~ "You won't win this" ~
He should have known-
He should have known his dam emerald-gold bracelet was swiped when she uttered those words.
So transfixed on his victory he didn't even realise the phantom air around his wrist.
"Are the borders secure?" The king demanded while servants were dressing him in his usual wear, excessive jewellery hanging off silk and fur.
His most trusted advisor from the north smiled brightly, bowing in happiness at his esteemed king. He had began travelling from the North to be of service at his request, but took a slight detour that meant he only reached the castle a week ago.
Tall, longed face- could have been mistaken as a gentle men- but he certainty was no gentleman.
His eyes were inhuman. "The troops were sent to the borders before her arrival to the castle per my instruction, they would have arrived 2 days ago by horse, ready to intercept if she tries leaving the kingdom" he was enjoying every word.
"Good. Remember, word of mouth is to be hushed at all costs" the king grinned, a devilish hint behind those dark eyes. His fingers tracing the scar over his cheek. The gracious mark left by yours truly.
A few servants stumbled at the malice look he gave it in the mirror, averting their gazes to just focus and get the job done.
"Of course your majesty, have I ever failed you?" a smirk replaced his smile. Mort could have done without the tone lacing his words.
"Oh and another thing" he began, hands firmly behind his back "in private if you please"
With a nod of his king, he shooed the servants out the room, scuttling to the door like rats escaping a sinking ship.
Glaring at his adviser through the mirror, now clear of unwanted ears, his hand waved for him to speak.
"Thank you my liege"
His lips tightened. "As you know, during my travels here, I was on the lookout for The Shadow and found something quite interesting"
"Go on" the king mulled, feet stood close together.
The adviser nodded. "I have discovered that she is not travelling alone, and not just with the Prince either"
Mort raised an eyebrow, his nose crinkling at the curiosity.
He continued. "There are two others, at first glance, they appeared to be no threat... I even considered plucking them from existence myself-" spoken like a true killer "-but, on closer inspection, they had red, crimson eyes like her; both clearly not of this world's origin, just as the stone is"
A gentle breeze swept in through the window, neither cold nor warm; the transition of seasons being early this year.
"And what would you have me do with this information Deacon?" He pushed. "How does this effect my plans?"
"-Our plans my liege"
The kings scowl could kill, but Deacon just bowed in apology, that irritatingly snarky smile still plastered, eyes squinting at how wide it was.
You couldn't see his eyes.
"I know them to be the Prince and Princess of my home world. The realm of night and day"
The kings body shook at the information. More of them?
He reached for his hair, instinctively pulling it. "How can this be!" He shouted, turning to face the adviser. There had been no strange occurrence for them to suddenly start dropping like rain, and invading this world with their likeness.
Growling, he wanted to slap that gruesome smile off his dreaded face. "Are you sure you were not mistaken?"
"Am I ever?" He replied sweetly. "Remember Mort..." the smile faded, and his inhuman eyes grew larger, locking the king in place under his intense state. "...You are not the only person I answer too"
It's voice was deeper than before, the change in pitch... it was distant and bitter.
"I am aware, Deacon" the king cleared his throat, straightening his spine and shoving the unsettled nerves to hell. "But you still answer to me"
That violently sweet smile came crawling back, as if nothing had happened moments ago- as if he didn't just threaten a king. The cloud of intimidation dissipated also. "Of course, I just wished to merely remind you my liege"
And with that he left the room. The king, watching the way he moved with complete ease. It wasn't natural... he wasn't natural.
While Deacon left the dressing quarters gripping his sheathed sword, his mind pictured the royals in his mind, laughing at them as if they were a source of humour.
Passerby's ignored his manic laughter and snickering, known for his wicked mind and hand in combat. But of course, that wasn't its true nature.
Oh no.
It wasn't of this world. And it's true form was so hideous to witness that people would gouge their eyes to end the suffering. A shapeshifter.
The very shapeshifter that had almost murdered Aloysia a few weeks ago.
~~~
The borders. A mixing of different cultures separated by walls...
Wagons, horses, rare materials covered in packaging surrounded by money laundering merchants of all races stood between them, and freedom.
The border had 4 gates, meeting in the middle where the land was divided equally. You could cross from any kingdom to any kingdom by using the central border. The side borders only allowed access to the opposite kingdom, so the North, could only travel to either side- East, and West. Central borders are needed for trade, which is why it was always the busiest.
Aloysia could tell they were gaining on the central border as wagons hauling goods started appearing frequently.
However, she had noticed security seemed to be tighter since crossing the Northern to Southern border as Elianna.
Not only that, but that less travellers occupied the spaces crossing out of the Southern Kingdom; less wagons, less people, less trade...
~
"Your Royal highnesses" the polite man bowed, wearing the Royal Hawk with honour; opening the cart door graciously for the King of the Northern Kingdom and his daughter.
The King beamed from ear to ear at the warm welcome, unlike the princess who kept her eyes glued to the floor.
It was during the bitter winter season, as such, great cloaks, decorated with the finest materials possible snuggled the royals like a cocoon, shutting the cold out, yet her breaths still crystallised before her eyes.
"Please wait one moment while we check your luggage, we want to ensure that you are travelling safely"
His mannerisms disgusted Elianna, yet her face remained empty, not a single emotion on display; no weakness would be uncovered.
She hated how sickly sweet the man's tone was in front of her, she wished nothing more but to yell at everyone who addressed her as a royal; being that she preferred the civilian life and hated the spotlight.
A soldier never breaks.
Everything the king had requested of the escort to the border had been accomplished, catering to his beck and call.
Elianna just crept back into the cart, summoning Genalia and longing to leave and get to the palace soon enough; 1 week of travelling by horse and carriage. It would be hell with her father...
Now... it would be a different story. She would be crossing with her siblings and friend... as a fugitive.
She gulped. How would she act once in Eatsern territory? They wanted The Shadows head as much as the next kingdom, but Elianna? It would be risky.
But when was it never risky?
The layout of the border was simple, a great circle of rock was the flooring that entered each kingdom with Caswor's insignia carved in a lighter stone. Upon the circle were four walls, each with great gates that had guards stationed at each end as well as camp sites on each side for the soldiers.
The wall stretched across the lands through all of Caswor.
To cross, you would have to pay a fee, but for merchants, all they needed was a special card taxed by the royal families to allow them to cross for trade. Given one out herself, Aloysia knew exactly what they look like, and where they would get one.
"Anything different?" Zillah questioned, body hidden behind a tree; back pressed against it as her hood smudged her face into the dense background.
Aloysia huffed, she had been stationed up a tree for hours, scoping the guard changes and memorising each rotation; you could say paranoia was settling in.
Aloysia shook her head, dressed in a foreign black hood stolen from a clothes shipping a day ago. Along with the hood, she grabbed any spare clothing that resembled her own; no way near as great, but it would be better than causal clothing.
"Good" Zillah breathed, looking toward the border.
"We're so close sister"
Aloysia swallowed, feeling every word as she said them, "I know" her eyes pinned the gates, "we are close"
With the wave of Zillahs hand signalling it was clear to jump, Aloysia slipped down the tree, boots gripping the hard oak for stability as she smoothly manoeuvered her way through each branch; creating minimal sound possible.
Landing with a grunt, Aloysia glanced back one last time before sprinting in the opposite direction to the border with Zillah in tow.
As they ran further into the wilderness, they eyed familiar faces not too far way.
Liam seemed uneasy, while clutching a bag full of items, and Zelek looked paranoid. Aloysia internally laughed at them as she placed her blades securely around her waist- her thigh and her boot as she whistled toward them.
The signal.
Instantly, their ears picked up on it, and spotting the two females, bolted off towards them in the direction of the main road connecting the borders to the villages -lining the forest.
Her breathing was rapid at the thought of the next phase, yet continued her pace. Aloysia could sense the stress of her friends behind her- the unsettling nerves from the plan, that, no matter how many times she re-assured them, would still scrunch their eyebrows in worry.
It was going to work, it had to work.
Edging closer to the main dirt road, Aloysia held her hand up, signalling that they were close.
Their pace slowed, and their sprint turned to a light trudge as they all swatted branches carefully to give better sight lines.
A rustling of wooden carts caught Aloysia's attention, snapping her head to the left.
Zillah heard it too, glancing to Aloysia with a smirk, eyes dancing with a wild fire.
"Right on time" Aloysia whispered, crouching behind a tree as the same merchant in a cart that she had been tracking the movements of for a few days trekked along the dirt road toward the borders.
It's large wooden wheels with a great haul of goods stashed in the back churned at the ground to push forward, driven by horses which was the ideal design for a stowaway.
As the rustling grew near, her heart rate accelerated, the rush of adrenaline giving a helping hand in heightening her senses.
It rode closer and closer until it was directly in front of them.
A heartbeat later, Aloysia snapped her head behind her, nodding abruptly at Zelek who had his bow up and roaring to go. Stationed next to him was Liam; his face was hidden beneath a hood as they all were, too recognisable to go without one as he bit his lip in anxiety.
The piercing sound of an arrow firing startled him, and Aloysia sniggered, watching as Zelek released the arrow as it piled into the man piloting the carriage; hitting in precisely the right spot, the shoulder.
As soon as flesh was punctured, Zillah sprang toward the screaming man hastily, hushing him by yanking at his collar while her other hand muffled the scream.
The man didn't have a chance to breathe as darkness swept over him to fall limp in Zillahs arms.
She looked up beneath her hood at Aloysia, confirming he was out cold, to which Aloysia nodded in return- they would refrain from making a scene.
Zelek was already on his way as he helped her haul him off the carriage quietly. Aloysia was impressed, so impressed that she didn't notice a sly prince who had trudged his way closer to Aloysia.
He coughed.
"The plans working so far", he breathed, shaking slightly as the knife and bag hugging his waist reminded him of who he was becoming.
A fugitive.
She sighed, she just wanted to cross without any hassle and didn't have time for a conversation as her eyes followed her siblings carrying the man into the forest.
"Yes, it is" she whispered, "now stick to it, and don't slow us down" her words were harsh as she leapt into the air without a seconds notice, to land fiercely on the drivers seat; hands, wrists, wrapped in leather as she held the reins to the horses who hadn't noticed a thing.
Liam huffed, wiping the dried dirt off his cloak from her kicking it up. Although he would never show it. He felt intimidated. He felt weak compared to three trained assassins who had taken care of the plan, and all he did to help was watch.
He felt useless, a waste of space, extra luggage that was carried because of a crown... a throne... a lineage....
His shaggy hair that had grown due to no trim, obscured his hazel eyes as he looked up at Aloysia, lips pursed as the suns rays danced on every leaf, every shine on the wooden cart.
He would prove himself to her. Prove to himself he was more than just a no-good book worm.
His heart beat ruthlessly as his features hardened.
No more.
He would be weak
no more....