The agitation growled at her, of course they had to pick a fight with her, fate would not have it any other way it seems.
Was she some sort of dammed magnet that attracted these idiots from their caves? Because they were always on her like a hound on a scent. Relentless and downright mad.
The attention had multiplied now as most eyes peeled away from their general conversations to view the commotion. No hint of fear in their eyes.
Liam tried to shy away from the conflict, he didn't need another brawl.. another one-sided fight that ended the same way every time.
Trouble stalked them, just like the eyes of one in particular staring directly at the base of his hood like they knew who he was... and that worried him.
As much as Aloyisa wanted to teach these reckless idiots a lesson, she didn't have the pleasure of time, let alone security. If she fought them, recognition would be obvious... and that could not be afforded.
Sighing in agreement with Liam's silent pleas, she stood tall, deciding to just walk out of this one... no matter how hard she had to submerge the fighting instinct.
"I would love to provide everyone a good ass kicking, but I'm afraid I have to be else where at the moment" Aloysia grinned, pushing past the brutes and heading out the door.
It took every ounce of self-control to allow the sneering gazes they shot towards her. It was a challenge in itself.
She paused at the doors, looking back. "Are you coming dear?"
Her tone was sweet. Sickeningly sweet.
But Liam played along, nodding his head to an angry bartender in apology. The man was fuming alright, arms crossed... but his sense of calmness was intimidating by itself, which was the precise thing currently locking the brutes in place; just a stare.
Liam swallowed the jitters, stepping widely to reach her quickly and interloped his fingers with Aloysia; head down. He played his part.
Everyone stared, and Liam didn't know what compelled him to reach for her hand, but he had done it anyway; regretting it instantly as a tiny blush dusted his cheeks. Thank god his face was covered.
Aloysia's smile faltered for a second, a slight bump in her breath, but she pushed it off very well, squeezing his hand and waving at them in farewell.
His fingers were so warm, almost sweaty, but warm.
It was a strange feeling.
Their thoughts evaded them both however the moment they stepped out the tavern. Sweltering heat from a sun beating down rays in endless waves was enough to make anyone forget things.
"We stayed there for too long, they were bound to be suspicions" Her head turned to a building further down the sandy road. She pulled on his cloak for him to follow. "We need to be on the move, constantly"
Their still conversation moved to a steady stroll as they merged into the path with others.
He spoke quietly.
"Wait, you mean you wanted them to figure us out?"
Liam's eyes wondered from stall to stall, the language enriching his ears as he passed. The fear was immeasurable.
Aloysia grinned, slowing her pace, "Sort of, I want them to be aware of my presence, it will at least raise the security of the West to stop any activity the North may be conducting. They'll try to stop me, and in the process, uncover any horrid things he has planned"
Turning only moments after finishing her words, she faced an aged woman calling at them to buy her goods. Liam froze, pulling his hood further around his face while Aloysia swiftly spoke an apology in their tongue, waving in appreciation at the offer before casually slipping back to the conversation at hand, grabbing Liam in the meantime. The woman frowned, but hastily moved on to the next commerce of people, throwing her previous attention on the assassin away like pinching out a candle. Aloysia smiled to herself at the exchange. Liam just watched. Since when could she speak another language?
"Anyway, as to what you said earlier, I'm sure with the spectacle at the border, all of Caswor know you're here" he sighed, "I just hope you can handle it, especially with me being a nuisance"
She halted, and he continued, mumbling to himself. "I'm no help, all I'm doing is just dragging you all down. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have this burden-"
"-Stop."
"W-what?" Liam whispered, puzzled as to why she grabbed him by the shoulder, bolting him in motion. Her words were louder than their conversation, but kept low enough against prying ears.
"Just because you may not be good in combat does not mean you are a nuisance. You are a prince whose intelligence and curiosity is boundless- with that and not with some half-assed combat junkie you can make real change. Never underestimate that."
He swallowed.
"Me? I'm meticulous in my ways, set on one path; murder, assassinations, that's all I'm good for. Yes in times it may help this world" her grip tightened, "but you... you are more than that. And, this burden you speak off was not placed on my shoulders by your hands, but my own"
Immediately, Aloysia withdrew her outstretched arm from his shoulder, exhaling deeply while placing one foot in front of the other.
Liam was shocked, still processing. Is that what she thought of him? Was she opening up to him?
Aloysia internally eyerolled, her thoughts drifting to that of his... probably overthinking everything. The moment she ever opened her mouth and spoke words without malice or daring intent, it would, without fail, shock the poor boy. She wasn't all threats and smirks.
He paused, reaching for her arm swaying lightly against her protruding hips, stopping her from going any further.
His heartbeat was frantic.
At the touch, Aloyisa sensed the uneasiness, tilting her head in waiting. "Can we keep moving then? Its not good to linger for too long" she smiled delicately.
That voice... it sounded like Elianna for a moment. The wild princess who walked with him through the frost bitten gardens when no one else would...
The heat was unbearable, and staying in its beating rays didn't help the comfortability of their thick clothing.
"Thank you" He squeezed out, head dipping as Aloysia stepped closer.
"There is nothing to thank, you did the same to me, I'm just repaying a debt"
Her grin returned, and that venomous voice was back. He laughed inwardly as the weight relieved itself.
Aloysia watched his face change as it cycled through the obvious emotions... she was feeling both sympathetic and frustrated at the man who was being hunted that just casually stops in a street.
Ok... so it was her fault in the first place, but that didn't mean he had to comply. Sentiments... she'd said enough, and now was not the time for any more, yet she couldn't find it in her heart to tell him.
"Ready to go now? Because as your body guard, I would advise against being too stationary... you become an easy target."
Liam's half-smile was genuine, settling back into a state of focus. As expected, once the adrenaline and buzz of the crossing was over, like any human, reality dawned.
"Look, with higher security in the west, no one from the north or sent by that bastard can get near you, not if I have anything to say about it, but if you stay still for one more second I will result to force" she chuckled, crossing her arms over her front.
"Alright alright, you've made your point"
"Good"
Liam sighed, a hand massaging his head. The sway of emotions from being caught on the edge of death by fear, or gripped by an adrenaline high from a new kingdom was taking its toll. He clearly couldn't process anything properly. Yea. That explained it.
He internally clapped, impressed by how much weight her words carried to him. "Hang on, isn't the west having higher security a little risky... we have no where to go if we walk aimlessly, and if they know of us, don't you think we've heightened the stakes?"
She spoke quietly, wishing they could just walk in peace, "Not at all, I know someone here"
People past them without sparing a glance. In their eyes, these were just two foreigners here to explore the markets.
Liam followed her pathway that she led them on, landing upon the same building mentioned earlier.
"A friend?"
Aloysia stiffened, releasing his arm that she used to drag him and playfully pushed him to walk by himself. "Let's just say an old acquaintance, and they own a chain of businesses"
"Of course they do"
One being the very lavishly decorated building smack centre of a small town square.
Leaning further, he grasped a better understanding at what she was implying.
Even though the street acted very primitive, with exotic cloth as decoration strung up between huts made of smooth sandstone and glass, this building looked quite the opposite, yet somehow, fit in.
It was a dark red colour, with its entrance up a flight of stairs. Balconies leading to other small sunroofs instead of actual pointed structures, as it hardly ever rained there; so why waste the space?
"Is that why we came all this way?"
"Yes" she plainly put. "But not entirely, I have another destination in mind that requires this 'friends' help"
Liam swallowed, the heat hurting his head as he faced the direction they came. The other agenda...
The madness at the border had died down exponentially, the soldiers most likely already on the prowl for them, as well as the twins deeper in the city.
The twins...
Shit.
"Hey Aloysia, do you know where the twins went?"
Aloysia released a light nose crinkle, tilting her head to start walking behind him, one eye glued to his back.
By his side would be too obvious.
"No, I don't"
The honest truth, one that she didn't let effect her. She had to get the Prince off the streets, even in a foreign land it was still dangerous.
As they walked, they caught the attention of more daring, curious eyes; it was blatant that they weren't Relisans. Although people here were kind to outsiders, that didn't stop the suspicion as they walked, covering up the filth that dragged with them.
Relisans were the native people of the West, rich in culture and tradition, yet free and liberating. It was highly advanced the further you delved into its wonders, especially with their mother tongue developed over the ages: Relis.
Children here were taught both Relis and common tongue to convene with others past the border. Aloysia had to learn a few words in order to get around here in her glory days, ready and equipped with the phrases they would need.
And that building... they would need those phrases and a lot of effort to meet this 'friend'.