KGWrites

Alyx

The Snatched Line Inn, South Span, Free City of Blueholdt

Blueholdt was a city spread across the mouth of the Ramm River. A hive of streets and houses spread out from either bank, flanked by high walls and gates that separated them from the Spans, a pair of wide bridges that crossed the Ramm. Much of the city was built upon these bridges, which were wide enough to possess their own streets and buildings.

The Spans met at a rocky island in the centre of the river mouth, one that held the multiple ships and docks that made up the famed Rivermouth Port, as well as the Hall of the Sea Lords, the rulers of the independent city state.

The sun of a new year caught the city, setting dancing diamond ripples from the river shining all around.

Alyx tried to concentrate on getting herself comfortable on the cushioned bed in the inn room, shuffling herself backwards and stretching out her leg along the bed. Anything to stop her from staring at Iona as the princess sat on a bench by the open window. The sea breeze caught her blazing hair and swept it gently back from her head in waves. She rested her chin on her hand and watched the waves dancing in the breeze.

For a moment of looking at her, Alyx could almost forget they were on the run, or that she had a sprained ankle, as a thousand fantasies danced across her mind. She pushed them down.

It was just the two of them in the inn room they had hired out. Once they had parked up the cart and stabled Moondust, James and Meghan had insisted on taking the supplies they couldn’t eat and going to find a trader that would take them. Both Alyx and Iona had insisted on joining, but James and Meghan had refused, saying Alyx needed rest and Iona was too recognisable, so they had been told to remain in the room.

Iona sighed from the window and Alyx turned, wondering what could be eating at the princess. But it seemed that Iona wasn’t frustrated or bored, in fact she seemed to have actually relaxed somewhat. Her broad shoulders were slumped slightly, and her eyes were half closed, as if the sounds of the waves crashing into the shore below were soothing her to near sleep.

Alyx smiled, it had been a long time since she’d seen Iona allow herself a moment’s peace. Even before the siege, the princess had been tense and doubtful, on a few occasions she had struggled to hold up her positive public image in the face of the expectations put upon her. Alyx had made sure to stand strong at her side during those moments.

It was one such moment of comfort and reassurance that had led to Iona kissing Alyx, in the temple of The Minstrel back in Aldiron.

Alyx had tried to forget that kiss, tried to bury it as a distant memory. But it was vivid and colourful and refused to hide. She could recall it perfectly. The nervous, half smile Iona had given her. The way the princess’ hands had tightened around hers, desperate not to let her pull away. The gold flecks in Iona’s green eyes sparkling. Iona’s perfume of lavender and citrus mingling with the heavy incense of the temple. The way the dancing firelight had made her hair shine like flames.

All of them stuck fast in Alyx’s mind, resisting every attempt to hide them. And with them, came endless fantasies of how that could have ended.

In reality, Iona had pulled away, embarrassed at her sudden outburst. She even left the room, and Alyx had been captured by Aaron Trident’s men before she could follow. But that hadn’t stopped Alyx imagining what might have happened instead.

She’d imagined holding Iona close to her, returning the kiss with a hundred more. Pushing her tongue past Iona’s lips to explore. Letting her hands wander and explore every part of the princess’…

Alyx shot up straight, clearing the thoughts with a cough as she remembered where exactly she was. And who was with her.

The sudden movement made Iona turn from the window, looking at Alyx quizzically. Alyx prayed to whatever Gods would be listening that Iona couldn’t see how flushed she was.

“Alyx? Is everything alright?” Iona asked, concern colouring her features as she stood and began crossing to Alyx’s side.

“Um… yeah. Yeah. Just fine. Shifted my leg wrong is all. Forgot about it for a second, regretting that.” Alyx lied, scratching the hair at the back of her head rapidly and offering a smile to Iona. Though she couldn’t bring herself to look into the golden flecked forest green of the princess’ eyes. Not yet.

A shadow crossed Iona’s face and her shoulders tightened again as she looked away from Alyx, glancing down at the ankle she had damaged. She chewed at her lip for a moment before she spoke again.

“Alyx, about your leg. I’m so sorry.” She said, her voice much quieter, the warmth replaced by shame. Alyx looked at her and tilted her head.

“Don’t remember you being the one trying to do me in.” She replied with a smile. But Iona didn’t smile back, instead meeting her gaze with a sad, steady look.

“If I hadn’t run ahead, trying to catch that man. Or if I’d been more prepared to fight him. He wouldn’t have hurt you.” Iona said, a muscle in her squared jaw feathering beneath her beautiful pale skin. Alyx’s chest ached and she had to wring her hands together in order to stop herself from pulling Iona in.

“If you hadn’t chased him, then that lad, Randall, would be dead right now. And if you’d been more ready to fight him, then it might have been you with the busted ankle, or worse.” Alyx told her. Iona looked up, her eyes watching Alyx’s carefully, like a frightened horse about to bolt.

“I’m your guard. That’s my job. I fight for you, I protect you and I take some knocks from some bastards for you.” Alyx continued. “I’m not taking all your knocks mind you, you still need to toughen up somehow. But no-one’s getting close to breaking you. And no-one’s touching that pretty face of yours. Not while I’m around to get in the way and beat the fuck out of them in return.”

Iona snorted out a laugh, lowering her head and letting her hair block her face from sight for a second.

“While I appreciate that you think my face is pretty.” She said after a moment, causing the blush, which had finally faded, to rush back onto Alyx’s cheeks. She hadn’t realised she’d said that. Iona reached down and took Alyx’s hand in hers, squeezing it. “I’m still sorry you got hurt because of me. Again.”

Alyx bit her lip as Iona’s hand slipped into hers. Iona was right, this wasn’t the first time that Alyx had been injured protecting the princess, she had the scars of stab wounds to remind her of that fact.

“There’s nothing to apologise for Iona, nothing I can forgive. Guards sign up for this, we get hurt protecting things. And you are certainly worth protecting.” The words left Alyx’s mouth without bothering to go through the filter of her brain and her eyes went wide as she realised what she had said.

Now it was Iona’s turn to blush, red rising beneath her freckles as she quickly looked away from Alyx. But she didn’t let go of Alyx’s hand. In fact, her grip seemed to tighten. Alyx sat completely still, as if she could play dead and the princess would simply leave the conversation.

Silence descended on the little room as the two women looked awkwardly around. Looking anywhere but at each other.

Eventually Iona spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“That day, in the temple… before it all.” She began, still not looking at Alyx. Alyx was glad of that as she took a deep breath and bit her lip.

“I remember. Hard thing to forget really.” She joked and Iona laughed. The princess turned to face her, and Alyx found herself drawn straight into her eyes again. Green flecked with gold, like sunlight through the canopy of a forest. She wanted desperately to get lost among those trees.

“I’m so sorry. I mean, I just… did that. I didn’t warn you or… or ask you. I didn’t even… I don’t even know if you like…” She stumbled and stuttered over her words. Alyx blinked in surprise and laughed. Then immediately realised it was the wrong time to laugh and mentally kicked herself.

“For what it’s worth, I do. Men are…” Alyx made a gagging sound, and Iona giggled. “Useful for reaching tall shelves and shouting loud. But they’re not… for me.” Alyx concluded.

Iona watched Alyx carefully, her eyes filled with a hundred unspoken questions, but Alyx slightly shook her head and continued.

“It… wasn’t unwelcome. It was definitely unex-fucking-pected. But not unwelcome.” Iona lifted her head again, her mouth slightly open, a question plain on her lips. Alyx thought she knew what that question was, and it hurt like a punch to the gut to interrupt it. To say what needed to be said before she made a mistake.

“But… that same day, I became the bait in a trap that nearly got James and Meghan killed. Because they cared about me, and I cared about them. I swore to your father that I would protect you, above all else. I cannot allow myself to be a weak point in your armour, I can’t be used against you, to hurt you. So, whatever I feel, we can’t repeat it.” Alyx explained.

It hurt, a dull ache. An emptiness that filled her chest and left it hollow where her heart should lie. Sounds like a lonely way to live, James had said when she’d told him that decision. But it kept them both alive. And that was worth the pain.

Iona’s eyes dropped from Alyx’s and the colour seemed to drain from her cheeks as her nervous smile turned downwards. She sat in silence for a long moment.

“I see.” She eventually said, and she stood, her hand beginning to slip from Alyx’s.

Something, Alyx didn’t know what, flared in her chest, and she grabbed tight to Iona’s hand before the princess could leave. Iona gasped slightly, and turned to Alyx in surprise, ready to pull her hand away.

“That doesn’t mean I want to become another faceless suit of armour to you Iona. I can’t be with you like that. But I’m not going to leave you on your own.” She looked down at their hands, still tightly gripped together and gave a soft squeeze.

“Maybe… maybe we just try being… friends? Does that sound alright?” She asked, somewhat nervously. She’ll pull away. You’ve hurt her now Cobalt. You’ve fucked it all right up.

Iona stayed silent for a while, her hand cold in Alyx’s. And then she smiled, her cheek dimples appearing again. She nodded and squeezed Alyx’s hand back.

“Friends. That sounds better than alright.” She laughed and Alyx released a sigh of relief she hadn’t realised she was holding. She leaned her head back into the pillows, staring at the ceiling.

“Well, that’s just beautiful, you know that ladies?”

The voice wasn’t James’.

In an instant, Iona was on her feet again and Alyx had rolled across the bed, ignoring the pain from her leg as she grabbed the handle of one of her throwing hatchets and lifted it, turning to face the sudden intruder.

A man stood leaning casually on the doorframe, his arms folded. He had short, messy light brown hair and a stubble beard to match. His pale skin was tanned brown. One eyebrow was cocked upwards, matching the upwards smirk of a corner of his mouth. Pale green eyes watched them with amusement. He wore leather armour, the leather dyed an aqua greenish blue and edged with bronze coloured metal. A curved scimitar was sheathed across his back like a quiver of arrows and two wavy bladed daggers were worn on his belt. But even as Alyx and Iona drew their weapons, he made no move for his.

“Easy there. Friend, not foe.” He said with a chuckle, holding his hands up.

Alyx scoffed. “Seems real fucking likely. How about you just piss off then friend, and we all forget this ever happened.”

The stranger scratched the back of his head and shrugged, clicking his tongue.

“Ah well, you have me there. That’s a no-can-do I’m afraid.” He said, that easy smirk remaining on his face. Alyx wanted to wipe it off, it felt smug, like he knew something they didn’t.

“Who are you?” Iona demanded, her sword pointed towards him. Her jaw was set, her eyes focussed on his throat, ready to pounce.

“Darrin Crowe of the Sea Lords’ Council, at your service.” He replied evenly, sweeping into a smooth, courtly bow. He moved like a dancer, graceful and flowing.

“And you are Princess Iona Ravellan, last falcon in the sky.” He looked to Iona, who tightened her grip on her sword. Then his gaze turned to Alyx.

“Which must make you Lady Alyxandra Cobalt, the cat with the claws, sworn protector of the princess.” Alyx drew back in surprise, knowing Iona she could expect. Knowing her though?

“You’ve done your research.” Iona replied, her words attempting to sound calm, to match his tone. But there was a nervous edge to them, a warning. “What do you want?”

“To extend you an invitation, your Highness. These are… charming if somewhat common accommodations. I believe you will find my ship far more agreeable.” He said, stepping out into the room.

“I like this room. I’ve just finished unpacking. Think I’ll stay.” Iona retorted, moving herself into a different fighting stance. Darrin Crowe chuckled again and shook his head.

“I’m afraid your Highness, that this invitation really isn’t optional.”

“You gonna take us alone?” Alyx growled at him, hefting her axe. “You sure that’s a good idea?”

Darrin smirked at her and tipped his head.

“Alone, no probably not a good idea. But you really should know something about Blueholdt, now that you’re here.” A rasping sound came from Alyx’s left, a sound she knew. One that sent shivers up her spine. The sound of a blade being drawn from a scabbard. She didn’t even have time to turn before she felt the point of the blade press gently against her chin. Turning her eyes quickly to Iona, she saw the princess had been similarly ambushed.

Rage began to build, and she growled at the sword on her throat, baring her teeth.

“Don’t leave your windows open.” Darrin Crowe concluded.