come to some sort of conclusion as to why her body broke whenever she bent that stone to do her bidding; why? Because it was slowly killing her, bit by bit she had realised; a curse bestowed upon her.
Although it wasn't certain, the scars... visual evidence of its destructive capabilities, the visual evidence of her fading away with it.
Sometimes it would spike, causing outburst, like at the castle...
Yet she could barely understand its capabilities for destruction, for death.
How much time remained for her was a mystery, a clear fog of doubt lingering over her every process.
Above her, the blinding reflection of the moon shone high, bright; painting the night sky to life, a breath of fresh air.
Her eyes blew up like the sun, dilating in awe at the sight of it.
The distant crackling of dwindling ash hummed behind her, a small fire; it's embers warming her back as she faced the moon, allowing its light to lull her to rest...
~
The next morning came swifter than anticipated, waking up at the crack of Dawn.
The moment a peak of light glimmered through the trees, they had to be gone, on the move.
The trek didn't get any easier, blisters, swollen feet that when rested would tingle endlessly.
It was pure hell.
Especially for a dam Prince, who because of his title was circled by three assassins while they walked, Aloysia being its head and guiding the way.
"What exactly is our plan once we reach the borders?" He asked while stepping over a fallen branch. "It'll be heavily fortified so whatever it is should be well thought through"
Zillah glanced over her shoulder, stationed to his right. "We don't need to think of that now. For the time being, we just need focus on actually reaching the borders alive"
She swept past giant leaves brushing past her with ease, holding it there so the Prince could pass through.
He nodded in thanks, cursing himself internally at another question dancing happily on his lips. "But, when we cross, where will we go? Our attire will surely stick out like a sore thumb."
He couldn't help himself.
"From what I've read, Western culture is far different to that of the other kingdoms, it'll be far too easy to be spotted"
Sighing heavily while massaging the brim of his nose, Zelek chimed in. "I get your concern, but will you please concentrate on the terrain ahead of you, you're tearing the end of your trouser and we don't have a spare lying around"
Liam deadpanned. His curiosity and worry obviously not anything to waste time on. Clearly.
Although his clothing... he should be more careful, already acquiring a tear around the hem. He hated that they were right. But no one like to be left in the dark, especially since his life depended on it.
Another though crossed his mind...
Unable to stop himself, Liam blurted. "So what you're really saying is that you have no idea what we are going to do once we cross the border, let alone how?"
Aloysia halted, stopping everyone in their tracks; her heel crunching a twig instead of planting her foot around it. Liam gulped.
Her hood creased. "Do not concern yourself with those things, they are for me to plan and you to follow"
Her words were stern, very direct.
"If I hear another peep out of you I will gladly give you another scar to match that around your neck. Got it?" She threatened, fingers tapping the pommel of her dagger. It wasn't as sharp as her usual tone, already detecting it was an empty threat. But it didn't lesson the words impact.
She already regretted her speech once she turned to see his sullen face looming hazily over the grass. The words leaving her mouth, she was still very much frustrated and clearly stressed at their situation. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean that" she stuttered, eyes focusing on the wound that served as a living reminder that she failed to keep him safe.
Liam's hand went to feel the scar on his neck, still sore to the touch with an occasional sting. His eyes grew weary at the memory.
He was helpless. So dam helpless like a child frozen in the night. Always relying on others, only to watch them suffer.
Shoving the emotions down, he replied. "People say and do things they don't mean when frustrated... I'm sorry too Aloysia, for my constant rattling"
It was a struggle to say those words. Yet, he truly did believe in them. Liam had always taken things to heart, even when they were not intended to sink the fangs of hostility deeper; just vacant words filling up space. It had taken many heartaches and feelings of despair, but he had finally managed to hold himself together, growing stronger everyday... but this woman, who gazed at him sorrowfully... she was breaking him. And Liam didn't know what would surface when she did.
Aloysia on the other hand, had always been a fortress of solitude, holding those invisible walls high all around her fragile emotions; the few signs of weakness slipping through the cracks everyone and again, but would always be corrected.
Now, those gaps just seemed to be getting larger. And it was all his fault. She had let him see too much.
There was an awkward silence between them, broken by the birds chirping overhead reminding of where they were, and on what ground they stood on.
"Let's get moving" Zillah directed, really wanting to leave the tension that was stifling the morning air.
"You're right, we shouldn't get distracted"