Aloysia always befuddled him at the best of times, but her plan that led them both to remain hidden from peering eyes was just another impressive thing added to a long list.
Her calm exterior returned as she slumped back into her chair, back kneeling deeply into the surprisingly soft sandstone.
"We wait here for a little longer, get as much information on the current situation as we can and leave"
"Agreed" Liam nodded, feeling a slight unease return to him at the thought of having to stay here any longer.
The image of her eyes in his mind died as she pulled the cloak further over her head.
He didn't know how long they would remain uncovered... with the most wanted assassin sat a few inches from him... he knew they didn't have long.
Liam gazed carefully around the room; laughter, haziness thanks to alcohol, smiles beaming. It was so... different to taverns back home, a good different.
The occasional riff raff were scattered around the room however, banging on the sandstone tables or cheering sloppily to the artists strumming their instruments on the raised platform in the corner.
But the room was mainly filled with native West people, the respectful Relisans.
Bewitching-traditional dark skin all the way to auburn hair that was either smoother than silk or a thick train of woven threads. Their ways inspired modern development and acceptance of others. They, unlike their counterparts from the north and south -to much his dismay-, understood the importance of ones privacy.
He couldn't help but smile warmly. Even on the run, the culture that surrounded him felt welcoming. His crease deepened, reaching his ears wholeheartedly while his cheeks dusted a beautiful red.
"So you felt it too huh?" Aloysia smirked, her arms cradled like a ball of yarn on her stomach while shrouded by the cloak.
"Felt what?"
"The atmosphere, the people who act in such a stark difference everywhere else"
Liam felt tickled, he knew it was true and all he could do was laugh about it. Aloysia carried on.
"I admire these people, unlike everywhere else they are so respectful, they wouldn't dare eavesdrop on another's conversation"
Liam rolled his eyes happily, "So that's why you chose to come here, knowing full well no one would approach or intervene..."
A smug expression covered her face as she leaned in toward the table, closer to him.
So smart.
He chuckled, "You really do think of everything don't you?"
"Of course I do" she laughed surprisingly, stretching over the table to rest her head, "who do you take me for? I'm not some low-level assassin"
Liam clicked his tongue, tutting at her boasting that she clearly had no regrets for.
Sighing in defeat, Liam's hand pinched the new cloak further around his arm, the clothes that lay concealed beneath only showing a few splatters of mud.
He asked quietly, curiosity back to the forefront of his mind as he eyed the back of her head, "how did you get this?"
He surveyed the fine material, it's soft to the touch cloth revealed hours of tender care when crafting such a fine piece...
"Wait.. did you steal this cloak?" Liam questioned.
Aloysia looked up at him briefly, holding his stare, "Believe it or not, no"
She leant back into the table, resting her head into her arms as she closed her eyes gently, eyelashes fluttering against her cheek, "I left an old necklace I was carrying from my hidden pouch as payment"
Her fingers drew the outline of said necklace, from the beautiful chains to the diamond hanging off at its center on the table, a smooth slow gesture until her palm rested against the sandstone.
"You used a necklace? Isn't that a bit overkill... and why on earth would you carry such strange items?"
"Do you always find the need to question everything? Its becoming tedious... " she sighed.
Her leg beneath the table shook quietly, a silent rustle of jewels crept into his ear. Realisation.
"I always keep a few on me in case it comes handy for trade or payment, because money -as you may have noticed- is different for each kingdom"
Genius.
"Where did you get these jewels?"
His inclination was theft, but she knew better than that.
Aloysia scoffed at his intrigue, deciding to feed the interrogation or be stranded with a clouded Prince.
"They are-" she seemed hesitant, "Elianna's"
Liam dropped his head, he hadn't heard that name in a while and he could tell uttering that name brought discomfort to someone unable to be themselves.
There was a slight awkward pause before she continued, but her voice returned.
"Any jewels given to me by my father or any suitors I carry with me and use, they're better off with other people who would make use of such craftsmanship"
Liam sat quietly, blocking out the music as he listened.
"Ha-" Aloysia cringed, raising her body as she smiled rather painfully with an obvious effort to be conventional.
"You are the only person I have told this too besides Genalia"
Liam's eyes sparkled with another question, but she got to it first- halting in speech broken by a herd of people storming through the entrance to return to their drinks...
Great.
Northern soldiers who seemed to be off duty from guarding the borders stumbled in one by one, causing a ruckus with every step and every sloppy head wobble. Their eyes full of a hearty warmth scoured the room while their clothes wreaked of alcohol wafted up through the tables.
You could say they met a few callous stares of annoyance.
That would be an understatement.
But of course, the Relis were all too respectful to pipe up and voice their discrepancy or act on any grievances. They were not impulse driven, rather, calm, collected individuals who respected others; only stepping in once it reached a climax.
"Excuse me" a deep voice spoke over the loud calamity at the doors, "if you would please have the respect to keep the noise at a minimum and take your seats, or we will be forced to ask you to leave our establishment"
Aloysia's head snapped to the owner of those words, the stern bar tender hard glaring at them, facial expression poised. He spoke in Liam and Aloysia's tongue, an accent giving it a darker edge. That was another thing he had to get used too, the west had their own language.
A few whispered, a few took a sip from their drinks, choosing to ignore the situation but many couldn't.
The bar tender's in the west took no shit, they couldn't afford too. To maintain the respectful system all have to comply. And that meant no excuses or second warnings.
Aloysia looked back to the rowdy crowd, sniggering at their faces; such a waste of brute strength fighting for the wrong purpose.
But to her surprise as she turned away, even as wasted as they were, one had heard her remark; sporting a red glow to his cheeks from the alcohol, he stomped angrily towards them, the pissed returnee was on the verge of spitting...
Shit.
"Oi, mind returning that?" He sneered, bottle one hand, fist clenched sternly with the other.
Her hood had drowned out her face, and so her vision was limited, but enough to know exactly who these 'types' were. Arrogant, low-lives.
Without a reply, he leaned over, neck straining as he spat, "Oi! You deaf?"
Gosh, if he leant any closer...
He spat at her feet as she crossed her legs menacingly, fingers dancing on a fine line above a blade on her thigh.
Not enough to be blatantly obvious, but enough to prove as a warning to back off or face consequences.
The guard overlooked the fine detail. She clicked her tongue, hidden below a scowl.
"Must be mute then... what a shame you can't defend yourself whore"
That's it.
As he went to take another sip, her arm shot out, latching onto his forearm as she wrapped it around his back; hooking it in the shoulder blade's crevice in such a way his entire body was rendered useless.
The bottle dropped to the floor, crashing at his feet.
The cool liquid drizzled silently; the man wincing as his reduced reflexes never caught it.
With a blade becoming tempting, she growled, "If you so much as utter another word from your mouth, I will not hesitate to severe your tongue from your throat asshole."
At this point Liam was struggling to breathe as his mind ran a past memory of something similar to this situation- please don't let it end in a death.
However his main concern was getting recognised with all this new found attention- which seemed inevitable.
"Let me tell you something" her grip tightened, he groaned, "You sir are the human version of a dog- you bark like mad and would wag your tail for a free drink any day. So, word of warning, do not piss me off, and don't presume women are whores because you can't get with any! Do something productive with your meaningless life"
With her final word spat like venom, she shoved him relentlessly into the table at which she previously sat at. Even with her strength, that man was bloody heavy.
The others who appeared even more wasted then their unconscious friend clustered around her dangerously, but wouldn't dare go near her.
They looked hesitant.
Were they trying to be intimidating?
Aloysia laughed to herself as she spun on the spot, sizing up all her foes...
One in particular seemed more pissed than his comrades, "Oi! Where you born a vicious bitch or did you get coaching?"
She mulled the question over. A heartbeat of silence.
"Born"
Oh she had really done it now.
Although she answered calmly, satisfied with her answer, others weren't.
Liam in all this chaos, had managed to avoid the crash of that soldier, but now staggered further away against the wall to not be seen, which, to his dismay, never seems to work as a few eyes fell upon him...
And those few eyes widened in shock...