The dusty wind breezed through his hair, tangled hers; the cool air of the afternoon wrapped around the two like honey to a spoon.
Both were on edge, but one could hide it better than the other.
"We'll be fine Zelek" Zillah drawled, "stop bouncing your knee, it's giving me anxiety"
He subconsciously retracted, the knee still very much bouncing in place.
Holding onto the steady reins of the horses trodding ahead, she noticed her brothers nerves; she chuckled, "you're not usually like this, what's got you spooked besides the obvious"
With a quiet laugh, and a huff from Zelek, she gently placed her hand on his jumpy leg, holding it re-assuragly while gazing ahead.
He looked towards her; a thankful nod.
"I know, I just don't like the odds"
"Neither do I, but we are more than capable" she answered, a deep sigh escaping her lips, keeping her eyes straight ahead on the road and the horses gaining speed.
"It's just, I am unsure what we are going to do once we cross" he uttered, "we've never been this vulnerable before"
"How so?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow at him, while locking the reins in place- more freedom for her arms.
Pulling a hand through his messy locks, he spoke quietly, "Liam, Aloysia, both of them- I'm just worried" he paused, "Everything is alien to us, this world... I don't even remember how we got here... it's scary"
She took a breath. "It is.."
He eyes lowered, "I am also scared by the unknown powers that brought us here, I've never felt so fearful of those around me in my entire life... it's new to us, I miss our people, our home, I think of them constantly. It's normal to feel that way Zelek"
This was creasing his forehead at the thought. "Did we do anything that caused this to happen?"
"I don't think so, we were tasked with collecting those maps and bring them to Doak to try and get him to hate us less, but I can't remember for the life of me what those maps were... or if we even got close to them, it's like my memory of home is fading"
He eyed her worryingly.
Catching his gaze she spoke with fake enthusiasm. "It's fine, my mind is still well, I don't get the headaches"
He sighed a sigh of relief.
Zillah's eyes wondered around her, still taken aback from the sights after seeing them nearly non-stop for weeks. "At least this world is not in ruin as our home is, it's nice to see the sky, marvel over its features and witness life as it should be"
Zelek smiled. "Yea, it is nice for a change of scenery, I just wish our home could have stayed this way..."
"Cheer up Zelek" she whispered. "That's what we are doing here. Perhaps the gods above brought us here for a purpose, to help Aloysia in stopping the same fate from befalling to this world as did our own."
"Saving... Caswor was it? Seems like a huge undertaking"
She snickered. "One that only we could handle"
He couldn't argue with the facts. Specialising in collecting and retrieving prisoners, items of great value from the opposition in their home world, all while remaining anonymous was no easy feat. They were the best at it. Well... they were.
The very thought upturned his momentary smile. He missed his home.
Eyeing every edge of the forest they travelled through was comforting to him, reminding him of his childhood... especially at a time when he felt uncertain- uncertain for not only their outcome, but for the kingdoms.
Zillah watched him with concern. She thought perhaps her conversation had released some nervous tension, but in truth he put the responsibility on his shoulders again. All of it. This was not like him to be so pessimistic- paranoid yes, but he at least used to carry a glimmer of hope; a small symbol of ambition... something....
"I understand how you're feeling, you miss home as much as I do"
"What gave it away?" He deadpanned, fingers grazing his chin. He wasn't even trying to hide it from the human lie detector.
"That look in your eye, It's the same as when we were kids, you act as if everything is fine for others, but hide away and carry all the burdens" she clarified, "I always admired you for your bravery, but the idiocy behind it... I just don't understand the need for it"
The sound of hooves gaining momentum was deafening, yet they moved with grace and power. Beautiful creatures.
His gaze seemed lost and his body seemed on edge; the cloak rustling even more due to the constant fidgeting, the hood fallen further than her own from his neck twitching from side to side.
"I know you're worried about everything, I am too" she pointed to her heart, "but we have each other, and the strongest drive to keep pulling through"
He gave her an uncertain look.
"I promise" Zillah stressed, placing a gentle hand to his shoulder.
At her calming touch his muscles released the built up tension carving away at him.
"You're right" he breathed, eyes looking down at his feet perched on the wooden beam below their seats. "I always lecture Aloysia about this and here I am doing it myself. I'm such a hypocrite"
"Biggest one I ev- hey~"
Zelek nudged her before she could finish, sending Zillah into a fit of laughter, her green eyes alighting with hope.
Internally, he was still worried, fearful even, but that was needed and ultimately normal in this type of situation, so, he let go off all the negative thoughts and emotions clouding his judgement. He would need to be sharp and decisive for when they reached the borders.
The blue eyes that once shone worry, swam in determination, and told Zillah all she needed to know- her brother was back.
Smiling ear to ear, Zillah blurted, "if all goes south, at least we'll get some blade action", she rolled her shoulders, "I'm aching to get a punch in somewhere" her neck crunched as she stretched her stiff limbs.
Zelek stopped laughing, facing her with a look of: seriously??
"You say this when I was told earlier every thing will be 'fine'"
Sensing the seriousness, she nudged him harder with her shoulder. He coughed at the roughness, eyeing her in displeasure while rubbing his newly forming bruise.
"It was a joke!" She laughed, etching the seriousness from his demeanour that was soon melting under her humour.
"You truly are so gullible sometimes"
"Let's hope they are too" he whispered, pointing directly in front of them.
Up ahead, halting all laughter, was a glimpse of the border walls lining the South to the West.
Enemy territory.
They were there.
Let's hope the plan works...
~
The tense atmosphere was thickening at the sight of the border that the two perched up at front, fell silent to.
All laughter had died and nothing but the lively nature surrounding them was heard or brutally felt through the grit of the wooden cart.
The closer they got, the more the wheels gripped at the dried mud, the less of an opportunity they had to back out.
"This will be different" Zillah piped up beneath the nerves, glancing at Zelek.
"It will, but only slightly" he added, leaning back into his chair while keeping a stern eye on the borders ahead, "we can blend in anywhere"
Zillah turned her head, facing in the same direction as Zelek.
"I hope you're right"
More came to view- more recognisable from scouting ahead.
The same guards they saw only momentarily ago, the same bustling centre with tradesmen and merchants- the same distant chatter that ignored and hushed everything else around it.
Even the horses pulling along grew unsteady, as if they could sense the nerves floating in the stale air.
They had a plan, but as all plans go, they had their problems.
The reins tightened, digging into Zillahs peachy wrists that had been dried and wiped clean off blood.
Zelek was no longer squirming, having concealed his worries and adjusting his clothing.
They looked at each other, swallowing their regrets and fears and allowed a calm wave to overflow them. They had done this before- granted not with the same risks, but it was routine crossing into enemy territories undetected.
"You know what to say, remember what we discussed- no more than 5 mins, then we move- got it?" Zillah whispered, side glancing her brother whose eyes diligently peered forward; body hunched to appear 'normal'.
"I know, we've gone over this" he replied, voice as smooth as his demeanour; she smiled.
It appeared that his senses kicked in at last, no more concerns, just blending in and getting the mission done.
Good.
They were approaching now, slowly reducing speed as a line formed with travellers showing ID badges before crossing.
The West was not usually tight on security, but this time, with a wanted assassin so high on the criminals list roaming loose and dangerous -the very same assassin lying behind them amongst goods- they could not afford a slip up.
Not only that, the northern King had suffocated the borders with his own troops, a mix of the northern and southern emblems sprinkled for all eyes to behold.
The Western guards were monitoring the other side of the border, deeming others fit to leave their kingdom.
The cart approached, the nose of it a metre from the back of another wooden cart; goods overflowing out its backside.
The halt was smooth, no rocking of the passengers as Zelek steadied himself, reaching for the card decorated with a multitude of stamps and passes that allowed all movement between kingdoms.
He eyed it.
"So close", he whispered, studying the detail of the card, that, with each turn, glimmered in the sunlight.
Zillah glanced at the ticket of freedom cautiously, hope gleaming from her green eyes.
~
Eventually, yet with a steady speed, the line became shorter and shorter with the noises growing louder and louder; traders dealing with the men stationed at the gates, some causing a ruckus, some complying and others... swindling.
It was criminal to see them take bribes and offerings to cross, a terrible sight that brought sinking feelings for all who witnesses.
However, the soldiers ahead were equipped with clunky iron swords strapped to their backs; black intricate helmets that were designed specially for the armies that had to bare the heavy fire to their armour -typically front lines-, and of course the emblem stating their kingdom.
They were the regular ones...
Watching from the skies would be the archers, less armour but heavier artillery to compensate- their motto, kill or be killed.
Simple, but barbarically primitive. Well at least that's what any assassin with common knowledge or an ounce of training would think...
~
The wait was bearable... if it were not for the sparse splatters of water that fell lightly upon Zillahs head.
"You've got to be kidding me" Zillah swore, twisting her head to stare into the heavens displeasingly, "Now is not the time"
Kicking back and relaxing was not on her to do list ever since she spotted those clouds in the morning, carrying suspicion that they would grow darker and open up.
And to her own displeasure, she was right.
Moving with hasty intent, Zillah -who previously waited patiently with the reins falling slack- lurched forward to wrap the leather material around her wrists; eyes following more drops of rain that landed onto the leather.
Zelek cocked an eyebrow.
"It's going to rain heavily" she stated dryly, watching as the smile faded from his face to a low growl.
Holding a hand further out of the wooden cart to feel the water's weight, her eyes watched as the droplets began trailing her palms; becoming heavier and heavier with each passing second.
Zelek scoffed, he never was one for patience, nor rain.
Soon the gentle patter of droplets that doused the mid morning sky turned cloudy as a hail of rain struck down, its heavy splatters deafening.
They both immediately reclaimed the sanctuary of their hoods, but some too late..
"Great~" he drawled, a frown etching Zeleks dripping face as he stared at the heavens, "I am such a lucky one"
Before he could place his hood over his face, a large leaf hung from a nearby tree that had been cultivating water -full in capacity- tipped due to its stupendous weight, and poured directly onto an unsuspecting Zelek.
He jumped on impact and scowled.
The drenched hood smoothly moulded to his face as the thick material absorbed the moisture and becoming a cold, wet dead weight, put him in a treacherous mood.
"Another sign of misfortune" he growled, trying to ring out his hood while it still on his head- protecting him from any impeding rain.
"Don't be so glum" she laughed, a dry, untouched face smiling.
"You know I hate getting wet"
Huffing and crossing his arms, he folded more material over himself to act as a protective layer, dismissing his sister's snicker.
"Another bloody sign" he uttered under his breath feeling aggravated with the world around him.
Zillah, barely hearing his words asked, "Wait, what do you mean by another?"
Her tone raised concern.
Zelek leant back; the pouring sky moulding around the carts to form puddles that splashed with each aching twist of the wheels, not to mention the squelching of the mud.
"Do I have to elaborate? it's just a saying" He stated, clearly not in the mood for chatter.
"Signs of misfortune are not to be taken lightly Zelek! You know this"
Twisting her entire body to face him, she peered over the backs of their seats; just goods buried upon wool blankets... but there was more underneath.
Her sister, and a friend.
She looked back to Zelek who absentmindedly looked away.
She sighed, an emotion of uncertainty resonating deep within.
She gazed ahead.
This would work, the rain was just coincidence.
A flicker of flame at the most horrible timing was just a coincidence.
No signs of misfortune...
At least... not yet...