Aloysia could only stare. She was movement ridden for a few solid minutes.
She clenched her fist, agitated. In her eyes, she felt back up against a corner with words. She guessed experience could do that to someone.
"Simply put, I need to get into the castle, quietly..." she huffed.
Instead of the instant rejection she had prepped her blades with, Belinda shrugged, "Ok... give me a good reason and I'll consider it"
"What?" Aloysia splurged, confused dearly, "You'll consider it? I thought you'd want to cut my head off?"
"People change Shadow" she sat comfortably on the sofa, gazing openly through the widened doors; a never ending supply of daylight greeted her. "If you planned to assassinate someone in the castle walls, why would you come to me for help? Answer: you wouldn't... You're fully capable of that yourself... "
"Well thank you..." Aloysia sniggered, bringing her fingers to her chin.
She frowned, "It's not a compliment believe me, and I'm very serious, I know you more than you think"
Viper directed her gaze to Aloysia, face unreadable, "Do not forget that I am a business woman as well as an assassin, I dabble in more things than you know, and therefore I can tell with that look in your eye and the way you're fidgeting that its more than you lead on... starting with him and those two unconscious in another room... am I correct?" Her smirk was delectable as she switched her eyes to the prince, "So, what will it be? Tell me what's really going on or no deal"
How did the terms change just like that?
Viper's arm stretched over the backbone of the lavish sofa, its soft fabric tickling. The elegant snake tattoo bent seamlessly, its head visible on her palm as the thin pieces of metal elongated her claws. Within her claws she reached for an upright pipe; curved at its end that puffed a smoke once brought to her lips.
She exhaled, the contents of the pipe wafting over to the assassin dumbstruck.
Aloysia didn't know what to reply... she wanted the free ticket to the castle to meet with another connection she had, but could she divulge the information to her enemy? She was tongue tied at the worst of times. Curse Viper.
Speaking with as much persuasion as possible, Aloysia uttered, "I want him to stay safe" she pointed to Liam, "the king of the North, Mort Audrina wants him dead"
Her grin was undeniable, swiping another puff while her eyelids closed. She was enjoying this.
She leant to Aloysia, "Want a try?"
She stepped back, nose crinkling, "No, I would prefer not too"
Viper laughed, crossing her legs and deeply inhaling, her words sharp as ever, "Alright, as you prefer to keep things hidden, I cannot make my decision tonight"
What? Aloysia stepped toward her attempt to get up, "That's not the deal we agreed upon, I told you why, now, do as I have asked"
She bore her teeth, tired of the games, the pointless quibble. She was itching to punch something, and right now, Viper was as good as she was gonna get.
Sensing the tantrum, Belinda dawned an intimidation mask, her face turning in an instant... so that's where Aloyisa learned it from.
"Ha, that's cute" her words were mocking, sour, "Even if I were to agree it would take some serious planning and consideration... after all, if I'm supposed to smuggle 3 assassins and a prince into the most tightly guarded place in all of Caswor, it will not be done with a flick of a switch that's for sure"
Curse her. Curse her. Curse her.
"For now, go wash up, its getting late and I would assume you have no where to stay?"
Her hand fell to Aloysia's shoulder being the taller. Aloysia looked up, "Do you expect me to just take that as a grateful sheep who listens to your beck and call"
The smirk deepened, "Not at all, but your little associates in their current condition can't travel very far, and the nearest inn is a good walk away..."
This was planned, this was all part of her dam game and she walked right into it...
Her sigh was exaggerated, body tensing under the grip of her predecessor. With a strangled breath, she caved.
"Fine, we'll stay here for the night..."
Belinda smiled, withdrawing her hand and tilting her head at the prince with a knowing look, the cunning behind those golden eyes... it was startling to say the least.
Bowing her head gracefully, Belinda spoke out of character, her voice kind, "I hope your stay here is enjoyable your highness, all the while your friend decides whether to tell me the truth upon going to the castle..."
So there was an alternate agenda... Liam knew it.
Grunting to herself, Aloysia stormed off, her foot one inch in the ajar door as she widened it, crouching down to the unconscious twins. With a scowl, she slammed the door shut, leaving the prince alone with Viper.
Her face hardened, body easing into a stern glare directed to the prince in question, "I need to speak to you"
His heart clambered. He gulped... what did she want?
~
Dear sister,
I know this letter is in quick succession to my first, however I must speak to someone about this- I find it necessary and at utmost importance. No one knows I am writing this, so in your reply, please do not make a note of this letter, for it does not exist.
I have managed to keep my real reaction and feelings a secret, and my thoughts to myself, but it is facing up to be quite a challenge, so I come to rely on you once again sister...
There are rumours spreading around the kingdom, even reaching our small village... the gossip is unlike anything ever heard before... however, the king has us hush-hush on the matter and even an uttering of the words would have our tongue severed from within our mouths.
I do not think anyone has come to realise just how scary this truly is sister, to which I highly recommend you do not return as you had intended for the summer. It would be far too risky with the borders becoming a barrier. I think I speak for all of us when I say the shift in power was unexpected and certainty not welcomed.
Who knows how long this will last... and I would prefer if I hadn't had to worry about you too.
The bakery is doing as well as it can do at this tome, as is mother, although a sight decline of customers have decreased our profits... not by a large margin, but it's noticeable.
When she told me I was of no surprise, less and less people are wondering the towns willingly anymore. It was half the reason I moved back in with them a month and a bit ago.
Another thing I forgot to mention, my first letter would have arrived on time, however this would have been slightly delayed and probably received in the dark- I can explain... I wish you to know the truth without the fear of myself , Andrew, or mother being prosecuted for speaking my words...
Which means I had to use alternative methods for this letter to reach you without peering, unwanted eyes glossing over this.
Please forgive me for the situation I have put you in, but rest easy knowing I would not do so without good purpose.
Ah- there is another thing... it happened at the Queens funeral (may she rest in piece)...
It is the taboo subject that we do not speak off, the highlight of the 'hush-hush' content...
I hadn't had time to process it thoroughly before, everything happened so fast when The shadow appeared. Yes, she appeared...
———————
Her quill quivered... steadying herself, she pushed, "Its just a letter, I can do this..."
———————
Things happened- then... something fell, a hood fell...
And... here goes- The Shadow is actually The Northern Princess, Elianna Audrina...
Process it, shout allowed, do what you will with this information but do not for the love of our family tell a soul.
This secret is... gobsmacking; the truth is hard to bear hence the sudden lockdown. Only a fraction of us know, only those who stuck around after the procession have to carry this weight. But with it being what it was, I am certain more than half the kingdom is aware... The Northern king does not want this information to spill, it would destroy all self-respect, knowing the one he always wanted to catch was beneath his very nose!
All I can say is that I never had so many questions in my life!
Why? For for how long? So many bottled up on top of the grief I felt standing there in that street... herded like a flock of animals while she stood, held down by guards, hood nestled above her shoulders...
I couldn't breathe at the revelation.
It's understandable, yet it feels like the south is frozen in time, unable to progress or move forward with the king clawing at our necks. I do hope our prince is ok...
I remember the excitement when we as a family waited at the borders for the Northern family to arrive; I remember seeing the princess in a beautifully crafted winter coat trailing the length of her figure as she stepped from the carriage; I remember the rush of pride for my kingdom as the carriage passed us down the long forest road, each southerner waving in pure bliss as the sun over-head beamed upon such a righteous day...
All those precious moments of time slipped away the moment we knew the truth...
Oh how I wish for things to return to normal, to step into the warm spring air without fear of being prosecuted for this letter.
I miss you dearly, please stay safe in the West and tell me of your travels to bring a long awaited smile back to my face.
Until I hear from you again,
-Kasey W
—————————
She gently placed down her quill into its pocket, careful not to waste any excess ink before sighing heavily...
"How I wish this letter did not have to be written"
Begrudgingly, she arose from her seat, hand slightly shaky as she rubbed her tired eyes.
The letter laid out in front of her on a dark oak table, the ink saturating into the parchment before she gently folded it, placing the contents into an envelope already inscribed with her sisters name.
"I hope this reaches you safely" she uttered to herself, kissing the seal and already fearing the worst before stamping it. Carefully, she placed it deeply into a pocket at the front of her apron before leaving the room as she had once entered it...